Kate SlackA Hung Parliament
August 22nd 2010 04:06
A hung Parliament is exactly what the two major parties deserve. Now the ALP and the LNP are banished to a Parliamentary neverland devoid of a clear mandate, lacking direction and deficient of the Australian public’s confidence. The two major parties have been rightly forced to spend the next term (albiet one likely to be shorter than usual) shamefully reflecting their recent performance in government and in opposition. Even with the mind-blowing capabilities of Australia’s citizens, our technological advancement and our relatively stable and steadfast democratic institutions, there is still so much more that needs to be done. Australia is rife with xenophobic and claustrophobic attitudes; education is incredibly expensive; healthcare is held together by bandaids and staples; climate change demands action; and there is corruption, disease, warfare and poverty in our neighbouring countries and in the wider global context that a humanitarian nation simply cannot ignore. The policies offered by both the ALP and LNP were offensive and embarrassing in light of these imperatives, and the Australian public reacted accordingly. They should have known that in order to be granted the honour and to be considered worthy enough for Australians to grant them the responsibility of government they: need to find a leader with vision, who is perhaps a tad charismatic with a good cred; must develop advertising that is directed towards the issues and policy formulation; need to realise that going negative is a bad move and stinks of desperation; and, that Australian’s are not impressed on how quickly you can get from Hasluck to Longman. Despite having made all of these elementary mistakes and more both parties arrogantly expected Australian’s to trust them.
Australian’s had no other choice but to vote the way they did. However unfortunately, and even though the voters were pushed to do it, it seems as though we may have shot ourselves in the foot. While the votes are still being counted, it seems as though the decision about which party will hold minority government is in the hands of four independents and one Green MP. Five people will decide who is in government and five electorates gave them that power. In terms of our democratic credentials there is a lot to be said for re-evaluating our electoral system.
Despite this, for now at least, it is our Parliamentary reality. What exactly does this mean for the next term? Developing policy and having it pass through both houses of Parliament will be at times an insurmountable task. Our government will be weak and inept and will be prone to collapse without much coaxing. The Opposition will have an easier job though. The government will not be able to hide behind their majority or use their mandate to govern as an excuse for controversial policies. Minority views will be given a platform from which they have never heralded before. There will be no bold policy based on conviction and so many issues will be considered too sensitive to tackle that all major party MPs will be walking on eggshells. GetUp is taking solace in the hope that it provides an opportunity for Australians to pressure political parties on all of the major issues. Also, with the unprecedented success of the Greens, both parties, particularly the ALP will hopefully wake up to the fact that they are not insignificant, that their position in Australian politics is stable and that they belong to an international movement with issues that demand attention.
The last time a hung Parliament was a reality was in 1940 when the Coalition government headed by Sir Robert Menzies was returned but only with the support of two independents. He was dumped in 1941 and was replaced by John Curtain. History is therefore not very encouraging for the leader or their party who does eventually crawl across the line. Pandering to the all-powerful independents in the next few days will determine who is in charge for the next term. The situation is one that both of the major parties deserve to be facing but it is certainly not what the Australian public deserves. Everything has an end and this election brings it closer for both major parties in their current form. Either they re-develop themselves by returning to their roots and working out what they really stand for or they stand aside and make room for a party who is capable of fulfilling such an auspicious role (as soon as one is developed).
Australian’s had no other choice but to vote the way they did. However unfortunately, and even though the voters were pushed to do it, it seems as though we may have shot ourselves in the foot. While the votes are still being counted, it seems as though the decision about which party will hold minority government is in the hands of four independents and one Green MP. Five people will decide who is in government and five electorates gave them that power. In terms of our democratic credentials there is a lot to be said for re-evaluating our electoral system.
Despite this, for now at least, it is our Parliamentary reality. What exactly does this mean for the next term? Developing policy and having it pass through both houses of Parliament will be at times an insurmountable task. Our government will be weak and inept and will be prone to collapse without much coaxing. The Opposition will have an easier job though. The government will not be able to hide behind their majority or use their mandate to govern as an excuse for controversial policies. Minority views will be given a platform from which they have never heralded before. There will be no bold policy based on conviction and so many issues will be considered too sensitive to tackle that all major party MPs will be walking on eggshells. GetUp is taking solace in the hope that it provides an opportunity for Australians to pressure political parties on all of the major issues. Also, with the unprecedented success of the Greens, both parties, particularly the ALP will hopefully wake up to the fact that they are not insignificant, that their position in Australian politics is stable and that they belong to an international movement with issues that demand attention.
The last time a hung Parliament was a reality was in 1940 when the Coalition government headed by Sir Robert Menzies was returned but only with the support of two independents. He was dumped in 1941 and was replaced by John Curtain. History is therefore not very encouraging for the leader or their party who does eventually crawl across the line. Pandering to the all-powerful independents in the next few days will determine who is in charge for the next term. The situation is one that both of the major parties deserve to be facing but it is certainly not what the Australian public deserves. Everything has an end and this election brings it closer for both major parties in their current form. Either they re-develop themselves by returning to their roots and working out what they really stand for or they stand aside and make room for a party who is capable of fulfilling such an auspicious role (as soon as one is developed).
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