The wash up of Election '07

[member34258]

Thought I would start a thread to deal with post election '07.

First up, the Democrats are dead. Without Don Chipp they were always going to fade, but the question needs to be asked, have the Australian public ever forgiven them for the GST?
Secondly, The greens may yet hold the balance of power in the senate. It will be weeks before we know, but the environment is now a huge political issue. An issue addressed to late by Howard and one reason for his defeat. I see last night the greens even out polled a Lib in a NSW lower house seat. They will only get bigger over the next decade.
Thirdly, The fallout from the "leaflet" affair. I see the candidate involved has kicked her husband out of the house and is no longer talking to him. She should have done that weeks ago. The result in that seat shows that the Australian public will not take underhanded tactics lightly.
Fourthly, Pauline Hanson. Currently on 77,000 votes for a senate seat in QLD. Looks doubtful she will get a quota as that requires 271,000. I doubt she will even get enough votes to do what she did last election. That is pick up $2 per vote. She took away a $300,000 cheque last time on a $10,000 campaign. Better returns than the casino!
Fifth, MP Nick Xenophon. A one policy candidate who will win an upper house seat. What are his policies? How will he vote? Who knows! Interesting times ahead.
Sixth, Liberal Party Leadership void. They lost a lot of the youngest and brightest last night, similar to Labor in '96. Now with Howard gone or going, Costello's yellow streak appearing they will turn to Turnball. I'm not sure that's a good thing for them.


Thats all for now, I'm sure I'll think of more.
Please feel free to add your own thoughts.

[Northern Pie]

Costello's yellow streak? I see it as the guy has had enough, he was in oppositon to both Hawke and Keating and in Government for close to 12 years. HE saw the polls regarding his popularity as Liberal Leader or as preferred Prime minister and has done the right thing by the party by stepping aside right now and allowing whoever it is that will step up top build a team that can challenge Rudd immediately. I think Rudd is certainly happy right now, and so he should be, his party is now in power, a real Gaff in his acceptance speech was thanking that Berni fella, not that, that was his gaff more the fact he followed it up with a statement such as "Helped by the (mighty or Fantastic) Trade Union movement"....one of many paybacks that you will see from this government and anyone listening would have heard the collective (sigh of disbelief that he said that) from his supporters for that comment! The other thing he will be unhappy about is the fact the swing was only just over the range to get them into government. He would surely know that the Australian Public are only giving him one shot as he will be defending only a 2.5 to 3% swing at the next election...and that sort of swing is bloody hard to defend!

My local member got in again and is now in opposition. Oh and Labor have the Greens to pay back as well....may be too many ppl to pay back! I suppose we will see.....the main thing that I got out of the election ( I watched the ABC coverage)

Steve Smith should have been in Rudd's position as I feel he has earnt it more than Rudd and I find him to be an excellent commentator and pretty honest, down to earth bloke the whole night. Liberal have some work to do but in the end did pretty bloody well considering all.

Cheers

[John Wren]

who is going to keep the bastards honest?

i listened with interest the point made about having labor in both federal and state governments and what affect this will have at a state level.

[HAL]

Who do you think?

[Proud Pies]

[Northern Pie]

Just pointing out the first of many, many pay backs to unions that that will flow from a Rudd lead Labor government.

Yep unions have did a whole lot for me....when I got my first job as a 16 year old I was told by the Union official (who I never saw again) that I had to sign up to the union or the company would be blacklisted and will not receive their shipments from the docks and if I did not sign up he would make sure I would be out of my job within a fortnight. So you tell me how that differs from a boss putting a piece of paper in front of a 16 year old and telling him to agree to the conditions or you have no job...ABSOLUTLY NOTHING..and for the record...I think both of the situations are wrong! But to honestly sit there and say one is better than the other....well I prefer to keep my interests and opinions open and not be lead around like a sheep......

Cheers

[PeterWH]

In summary,Labor won a landslide,Howard lost his seat,Costello wants to spend more time with his family (good luck to him) the Libs are in disaray,Rudd has alot of work ahead of him and lets see what happens in the first 100 days.Kyoto ratified,Rudd to formally apologise to the Indigenous generation....what else.

[eddiesmith]

We have atleast another 4 years of putting up with the worst intersection in the state

[Alec. J. Hidell]

Not sure how the Liberals will be able to pay back
Family First
Exclusive Bretheran
One Nation
Hillsong
Pauline Hansen
now that they are in opposition.
Big debts to pay but nothing in the piggy bank for the next 10 years.
Costello bailing out before the debt collectors come a knocking.

10 years of labor will see quite a few libs hit the Superannuation highway

[Northern Pie]

[member34258]

I was hoping this would be a thread about what the reality of political life in Australia is post election '07.
Instead it has turned into the same bun fight that was going on in the other threads.
Pity.

[Northern Pie]

My apologies Member....

What will life be like post 07 election....honestly I think not much different, Both parties had nothing but rhetoric to offer...yes there will be few popular things that people have wanted to see, like say sorry, kyoto etc...but all in all things will travel along as it has been for quite a while...I don't expect to see my life or lifestyle change too dramatically...

Cheers

[member34258]

No probs NP. My intention was for people to post their outlooks on the changed political landscape, such as the fall of Democrats etc.
What I failed to do was point out that we should not use these opinions against the posters in this thread. The other threads are more than capable of hosting those shitfights.
Anyway, no foul, no penalty.

[EBB]

[member34258]