tagged: asylum seekers, gay marriage, Hung Parliament, internet filter, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, Marriage Equality, NBN, Prime Minister, Stephen Conroy, Steve Fielding, The Greens, Tony Abbott

HUNG: Making the best out of a bad situation

Posted by Claire Connelly in Politics, Sexuality

Just because I predicted that a hung parliament was the most likely outcome for this election – doesn’t mean I am happy to be right.

While in theory a hung parliament finally gives some bargaining power to the Independents and the Greens, it also gives the opportunity for the libs to publicly belittle the Labor party, pretending there is a mandate for a Liberal victory.

Tony Abbott’s “victory by proxy” speech was gloating, and far far premature.

In reality, the only mandate we have achieved with this election is the precedent of ousting party leaders – in the government and in the opposition.

Australia has voted – and we said “meh”.

Just stop for a second and think about this moment three years ago: we had Kevin07, Howard losing his seat in Bennelong to Maxine McKew, the Kyoto Protocol was finally signed, The Apology; it is just staggering that this has happened.

Firstly, Governments ALWAYS get a second term. Rudd’s popularity was through the roof not so long ago – and by this measure the Coalition should never have been this competitive.

There are a few reasons I think contributed to this outcome:

1. I think the decision to fight a negative campaign was a huge mistake – for both parties.

From the very beginning it was a giant race to the bottom of the barrel, and voters hate dirty campaigns. I think the Greens fought admirably under the circumstances; there’s a lot to be said for positivity in action and there is no irony that the party who gained the most from this election was the one preaching love and equality.

2. It was Labors biggest mistake not ditching the web filter and getting rid of Stephen Conroy when they had the chance.

The NBN and the internet filter went hand in hand and it didn’t take long for people to put together that it might be a lot easier to censor a broadband network owned by the government.

3. I’m sure this has been repeated a thousand times on twitter, around dining room tables and offices, nonetheless, I can’t help but think that if Gillard hadn’t knifed Rudd in the back, and if Malcolm Turnbull hadn’t been replaced, we would have had a fairer campaign, and more decisive election result.

4. Moreover, change was an imperative that Julia failed to implement after telling Australia that the Labor party had lost its way.

In an unprecedented leadership spill, we saw no real change in policy or action – it only reinforced the betrayal, not just of a Prime Minister, but of his people as well.

5. Most importantly  – no matter how many times our politicians denied it, it turns out that gay marriage proved to be the issue that just wouldn’t go away.

In the three seats which were letter-boxed by marriage equality groups, Sydney, Melbourne and Grayndler – Melbourne fell to the greens, whilst the other two are running a close second. Julia Gillard’s betrayed her principle and the will of the majority of Australians by paying lip service to George Pell, Family First, and the conservative right.

Countless Labor representatives came out in support of gay marriage, and behind closed doors some Liberal party members questioned their party’s stance – but yet the atheist Prime Minister, and the Liberal party rogue who continued to poke Tony Abbott with a stick refused to stand up on the issue.

There are a few things I would like to be made conditional to forming government:

- A conscience vote on gay marriage

- A more humane alternative to the treatment of asylum seekers.

- Scrapping the internet filter.

- A compromise on the NBN.

- A guarantee that work choices is truly dead and buried and won’t miraculously be resurrected  after three months in power.

I’ve been up for almost 13 hours now, I’m up to my eyeballs in caffeine and I’m losing all grip on reality so I’ll keep it brief.

I’m not sure if this result is the best example of democracy in action, and certainly this was the finish the campaign didn’t deserve – but certainly it’s oddly fitting that we still have no idea who is in charge.

(If nothing else, there will be a few good “will of God” Steve Fielding jokes to last us for a while).

Insert obvious evolution joke here.

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