The 2016 Federal election is now over and the citizens of Australia can ponder the reasons for the inconclusive result which eventuated from the ballot count. The current Liberal /National Party Coalition Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, was not immediately returned to office and will have to wait for a further two days to establish how many seats in the House of Representatives it has won.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) under the leadership of Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, likewise did not achieve enough seats to immediately claim victory in the election either however their recovery of seats in previous lost heartland electorates has given them considerable hope that they are close. ALP members and campaign support staff had predicted the Liberal/National Government would be returned to office but with a slender 2 to 3 seat majority only. Given the uncertainty of many seats and the need to count a large number of postal votes that may or may not be the case. A national-wide average swing of 3.68% away from the Coalition and to the ALP was recorded with some seats showing margins of over 7%.
The real winners initially are the independents or minor parties (referred to in Parliamentary terms as the 'cross bench'). In the Upper House, the Australian Senate, the number of cross bench members was 18 members prior to the election. Senate voting reforms passed this year were due to reduce this number but the converse has occured as a result of the double dissolution election. On present trends, there are likely to be more cross bench members not less.
The current ballot count shows the Liberal/National Parties [LNP] have 70 seats, the Australian Labor Party [ALP] with 71 seats, the Greens with 1 seat, 4 seats to other Independents and 4 seats still undecided. In order to take Government, 76 seats are needed. The possibility of a minority Government remains strong.
UPDATE - 6 July 2016
Amusing to see how confusing the tally count has been going: the ABC has the LNP on 70, the ALP on 67, Independents on 5 with the remaining seats undecided. The Australian Electoral Commission has the LNP on 68, the ALP on 68, Independents with 5 with the remaining seats undecided.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) under the leadership of Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, likewise did not achieve enough seats to immediately claim victory in the election either however their recovery of seats in previous lost heartland electorates has given them considerable hope that they are close. ALP members and campaign support staff had predicted the Liberal/National Government would be returned to office but with a slender 2 to 3 seat majority only. Given the uncertainty of many seats and the need to count a large number of postal votes that may or may not be the case. A national-wide average swing of 3.68% away from the Coalition and to the ALP was recorded with some seats showing margins of over 7%.
The real winners initially are the independents or minor parties (referred to in Parliamentary terms as the 'cross bench'). In the Upper House, the Australian Senate, the number of cross bench members was 18 members prior to the election. Senate voting reforms passed this year were due to reduce this number but the converse has occured as a result of the double dissolution election. On present trends, there are likely to be more cross bench members not less.
The current ballot count shows the Liberal/National Parties [LNP] have 70 seats, the Australian Labor Party [ALP] with 71 seats, the Greens with 1 seat, 4 seats to other Independents and 4 seats still undecided. In order to take Government, 76 seats are needed. The possibility of a minority Government remains strong.
UPDATE - 6 July 2016
Amusing to see how confusing the tally count has been going: the ABC has the LNP on 70, the ALP on 67, Independents on 5 with the remaining seats undecided. The Australian Electoral Commission has the LNP on 68, the ALP on 68, Independents with 5 with the remaining seats undecided.
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