:party:

Champers opened.

:up:

:wink:

Frydenberg is gone.

Scotty doesn't hold a government

So where the bloody hell are you? — Banno

In a better place ( :death: ) :snicker:

Going to bed with a smile for the first time in years.

Very glad to hear some good news. I hope it translates into climate action.

:up:

Seems that there are four greens in the House of Reps, along with a block of environmentally-minded independents whom the Labor Party will need on side; and a surge towards Green representation in the Senate. The stupidity of the previous ten years will be reversed.

Seems that there are four greens in the House of Reps, along with a block of environmentally-minded independents whom the Labor Party will need on side; and a surge towards Green representation in the Senate. The stupidity of the previous ten years will be reversed. — Banno

Music to my ears.

Music to my ears. — Xtrix

We are singin' and dancin' down under.

Here's an analysis of Morrison's performance by one of the better-known journos. (I don't think it's paywalled, it's from the Sydney Morning Herald's website which allows visitors a small number of articles.) I think it's plausible that Morrison's political career is over, although I don't know if anyone's saying that. The likely candidate to replace him is an obnoxious ex-policeman with the endearing nickname of Potato Head, whom I'm sure will lead the remnant of the conservatives ever deeper into the wilderness.

I'll also add, although this thread should probably be put out to pasture now, that the greatest act of political bastardry in Australian history was the Conservative's abolition of a functional and efficient Emissions Trading Scheme in 2014, which had been legislated by the previous Labor government. This program was working exactly as intended and would have put Australia a long way towards meeting environmental goals, and it was torpedoed out of pure political malice and pig-headed ignorance. The main offender met his electoral demise in the 2019 elections at the hands of one of the 'Climate Independents' and has since left politics altogether, but this single act wrought damage that may never be reversed, and ultimately was one of the major factors in the Conservative's wipeout last night.

The Coalition has always been a schizophrenic compromise between liberal and conservative.

So the question now is if the Liberal party will return to liberal values, perhaps with Teals joining them, or under Mr Potato head, move to the right in the hope of drawing back the votes for One Nation and UAP.

If the former, then there is a greater chance of their right wing splitting into a seperate Conservative party, taking the right-wing vote. But more likely, there will be further fragmentation on the Right, with the vote split even further between small parties. The result might marginalise the Right and give us a progressive, liberal centre party.

If the Latter, which I think more likely, we would expect to see more fear-mongering, the politics of schism and bullshit. That has been an affective strategic choice for Liberals for decades. It is what will occur if Dutton is elected as their leader.

SO the next question is, might the Liberal Party see Dutton as a liability? IF so, we may see a change for the better in Australian Politics. If not, we will see more of the same.

votes for One Nation and UAP. — Banno

speaking of which, how did they go? I saw not one reference to Jabba the Hut Clive Palmer in the coverage. Last I heard the unvaxed Hanson had a pretty bad case of COVID. I'll have to look into it. (I did hear that nitwit Kelly got a well-deserved drubbing.)

SO the next question is, might the Liberal Party see Dutton as a liability? — Banno

I'm sure Dutton would be an electoral disaster. I can't understand how anyone in their right mind could see him as viable candidate for PM. Let's see what happens.

For those in foreign parts, the Liberal Party only governs in coalition with another party, the National Party. The National Party is the remnant of various rural political parties, ingrained into various agricultural electorates around the country.

The Liberal Party itself is an amalgam of a moderate, urban liberal base, with a range of conservatives, mostly with religious credentials.

Labor is the original socialist party, the model on which UK labor was built, and is the largest party in Australia. While it has held government for fewer years than the Coalition, it is responsible for all but a very few of the major advances in Australian government. Historically, when Australians want stability, they vote Liberal. When they want things done, they vote for Labor.

The odd thing about this election is that although Labor have won, the primary vote for both Liberal and Labor fell; the vote fell for both major parties.

You might picture Australian politics as like the UK Labor Party against an alliance of the Democrats and Republicans.

It is with tears in my eyes that I have to report that Craig Kelly has lost his seat. He managed to gather less than eight percent of the vote in his electorate, Hughes. The seat will return to the Liberals. Doubtless Clive will continue to split the conservative vote, to the advantage of our nation as a whole.

I'm sure Dutton would be an electoral disaster. I can't understand how anyone in their right mind could see him as viable candidate for PM. — Wayfarer

Remember that this is the party that thought an onion-eater was a good choice.

Best result: the Liberals fall apart, the right of politics descending into years of self-loathing and mutual destruction. More likely, the Liberals continue their machiavellian bullshitting under Dutton and are returned to power in a few years. There remains a small chance of a progressive, central liberal party shaking off the conservatives and merging with the Teal candidates who represent their core values.

One more delicious morsel - it looks highly likely that the repulsive Hanson will be defeated by the Greens. And all of the wannabee QAnon-antivax loony rightists have been thoroughly trounced (including the equally repulsive Christenson).

https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/05/22/clive-palmer-pauline-hanson-one-nation-uap-freedom-movement/

One does not often quote Sky News...

Meanwhile, France's outgoing foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, took the opportunity to have a swipe at Mr Morrison following the relationship turning sour over the AUKUS trilateral security pact.

Mr Morrison scrapped the $90 billion conventional submarine deal with France and opted to secure a new arrangement in September with the United States and United Kingdom to secure nuclear-powered submarines.

"I can't stop myself from saying the defeat of Morrison suits me very well," Mr Le Drian said in a ceremony where he handed over his duties to successor Catherine Colonna.

He added he hopes Australia and France "can resume frank and constructive dialogue" and claimed the deal was axed with "brutality and cynicism, and I would even be tempted to say of unequivocal incompetence”. — Sky news

Drat. Looks like Pauline Hanson will scrape in (conditional on her getting past COVID) in the last place on the QLD Senate Ticket. But at least the imbecilic Malcolm Roberts is gone, and she hasn't, to my knowledge, picked up any further seats, so she'll be the Lone Whinger. It's a role that will suit her.

Roberts appears to be continuing...?

Is he? How disappointing. Thought he’d gone.

The scale of LNP defeat is actually wild:

Guess there is something to be thankful to Scott Morrison about.

Can’t see Robert’s name on the AEC list of QLD candidates….

He won't be on the AEC list if he is continuing...

ABC site has him as continuing.

‘ 40 of the 76 Senate seats are being decided at this election.’ Hadn’t realized that. Oh well.

Scotty's not the problem, in a "democracy" individuals are never the problem unless you wanna admit that it's not...a democracy.

:snicker:

Armed with only a small band of volunteers and a Queensland war chest considerably south of $20,000, the Legalise Cannabis Australia party – headquartered at Nimbin’s Hemp Embassy – is not without hope of a spectacular Senate upset.

The upstart micro-party is seeking to snatch the sixth and final Queensland vacancy from right-wing warrior Pauline Hanson, whose One Nation party (PHON) has bled votes in its traditional Queensland heartland and suffered an upper-house swing against it of 2.5 percentage points.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/a-pleasant-surprise-the-niche-party-challenging-pauline-hanson-in-qld-20220523-p5anop.html

:pray: