After more than 20 years of conservative governments, when Labor won in December 1972, the conservatives just could not bring themselves to accept the majority decision of the Australian people in a democratic election.
After 11 years of conservative governments under John Howard, Labor won in the 2007 election and again won the right to form government in the 2010 election. We are once again seeing the same pattern of behaviour coming out from the conservative side of politics, with their refusal to accept the verdict of the people in a democratic election.
If you destroy people's faith in democracy, of the ideal that the losing side must accept the decision of the majority, you will be wondering onto uncharted water.
