hasluck result, page-15

Folks,

I voted for Abbott and hope he wins but following the latest counts I see the Coalition's hopes to form a Govt likely to be dashed.

It also looks to me like ending at 73 Coalition to 73 (Labor + the Green Bandit) leaving 4 (3 ex-Nat indeps + Wilkie the ex-Green Tasmanian indep who was severely leaned on by Howard & Abbott in 2005).

Even though polls have indicated that 55%+ of the voters in the ex-Nat members' electorates would rather that they chose Abbott whereas only around 30%+ of them support the formation of a Labor Govt, they nevertheless show all signs of supporting Labor.

If they do, Labor will command 73 + 3 ex-Nat indeps = 76 seats and the indep (ex-Green) Wilkie will offered the Speaker's position; failing which he will offer to sign up with Labor and we will have a Bandit speaker.

Gillard appears quite willing to guarantee that the next election won't be called before Aug 2013 - excepting for circumstances beyond her power to control - thus giving the indeps a full 36 months to wring as much as possible out of the Treasury for their pet projects.

Sir) Lunchalot
Scoffer Extraordinaire