Australia Gets a Hung Parliament

It seems that the English-speaking world has developed a taste for coalition and minority governments. Canada has had a minority Conservative government for years; the British just elected one, and even in the US, President Obama is in coalition with some elements of the Democratic Party (although that might be stretching the point as it is far from stable). And now, Australia's voters have denied both major blocs a majority in their House of Representatives.

As of right now (according to The Age newspaper out of Melbourne), the incumbent Labor Party led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard holds 73 seats, and the conservative Coalition (composed since 1922 of the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia -- merge already!) led by Tony Abbott has 72. The Liberals lead in a constituency called Hasluck by fewer than 400 votes, but if it goes to them, it would be a 73-73 deadlock in a chamber of 150 members. The balance of power lies with 3 independents and a Green. In the Australian Senate, the Greens have 9 seats, up from 5, in the 76 member chamber so that they hold the balance of power in that chamber.

Australia last had a coalition government (as opposed to a Coalition Government of the NatLibs) in 1940. So, there is some uncharted water ahead to navigate. Much like in the UK, Ms. Gillard would get first crack at forming a government, followed by Mr. Abbott should she fail and resign. However, that is the theory rather than the practice. In truth, the three independents (Bob Katter, from far north Queensland, and Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, both from New South Wales) are going to hold a "kingmaker" meeting shortly to agree on their strategy. Moreover, because of the Greens' power in the Senate, they must at least agree not to obstruct any deal. Australia may not have a government for another 2 weeks.

In all of this, the Governor-General plays the part of neutral facilitator of the discussions, much as the Queen theoretically does in the UK and certainly as the Governor-General of Canada does there. And here the Aussies have thrown in a new twist. Governor-General Quentin Bryce has announced she is "seeking advice" on her role. Her daughter Chloe married Labor MP Bill Shorten in November 2009, and they have a daughter, Clementine. In such an instance, should she recuse herself? If so, the constitutional arrangements are unclear as to who would step in.

Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, it is difficult to see how Australia will avoid going to the polls again in a year or so. Whatever arrangements arise, the working majority of the government will be razor thin. There is much on Australia's plate, including a mining tax, carbon emissions, privatizing communications enterprise Telestra, and the future of broadband in Australia, especially rural areas.

There is, however, no truth to the rumor that Britain's Nick Clegg and 50 or so Liberal Democrat MPs have boarded a convict ship headed to Canberra.

© Copyright 2010 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.

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