Topic: Never talk about politics or religion at a party.

[livo]

Well, I'll attempt to keep this unbiased.  Australia's revolving doors at The Lodge and Kirribilli House have spun once more. We now have our 8th Prime Minister in only 15 years. Although, the ousted one did actually win an election and survive his full term, but only one.  Australia's Liberal & National parties coalition (right wing) Government has been given the big heave-ho yesterday. Our new Government is probably a minority one with the Australian Labor Party (left wing) gaining control with a comically small primary vote.  The ALP currently is presumed to have won 71 of the required 76 seats to form a Government with 13 seats still undecided, but it is doubtful they will get the remaining 5 required.

The primary votes for the coalition fell from above 41% 3 years ago to only around 35%.  The ALP also dropped in primary votes, by less, but still received less than the coalition at only around 31%.  However, due to the time honoured election system of preferential voting it was enough for the ALP to gain power with a 2 party preferred vote of just over 50%.  You have to love the Westminster system.

The surprise (or not) was the literal dumping of incumbents in "Blue-Ribbon" Liberal seats, particularly in the State of Victoria with several high profile members, and probably including the Treasurer, defeated by "Independents".  These victorious Independents have been labelled as the Teals, as in colour, because they appeared to band together and inform disillusioned voters how to vote to cause the most damage possible to stable government.  They all adopted the same colour which is a bit "party like" rather than independent.  On a side note, they are all relatively young (Ah, what is the term we are allowed to use in these woke days?) let's call them non-males.

While the actual numbers aren't yet fully known due to late counting of pre-poll, absentee and postal votes, it is pretty clear that we have entered a new era.  Not just a new Government.  We've swapped between left and right leaning Government before but this is a different beast.  The Greens and "Independents" will have a lot of power in the Lower House of Parliament.

Our new PM is a lovely bloke with a heart-warming back story. Time will tell if he is up to the task.

On the plus side of all this, we as Australians can be well proud of the dignified and civilised manner in which the true democratic model is exercised here.  The voters (compulsory) have made the numbers and the politicians accept defeat and victory without all the conspiracy theory and rubbish seen in other leading democratic countries.

Our defeated PM has announced his intention to step down as party leader, and with the loss of several of those assumed to be his potential successor, we now have a situation where the right leaning party, which was booted for being just that, may actually become even harder right.  Go figure!!

It's a different world we live in today.

Update:  ALP has formed Government now holding 77 seats in the Lower House.  1 more than required 76.