Australian Election Today (Finally!) Rudd-Gillard government to go

Yes I’m having a party. : -)

The total seats in the house of Representatives is 150, so when a party gets 76, they win.

UPDATE:  7:28 pm Eastern Time (5:28pm in the West, polls are still open): ABC giving 42 seats for Labor, 72 to the Liberals.

This election will be called soon. 

 

UPDATE: 7:41pm Eastern Time. 43 Labor, 73 Liberal.

Treasurer Wayne Swan looks like holding his seat. 30% counted. Swing against him is 2.5%. The Worlds Greatest Treasurer, who proved so adept at spending other people’s money on things like $800,000 tin sheds will keep his seat. Anyone in charge of the national cheque book can accrue $250bn of debt… spending money is the easy part. Paying it back is another thing entirely.

 

UPDATE: 7:56pm  Labor doing better. Greens get their man.

Labor 48; Liberal 73; Green 1: Other 2

Adam Bandt, sole Green member of the house of Reps elected? again (or as good as) in Melbourne

The ALP / ABC have set expectations so low that Labor will claim anything over 50 seats as a “win”. It helps them put a good spin on a bad loss.

 

UPDATE 8:20pm: Done deal. Labor 51; Liberal 77 (over the line). Green 1; Other 1. (?)

But all the talk will be about how Labor really did pretty well given the circumstances. Only four weeks ago the polls were 50:50 — it was  thought they had a chance. Four weeks before that, polls predicted a wipe-out and Julia Gillard was pictured knitting a kangaroo.

Commenter Bulldust: the AEC virtual tally room: http://vtr.aec.gov.au/

 

UPDATE: 9:03pm.  No win or concession announced yet, but Delingpole gets in early and sends his congratulations.

The ABC meanwhile is finding all kinds of reasons to announce how things are going better than expected for Labor, and the Liberals may lose Sophie Mirabella’s seat  (to a conservative independent).  The word “Gillard” is a bit like she-who-shall-not-be-named. The ALP have not so much lost as been “vindicated” with their leadership change 9 weeks ago. Of course. The problems are not the policies or the management ability, but just problems with campaigns…

 

UPDATE 9:50: Rudds concession speech

Never admit defeat. You would think he is planning 2016. This is a man who thinks this result is a temporary aberration. No lessons to learn. He looks relieved and happy (he hasn’t lost his own seat, the carnage is not as bad as predicted yesterday). A child in the room with us, watching him, looks confused and says “who won the election”?

Rudd is resigning. “Won’t contest”.

Transcript

 

UPDATE: 10:20 Abbotts Win

While Sky news commentators in the ALP party were talking about the “delusional” and “bizarre” atmosphere in the Labor camp, Abbotts speech had no false triumphalism. He talked of serving for all Australians, of a heavy responsibility, a great honor.

Transcript

ABC coverage is just amazing. There was no mention that this was the worst result for Labor in 100 years. First preferences for Labor 34%.

Current preferences flow 53% to 47%

Liberal 89 seats

Labor 56 seats

TonyfromOz posts a link for people to view the results as they come in:  ABC News 2:4

9.8 out of 10 based on 69 ratings

188 comments to Australian Election Today (Finally!) Rudd-Gillard government to go

  • #

    Nationally at 7.30PM, and if this vote hold across to The Senate.

    Coalition – 46%. 2 full quotas, and only 2% needed for a third quota

    Labor – 33%. 2 Full Quotas and only 1% to a third quota.

    Greens – 9%. No quotas.

    That leaves 12% minors and micros.

    Labor will be counted out first on that, so their 1% will flow across to The Greens, giving The Greens 10%, still well short of a quota, and there’s no way Labor can get above The Greens from that low to avoid being counted out first.

    The Greens will need a monster flow of prefs from virtually every other minor or micro to reach one quota anywhere.

    I know The Senate is a State by State affair, but these numbers are not good, and even a tiny pref flow to the Coalition will give them 3 Senators in every State.

    Tony.

    100

    • #
      Safetyguy66

      In Tassie greens have been pounded which certainly tallies with the “talk on the street” prior to polling. It was pretty tough to even mention greens in Launceston without ordinary folk getting angry about them. Frankly they have done a lot better than I expected, I was predicting a complete Democrat style wipeout, but that was Whishful thinking… get it Whishful…. ok maybe I need another glass of red.

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      • #
        Bulldust

        This is what has surprised me the most. I thought Tassie would be Labor if not Green. Quite a turn around.

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        • #
          Safetyguy66

          People down here are just sick of number like nearly 9% unemployment, and -18% productivity compared to the mainland. The LAB/GRN alliance has brought Tassie to a complete standstill and I think folks have finally woken up. 6 months time we get to punt the State LAB/GRN idiots too. Life is good.

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      • #
        Bulldust

        I should clarify … Tassie is currently 3 Lib, 1 Lab, 1 IND.

        30

        • #
          Safetyguy66

          Eric got in, looks like big Dick is gone. Stephen Smith did a funny “don’t write off Dick Adams, big Dick is hard to dislodge from anything”…. never a truer word spoken, just ask my Mrs 😀

          61

    • #

      Do you want to see the single most ridiculous thing about this Senate election.

      Senate Result WA

      Now, be very careful here as there is only 44.67% of the votes counted, so all primaries need to be counted, and the pre poll and postals, so this is early days yet, and by far not finalised.

      However it is indicative of the way it gets counted.

      Now, note under the heading Detailed Results under the current percentage it gives you the exact number you need for a Quota (and here, for WA that comes in at 89,266 votes.)

      Under that is the (current) initial allocation, with all Parties shown, their totals, percentages and quotas.

      Now, very carefully, scroll down and see how the votes get allocated as preferences are distributed.

      Watch very closely here as (as shown at the top, where Wayne Dropulich of the Australian Sports Party gets elected as a Senator for WA) you watch as votes get distributed, their value, their direction and where they go not once, but, well, you’ll see.

      Now, originally, that Wayne Dropulich fella only got 3,526 votes, and again I draw your attention to how many he needed for One full quota. The votes he got amounted to 0.56% just a tad over a half of one percent, which amounted to 0.0394 quota. He finished 15th of the 27 groups above the line.

      Scroll down slowly and see why preference allocation in the Senate is such a truly wondrous thing.

      Be careful as this is not yet final as I mentioned that less than half the vote is counted.

      You can do the same for any State by clicking on the tabs along the top, but again, be careful as the vote count is still only on 60 or so percent, so The Senate will not be worked out for a week or ten days, so where you see 4 new Green Senators, again preference distribution is the key here.

      It’s a truly wild ride. You could vote for one person, and your preference could go first here, then there, then back to someone else, then on to another guy, then another and so on.

      You may have been really careful and voted under the line after doing all that research, and then you have millions voting without the slightest clue as to where their vote is going.

      Watch as Wayne Dropulich comes from the clouds after being in the bottom section for nearly the whole trip.

      I’m willing to bet even dear old Senator Wayne is shaking his head and saying WTF. (just like I am)

      “Hey Mum, I’m a Senator.”

      “No son, your car’s a Holden Senator. You’re just my golden haired boy.”

      Again, caution, as the vote is still early days yet, but if you can work this out, please don’t tell anyone else. They already think our voting system is odd enough.

      Tony.

      20

      • #

        My warnings of the preference buckets came too late and weren’t published by Antony Green on his blog.

        I later drew in the next-level of preferences, up to the sixth candidate on the “ticket” for each party and the preference bucket effect became even more pronounced (it’s a messy diagram that I’m ashamed to put online); indicating that those lower-level preferences would eventually flow to either of the two prominent preference buckets as they’d cross-preferenced each other at that level.

        A few minutes ago, I finished doing a spreadsheet of the WA Senate counts with about 860,000 votes counted (inc. informal). They all appear to be ticket votes (above the line). These are obviously preliminary numbers and there will be a great deal of tedious tallying in order to heed those who voted below the line.

        After copying the table from the AEC site and pasting the numbers into the spreadsheet, I distributed the preferences according to the (first) ticket for the first 6 candidates on each ticket.

        That was to simulate voters’ “intentions” using non-preferential voting, I then simply tallied the number of votes against each candidate and ranked them in order to find the 6 with the most votes. The result would have been 6 Liberal Senators.

        Of course, if voters had to only mark up to 6 crosses on such a ballot paper, they wouldn’t be as likely to simply follow the “how to vote” card from their preferred party. Voting below the line would be only slightly more onerous than voting above the line.

        30

    • #
      Andrew McRae

      Now the feasibility of canning the carbon price emerges.
      Looks like (with ~60% of Senate vote counted) there will still be 10 Greens in the Senate, which combined with Labor’s Senators gives the GangGreenous infestation control of more votes in the Senate (35) than the Liberals (33). Libs need at least 4 more Senate votes on their side to pass a carbon price killer.

      Luckily of the other 8 miscellaneous Senators:
      + two (Lazarus/QLD,Lambie/TAS) are from Palmer United (who are mostly a clone of the Liberal Party and will dump the carbon tax),
      + at least one (Day/SA) is in Family First (also have publicly stated policy of dumping the carbon tax),
      + the new Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party senator (Muir/VIC) sounds unlikely to sustain a carbon tax on petrol, and
      + another Senator (Williams/NSW) is a National Party member who will presumably side with the Liberals.

      Slight question mark over the new “Liberal Democratic Party” senator Leyonhjelm. The party have said they prefer free market responses to climate change instead of taxes, but it’s encouraging they are also on record as “calling on the next federal government to stop distorting the energy market and do nothing about climate change”.

      Even looks like sweet-talking Xenophon is NOT required.
      It’s close but the numbers are already there.

      60

  • #
    Jimmy Haigh

    Well done Oz.

    60

  • #
    Safetyguy66

    Yeah and it looks like Adam Bent retains, oh well no accounting for the morons of Melbourne

    http://youtu.be/AtXBgiubnK8

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    • #
      Bulldust

      Just saw an interview with him on ABC … disproportionate coverage for one seat of 150, but whatever. He still carries on like his policies mean anything … laughable.

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      • #
        Safetyguy66

        Actually when ABC showed the layout of the new lower house, I realised that Bent retaining his seat is probably ok. Its a bit like seeing a criminal you want to suffer, getting the death penalty and feeling like they got off lightly compared to a life behind bars.

        Well Bent is now that criminal, he’s in parliament, but his vote doesn’t count for three fifths of diddly squat, so that’s a more accurate representation of the greens.

        Im happy again.

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    • #
      Andrew McRae

      Turned on to the ABC News 24 link and the first thing I saw was Adam Bandt with a crowd of green-shirted supplicants behind him. The way they all nodded their heads precisely in unison at the end of every other sentence was just hilarious.
      A Kelpie would have had no trouble with them.

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      • #
        Bulldust

        hehe you noticed that as well 😀 Looked very Midwitch cuckoo … maybe Bodysnatchers. Definitely hive mind of some sort.

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    • #
      Angry

      stupidity reigns in Melbourne !

      91

  • #
    Bulldust

    In case people aren’t aware of the AEC virtual tally room:

    http://vtr.aec.gov.au/

    20

  • #
    Jimmy Haigh

    The lefties aren’t happy going by the live tweeting.

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2013/live/

    30

  • #

    ABC are now saying that the Coalition have enough for an overall majority.

    Some points

    – Overall estimated share of the vote change from 2010, Labor down 4.4%, Coalition up 1.4% and others up 5.8%. Greens are also down on 2010. Indicates more dissatisfaction with politics, than a switch to what is viewed as a better alternative.
    – When an analyst was going through the projections for Victoria a few minutes ago on his screen, what he said was revealing. A lady Labor member was looking to retain her seat. He then said something like “were are going to lose 2 seats to the Liberals.”
    – Clive Palmer winning would have a “Titanic” influence on the make-up of the new parliament. With a clear majority for one side, single members numerically will not influence.

    60

    • #
      Bulldust

      Palmer getting up should be a national embarrassment. But it is Queensland … so… They do have a history of getting up colourful candidates.

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      • #
        MemoryVault

        .
        Yeah, that’s right!!

        Palmer has this crazy idea that leaving individuals and companies with a bit more of their own hard-earned and letting them decide what to do with it, would somehow be a good thing.

        Such a whacko idea could only come from a crazy Queenslander.

        201

        • #
          Bulldust

          All fine being a libertarian and all. Now explain to people how many of the services they like will no longer be available. Little things like affordable drugs, healthcare etc, unless they are wealthy and can afford to pay.

          Palmer’s ‘policies’ were embarrassing to listen to, and we say the alarmists are bad at maths…

          Ponder this also… Palmer with Parliamentary Privilege.

          42

          • #
            Greg Cavanagh

            You can shift the goal posts around as much as you like to make it look scary, but the reality is,if the population have more disposable income, then the government doesn’t need to subsidise drugs and healthcare as much.

            Disposable income is wealth, and the more you share the better the whole ecconomy is. But you’re concerned about subsidised drugs? Really?

            They mentioned on television many times Palmer with Parliamentary Privilege. Since I don’t understand why this matters one iota, could you explain to me why it would matter?

            20

      • #
        Andrew McRae

        Courtesy of Queensland and Palmer, the federal Parliament now has an ex Rugby League front-row forward as a Senator.
        Heaven forbid if they have a conscience vote on gay marriage and Glenn Lazarus has to cross the Senate floor to vote. He might tackle a Labor player going the other way!

        91

      • #
        Hasbeen

        Sounds like you have not noticed the total rabble that gets elected from Tasmania.

        The deep north has nothing on the deep south, & actually pays its way.

        00

  • #
    Andrew McRae

    Kerry “Red” O’Brien says: “I think we were about to cross to Joe Hockey somewhere… oh there he is. Actually he seems busy so we might come back to Joe Hockey later. There’s a few things I could tell you about Joe Hockey.
    But he looks like he’s a pretty happy chappy at the moment. At least until he starts on his first Budget.”

    Ooooh how’s the passive-aggressive there Kerry?

    70

    • #
      Safetyguy66

      Yeah another Freudian slip earlier too… someone said “the ABC result…. I mean the ALP result is looking pretty grim”… ABC/ALP tomato, tomato.

      91

  • #
    Angry

    YAHOO !!!

    PARTY TIME !!

    CELEBRATE KICKING OUT THE COMMUNISTS !!

    AHH MORE WINE..

    CHEERS!!

    121

  • #
    MichiCanuck

    Watching the ABC feed, it seems that the talking heads only know and/or want to talk to lefties. Tons of silver lining inspections. Kind of reminds me of the CBC. It is a bit jarring to see the colors on the map being more traditional (and still used in Canada and the UK). Ever since CBS switched the colors a couple of decades ago, in the US the colors are perversely reversed. Hence the term “Red State”, which has stuck. Congrats on getting a majority in the House.

    90

    • #
      MadJak

      They must be trying to find a way to make blue look more red.

      After all, it does appear that the communists have made their red look green 😉

      110

  • #
    MadJak

    Ding Dong, the Dweeb has gone…

    Worst primary vote for the ALP in a hundred years.

    It’s all Abbotts fault. And the media, and the earths rotation in relation to the sun… Keep telling yourself that all you ALP rusted on fanatics. Please do.

    Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing the ALP rip itself to pieces – or even better, pretend all is Ok for the next election just to rip themselves apart again further down the track.

    I genuinely hope that the centre left voters will find a mature party of some description to back in the future (even though I am a bit right of centre myself). This current lot has just been an embarrassment to everyone.

    100

  • #
    MichiCanuck

    I suspect that Jo’s party will be a bit cheerier than Don’s Party.

    60

  • #

    A more than a little disappointing result. Abbott will now be so cautious as to be useless. The next Malcolm Fraser.

    37

  • #
    Ian Hill

    When asked by the ABC about how ALP supporters would accept Kevin Rudd remaining as ALP leader, Joe Hockey said “when you’re on a good thing, stick to it”!

    50

  • #
    MichiCanuck

    There’s an interesting psychological feature to the ABC results bar on the bottom of the screen that contrasts with Canadian norms. They always put ALP first. It’s not alphabetical but must be based on the results from the previous election. In Canada, the leading party goes first and the remaining parties are sorted by their current seat total, which often shift during the night. The PCs (now the Conservatives, sort of like the LNP) once went from 1st to, I believe 5th and the Libs (sometimes referred to as the Libranos, a party somewhere between the ALP and the LNP)went from 2nd to 4th in the last election. A totally trivial point from an alien watching your election results.

    30

  • #
    Rick Bradford

    ‘Red’ Kerry is looking super doleful tonight, but has still produced the gem of agreeing with the suggestion that the right-wing bias of the evil Murdoch press was a major factor in Labor’s defeat, as though the transparent left-wing bias of the ABC was so justified as to be not worth mentioning.

    160

  • #
    Yonniestone

    I just got home to see Vanstone & Costello giving it to Crean & Emerson on 9’s coverage, pure gold 🙂

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    • #
      Bulldust

      Did Emerson do a ‘wipeout’ rendition?

      20

      • #
        Yonniestone

        Why not I mean once an idiot…..
        I think they were reveling in the rare opportunity to give the screw up left a good serve on the moderated MSM, it was just getting good when they cut to Krudd’s rant, Amanda Vanstone is a cracker. 🙂

        40

  • #
    ColdinOz

    Anyone who watched or painfully listened to Rudd’s concession speech will now fully understand what Tony meant when he said “Does this guy ever shut up.?”

    230

    • #
      MadJak

      Yep +2 from here

      70

    • #
      Andrew McRae

      Dammit I went out for 30 minutes and I missed it! How can I gloat now?? Please let it be on YouTube soon such that we may all gloat many times.

      Oh but right now it is Tony Abbott’s prom-queen homecoming speech or whatever he calls it.

      52

      • #
        MemoryVault

        .
        Trust me, Andrew, you didn’t miss a thing.
        Listening to the man, KRudd didn’t “lose” the election – he just didn’t win it, that’s all.
        That and a half hour thanking every individual ever involved in his campaign, and their cats.

        .
        It was painful – and so looong.

        100

      • #
        Rick Bradford

        If you only went out for 30 minutes, it would be impossible for you to have missed it.

        It went on, it felt like, for longer than King Vidor’s War and Peace and confirmed for me at least, that Rudd is a serious sociopath — his mindset is about himself 100%, and everyone else is viewed in the light of how they can help, or alternatively obstruct, his ascent to glory.

        Such a nasty little man will surely not fade away, but return in some other taxpayer-funded role, a UN ambassador, for example. That’s all the man knows.

        70

        • #
          Andrew McRae

          I was away slightly longer than 30 minutes, but his speech was “only” 21 and half minutes, if you can believe that. Longest death on stage ever?
          Incredibly at about the 16 minute mark he says “Friends you’ve had a hard day, so let me bring this to a close when I say….” AND HE KEEPS GASBAGGING for another FIVE minutes!

          But here’s the best part and if you want to gloat you have to be quick to see it. For all the fake smiles and bravado, if you start at position 18:00 in ABC’s replay, after he says “Labor’s next leader” you will see KRudd’s mask slip for a second at precisely 18:15 when his face betrays his sheer terror at not being The Dear Leader any more.

          50

          • #
            Backslider

            you will see KRudd’s mask slip for a second at precisely 18:15

            Oh yeh…. but not just terror…. hatred also, sheer hatred.

            40

    • #
      Safetyguy66

      At least Bill Shortman doesn’t have to pluck up the courage to challenge now, he can stroll into the joy of warming the bench for the next 6 years without a whimper from the rest of the puppies.

      30

  • #
    ColdinOz

    Does this guy evr shut up….shut up….shut up…..shut up….

    I doubt it.

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  • #
    ColdinOz

    Just listening to Tony Abbott’s acceptance speech. The gratitude, and humility so in contrast to KRudd’s basking in adulation of his supporters.

    This is a new era. I pray that it will continue in this vane.

    190

  • #
    Greebo

    But he said Labor should not give up on its principles, including the need to have a price on carbon.

    “I don’t believe anyone in Labor is going to walk away from the issue of putting a price on carbon pollution,” he told Network Ten, flagging a fight with the incoming Abbott government as it tries to axe the carbon tax.

    “Because a failure to act on pollution is in fact just making the problem harder for our kids, and that’s not the Labor way.”

    So, labor have chosen to. Ignore reality. The ‘right side of history’ indeed.

    110

  • #
    Catamon

    Ah well. congratulations to all the Grumpy True Disbelievers. Having poured your passion and enthusiasm (and in some cases bad language and bile) out into the ether over the last three years, you now have the Govt you deserve.

    Whether the rest of the country deserves it is up for debate.

    Anyhow depending on the Senate results, maybe not for too long huh? 🙂

    Will look forward to the tribal grupen-thunk leaders here holding Tony to the same standards they held PM Julia Gillard. After all, Tony has explicitly stated he will lead a Govt of “no excuses”. If he fails on any commitments he’ll be TALiar wot??

    Shall now leave you all to your circle gloat. XXXXX

    144

    • #
      Kevin Lohse

      You won’t make a palatable wine with grapes that sour. Not only have you and your like-minded chums lost the Australian election, you’ve lost control of the Climate Change scam as well. I can only congratulate Australia on escaping the grasp of pygmy-brained cultists such as yourself.

      440

    • #
      Mark D.

      Catamon, Considering it’s from you, that’s a pretty nice concession speech. Thanks!

      THERE’LL BE DANCING IN THE STREETS! AND MUCH REJOICING! CONFETTI AND KISSING STRANGERS! WOO HOO!!!! THE BIRTH RATE WILL SPIKE UP NEXT JUNE!

      120

    • #
      AndyG55

      “you now have the Govt you deserve.”

      Thank goodness…….. nobody deserved the last one, that’s for sure !!

      “rest of the country ”

      Hey bozo, most of the rest of the country voted for it too. LIVE WITH IT !! :-))))

      170

      • #
        jorgekafkazar

        Rudd kept going on and on about “the potty.” Does that mean the same thing in Oz as it does here?

        20

    • #
      Winston

      Catamon,
      Your level of delusion does you little credit, as does your inability to graciously accept that your beloved Labor pals should have lost far worse than they actually have in a sane and just world. This is because of the small matter of Labor’s incompetence in economic management, profligate spending without any measureable benefit to the economy, no infrastructure to show for blowing unprecedented receipts by people with no experience in running a lemonade stand, let alone a nation’s economy. So, the wilfully blind to your own failings, you gloss over the narcissism of Rudd, the reprehensible mudslinging of Gillard in smearing her opponent, playing the race card, the sexual equality card, or any other card that would gain her political advantage, without the slightest care as to what that did to the spirit of the entire country by setting all sections of the nation against each other. And that doesn’t even account for AWU and HSU behaviour which I am sure even you would not defend.

      So what legacy do they leave for 6 years in government, except the dubious distinction of having saved some of the furniture in an otherwise comprehensive defeat?

      170

    • #
      Tim

      Looks like the pigeons won, eh cat?

      Epic fail, mate. Will the Troll Budget still afford you now?

      80

    • #
      Sean

      don’t forget to close the garage door when you get in your car to slip away

      41

    • #
      Bite Back

      Catamon,

      I’ll avoid my usual bite and say this instead. You had the government you deserved and now it’s understandable that the voters didn’t like it. Even from clear across the Pacific Ocean it’s understandable. So enjoy the fruit of your labor and have a nice day! 🙂

      BB

      80

    • #
      Angry

      “catamon”…..MORE LIKE CATATONIC.

      GROW A BRAIN SUNSHINE!!

      50

    • #
      MadJak

      But Catamon,

      I seem to remember at the 2010 election you promised that JuLiar would have been the PM.

      There’s one rule of management that always holds true – if you can’t manage yourself you have no hope of managing anything else.

      And yes, if JuLiar had remained as PM, I reckon you would’ve lost another 10 seats. And that would have been completely deserved. And the media would have blamed it on sexism as well (they can’t this time, which must have some of them in knots).

      60

    • #
      Safetyguy66

      “Group Think” as an attack from an AGW lemming. Your a funny guy.

      20

  • #
    warcroft

    Its like a weight lifted from our shoulders. We can all breath a sigh of relief.

    190

  • #
    redc

    I watched some of the ABC coverage and found some of the snide/gloating comments from Kerry O’Brien and Tony Jones clearly unprofessional. Kerry talking with a mouth full of food was also unprofessional, although it probably wasn’t his fault.

    I hadn’t seen either of them for a while and it was surprising.

    90

  • #
    Norman

    If temps and ice data continue the way its going now, by one year Abbot will be able to dump not only the carbon tax but ALL Climate related Crap out the window. There will be no emmissions scheme ect hopefully anywhere including USa and then Europe.

    140

  • #
    Turtle of Western Australia.

    Ahhh, that’s better.

    Kevin Rudd, a fake to the end. As Michael Kroger pointed out, if you had the sound down you’d think it was a victory speech.

    What a great day for Australia.

    I’m looking forward to witnessing the wailing and nashing of teeth of the planet savers. Suffer, fools.

    170

    • #
      Safetyguy66

      Well they have brought it upon themselves 100% If they would have been reasonable when they had their brief taste of power, they wouldn’t have to watch everything they fought for get rolled back plus some now. In Tassie we have idiots wanting to lock up plantation timber FFS!!! That’s where they shot themselves in the foot with behaviour like that.

      30

  • #
    Turtle of Western Australia.

    Ahhh, that’s better.

    Kevin Rudd, a fake to the end. As Michael Kroger pointed out, if you had the sound down you’d think it was a victory speech.

    What a great day for Australia.

    I’m looking forward to witnessing the wailing and gnashing of teeth of the planet savers. Suffer, fools.

    50

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  • #
    bobl

    Lets not get ahead of ourselves. The change in government is only the first victory. Now we need to hold TA to his promise to dismantle the tax. Then we have to get the direct action policy shifted to weather … ie flood mitigation, dams, landcare etc. Then we need to get the RET dismantled. Long way to go yet, and with Hunt being a warmist, it wont be easy

    This is but a step in the right direction

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  • #
    realist

    Someone should have told Krudd he actually lost. His ranting was like he was still in electioneering mode. Sociopaths often have great difficulty in getting out of the me, me, me mode. His handlers really need to find out where the off switch is. Perhaps he can appointed as the new high commissioner to Zimbabwe where Mugabe would have him for lunch? I’m sure everyone in the new parliament will vote a unanimous yes.

    The sobering point is with ca 70% of the vote counted, 42.5% voted for more anarchy, more waste, more entitlements, “more save the world” paranoia, more big government, more profligacy, more Krudd, etc. This is part of the challenge the LNP have to bring some of them into reality as many will bleat like the brainwashed sheep they are as the entitlement tap is turned off. If they can win the hearts and minds of enough of the fence sitters by getting facts into the public arena then they stand a good chance of maintaining government for at least two if not more electoral cycles. Meanwhile, globally, there is obvious trouble ahead so it’s time to tighten the belt a notch ot two.

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    Andrew McRae

    Another cause for celebration: GetUp!… DidN’t!
    It was neck and neck as Senate Group Tickets were transferred and for a moment it seemed like Philip NITSCHKE’s Death Cult was going to put the nation under a Green Suicide Pact…

    • 4,790 (3.63%) votes originally from Sex Party distributed to Australian Greens (Simon SHEIKH) via preference 15.
    • 728 (0.55%) votes originally from Australian Independents distributed to Australian Greens (Simon SHEIKH) via preference 22.
    • 2,126 (1.61%) votes originally from Voluntary Euthanasia Party distributed to Australian Greens (Simon SHEIKH) via preference 17.
    • Zed SESELJA (Liberal) provisionally elected.
    • Distribution complete, all vacancies filled.

    Final Senate vote tally for ACT…
    Liberal: 44517
    Greens: 43490

    Soooo close! But no cigar for simple Simon.

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      Andrew McRae

      I have just realised the above figures are not final figures, they can change quite significantly during the next 25% of the ACT count if the primary or transferred votes for two candidates get very close. eg if the Drug Law Reform party gets more primary votes than SPP or if Independents get more than Rise Up then the votes could be sent along a very different chain of transfers before getting to the Liberal candidate.

      At 60% counted I thought it would be safe enough to call, but this is a very non-linear system.

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      • #
        Andrew McRae

        Late update for the fanatics still following this thread.
        Another 14% of the ACT vote has now been counted and with these extra votes the Labor and Liberal parties got more than the required quota on primary vote alone. That means the 11 rounds of eliminations and vote transfers that were needed on Sunday are not needed any more. Same end result, the two seats go to a Labor and a Liberal candidate. The Greens polled at nearly half the votes of Labor/Lib so that electorate is definitely settled now. The territories only get two Senators, there’s no prizes for 3rd place!

        The Sheikh is not quite the sultan of swing he wanted to be.

        10

        • #

          Thanks Andrew.

          Oddly, I think that the threat of a DD is receding.

          Look at this graphic from the election site, the state of the Senate, and keep in mind, there’s still a lot of counting to be done.

          Senate Results

          With 12 Senators from each of the 6 States, and 2 each from the Territories, that means there’s 76 Senators, and that means a Majority of 39 is needed.

          I saw an interview, late Friday night and they had the DLP guy from Victoria, and he wants the CO2 Tax gone.

          (Keep in mind here that the following is based on current figures, when there’s still more counting to be done, but the Coalition and Labor have got all they’re going to get, and the count is now just for the minnows.)

          Palmer’s mob also want it gone. Xenophon also would like it gone, and the LibDem who might get in for NSW also wants it gone, as he leans towards the Coalition.

          So the Coalition has 33, and with the support of those others then that gives the Coalition 38.

          That leaves the 3 new guys from the Micro parties. It’s easier to do deals with an actual Government so the Government now only needs to get just one of them on side, which shouldn’t be too hard.

          So then, what that means that even if Labor is totally obstructionist in concert with The Greens, then that CO2 Tax will be gone by mid next year anyway, giving the Government 9 months or so to get those others to line up with them.

          I really think that, knowing this, Labor will cave in and support the repeal in the Senate. They must know that a further 9 months of obstruction will only serve to get the Australian public even more offside with them, and will also give the perception that The Green tail is wagging the Labor dog, if you can see that.

          So, Labor now supports the repeal.

          Do you now see what is the absolute win in all of this.

          The Greens go back to being absolute nobodies, even more disliked by a public that lowered their overall vote considerably on Saturday, even if they may actually pick up an extra Senator. They can bluster all they like, but they’ll be on their own.

          It’s politics now.

          Labor knows all of this and will back down, because that will make them look better than flat out obstructionist.

          All The Greens will have left is blubbering around on their own.

          Tony.

          PostScript: At that link, click on the Counts for SA and WA, and note that only 1 Senator was elected from each State for the ALP.

          00

          • #
            farmerbraun

            “… will also give the perception that The Green tail is wagging the Labor dog, if you can see that.”

            Yep , the NZ Labour Party also has finally woken up to that, and will now struggle to extricate themselves.

            00

    • #
      Angry

      Fantastic news about the communist traitors “getup” !!

      10

      • #
        Yonniestone

        Yep a clear message to all the commies in Australia, I would like to add to all those whining lefties,
        Get up and leave my bloody country for good!

        20

    • #

      Another cause for celebration: GetUp!… DidN’t!

      They took the red pill instead of the blue one.

      00

  • #
  • #

    Congratulations to the Australian Conservatives from across the pond.

    Here in America the Fascist Environmental Protection Agency and Socialist Barack Obama are intent on shipping as many manufacturing facilities as possible overseas, closing down as many power plants as they can, and bankrupting the coal industry, so the majority entitlement/ union/ illegal alien/ unemployed/ greenie/ progressive/ bureacracy/ academia/ media class can keep the Democratic Party in power in pertetuity.

    I hope the Australian elections are a harbinger of things to come in the USA 2014/2016 elections.

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    • #
      Manfred

      as indeed we do in NZ!

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    • #
      bobl

      Chin up Charles, but you do face some other problems. Based on the outcomes from your presidential election you do have a reverse racism effect in your politics. The voting patterns among minorities were grossly distorted and resulted in them lining up behind Obama. We don’t face that because the majority here outweighs the collective weight of minorities. What is clear is to win elections the Republican party needs to Neutralise that. They also need to come to a better balance between free market and social justice. Our two main parties are rather hard to tell apart (not now though .greens influence abounds). Both are (Normally) centrist (LAB – centre left , LIB – centre right)

      We also have the advantage that our head of state can’t initiate legislation or regulation and doesn’t even have a right of veto (theoretically does but in practise doesn’t). The usa gives a single opinion (The president) as much weight as the entire parliament, that cant be good.

      What both our countries deserately need though is less party influence so representatives represent their constituencies. That means parliamentary votes should be secret votes so bullying of representatives by their party is elliminated. It would also mean that candidates would trade on their own policy platform rather than a party platform, and the people would have a better idea what they are actually getting.

      Finally, here we have compulsory voting, and we vote on a Saturday, a small thing, but it does mean that employers don’t influence voter turnout much, and the apathy vote is much smaller… Informal votes are typically small, at the moment only 6.5%

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  • #
    AndyG55

    Next question concerning the ALP, will Rudd hang on in the back bench, undermining any leadership, so he can have another dash at being PM next election?

    Or will he resign from parliament and cause a bi-election?

    How strong is his unprincipled ego?

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    Robert

    Well it is nice to see that people somewhere actually learn from their past and do something to change it. Good on ya. Now if we could just get rid of Obama here in the states we might actually see some progress as well. It seems that fear of their life, whether political or physical, ending prematurely is the only way to get through to the politicians these days. Either that or a being able to simply buy them. It will be interesting to see how many of yours learn from this that just as their political life is given to them it can be taken away. Sooner or later we mere mortals they wish to rule over get tired of their crap. It is very obvious to anyone capable of rational thought that the real tipping point those in government should have been concerned with had nothing to do with the global climate but was that of the political climate. They have no one to blame but themselves for they did it to themselves as the voters so capably brought to their attention. Though you know with that sort they will always find someone else to blame for their failings.

    Again, good on ya from your friends the other side of the marble.

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    Considerate Thinker

    The main thing for all of us is to give solid support to the new government, to recognise a panel of sceptical scientists to establish for the first time an even playing field. To get teams of scientists to expose the ingrained bias in our universities and enlist their support for a new era of scientific endeavour in Australia and clean up the nests of misinformation, dismantle them and replace them with genuine research, not biased research to support idealism. Steady as she goes, but solid support from all. Like to see Murry Salby’s work get the recognition through the media and by the invitation of the new government, the sooner the better.

    The Karoly’s and the Flannery’s have had their day and their two cents of protected one sided fame, there are much better and well qualified scientists to represent us and we should encourage them to step forward and speak out. Get the science right and there is no need to make propaganda to confuse black carbon with clean beneficial C02. The key issue is to get our economy back on track with the cheapest possible production of energy, to improve existing electricity production towards a vibrant and encouraged industrial base and inventive strategy.

    Time to get your shoulders to the wheel!! We mighty even achieve lifting Tasmania from a basket case economy to the economic powerhouse of the Australian Economy and the backbone of export food production facilities – they have the power, they have the need – give them the will by our support to the new government. It won’t be easy as the trogs will fight tooth and nail (and wail) to protect their troughs.

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    Jean-Paul

    Even if one musn’t be too optimistic when it comes to politicians and their promises, and even if I’m not an Australian but a Belgian, I feel happy that the most CO2 crazy elected government (none of the european commission’s bureaucratic members were ever elected by the people of Europe) has just been wiped out. That gives hope things can change here too.

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    • #
      Sean

      Sorry, but you won’t be getting any freedom in the EU. You need to live in a democracy for a chance of that happening.

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    Matt

    Does anyone know what has happened in O’Connor?

    10

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    Tim

    The Liberals have appealed to the Electoral Commission claiming pre-polling has shown some people accidentally voting for the LDP instead of the Liberals.

    By accident – or design?

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    AndyG55

    The Australian electoral map in colour. From the far left Canberra Times

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  • #
    Slabadang

    Congratulations Australia!

    Jonova please check your e-mail! My mail to you is dated the twelfth of August an has “Biased public service” in the head of the mail.

    On this topic I think this question to Abbot from ABC 24 journalist sums the problem very much up!! 🙂 Her face is pricesless to watch as she puts her question forward but even more telling when Abbot answers!! 🙂

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7k5_DQCOeI

    We dont have to put up with this kind of biased journalism if we dont want to. Its how to get out of this situation my mail is about. World wide we are suffering from biased manipulative media. We have to start with our public services to get anywhere!
    [This message is being held in moderation to ensure that Jo sees it -Fly]

    Olle, thanks email found. Interested. BTW Lyndal Curtis is not just a journalist at the ABC – she is “the Political Editor for ABC News 24 and leads the channel’s coverage of Federal politics.” Yes there is much we need to do. – Jo

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  • #

    There is hope. Looks like all the words have moved the needle a bit. The battle was engaged and won. A celebration is well deserved.

    The job is not done. There is still the continuing war against reason, reality, and logic to to fight and win.

    As always: He who is free never submits. He who submits was never free. Stay free!

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      handjive

      Agree Lionell, the battle now starts.

      With the world watching, climate consensus rebels have scored a decisive win in the climate wars and taken back an important strategic outpost.

      To consolidate, pressure on conservative politicians to return to fiscal responsibility, with a review of the science required to keep wasting money on green boondoggles is of utmost importance.

      Greg Hunt must go from the Climate portfolio. Dennis Jensen, a scientist, is the man.
      Now is the time for action and Australia will lead the world back from the green madness.
      The battle starts.

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    23 skidoo

    Question from Colorado USA: Will the new prime minister have the power to get rid of the carbon tax or will he have to form a coalition to do so. How long will it take to do so.

    20

    • #
      Graeme No.3

      Yes, he can get rid of it.

      The problems are two fold:
      1. No majority in the Senate, but likely to get enough support when the newly elected members take their seats (middle of 2014).

      2. Labor deliberately entangled the legislation in 6 or 7 bills to make it difficult to remove, but not impossible.

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      • #
        Michael P

        That’s assuming that he waits until then. If I were him I’d propose the bills to scrap it ASAP,and if the Greens/Labor persisted in blocking them,reveal this to the Nation and call a DD election. If they wish to lose more seats,as I suspect would happen,more power to them.

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  • #
    AHH!!!

    Congratulations!!! from Canada.

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  • #
    Joe V.

    Congratulations Australia.

    How many minutes till the Carbon Tax is repealed and the Natural Resources Board is gone ?

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    Al in Cranbrook, BC

    More congrats from Canada!!! Does my heart good to see the enviro babbling/carbon taxing lefties get handed their butts in no uncertain terms!

    Awesome!

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    LA Times out with the expected leftist smear on Abbott. This one is widely reprinted. Showed up in the Anchorage local McClatchy fish wrapper. Interestingly enough does not show up on their web site.

    http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-australia-election-tony-abbott-kevin-rudd-20130906,0,1851884.story

    Congratulations to all of you in Oz for showing the way. Perhaps some of us here in the US will be smart enough to follow your lead……

    Cheers –

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    jim2

    Congratulations all you from Oz. And to Jo especially for the good fight. I’m sure you had a hand in this. This day should make it all worthwhile. As a US citizen, I can only hope this movement takes hold here. Thank you.

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    Reed Coray

    A REQUEST FROM A CITIZEN OF THE USA.

    After the good/intelligent/practical/capable-of-seeing-through-the-AGW-BS citizens of Australia have thrown your well-deserved parties and had a good night’s rest, how about sending a few of your successful campaign managers to the USA. We could sure use some competent politicians to defeat the likes of Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and the other incompetent bozos leading us to socialism.

    Congratulations Australia, you’ve earned them.

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    Sean

    The first order of business for the new government should be to build a guillotine to take care of that crook Julia Gillard.

    Once justice has been dispensed, the next item should be the de-funding of ABC.

    Then you can really get down to business and close down every last Labor green scam, repeal everything that they legislated. Burn their legacy to the ground. Leave no Labor policy intact.

    Anything less and you need to be rioting in the streets to remind your new government why they were granted power and hold their feet to the fire.

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    • #
      Graeme No.3

      No way.
      Gillard can be left to the Police investigation. Whether or not they get enough evidence to convict or even prosecute her is immaterial; she is finished.
      She can’t go back to the Law (she left Slater Gordon under a cloud, as they say).
      She can’t go back into politics (neither Labor or the Greens want her).
      She can’t get a sinecure from a Labor State Gov. (there are only 2 left and both face an election next year, which both could well lose, and certainly would if they added her to the payroll).
      The new Federal Gov. might be prepared to offer her a job as resident post master in Antarctica but I wouldn’t think anything else would be forthcoming.
      Private business loathes her, and wouldn’t see any advantage in using her.
      The only organisation stupid enough to employ her is the ABC, and even there they could work out that would precipitate the cleaners going through forthwith.

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      Manfred

      Professor Julia Gillard doesn’t in fact need to go back anywhere. She has a professorial position at the University of Adelaide funded by a $100M grant she made to them a few days before she lost her Premiership. It is astonishing that the Australian tax payer will be funding her career for the rest of her natural life.

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    J Martin

    Congrats to you all in Australia.

    This means that Australia can put the co2 economy destruction behind her and return to a positive and growing economy. The USA despite still embroiled in co2 madness also has a growing economy thanks to fracking.

    This essentially just leaves Germany and the UK set on a course of economic implosion.

    Indeed, things are looking pretty dire for Germany, the UK won’t be far behind;

    http://notrickszone.com/2013/09/06/german-chamber-of-industry-and-commerce-renewable-energy-driving-out-25-of-german-industrial-companies/

    The DIHK survey also says that 25% of the industrial companies are now active in some way in moving their operations to foreign countries. Three percent have already done so, 8% are currently in the process of doing so, and 14% are planning to do so.

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  • #

    I knowed sure I was gonna find downright jubilation ’round chere! 😉

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  • #
    Phil Ford

    Congratulations to Australia from this Brit. I watched the BBC news tonight reporting Abbott’s victory through visibly gritted teeth – as usual, the common purpose pro-CAGW trolls of the BBC couldn’t understand why ‘their man’ the sainted Rudd had lost. In the end, they opted merely to lay the blame on ‘internal divisions’ within the Labour party with a merest mention of the hated Carbon Tax as (possibly) a contributing factor in voter disenchantment.

    Ha! I like to watch the BBC squirm in moments like these. How to report the defeat of an ally? Tricky! It’s a form of entertainment in and of itself.

    Good on you, Australia. I just hope your new man Abbott now has the courage and good manners to dismantle the organised damage left behind by his predecessors.

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    • #
      theRealUniverse

      The [B]ritish [B]ullshyte [C]ooperation, and ministry of (British Gov and war AGW etc.)propaganda, (run my MI6).

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    hunter

    Congratulations! Your ‘progressives’ don’t apparently have the guts- yet- to steal elections.
    Is there any stomach for defunding the ABC and forcing them to stand on their own?
    A free society and a state funded media are antithetical. If you can dump the ABC and force them to stand or fall on their own you will probably see some real improvements.

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  • #
    Joe V.

    They sneered at the Convoy of No Confidence as it rolled into Canberra, from all corners of the Nation. It has been a long wait and they’re still sneering and will carry on sneering out of office.

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    In seriousness, I can only hope for similar events here in the US. We in Texas have escaped the dismal economy by producing oil and gas by private industry on private land. We had to fight off the EPA who tried to “frame” hydraulic fracturing. They failed most spectacularly, but they have a new Fuhrer and are regrouping.

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      theRealUniverse

      If Obomber gets his way with congress watchout as the straits of Hormuz close …fill up with gasoline NOW! And that applies to all countries.

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  • #

    Congratulations Australia.

    One small step for Australian voters — one giant leap towards sanity!

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  • #
    Paul Vaughan

    Canadian report on Australian election
    • emphasizes “hated carbon tax”
    • features nice photo of Abbott, wife, & daughters

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  • #
    Rereke Whakaaro

    Well, I don’t know what all the fuss is about?

    It was only an election!

    [Ducks down under desk to evade thrown missiles].

    Of course, in New Zealand, your election took second place to the All Blacks – Pumas rugby match, and quite rightly so. Religion before Politics.

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    • #
      Kevin Lohse

      Quite so. A ritual sacrifice of prime Argentine beef.
      BTW, pointless posting on an Aussie site. They don’t do minority sports like Union and cricket. The only game in town is Rules Footie. Looking forward to the AAB/ lions tour. You stand a chance as the Lions manager doesn’t like Englishmen.

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      • #
        Grant (NZ)

        don’t do minority sports like Union and cricket

        I was walking past a bar in Pt Douglas last week when the patrons erupted at a faulty ref call in an AFL match that was being televised. I said “Stupid game anyway”, loudly enough to be heard. Fortunately the mob was still transfixed by some meaningless, irrelevant ref call and so did not lynch me for my irreverence.

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    Backslider

    Well folks, now I feel safe to return to Australia. Has been a long painful wait to finally get rid of those bastards!

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  • #
    Manfred

    Congratulations Australia. Very wise decision. A PM born in the UK and a wife born in NZ. Fascinating.

    Meanwhile, the left-green talking heads in NZ depict the Lib victory not as a victory but rather a ‘classic loss’ by Lab, with Abbott the default PM, people merely voting to get rid of Rudd. Frankly it’s nauseating.

    Their ideologue driven myopia prevents them from seeing the writing on the wall.

    So instead of watching their balderdash, I’m raising several glasses to celebrate your substantive electoral statement. People will always rebel when they feel the dank and grasping dirty fingers of The Collective slithering deeply into their pockets. I’m also raising several glasses to all here at this site and in particular to Jo. I’m certain we have won many hearts and minds over the years and will continue to gain greater traction as the catastrophic climate tax grab becomes incresingly non-PC.

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    Angry

    Chairman rudd’s favourite song………

    HARD TO BE HUMBLE:-

    Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
    when you’re perfect in every way.
    I can’t wait to look in the mirror
    cause I get better loking each day.
    To know me is to love me
    I must be a hell of a man.
    Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
    but I’m doing the best that I can.
    I used to have a girlfriend
    but she just couldn’t compete
    with all of these love starved women
    who keep clamoring at my feet.
    Well I prob’ly could find me another
    but I guess they’re all in awe of me.
    Who cares, I never get lonesome
    cause I treasure my own company.
    Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
    when you’re perfect in every way,
    I can’t wait to look in the mirror
    cause I get better looking each day
    To know me is to love me
    I must be a hell of a man.
    Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
    but I’m doing the best that I can.
    I guess you could say I’m a loner,
    a cowboy outlaw tough and proud.
    I could have lots of friends if I want to
    but then I wouldn’t stand out from the crowd.
    Some folks say that I’m egotistical.
    Hell, I don’t even know what that means.
    I guess it has something to do with the way that I
    fill out my skin tight blue jeans.
    Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
    when you’re perfect in every way,
    I can’t wait to look in the mirror
    cause I get better looking each day
    To know me is to love me
    I must be a hell of a man.
    Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
    but I’m doing the best that I can.
    We’re doing the best that we can

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    MadJak

    It is so good to finally have the adults in charge again.

    Now I can concentrate on living my life knowing that at least the new treasurer is being advised by Peter Costello.

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    • #
      Bulldust

      What’s the betting Christian Porter is brought in as assistant to Hockey as well? He has the brains, but lacks Hockey’s charisma.

      71

  • #
    Yonniestone

    Well it’s a good result for Australia but in my town I’ve woken up to the distressing news that the ALP crony Catherine King has been returned to office http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1760868/king-wins-ballarat-but-liberals-win-the-nation/?cs=61
    The stupidity of people is a constant source of amazement.

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  • #

    Looking in on the election coverage by the ABC, I was somewhat disappointed. Australian politics is meant to be feisty and combative. ABC was flat compared to the BBC’s coverage. The presentation was not punchy and the graphics were on a par with the BBC’s 20 years ago. Part of this might be explained by Britain having a first-past-the-post system and more than 3 times the number of seats up for grabs. But the muted tones and dull delivery are not what I would have expected of TV from one of the world’s more vibrant nations.

    Compare the ABC’s coverage with the BBC’s on the British General Election of 2010. A two minute summary of the graphics and a leading interviewer Jeremy Paxman against Boris Johnson being but two highlights amongst many.

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    Jaymez

    Rudd was beaten in his own seat on primary vote by the Liberal National candidate Bill Glasson. It was only preferences which saved Rudd the ignominy of losing his seat. By comparison in the 2007 election Prime Minister John Howard easily out-polled Labor contender Maxine McKew on first preferences. It was only after adding Greens preferences that McKew was able to claim victory.

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    Eric

    Just wanted to record my disappointment at the even more biased coverage of the Election from the ABC.

    It seemed the whole purpose of the coverage was to take the focus and gloss of the LNP/Abbott achievement
    and put the best possible face on the ALP defeat and future recovery.

    Thanks for nothing. I hope that before long its possible to do something about the ABC starting with
    letting Kerry go.

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    • #
      Ian Hill

      Eric, Kerry O’Brien announced in closing that it was his 10th and last election coverage and quoted the late Andrew Olle as saying that no matter what the result, the sun will rise tomorrow.

      Last night I watched the ABC for the first time in four years and I thought they took it on the chin very well. I also thought Smith’s “big Dick” and “hard to dislodge” comments were taken way out of context because at the time I had no unusual reaction to that whatsoever, but perhaps that’s because I’d just seen a photo of him and he must be of generous proportion. Watching a replay of it I noticed they cut to Antony Green who was struggling to conceal a big smirk, so it must have been my innocence betraying me! 🙂

      10

  • #
    Neville

    I suppose Abbott has had a good win, but the polling and exit polls were far too optimistic.
    He must be the most successful opposition leader in OZ history but the win could have been so much better.
    I know I’m just a greedy bastard, I accept that. The senate after July next year will have new minor parties to deal with, but anything is better than the babyish anti science Greens.

    Lomborg’s column ( thanks Bulldust) in the OZ a few days ago just proves the stupidity of renewable energy.
    OZ’s renewable percentage hasn’t changed since 1990 and wind now supplies just 0.4% and solar 0.1%.
    Last year we wasted another 6 billion $ on renewables for zero return on our investment. When will this idiocy stop?
    As we know none of the major parties could care less about co2 emissions. Just look at the scramble to export heaps more iron ore, coal and gas etc.

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/climate-challenge-requires-new-approach/story-fni1hfs5-1226710063133

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    • #
      Graeme No.3

      I think Tony Abbott would be quite happy with what he has got, a very good win.

      The margin is enough to last 2 terms without being too big and letting the backbenchers that much room to be rebellious in the hope of promotion.

      Rudd may be encouraged to stay on in parliament and destabilise Labor in search of another go.

      For the next 6 years he will be appointing judges, Ambassadors, Commissioners, ABC Board members etc. The chattering classes are not going to get any. And as the climate cooling becomes unmistakeable, their influence will diminish. The media (except the ABC) will start to ignore them, and the more frantic they get the less notice will be taken.

      And take notice that the new independent members of the Senate are very largely conservative.

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      • #

        Graeme No.3 mentions here: (my bolds)

        The media (except the ABC) will start to ignore them, and the more frantic they get the less notice will be taken.

        No need to read the whole article here.

        Scroll down and just read the 9 Comments the ABC did allow to get through.

        Tony Abbott claims Coalition election victory

        What sad commentary.

        Tony.

        60

        • #
          incoherent rambler

          Tony, that is an amazing set of posts. No doubt a hand selected collection by the ABC from the ABC.

          20

      • #
        ianl8888

        Rudd may be encouraged to stay on in parliament and destabilise Labor in search of another go

        Yep! 🙂

        Well, we can hope, anyway. He can’t be carpet-bombed out of his Griffith seat now, so I’d encourage him to stay put on the Opposition backbench and wield his narcissistic knife into the caucus as often as possible

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    jim2

    Sounds like ABC need a good house cleaning.

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    incoherent rambler

    It aint over. 3+ million postal and pre-polls yet to be counted.

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      AndyG55

      I thought the pre-polls were being counted at the same time this year.
      Anyone know?

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        With respect to the pre polls and postal votes, they count up all the boxes at all the booths first, and then the pre polls and postals.

        Go to this link and just look at the second last column, the ‘Count’, and see that some electorates are still down around the 60 and 70% mark.

        There was an absolutely huge pre poll and postal vote, and I know this is only my take on it, but that may have an element of people who just couldn’t wait for election day to register their wish to be rid of Labor.

        Federal Election – Electorates

        At this same link, go to the top menu bar, just under the blue there and hover your mouse over the Live Results tab, then scroll down and click on Senate.

        Save that and watch for the next few days, anything up to ten days or more.

        Watch how prefs are distributed.

        Currently, there are two people who ‘May’ gain a Senate seat, with only 0.5% of the vote, around half of one percent of people who actually want them in, and yet because of that preference bucket Bernd so admirably explained, they might actually become Senators.

        This is a lesson in itself as to how those preferences are distributed.

        Tony.

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          AndyG55

          hummm.. If the pre-poll vote favours the Libs, and Palmer’s preferences don’t flow as some expect, looks like it could get a whole heap worse for the ALP.

          Here’s hoping 🙂

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    Tim

    ABC TV AM SUNDAY: Presenting infighting & divisions in the ALP as the sole excuse. Careful avoidance of exponential illegal boat arrivals, carbon tax/pricing scams or massive deficits for instance. They tactfully tippy-toed blindfolded through this herd of elephants in the room.

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      Speedy

      Yep, Tim, The ABC is rewriting history already. Labor will not have lost this election through corruption, incompetence or its own self-declared war on large slabs of its constituents. It will have lost it due to internal, administrative issues that will be quickly resolved.

      It’s up to us to remind people otherwise.

      Cheers,

      Speedy

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    Skiphil

    Lunatic Lefty penetrates security to get on stage with Tony Abbott! When I first saw a headline about this I thought maybe it was one of the usual trolls we see here…..

    “Tony Abbott photobomber used fake wristband to dodge security”

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/tony-abbott-photobomber-used-fake-wristband-to-dodge-security-20130908-2tdfv.html#ixzz2eGOnAq2o

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      Andrew McRae

      A border protection failure on day zero! How’s he going to stop the boats if he can’t stop the red folders?

      But I shall say no more today as I can see from the above discussion that Tony has now acquired a cult-like, almost Messianic, following. He has done, can do, and will do no wrong, ever. He is no longer in need of shoes.

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    theRealUniverse

    Yes I noticed how the Aus. B(shyte) Corperation coverage , who kept up the absurd ‘seat won’ list going up and down up and down like if a seat is won..its WON! so thinks theres playing with numbers there..BUT did note trying to downplay the complete kick up the bum form the electorate for the ALP and its corrupt policies. Tony (A) now just put your money where your mouth is and finally admit theres no ‘warmal globing’ or what ever you like to call it.

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    Brian G Valentine

    I hope this is a sign of things to come in the USA> I think it is.

    People are sick of greenie bullying to flush everybody else’s money down the sewer, leaving people unemployed and impoverished, and most of all, people are sick of being told, “you don’t care about children.”

    This was the last ditch greenie attempt to cover up a complete lack of “climate” evidence, and about the last straw sane people are going to take

    We will know pretty soon here in the state of Virginia in the Governor’s election, wherein an Obama pretender and complete greenie louse and liar is competing against an individual who did not particularly care for Michael Mann’s use of Government money to defraud the people of the state of Virginia.

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    Robber

    Amongst all the analysis of how Labor lost the election, with a drop in their primary vote from 38% to 33.9%, don’t ignore the even bigger loss by the Greens. Their primary vote is down from 11.9% to 8.4%, a drop of almost 30%. Christine Milne, please smile for the cameras! 🙂
    Go Tony!!

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    What!!

    Tony Abbott gets to work as prime minister-elect

    Again, it’s not the headline article you need to read, but the comments below, especially one of them, where he says the following: (my bolds)

    blah blah blah! …..With the ABC stacked with right wingers planted there by Howard, all we have in this country is the GuardianAus which is balanced, but unfortunately not left..

    WTF

    Tony.

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    Hey look, this is off topic with respect to the election, but look at this article from The Mail Online in the UK, and this is barely seven and a half hours old.

    Record return of Arctic ice cap as it grows by 60% in a year with top scientists warning of global COOLING

    Shh!

    Don’t tell Michael. He’s already too overwrought!

    Tony.

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    jollygreenwatchman

    Anyone else been sending emails of congratulation to our new govt ? After learning that my own son cast his first valid vote in a Fed election ever, and for the LNP at that (he voted informal last time around) I just had to email the following to LNP this morning:

    Congratulations on the return to Government.

    This is nearly the moment I’ve been waiting for ever since I took part of a grass-roots letter writing campaign that thankfully saw Mr Abbott take over as leader of the Liberal Party (albeit by a single vote) and the greatest scam and fraud of modern times (the trading of permits to produce lifebringing CO2) averted at that time.

    I say “nearly” because Australia is still suffering the utterly unnecessary impost of the so called “Carbon Tax” that has been inflicted upon us by power hungry self-serving socialists who seem ever keen to rule over others rather than govern and serve.

    Please do not now fail the will of the majority of Australia.

    It is now time to not only end the impost upon energy and everyday life that is the tax upon CO2 but also instigate a proper investigation into the whole fanciful notion that caused such a thing to be so unnecessarily inflicted upon this nation and its economy in the first place.

    Rather than pandering to the worst kinds of socialism that are masquerading as “environmentalism” (that doesn’t actually seem to have the faintest desire to practice REAL conservationism but instead tries to limit everyone’s freedom while also making what should be cheap energy too expensive to use), My Will is for the government to return to policies, practices, and endeavors that actually serve the people who have hired it rather than have totalitarianism like religious idealism (such as that which is exampled by Christine Milne’s party) jackbooted upon us.

    To that end, I would hope that the LNP will soon be embarking on projects that involve better water management and the building of new dams, more coal and gas fired power stations (if not nuclear at long last), greater use of the Argyle area for agriculture and the pipe-lining of water from the North of this country to other areas that could benefit from it as well as the creation of new towns and industry along the way.

    In this vast country, we should always be trying to reduce energy, transport, and communication costs and encouraging our population to spread. It is plain that the “rule rather than govern” socialists have been busy trying to control all manner of production and methods of supply while killing off rural development and towns and cramming the population into over-populated cities (no doubt so that we can be easier to control).

    Please assist in turning this practice around and instead seek to inspire individualism over collectivism, responsibilities over rights, endeavour and adventure over soul-sapping mediocrity.

    In the short term though, and even if it requires going back to the polls next year in order to achieve it, please keep your word and rid this country of the “Carbon Tax” / CO2 tax.

    That IS your mandate.

    Please do not fail the majority of Oz who have put their trust in you in that regard.

    No government should seek to tax the air we breathe, and no governed people should ever have to put up with such nonsense.

    Congratulations again on your return to Government. It is good to know that adults are back at the helm again. 🙂

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    Number wather John Brignell in the UK Congratulates us on our choice.

    Australians have set an example by casting off the yoke of watermelonism that has been holding them in a thrall of economic mediocrity for so long. Labor and its green puppet masters have deliberately deprived that nation of the benefits of its vast natural heritage for too long. If the new government do not make a cock-up of this golden opportunity (which, unfortunately, is not a foregone conclusion) they have a new age of prosperity in prospect.

    Sadly, such an outcome is not available in the UK, where the greenies have firm control of the major parties, the establishment media and even the scientific institutions. It seems doomed to continue its steady decline into impotence, a little island that nobody listens to. The USA could free itself, but it would have to pluck up courage to slay the occupying green monster that is the EPA and at present it does not have the necessary political will.

    So go for it Australia. The eyes of the world are on you.

    If John had any idea about the green weed infestation in the machinery of established political parties, in the media and in the “scientific” institutions in Australia, he may entertain more hope at defeating the nonsense in the UK. Unfortunately, the UK is now legislatively at the wrong end of the leash that has it’s other end being tugged by the EUrocracy.

    The British are more timid than their EU partners at simply nodding at and then simply ignoring the EU’s directives.

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    Speedy

    Off topic – but on the subject of Parties, social as opposed to political. Best wishes to all and sundry and hope respective parties (social) went well. As it was, I got an offer from Mrs Speedy that I simply couldn’t refuse…

    Cheers,

    Speedy

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    I notice that the ACT voted solidly Labour.

    You can look to Canada to see what happens when a “conservative” federal government is elected to preside over a solidly left-leaning federal bureaucracy (that yearns for a socialist workers paradise). The new government needs to “clean house” and bring in a new bureaucracy that carries out the wishes of the elected party in a neutral manner. This is supposed to be the corner stone of a British Democracy…

    However, like Canada, you could well end up re-enacting the Yes Minister, Yes Prime Minister series. I suggest you replay every episode possible so that you know what to expect. Start with “The Environment”.

    Cheers and best wishes….

    PS: In Canada even the National Post gave up the ghost and now takes a CBC feed and publishes the Suzukiite drivel.

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    Sharpshooter

    Thought you might like this, Joanne:

    http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2013/09/09/the-quality-of-leadership/
    /excerpt
    Within a few days of Kevin Rudd’s defeat as prime minister, the Australian Financial Review described how his victorious opponent, Tony Abbott, had employed a psychiatric report to exploit Rudd’s known mental instabilities:

    The document was not shown to Abbott, but rather remained within the strategy group as an informal check-list, often as a tool for comparison after Rudd had already behaved in ways that the Liberal strategists believed could be leveraged to their advantage. The Liberal war room had reached its own conclusions about Rudd long ago, based on his public behaviour and the damning revelations of his colleagues.

    Describing grandiose narcissism as less a psychiatric disease and more a destructive character defect, the document suggested Rudd was held together by one key strut: an absolute conviction of intellectual superiority over everyone else. “Kick out that strut and he will collapse”.

    Rudd, the document went on, was vulnerable to any challenge to his self-belief that he was more widely read, smarter and more knowledgeable than anyone else “on the planet”. Such a condition of grandiose narcissism would make Rudd obsessively paranoid, excessively vindictive — “prepared to wait years to get revenge”.

    Rumors that Rudd was a few sandwiches short of a picnic had been circulating for some time, supported in part by camera outtakes which showed him in an actual Jekyll and Hyde mode, as shown in this video here. Even before Rudd was defeated, television specials were openly questioning his mental stability.

    00