05-09-2010, 01:45 AM
I like the dynamics of a minority government. When I was living in Canberra, due to the Hare-Clark(?) voting system used, the local ACT Assembly always had minority governments, and everybody was forced to negotiate every last damn thing, and it seemed to be a very democratic way to do things.
It'll be ironic if Gillard gets in as first female PM, because she won't be allowed to rule the roost like almost every previous male PM has done - she'll have to negotiate with everyone about everything, all day every day.
A fate all politicians deserve.
*
It was interesting to hear talk that Mark Arbib and others - the Labor "powerbrokers" - were getting blamed for stuffing the whole thing up for Labor. For a time I almost believed that that was the whole of the story, but it does seem more likely that they were folowing orders from someone - I just can't see how the likes of Arbib could be the beginning and end of behind-the-scenes powerbroking within Labor. Still there's no conclusive proof re. who actually was calling the shots.
It'll be ironic if Gillard gets in as first female PM, because she won't be allowed to rule the roost like almost every previous male PM has done - she'll have to negotiate with everyone about everything, all day every day.
A fate all politicians deserve.
*
It was interesting to hear talk that Mark Arbib and others - the Labor "powerbrokers" - were getting blamed for stuffing the whole thing up for Labor. For a time I almost believed that that was the whole of the story, but it does seem more likely that they were folowing orders from someone - I just can't see how the likes of Arbib could be the beginning and end of behind-the-scenes powerbroking within Labor. Still there's no conclusive proof re. who actually was calling the shots.