Everybody check out the Senate results

[highlyeccentric]

Look at the party distribution.
Assuming Labor keep the Greens on side, they can match the Coalition. Xenophon tends to lean left, but Family First will run with the Coalition on most things. So we have a squared Senate. Labor will have their work cut out for them trying to attract Nationals votes across the floor without losing the Greens.

On the bright side, Family First aren't exactly fans of work choices. So industrial relations reform might just get through. Environmental reform is practically fucked though. Do Labor need tp pass legislation to sign Kyoto?

Comments

[goblinpaladin.livejournal.com]

Negotiated agreements are one thing. The conservative-controlled Senate means that in order for Labor to achieve anything they will need to pull out some National/Liberal senators for any bills. This may alienate Green senators or Xenophon, which in turn means they will need to pull more Coalition chaps.

If the Coalition wants to be asshats (what a shocking concept), Labor could be screwed in terms of affecting real change. That's not 'negotiated agreements,' that's 'screwing over the government for the sake of doing so.'

I wish we lived in the West Wing world, where people actually have ideals. If that were the case, I wouldn't have such a feeling of dread.

I also don't like the Family First guy. *snarly snarl* At least there is only one, mind.