Posted on 10/09/2004 12:47:55 AM PDT by naturalman1975
I hesitate to suggest this, as I am fairly new around here, but I have noticed that there is quite a lot of interest in the Australian eleciton, so I thought I would make an offer here. I will be watching the election coverage and if people are interested, as the coverage proceeds, I can post updates in this thread, so people can follow what is happening in Australia.
Just an offer. Coverage starts in 15 minutes.
Oh and if any other Aussies want to post updates as well, of course, I wouldn't object. It's just I can see interest.
I'm going to have to start checking Dunkley - the current sitting member is a friend of mine, and I have no idea how he's going.
Precisely. 150 total seats. 76 and the Coalition keeps control.
Yes, if you think of it as similar to needed electoral votes, you're on the right track. If we definitely get 76, we've won. We want more - it's easier to govern with more. But 76 will do.
And yes, National is just as good as Liberal. 76 total.
Japanese PM took a hit, but still won. But this is the most important in terms of visibility that the press was hyping up all during the week.
Just being announced on Channel Nine now that "the show is over, John Howard has been relected and 7/8 seat gain by Liberals"
Seats needed to win government: 76
Lib/Nat: 55
ALP: 32 (sorry, fat fingered it)
Ind: 3
swing to Lib/Nat of 2.33%
Channel 9 calling it for the Coalition. ABC not quite there yet.
No way Labor are going to win from here.
I'm in Hindmarsh which is a very marginal Liberal seat. Haven't seen any figures yet. Good luck for Dunckey mate!
Official Australian Electorial Commission tally
Seats needed to win government: 76
Lib/Nat: 58
ALP: 38
Ind: 3
swing to Lib/Nat of 2.23%
Sweet. I saw that ABC had projected that Howard would retain his seat on their website.
First Labor Member has conceded defeat in their seat (Member for Bass)
This is for the House of Representative seats (the lower house of Parliament of Australia). Whoever can win a majority of support forms government. There is also an upper house, the Senate, whose 1/3 of seats are up for election tonight (it is like the US Senate). The Senate can block any bills passed in the House of Reps and they did bring down a government before, in 1975 (and it was the only truly left-wing government Australia ever had! Gough Whitlam of Labor.). Tonight it seems even the Senate race tilts into the Coalition's favour.
Yes! Congrates to the Aussies! Looks like Kerry's sister had no effect there! Now, all we have to do is worry about is the Kerry here in the States.
What's the current makeup of the Senate? Pro-coalition also?
Also, is there some sort of instant runoff system in Australia? I see a primary and then a preferences poll in the same result fields for each seat.
Official Australian Electorial Commission tally
Seats needed to win government: 76
Lib/Nat: 61
ALP: 40
Ind: 3
swing to Lib/Nat of 2.26%
Nothing is absolutely certain yet, and will not be for some hours. Latham will delay conceding until he has no choice (quite properly - we don't want a situation like occurred in the US in 2000), but it's looking nearly impossible for Labor.
Official Australian Electorial Commission tally
Seats needed to win government: 76
Lib/Nat: 62
ALP: 41
Ind: 3
swing to Lib/Nat of 2.%
Yes, we have preferential instant/runoff voting.
The Senate is split - it's likely to still be split. We can deal with that.
We'll start looking at the Senate later - it's important, but not as important as the House.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.