It was still not clear as vote counting entered its ninth day whether Turnbull’s Liberal-National coalition would form a majority government by the barest of margins or instead need to join forces with independents for a minority government.
Advertisement
A Maori studying in Australia says the confirmation of Malcolm Turnbull as Australia’s prime minister could have some up side for New Zealanders living across the Tasman.
Although he is expected to form a majority government, Mr. Turnbull’s gamble in calling the election backfired badly, with a swing to the center-left Labor opposition and a rise in the popularity of minor parties and independents.
“It is a precondition for Mr Turnbull forming a government that he concludes a Coalition agreement with the National Party, that the National Party ticks off on Mr Turnbull’s government, but it is important these arrangements are not secret”.
“I’ve been an advocate of electronic voting for a long time”, Turnbull said.
On Sunday the Electoral Commission’s virtual tally room lifted Labor’s lead in the Perth seat of Cowan from 397 to 462 with 9,074 votes left to count. Previously, he gained the top job after overthrowing Tony Abbott in a Liberal Party leadership spill motion in September 2015.
The make-up of the House of Representatives is only a pale reflection of the massive repudiation delivered to the two-party system on July 2.
“We have resolved this election and done so peacefully”, Turnbull told reporters.
Malcolm Turnbull claims victory for ruling conservatives in general election after Labor opposition concedes defeat.
“However, the more complex political environment is less conducive to reform, which could weigh on Australia’s medium-term growth prospects”, said Paul Bloxham, chief Australia economist at HSBC Holdings Plc in Sydney.
“I think Mr Turnbull needs to pick up one of the lessons from this election. the more you stick to your own conscience and what you believe, the better this country will run”.
Moody’s said such a scenario would be “credit negative”, echoing S&P’s decision last week to cut Australia’s credit rating outlook to negative from stable, threatening a downgrade of its coveted triple A status.
He said the government should consider re-examining its superannuation changes to ensure they are not retrospective.
Turnbull said he’s had constructive talks with some independents, at least two of whom have said they’ll support the coalition in no-confidence motions and in budget talks.
“It is vital that this parliament works”.
“I understand we need to make this parliament function and we’ll be up for that”, Shorten said, adding that his Labor party would stick to its guns on key issues such as Medicare.
“The result finally gives some clarity to the Australian public on the state of the government and the direction we are header”, Brennan says.
Advertisement
“We can’t afford to have our nation drift for eight days after an election”, the Opposition Leader said.
