Australia’s conservative prime minister finally declared victory Sunday, a full week after the national election was held, but a slimmer majority for the ruling coalition has only fed the growing concern about the new government’s agenda.
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Mr Shorten added earlier: “I will be writing to Mr Turnbull and saying, “really, we’re a grown-up democracy, it shouldn’t be taking eight days to find out who’s won and who’s lost”.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said that while he says he will work constructively with the Government, there are several areas where Labor will try to block legislation.
Standard and Poor’s recently cut Australia’s credit rating outlook to negative from stable last week, threatening a downgrade of its coveted triple A status, over a potential budget impasse which the new government must tackle.
Australians usually know who their next leader will be on the night of their vote, but the July 2 poll was too close to call, triggering a complicated system of centralized vote counting that still hasn’t technically finished. Independents Bob Katter and Cathy McGowan have said they will support the Government on confidence and supply – ensuring it can stay in power and the funds to run the country keep flowing.
Despite the election loss it is believed that Shorten has the support of the Labor to continue as leader of the party due to the Labor winning as many as 69 seats compared to 55 in the 2013 election.
The Coalition is on track to win at least 74 seats, and is confident it can win two more, giving it enough seats to govern in its own right.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives at Parliament House for work on Monday, after claiming victory in the 2016 election. Shorten wanted Turnbull to allow a parliamentary vote without a plebiscite, his position before becoming prime minister in September.
Mr Shorten, who had previously indicated he would not concede until the Coalition officially won 76 seats, said he could not be prouder of Labor.
“It’s vital that this parliament works”.
Before forming government, Turnbull must sign a new Coalition agreement with Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
“I understand we need to make this parliament function and we’ll be up for that”, he said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has already promised not to make any further changes to superannuation during the next term of government.
He admitted that the election was “a tough business”, but welcomed Mr Shorten’s calls for “common ground” in parliament.
“It was a moment I will never forget”, Mr Turnbull said.
“There are only two threats to Malcolm Turnbull”, said ANU’s Warhurst.
With the majority of voting now finished in the rare double dissolution election, the Labor Party has conceded the LNC will be the biggest party and form the next government.
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Queensland Liberal National Party sources said the policy saw them lose votes and donations in the lead up to the poll. “I have been an advocate of electronic voting for a long time… yes, this is something we must look at”, said Mr Turnbull. “Consistent with our policies that we took to the election”, he said.
