A week after its election, Australia is waiting for a new government. Neither side won a majority of the 150 House of Representative seats. Though counting is still continuing, the likely result is: 72 Australian Labor Party, 73 Liberal/National Parties, 1 Greens, 4 Independents. The nation watches while negotiations take place to form a minority government. Bloggers have been busy speculating not only on possible outcomes but also the reasons for the hung parliament. At his self-titled site Adrian Phoon speculates on the rise of the Greens, blaming the ALP for its own woes: The ALP’s assumption that it could rely on the progressive vote even when it offered progressive voters little comfort was proven false. (Obama in the US would do well to take note of the ALP’s election woes.) He echoes a common cry: One thing’s for sure: the ALP needs to get back on the climate change bandwagon, for its own sake as well as the planet’s, and soon. Australian Election 2010: How the Left Was Won Colin Jacobs of Electronic Frontiers had campaigned hard against the Labor Government’s proposed internet filter. He sees the result as vindication: I believe many internet users had their political consciousness awoken by this attempt to slap censorship on the country's net connections. When this issue was important to people, it didn't just put them slightly off-side, but made them hopping mad, if not lifelong skeptics of the ALP. How you shaped the Election At Café Whispers, a blog where I occasionally post, Nasking laments the state of play: What does surprise me is the amount of people who are willing to vote for these “win at all costs”, “say & do anything to gain power” politicians & media allies who often display the moral development level of a “me me me” adolescent willing to destroy all of the community fair’s Leggo constructions because they didn’t get the blue ribbon & prizes when they expected them…and petulantly stand with hands on hips screeching out: REMATCH!!!. Friday Siesta At The Cafe (“Waiting” Edition) Duckpond is more concerned with one big issue than who forms government: Next week we will probably have a government to replace the caretaker government but will we have a government prepared to act on Global Warming? … Global warming is not an issue that will go away. It is a looming crisis unfolding over the next century that demands policy, foresight and courage. If the non-scientific opinion is put aside, its effects will impact Australia as anywhere else on the globe. … A week may be a long time in politics, but is a short moment in global warming. WAITING IS NOT A OPTION The gay marriage blog has renewed hope for legalisation, touched with realism: With the Greens now potentially holding the balance of power in both houses of Parliament gay marriage has never been closer to the political centre stage. … In fact, all it would take would be the opportunity to introduce a Private Member’s Bill with a subsequent free vote. Gillard could even take some of the credit if she dared – by having a Labor MP introduce the bill. If that sounds alarms on her political radar a Greens Senator or Bandt could do it. … the post-election negotiations are a tough moment for gays and the politicians they have placed their faith in. AUSTRALIAN GREENS MUST HOLD LINE The Political Sword has two posts on what may have brought about the election result. They analyse possible factors: The Rudd factor seems to be the most convincing explanation of why it has come to this. There are many others: the Gillard factor, the Queensland factor, the NSW factor, the Abbott factor, the Coalition factor, the media factor, and even more. They are for other pieces. Its conclusion: I still like Kevin Rudd. I believe him to be a fine person of high integrity and lofty ideals who has a splendid vision for this nation, and many policy ideas for improving the lot of its people. It has been the process of implementing policy and communicating with the electorate that has come unstuck and has disappointed so many of us who have supported him throughout. But I for one still admire him and regret it has come to this. More on: How has it come to this? Lorenzo at Thinking Out Aloud is far more optimistic than the rest: It was reasonable to complain about the limited substance in the recent Federal election campaign, and the hung Parliament result made its own statement about the lack of defining content in the election. Yet, we also had two personable, intelligent, public-spirited people on offer as Prime Minister. Leading proposed ministerial line-ups of generally sensible and experienced people.