December 8, 2023
In an election pitch for his return as an independent member in the NSW electorate of New England, Tony Windsor last night told viewers of the ABC’s QandA that country voters needed to use their clout “more strategically”.
In putting his argument for having more independent members in minority parliaments, Windsor claimed that “in the first 20 years of Federation there was only one majority parliament”.
As counting of the 2013 federal election winds down, the Senate election result is now clear.
There is a small chance of change in Western Australia where the Greens have asked for a recount following Scott Ludlam’s defeat.
Because of the fixed terms of the Senate, it will be another nine months before the complexion of the Senate changes. Current senators remain in place until June 30, 2014.
The current numbers are:
| The Current Senate – until June 30, 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Party/Group | No. |
| Coalition | |
| A.L.P. | |
| Greens | |
| D.L.P. (Madigan) | |
| Independent (Xenophon) | |
| TOTAL | |
In this configuration, the Greens hold the balance of power. The Greens-ALP combination has a blocking majority. It ensures that Abbott government legislation to repeal the carbon pricing arrangements and the mining tax will most likely be rejected by the Senate.
This will be the state of the parties in the Senate after July 1, 2014:
| The New Senate – from July 1, 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Party/Group | No. |
| Coalition | |
| A.L.P. | |
| Greens | |
| Palmer United Party | |
| D.L.P. (Madigan) | |
| Liberal Democrats (Leyonhjelm) | |
| Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (Muir) | |
| Family First (Day) | |
| Independent (Xenophon) | |
| TOTAL | |
In this configuration, the ALP-Greens combination becomes less important and power shifts to a collection of minor groups and independents.
The Age reports today that voter support for the 3 Victorian independents remains firm, but has slipped slightly, since their decision to support the Bracks-led minority Labor government.
The table shows the five independent members of the House of Representatives following the 1996 federal election.
The election was held on March 2, 1996.