The Senate has 76 members. Unlike the House of Representatives, where the Speaker only votes in the event of a tie, all members vote on all matters. Therefore, the magic number to get anything done is 39.
A tied vote (38-38) is lost, so the government must have 39. Once it gets to 39 votes, everyone else has only 37.
On appearances, the new Senate is arithmetically more difficult for the Turnbull government than the one it had to deal with in the 44th Parliament. [Read more…]
The Senate results for New South Wales were finalised and announced this morning.
The Coalition retained 5 of its 6 senators, the ALP 4, the Greens 1 and Liberal Democrats 1. The final place was taken by One Nation.
The final composition of the Senate is now:
- Coalition 30 (-3)
- ALP 26 (+1)
- Greens 9 (-1)
- One Nation 4 (+4)
- Nick Xenophon Team 3 (+2)
- Liberal Democrats 1 (-)
- Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party 1 (+1)
- Family First 1 (-)
- Jacqui Lambie Network 1 (-)
- TOTAL = 76
The Coalition polled 35.85% of the primary vote and secured the re-election of its 5 senators – Marise Payne, Arthur Sinodinos, Fiona Nash (Nats), Connie Fierravanti-Wells and John Williams (Nats).
The Coalition has failed to replace Bill Heffernan, who retired at the election. Hollie Hughes, who at one stage threatened the Fierravanti-Wells’ position, has not been elected.
The ALP polled 31.28%, enough to return its 4 incumbent senators: Sam Dastyari, Jenny McAllister, Deborah O’Neill and Doug Cameron.
The Greens polled 7.41%, re-electing Lee Rhiannon to a second term.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation polled 4.10% of the vote and elected Brian Burston. His election means that One Nation will have 4 senators in the new parliament.
The Liberal Democrats secured the re-election of David Leyonhjelm, off a primary vote of 3.09%. [Read more…]
The transition to the Abbott Coalition government has begun, following Saturday’s federal election.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has surrendered his commission to the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce. It is expected that Tony Abbott and his ministry will be sworn in early next week. Abbott arrived in Canberra today to hold meetings with his senior colleagues and to take briefings from the public service.
In the Labor Party, moves appear to be afoot to elect a new leader by consensus. The outgoing Treasurer, Chris Bowen, announced he would not be a candidate for the position. It now appears that either Bill Shorten or Anthony Albanese will become leader. [Read more…]