Post-electoral musical chairs

patrickcallioni's picture

It is now more than a week  since the election and negotiations proceed to determine who will form the next government; noting that we already have a government, albeit in caretaker mode.

Incumbency could become very significant in this complicated post-electoral game of musical chairs, as Jack Waterford explained in The Canberra Times recently. Waterford's point was that if Julia Gillard were to go to Government House now and sought a fresh appointment as PM, she would get it, on the grounds that until a no-confidence vote in the House of Representatives went against her, she is entitled to assume that she the confidence of the House.

A no-confidence motion would require either 75 votes to be successful, because the Speaker does not vote, by tradition, unless there is a tied vote – though interestingly in the ACT the Green Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has been known to temporarily give up his post as Speaker so that he can cast a partisan vote.

Accelerating social changemakers: it's all about the people

msweeks@cisco.com's picture

Martin Stewart-Weeks, Chair of the Australian Social Innovation Exchange (ASIX) reflects on the first year and where the organisation is headed next.

 

Psychology: public perceptions and social roles

Shane Rogers's picture

Researchers from the University of Western Australia are seeking volunteers to complete a short questionnaire regarding the public perception of psychology.

Reflections on the election campaign

patrickcallioni's picture

If we want to move away from the politics of the lowest common denominator, let us start from the right place.

Cochlear keeps innovating

Rami Banna speaks to Open Forum's Kate Williamson about the Cochlear Nucleus 5 System; winner of an Australian International Design Award 2010.