Lexi Webster
Australia has had several minority governments, with the first three governments being minority governments. A minority government was formed in 2010 for the first time since 1940, with the Labor Party and Coalition both winning 72 seats. This was followed by minority governments in the Turnbull and Gillard eras. The Australian Greens have also been a part of minority governments, advocating for policies such as dental care for children and free GP visits. With federal elections approaching, a minority government seems likely once again, as major party votes slip and minor parties gain traction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of minority governments in Australia | The first three governments in Australia were minority governments. Before 2010, there hadn't been a federal minority government for 70 years. However, minority governments are still common at the state and territory levels. |
| Impact on legislation | The Gillard minority government passed more than 90% of the bills introduced to parliament, a higher percentage than the majority Rudd government. |
| Political stability | Australia has not experienced constitutional instability or political turmoil due to minority governments. No government has lost a confidence or budget vote. |
| Political behaviour | Minority governments can lead to more cooperative behaviour in parliament, with politicians being more attentive and responsive to community needs. |
| Electoral dynamics | The rise of minority governments in Australia is attributed to a decrease in voters locked into the major parties (Labor or Liberal National), resulting in a more diverse political landscape. |
| Political negotiations | Minority governments require negotiations and support from minor parties or independents, referred to as "supply and confidence." |
| Political campaigns | The Australian Greens have launched a national campaign targeting House of Representatives seats and Senate positions, aiming to influence policy in a potential minority government. |
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What You'll Learn
The Gillard minority government
Australia's first hung parliament since the 1940 election was formed after the 2010 federal election, with both Labor and the Coalition winning 72 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, four short of the requirement for a majority government. This resulted in Australia's first minority government since 1940. Julia Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, led the Labor Party in forming a minority government with the support of six crossbench MPs, including four independents and two Greens MPs.
Gillard secured the support of independents Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, and Andrew Wilkie, as well as Greens MP Adam Bandt. This gave her a slim 76-74 majority in the House of Representatives. To gain their support, Gillard made several commitments, including a $9.9 billion funding package for regional areas and a $2,000 rebate for people to update pre-1995 motor vehicles. She also agreed to establish an independent Parliamentary Budget Office and meet regularly with the independents and Greens leader Bob Brown to discuss and negotiate legislation.
Gillard's minority government faced challenges, including leadership tensions within the Labor Party and the need to negotiate with the Greens and independents to pass legislation. She also faced criticism for her support of Labor MP Craig Thomson, who was under investigation by the Health Services Union (HSU) for financial breaches. Despite these challenges, Gillard maintained her position that Labor would govern for a full three-year term rather than call an early election.
Gillard's minority government lasted until the next election in 2013, when Labor lost power to the Coalition, led by Tony Abbott.
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The Greens' national campaign
The Australian Greens, commonly referred to as The Greens, are a confederation of green state and territory political parties in Australia. The party was formed in 1992 and is currently the third-largest political party in Australia by vote and fourth-largest by elected representation.
The Greens have launched their biggest-ever national campaign for minority government. The party has not yet announced its final list of priorities, but it has outlined some of its key policies. These include seeking action on housing, health, and other cost-of-living issues, as well as ending native forest logging and stopping new coal and gas mines. The Greens plan to fund these policies by taxing big corporations and billionaires, with a proposed 10% tax on the net wealth of Australian billionaires.
The Greens are targeting five House of Representatives seats in addition to the four they currently hold and are seeking to return all Senators up for re-election. The party's leader, Adam Bandt, has said that the housing, cost of living, and climate crises are getting worse, and that voters need to look beyond the two major parties to bring about change.
The Greens have faced criticism for their idealistic policies, with some arguing that they are unrealistic and unaffordable. The party has also been accused of using its power to block or delay bills for little apparent gain. However, The Greens have had some successes in previous minority governments, such as getting dental care for children covered by Medicare. With a predicted minority government in the upcoming election, The Greens aim to keep Dutton out and push Labor to act on their priorities.
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The 2010 federal election
The 2010 Australian federal election, held on Saturday, 21 August, was a closely contested affair. The incumbent centre-left Australian Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, faced off against the opposition centre-right Liberal Party of Australia, led by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, and their Coalition partner, the National Party of Australia, led by Warren Truss. This election produced a federal minority government, a rare occurrence in Australia, and the first since 1940.
The Labor Party and the Coalition each secured 72 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, four short of the required number for a majority government. This resulted in a hung parliament, with six crossbenchers—consisting of four independents, one Greens MP, and one WA Nationals MP—holding the balance of power. The Greens MP, Adam Bandt, and independent MPs Andrew Wilkie, Rob Oakeshott, and Tony Windsor declared their support for Labor, tipping the scales in their favour.
The close nature of the election can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the Australian Electoral Commission's (AEC) handling of the election came under scrutiny. The AEC calculated "notional" margins for redistributed divisions, modelling the outcome of the previous election with new boundaries in place. This calculation method affected the seat distribution. Secondly, the High Court of Australia's ruling in Rowe v Electoral Commissioner just before the election invalidated certain provisions of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, specifically those related to closing the electoral roll on the day the federal election was issued. This ruling may have had an impact on voter eligibility and turnout.
Additionally, the election took place against a backdrop of political resignations and by-elections. Rob Oakeshott, a former Nationals member who became an independent MP, won the seat of Lyne in a 2008 by-election triggered by the resignation of Nationals leader Mark Vaile. This reduced the Coalition's total seats. Other resignations and by-elections leading up to the 2010 election included Peter McGauran (Nationals), Alexander Downer (Liberal), and former Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison. These changes likely influenced the composition of the House of Representatives and the overall dynamic of the election.
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The Labor Party and Coalition
Australia has had a number of minority governments at both the You may want to see also Australia has had several minority governments in its history, with the first three governments being minority governments. However, before 2010, there had not been a minority government at the federal level for 70 years. Since then, minority governments have become more common, with the country experiencing minority governments in the Turnbull and Gillard eras. This trend is attributed to a decrease in the primary vote share for major parties, leading to the election of more minor parties and independents to the House. The rise of minor parties and independents, such as the Australian Greens, contributes to the likelihood of minority governments. The Greens have launched their biggest-ever national campaign for a minority government, targeting additional House of Representatives seats and seeking to re-elect their Senators. Their success in achieving representation in parliament could further increase the chances of a minority government. Additionally, the dynamics of a hung parliament, where no single party holds a majority, can lead to a minority government. In such scenarios, the minority government must negotiate and collaborate with other parties or independents to maintain stability and avoid no-confidence motions. This can result in a more diverse range of views being represented in the government and increased responsiveness to community concerns. While minority governments can bring advantages such as greater diversity and representation, there are also challenges. The horse-trading and negotiations in a hung parliament can exacerbate populism, opportunism, and polarisation, potentially destabilising the political system. Furthermore, minority governments may face difficulties in passing legislation, although this is not always the case, as evidenced by the Gillard minority government's success in passing over 90% of bills introduced to parliament. You may want to see also There have been very few minority governments in Australia at a federal level. Before 2010, there hadn't been one for 70 years. However, minority governments are common at the state and territory level. A minority government is when a party forms a government without having a majority of seats and must, therefore, rely on the support of other parties or independents. A minority government can lead to more diverse viewpoints being represented at the cabinet table and can also result in politicians being more responsive to their communities. A minority government can lead to political instability and a logjam of legislation as horse-trading and negotiation are required to pass laws. Yes, the Gillard minority government managed to pass more than 90% of the bills introduced to parliament, which was more than was passed under the majority Rudd government.Converting Currency: 20,000 Pounds to Australian Dollars
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The likelihood of minority governments
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