Australian Election 2019

[pErvinalia]

In a display of the tenuous grasp on power the current government has, they lost a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives today for the first time in 90 years. Unfortunately it wasn't a vote of No Confidence, but it was a significant alteration to our torture policy for refugees on random Pacific islands. Detainees might get the chance to see a doctor before they kill themselves.

Regarding the election, pundits put it May this year. Two party preferred polls point to a crushing defeat for the current conservative government. Let's hope that comes to pass.

[JimC]

Particularly hoping that Tony Abbott gets beaten by a female independent...

[pErvinalia]

Yep, that too.

[Svartalf]

and the odds of a female independent arriving anywhere near being elected are?

because , much as abbott is hateful, he still has a mean electoral machine behind him

[pErvinalia]

I wouldn't be surprised if he lost. Everyone is sick of him, including his own party.

[JimC]

and the odds of a female independent arriving anywhere near being elected are?

because , much as abbott is hateful, he still has a mean electoral machine behind him

A female independent won a by election recently against a Liberal candidate in the seat vacated by the ex-PM who was dumped by his party, following the machinations of arch conservative Tony Abbott. His ultra-conservative christian policies (he voted against same sex marriage) are on the nose with his electorate, who are conservative on economic issues, but socially liberal. His opponent actually has a good chance, IMO...

[Hermit]

and the odds of a female independent arriving anywhere near being elected are?

because , much as abbott is hateful, he still has a mean electoral machine behind him

Kerryn Phelps did exactly that when she won our previous Prime Minister's seat last October. Not only is she a woman, but she also lives with the woman she loves, Jackie Stricker. They were legally married in 1998 in New York and have an adopted daughter.

Zali Steggall is not guaranteed to win Abbott's seat, but her odds of doing just that are pretty good for two reasons: 1) ScoMo's government is even more on the nose than Turnbull's. 2) Abbott is on the nose even within his own party.

Abbott's electoral machine has been emasculated when most of the so called Liberal Party abandoned him in favour of Scott Morrison. The mad monk has been a has-been ever since the party sacked him on the grounds of being an unacceptably high electoral liability.