Bob Katter has supported the Coalition; and the other two Independents will reveal their hand at 3pm.
Crikey has a liveblog, and ABC News 24 and News Radio are carrying Bob Katter’s press conference live.
Update: Bernard Keane summarises Katter’s press conference.
Update: Tony Windsor supports Labor.
“2 bob each way”…sums katter up.
Toolman think its ALP.
Its going to be 76 max either way.
That’s a bit weird.
Maybe he’s covering his base with his electorate – announcing support for the Coalition, then switching to secure “stability”?
I’m preparing myself for the worst. The picture of a jubilant Mr Rabbit punching the air with delight by the 7pm news.
Given both Katter and Wilkie have guaranteed they won’t block supply either way, it’ll end up being 77 in effect for either side I think.
@3 – but I’ve been watching the ABC broadcast, and now he emphatically says he’s made up his mind and won’t be switching votes.
Yeah, what Kim and Daniel said. The codicil about likely supporting any government in the interests of stability makes his endorsement of Abbott about as procedurally relevant as Wilkie’s endorsement of Gillard.
Bob’s support for the coalition was less than overwhelming – loves kevin and admires his and Julia’s work.
this makes no particular sense if the other two were going to support the coalition.
It makes excellent sense if they end upsupporting the ALP for government
Folder says 76/74!!: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/nations-secret-scrawled-on-folder-20100907-14ywr.html
Report from The Age
Mr Katter, he be trying to heighten the contradictions.
He’s implying very, very strongly he would have supported a Rudd govt, yet he says he has no difference with Gillard or Swan. Wtf?
He says the LNP is a division of the foul Liberal Party, the party of the terrible Hefferlumps, yet he’s giving this Libstrosity one last hope to form govt. Wtf?
I bet he knows that a PM Abbott would take us back to the polls next year. The commentariat push for A New Election Now could not have escaped him.
My take is Bob Katter has decided he’s willing to allow another election, because he’s fantasising about the possibility of it taking Australia one step closer to blowing up the major parties, somehow leading to the implementation of his 20 Commandments. That’s what I reckon.
Katter=Gutless
Of course, it would be 76/74 either way….
It’s hilarious that we’re reduced to scrawls on folders.
@13 – at any rate we still don’t know! Floods in Victoria on the news while we wait….
This belongs on a “divination” thread.
A photo of Mr Oakeshott’s manilla folder today shows the number 77 crossed out, and 76/74 written
The only way 77 could be achieved today was for KOW to go ALP. (Cows grazing in alpine meadows?). I reckon this means OW had plumped for ALP and had hoped to bring K along, but he finally sided with the Coalition, so OW then faced 76/74.
Is there an alternative interpretation?
What do you do half an hour before announcing who you’ve chosen to run the country?
Wondering if Windsor & Oakeshott are both having a kip somewhere, or sharing their Vegemite sandwiches.
You sit around ruminating: “nowt queer as folks, aye Tony?”
“Aye, nowt queer as Bob!”
“But no queers in his electorate, Tony.”
“Whatever you say, Rob.”
Los Dos Amigos rural operetta (trad.)
mid term review? WTF? Has the power gone to these blokes’ heads or wot? Or have they decided to let Abbott in till July then dump him once the greens have trhe BOP in the Senate. God knows what goes on in the increasingly weird minds of Oakeshott and Katter.
Update: Bernard Keane summarises Katter’s press conference.
So they didn’t negotiate collectively after all. I wonder if they gave the impression they did deliberately, or if the media was just determined to present it that way for the sake of its beloved narrative.
Bob Katter is the Sarah Palin of Australian politics – he’s so mavericky…:)
I hope I am wrong, but I suspect that Windsor going into the committee room half an hour early to check on media arrangements indicates that he will be taking the lead in the conference. The fact that he was all smiles indicates to me that it is not going to be 75-all. I fear he has managed to talk Oakeshott round and they will go with the Coalition.
If not for the fact Turnbull still almost certainly has a Liberal leadership baton in his Gucci manbag, and the fact the Indies’ desire for Speakership reform involves detailed plans of the major parties nominating MHRs from within their own ranks (and not creating any new Mal Colston rat figures), then yeah, I think you’re right about the maths.
@Ken Lovell,
If memory serves, KOW were quite explicit that they would be deliberating collectively, but gave no guarantees on anything more binding than that.
Nah, surely it’s Labor.
I won’t know until I get the chicken guts spread properly out on the table.
Eenie, Meenie, Minee, Mo…
If Katter has gone to the Liberals did he negotiate an Ambassadorship for Kevin Rudd as part of the deal?
Oakeshott will be pursuing a new career in Port Macquarie pretty soon as he will be thumped whenver the next election is.
76-74 whichever way you look is ungovernable for more than six months as MPs from both sides could break ranks anytime if they get disappointed about missing ministries or anything, floor crossing could become common.
Back to the polls people.
I so don’t want a Liberal government, although they can only inflict limited damage on me thru
1. bugger the economy with slashing government spending reducing value of my share portfolio, there goes the Telstra shares and
2. sell off Medibank Private making all private health insurance more expensive,
3. fail to improve internet speeds in the bush – well actually I want to move to Oakeshot’s electorate which might get city type service
Billie, you left out the element of hearing Abbott’s bloody voice “bludgeoning” us (H/T Pav) on the radio and seeing his face on the nightly news every bloody day.
Yes Megan, my sick bag’s at the ready.
Labor’s back in office then.
Bugger
Windsor for Labor. Hurrah!
almost there…..
Windsor supports Labor
Update: Tony Windsor supports Labor.
HUZAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Told ya.
May the Goddess rain a thousand blessings on Windsor’s arse!
I like the advice Windsor’s mum gave him.
I can’t imagine Oakeshott going the other way to Windsor on this -especially since he was thought to be Labor-leaning anyway.
statesman, as distinct from showpony like …
I like Windsor’s quote about Julia Gillard going to the election with the Liberal Party’s policies on boat people. How apt! I think I’m going to like these two holding the balance of power
yes, well either way we will have Toxic Tony in our face daily until the Liberals get another leader
these will be the last two bush independents for more than a decade methinks as they will now be savaged by their electorates. Besseling will be finished in Port Macquare in March.
Cannot wait to hear from Mark Vaile the former deputy PM.
It’d be funny is Oakeshott supports Abbott.
Lie with dogs and you get fleas – thought Windsor and Oakshot would know that being from the country.
Tony Windsor has rejected the exploitative populist approach of Bob Katter, and this reflects the difference between his electorate and Katters and his own more statesman like potential and the ability to take a wide or detached objective viewpoint.
Windsor takes pains to make his announcement against the thriving future oriented reality of his provincial electorate, against Katter’s electorate which is in “sunset” mode, through rationalisation, at the beginning of the twentyfirst century.
Windsor stresses broadband, hinting at a legacy for future generations.
Under the Oakeshott Parliamentary reforms you get 4 minutes to answer a question so I guess Oakeshott is making the most of his time in the sun, because its a long time until the next eclipse
Razor, bitter much?
Oakshot is off the reservation. I thought Fielding was a fruit loop but this guy takes the cake.
Actually Sam, while I consider the Coalition far and away the best government for Australia, I also think that not being the government for the next three years may mean they dodge a bullet given rising interest rates and a stagnating global economy.
I like Oakeshott, but God, opening his statements with a reference to ‘Highlander’?
Gillard’s Indy quotes straight-to-DVD (VCR?) b-grade movies, Abbott’s Indy quotes de Tocqueville. We’re through the looking glass.
Yeah razor, that magical 11 billion dollars would attract a lot of interest…. Come on Oakeshot.
If its 75-75 then its back to another election. If Oakeshott wants any power he has to go with the 76-74 option
And in the ABC news Just In, (http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/) the top two items are “Reserve holds rates, ‘no urgency to hike’” (Oh, yah, priorities people!) and then “Frying pan chemicals linked to raised cholesterol”.
What a country.
I think “Justin” is the work experience kid.
Just say Labor already Oaky!
Also, Nick, he got the key quote from about 27 movies wrong.
What’s the bet that their electorates get fibre optic cabling installed before Kennedy and almost everyone else.
bloody need the NBN now – cant get thru to ABC24 – what’s happening?
Wow, the man can talk.
Ah, the ‘good toss to lose’ argument. I suspect that the Liberals, as they survey the prospect of another three years in opposition, will not agree.
Except Turnbull. He’ll be sharpening the knives as I write.
rising interest rates and a stagnating global economy.
We might have one or the other. It’s hard to see how we’re going to have both.
Say it!!!!!
Oakeshott is rambling on for a little too long. We all know which way he’s going to go, he doesn’t need to be so long-winded. Do what Tony Windsor did -announce your decision than explain your reasoning.
I like Rob but he’s going on forever
I approve on Windsor’s actions today, not so much of Katters (though the Hatter obviously ended up voting none-of-the-above in the form of Mr Never To Be PM Abbott) but no, sorry, they’re both the same kind of eccentric John the Baptist type of bloke.
Only Katter also expresses hot love for ALP cabinet members(?!)
@59
They will get the Fibre before O finishes talking.
SAY IT!!! Aaaaaargh!!!!!!!!11111ELEVENTY!!!!!!
Sam – of course the Pollies want the levers of power and so they should. How’s it working out for Obama and the Dems being in power?
yay
Labor’s back!
Labor’s back!
Oakeshott sure is a prick tease.
Oakeshott has gone to the ALP
Helen, you’re looking in the wrong section.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/
That section has all the headlines about what’s going on that you could like, and since they have a special section for the election, that’s where the election stories go.
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2010/
YESSSSS!!
ABC site in metdown perhaps? I’m relying on the good folk at LP for running commentary and conclusive reports.
this calls for a second tim tam
Jeez Oakeshott is revelling in being in the spotlight isn’t he.
So far, before the third vote, the only one of the three to come out of this with dignity is Windsor.
Sorry your team lost Razor.
The two amigos presentation has been considered, Windsor first, then Oakeshott to emphasise the points Windsor made, re the future as to policy manifesto, stability, indigenes and education. You get the impression that this is a fellow Abbott really rubbed very, the wrong way
We have a Pope and she isn’t the Catholic candidate.
Thank fuck. Also, I had $150 riding on this.
New thread:
http://larvatusprodeo.net/2010/09/07/we-have-a-gillard-minority-government/