Malcolm Roberts and Jacqui Lambie are attempting comebacks but the Australian election is likely to reverse the trend towards minor parties
The 2016 federal election produced a large and diverse crossbench, with three minor parties winning three or more seats, while four other parties won a seat each. The double dissolution election made it easier for small parties but the trend is likely to reverse in 2019, with many of these crossbenchers in difficult races.
While the crossbench is large, the balance of power in the Senate is generally held by a group of senators who sit close to the centre (or at least defy classification), including the Centre Alliance, Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer. This election gives the Greens a narrow chance of grabbing the balance of power, but it’s more likely that a bloc of centrist senators will remain crucial to the next government’s agenda.
Continue reading...from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2Guz2fn
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