In the Booth

Ultimately the Prime Minister’s destiny – and that of all the other players – is decided by voters, pencil in hand. Despite a new optional-preferential voting system, confronted with a larger than ever Senate ballot paper Australians exercised their right to vote below the line. When 20 independent senators were elected, the re-elected Coalition government was in a more vulnerable position. They needed nine Senate votes in addition to their own to pass legislation, rather than the previous six.