After the Long Winter March

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