Why who the next Prime Minister is might be of little importance

Whilst the counting of votes is over the election is yet to be completed. Right now the discussions continue between the ‘three amigos’ who are clearly maximising their time in the spotlight, and the two leaders of the major parties. And whilst the media is fixated on who ought to be, deserves to be, should be and could be the next Prime Minister, maybe we’re missing the bigger picture. At the end of the day it really won’t matter.

It won’t matter because the power in this Parliament whoever takes the throne, will not reside with the House of Representatives but with the Senate. And herein lays the biggest challenge for the three independents. Even if they strike a deal with either major party about power sharing arrangements, and even if they believe they have a chance to develop some serious pork barreling of funds within their own electorates, it is unlikely that those in the Senate who hold the balance of power, will allow ‘biased’ legislation through.

The simple fact is that the Greens have the balance of power, that they are likely to aim for pragmatism whilst holding on to their core ideals and that any negotiating would perhaps be best placed on the Senate floor. Given the massive green sentiment in society now it is even likely that the Greens would welcome an opportunity for a double dissolution such is the likely swing their way. About a decade ago I wrote a small ideas piece suggesting that the most obvious political alignment was between the National Party and the Greens given they are often talking about the same needs, just from different approaches. Maybe the Independents holding current Queen or King maker status might pop that into reality.

As the saying goes ‘we live in interesting times’.