Australia faces hung parliament after shock by-election
Ruling Liberal Party loses one-seat parliamentary majority ahead of next year’s general election
Australia is once again facing political turmoil and uncertainty, after a shock by-election defeat saw the governing coalition lose its one-seat parliamentary majority.
The knife-edge vote for former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth constituency in suburban Sydney was finally declared for independent candidate Kerryn Phelps, a local doctor, after counting continued into a second day.
The result represented a 19% swing against the ruling Liberal Party compared to the 2016 election, “one of the largest ever swings in a federal by-election”, says the Daily Mail.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Even before the result had been officially declared, the Liberal Party was “already turning in on itself”, reports News.com.au.
The news site says the conservatives are “split between those who blame Turnbull for the defeat and those who say it’s the Liberal Party’s own fault for knifing him”.
While the post-mortem rages, the immediate effect of the result is that the Liberal Party’s ruling coalition with the nine-seat National Party “will probably have to rely on support from independent lawmakers to survive the next few months, as a general election is due by May next year”, reports Reuters.
It is a bitter blow to new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who drew sharp criticism during the campaign by raising the possibility of moving the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem - seen as a blatant attempt to woo Wentworth’s large Jewish community .
Now, less than two months into the job and with two independent MPs already vowing not to back him, his position is already precarious.
The ouster of Turnbull over the summer brought Australia to its sixth prime minister in eight years, and this by-election “sent a blunt message to Australia's political class that back-stabbing and party dysfunction won't be tolerated” reports the BBC’s Phil Mercer.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published