Just over two weeks on from the election and the dust has mostly settled. 

In the House of Representatives, the ALP had a 3.2% swing for them on a two-party preferred basis and has gained eight seats, but has actually had a 0.8% swing against them on a primary vote basis. The Liberal Party on the other hand were soundly defeated, losing 18 seats, with four of these notably to climate focussed independents in their heartland. 

(source ABC) 

In the Senate, provided ABC estimates are correct, the Coalition will have 31 seats, the ALP 26, the Greens 12, One Nation two, the Jacqui Lambie Network two, and an independent from Canberra one. There are two seats with a very unclear result, which will only be decided after a long distribution of preferences. My guess is these will go to One Nation in SA and the UAP in Vic (The ABC thinks the Liberals might get both). Barring an upset in Canberra or elsewhere, the ALP and Greens will have a total of 38 votes, needing just 39 to pass legislation. 

(source ABC)

The end result of this is that the ALP will form a majority Government with firm control over the House of Representatives. In the Senate the ALP, if they have the support of the Greens, will be one short of a majority in a diverse chamber. This will mean that on issues on which the ALP and Greens are agreed, the ALP will also have close to effective control in the Senate. Barring an upset in preferences, the ALP will thus be in a strong position to pass whatever legislation they choose through both houses. 

But what are the implications of this election looking forward? 

The Liberal party was crushed on climate change. The liberals lost four safe seats to climate focused independents. Worse for the Liberals is that they may face similar challenges in other seats in the future. The Liberal party now faces a choice. Will they adopt a genuinely conservative policy that conserves our planet for future generations, or will they continue with their destructive corruption of conservatism that destroys our future planet for profit? This is a choice the Liberal Party must make, but until they take the obvious lesson on climate change, we doubt they can win another election. 

Looking forward, one of the other main points of contention we see is on religious freedom. Since the previous election (2019) the ALP has been making positive noises towards religious voters. Despite this, it appears clear that the vast majority of ALP MPs do not personally support religious freedom and freedom of conscience that cuts against their social values. With the ALP now firmly in control of parliament and no longer needing religious votes to get elected (this time), we will see whether they have a genuine commitment to tolerating social conservative views, or whether their words have simply been a cynical vote winning exercise. 

Another takeaway is the collapse in the major party vote. With 31.1% of the vote going to other parties, there is a potentially existential crisis brewing for both the Liberal Party and the ALP. After reforming its views on climate, will the LNP be able to hold onto its city heartland? Is the ALP able to maintain support from diverse groups such as those in the cities, religious voters in places like Western Sydney, and the working class? For these parties to maintain their dominance, they must find an inclusive vision that can appeal to all Australians. 

In a great step forward, the Australian parliament now has a record 10 Indigenous members. We look forward to these perspectives being better considered in policy making and the impact this might have on the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The 47th parliament of Australia also boasts record numbers of women and the first Muslim federal ministers. As our political landscape shifts to better reflect Australia's demographic make-up, we hope for a forward looking and genuinely inclusive society.

We hope for the best. We hope that the ALP is able to run an effective government where people of all social views are welcome. We also hope that the Coalition reforms itself into an effective opposition under Peter Dutton, purges the corruption within it, and takes a position on climate change that conservatives who care about the future can be proud of. 

As we in the Common Good Party look to the future, we see that our voice is so clearly needed. While we hope that the climate debate in Australia will now be settled, there are many other unresolved issues. Housing is still unaffordable, refugees are still not treated properly, religious freedom needs protecting, and, tragically, we still lose at least 65 000 Australian lives to abortion each year. The Common Good Party needs a strong voice and as we look forward, we hope that you will join our party and help us advocate for a better future.