Election Update

The Labor Party has managed to form a minority government after three independents sided with Labor rather than with the Coalition.

To recap, Australians elected 73 Coalition members and 72 Labor members to the 150-seat House of Representatives.  Over the past 2+ weeks the two major parties have negotiated with 4 independents and 1 Green party member to enable them to form a minority government.  The Green member and 3 of the independents signed a confidence and supply agreement with Labor enabling them to reach 76 seats and form a government.

This makes Julia Gillard the prime minister and the first female PM elected to office in Australia.  It also creates a somewhat fragile power balance which may mean Australia could hold another national election before the expiration of the three-year term.