Federal election 2022: Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott reject independent chaos fears

Two independent MPs who propped up the tumultuous Gillard minority government argue a hung parliament can be good while rejecting claims of “chaos”.

Two independent MPs who propped up the tumultuous Gillard minority government want Australia to have a sequel, saying a hung parliament can be good while rejecting claims of “chaos”.

Former crossbench MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott - who backed Julia Gillard in the 2010 minority government - are speaking out amid Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s allegations “the chaos” of a parliament stacked with independents would “hurt people’s incomes”

Mr Morrison on Friday wouldn’t say if he would resign the leadership in the event of a hung parliament but warned voters against the “chaos” of a minority government.

“If (voters) want to consider an alternative that leads to chaos in the parliament, then that will only lead to their interests, their families, their jobs, their economy, being under threat,” he said.

But Mr Windsor said allegations of “chaos” were overblown, pointing to the fact the Gillard Government passed more legislation than any government other than John Howard’s final term when he controlled both the House and Senate.

Independent MP Rob Oakeshott (left) hugs fellow independent Tony Windsor. (AAP Image/Alan Porritt) NO ARCHIVING

“Gillard was more successful at it than Morrison or Turnbull, or Abbott,” he said.

While the Gillard government had nearly 92 per cent of all Bills introduced ultimately pass both houses compared to the recent government’s 83 per cent, her popularity plummeted in the polls and Kevin Rudd sensationally deposed her as leader.

Hamstrung with a minority, the Government suffered majors scandals – standing by Craig Thomson longer than it should of after it emerged he misused a union credit card and appointing speaker Peter Slipper, who later resigned amid sexual harassment allegations that were discontinued.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard speaks to independent MP Tony Windsor after question time at Parliament House (AAP Image/Alan Porritt)

Gillard famously backtracked on a pledge not to introduce a carbon tax, which Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott supported.

Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott – who retired in 2013 without facing voters – are now involved in Climate 200, the organisation bankrolling many of the “teal” independents.

Both Mr Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese have “ruled out” doing deals with independents or minor parties in order to govern — claims Mr Windsor said would “come back to bite them”.

Mr Windsor said the hung parliament worked because it “empowered the parliament” and removed “power from the Prime Minister’s office”.

Independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor talk to PM Julia Gillard at the end of Question Time.

Mr Oakeshott, the independent for the NSW seat of Lyne in 2010 who famously gave an excruciating 17-minute speech before finally revealing he would back a Labor minority government – said “those that benefit most from the argument of chaos and instability are screaming it the loudest”

“Voters should see it for what it is,” he said.

In an address to the Washington Harvard Club on Friday, former Prime Minister Mr Turnbull said that since he was ousted from the role in 2018 “the liberal, or moderate voices have been marginalised” in his party and their influence is “much diminished and diminishing”.

He said the rise of the teal independents was the most “interesting” part of the election and denied that a minority government would lead to chaos and instability, as the Coalition has claimed.

Prime Minster Julia Gillard greets independent MP Rob Oakeshott ahead of meeting with the tree Independents including Katter and Windsor at her Parliament House office in Canberra, is seeking their support in hung parliament after 2010 federal election, to retain office.

Outside of federal politics, former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie backed in the feasibility of a minority government, asserting “they can work, they should work, and they are hard work”— as long as the leader was open, strong, and transparent.

Mr Beattie, who himself led a minority government with confidence of supply from a “decent and genuine independent (Sunshine Coast MP Peter Wellington), said arguments against it was “a lot of bluster to be frank”.

PM Julia Gillard and independent MP Rob Oakeshott talking at the end of the Tax Forum at Parliament House in Canberra.

“You have to remember, that at the heart of this, where does the minority come from? It comes from the people,” Mr Beattie said.

“Political parties have to get off their backsides and make it work.

“They can work, they should work, they are hard work.”

Kennedy MP Bob Katter, who also backed the Gillard government in 2010, has declined to spell out who he would support in the event of a minority government — only that his list of demands would this time encompass timelines for projects to be delivered and not just funding agreements.

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Originally published as Federal election 2022: Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott reject independent chaos fears