A recipe for gridlock

Prime Minister Julia Gillard with Governor-General Quentin Bryce at Government House in Canberra. Picture: Foote David

SUBLIME chaos after a 17-day delay has seen two rural independents save Julia Gillard's prime ministership and rescue Labor's political neck.

The price will be weak and uncertain government under a strange political beast: a Labor-Green-independent rainbow alliance.

Gillard will have a minority in both the House and Senate. The 2-1 split yesterday among the rural independents has given Gillard the tightest possible 76-74 floor majority. This may keep Labor in power for a full term but legislative gridlock and timid policy are looming.

Despite the talk of sunshine, the legacy is more likely to be bad political blood, a war between the pro-Labor rural independents and the Nationals, and a guaranteed Tony Abbott-led Coalition campaign that the Gillard government is without legitimacy.

Despite the margin, Gillard is elected Prime Minister in her own right and will emerge with enhanced standing and authority.

Abbott could not have come closer to power.

In the end the Liberal leader fell short of a miracle victory and is likely to become a formidable opposition leader.

The two pro-Labor independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, performed a dual feat.

The NSW regional MPs delivered Labor office and their purpose was to deny the Australian people a second election.

The shadow overhanging the Gillard-Green-independent agreement is the guarantee of a full three-year parliament.

This is inconsistent with the Australian constitution and potentially contrary to the national interest in a parliament that may become ineffective.

The reluctance to recognise the right of the people to decide this issue during the next three years is politically and ethically dubious.