Jennifer Menzies writes in the ‘Machinery of Government’ blog (20.11.17) about what to expect in the outcome of a hung parliament following the state election in Queensland.
‘After the excitement of election day, long transitions have become the norm in Queensland politics. The reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting and new electoral boundaries have increased the possibility that forming the next government of Queensland will be a lengthy affair. It is expected that the counting of votes and allocation of preferences could take some time and after this is completed there will be two options.
‘The first is that there will be a clear outcome with one party having gained enough seats to command the floor of the House or alternatively neither of the major parties have enough seats to form government and must come to an arrangement with independents and minor parties to support key confidence and supply motions to allow them to govern within a hung Parliament.
‘There are two issues at play here – what happens when there is a lengthy transition and what is the process to manage government formation in the event of a hung Parliament?’