So, right now it's a dead-heat between Labor and LNP.

[Matilda]

Whoever wins, the chances of a hung parliament seem to be very likely, according to the Fairfax-Ipsos poll released today.

There are worse things, such as a Turnbull government in a clear majority. I'm praying that voters will decide to go for Shorten, the underdog, in traditional Australian fashion, but it's a nervous time for the Left.

The Senate will be interesting, whoever wins. In spite of the efforts of LNP and the Greens to get rid of minor parties who so stuffed up things for Abbott and Turnbull in their first terms, there's a good chance that many of them will still be around to give the government a hard time. Lazarus and Lambie are believed to have a very good chance of holding their seats, Xenophon is expected to be joined by up to four of his new team in the Senate, and the Greens will hold their numbers, at least.

With so much at stake - Medicare, Gonski reforms, and climate change, to mention the most outstanding, this is a nail-biting election. Not helped by the blatant bias not only of Murdoch and Fairfax (expected), but the ABC - quite a shock to see the Lib trolls in full cry on Auntie. Although, perhaps not, given that a Murdoch toady has the top job.

So vote carefully in the Senate, everyone - they're the votes that count.

And may your candidate win tomorrow!

[Matilda]

1. Election 2016: Major parties under siege as 'voter rage' takes hold

From ABC's Political Editor, Chris Uhlmann:

"If Malcolm Turnbull forms Government it will be with the barest of majorities, or in an alliance with the crossbench.

"He will face enemies across the aisle and in his ranks and a Senate with at least as many weird moving parts as the one he just expunged.

"In his early morning speech he invoked John Howard's narrow victory in 1998 as a talisman for how he might cobble something that looks like a victory from this ruin.

"The comparison fails because Mr Howard was a consummate politician and the Prime Minister has just proved, again, that he is not."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-03/election-2016-turnbull-and-shorten-have-plenty-to-worry-about/7565704



One thing Malcolm Turnbull has proved beyond a shadow of doubt is that his political judgment is faulty - or perhaps it's non-existent. He has misread his own electoral appeal, misread the Opposition Leader, and misread the minds of voters.

He went to a double dissolution against the advice of many in his own party, then failed to articulate any meaningful policy during the campaign. ("Jobs and Growth" doesn't quite cut it as a policy manifesto.)

He has achieved nothing in his 10 months in office, except to force us all to pay more to see a doctor, and now he's given us some of the looniest Senators ever to make their appearance in the Upper House.

And let's not try to think about his appalling performance on Election night, when he hid out in his Point Piper mansion and made us all wait until after midnight just to hear the most abject speech ever made by a PM - he failed to commiserate with those of his colleagues who'd lost their seats, then railed against Labor for being - the Opposition? Then he topped it off by threatening to call the police.

In some ways, I hope Labor doesn't get over the line this time around, because it will be a thankless task for whoever becomes PM. But in Opposition Labor has a chance to thwart the worst legislation of the LNP, provided they and the Greens co-operate.Then they can have a comfortable win next time.

But whatever happens, Turnbull's finished. We could see the return of the Mad Monk, or, as I heard someone say this morning, Peter Dutton could become leader. This is going from the unworkable to the ridiculous!

But it could still be days until we know the result - they begin counting postals tomorrow, but as Antony Green has said, with such a close result, they'll be counted and recounted.

Thanks, Malcolm - don't let the door hit you on your way out.