[20181022]IN10989_澳大利亚无党派议会与选举.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Australias Hung Parliament and Elections name redacted Specialist in Asian Affairs Updated October 22, 2018 Introduction A surprise defeat in an October 20 parliamentary by-election in the Australian electorate of Wentworth left the conservative Liberal Party-led government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison without a majority in parliament. Independent politician Kerryn Phelps victory in the Wentworth district ended extended conservative control of the seat, which was long held by former Liberal Party Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. One interpretation of the swing in voter sentiment away from the Liberal candidate is that voters sought to punish the party for ousting Turnbull as Prime Minister and Party Leader in August 2018. The next national parliamentary election is now expected in May 2019. Hung Parliament The current hung parliament consists of 75 members of the Liberal-National Coalition, 69 Labor Party members, and 6 crossbenchers. If any one of the crossbench MPs align themselves with the Liberal-National Coalition, the government would once again have a majority in parliament. Conversely, if all