[alwaysinshade]

No, that's just Tony Abbott. Expect more hilarity in the years (days?) to come. If you can't wait, just Google some of his past statements. If you like prejudice, two-dimensional thinking and more meaningless rhetoric than you can shake a stick at, then you're going to love Tony Abbott.

Let's see where he can take a country that ranked #2 on the Human Development Index and the highest of 34 countries on the OECD Better Life index. Should be interesting, considering he was voted in by the "Aussie battlers" who were enjoying a better quality of life than they've ever experienced in Australian history (notice Australia doesn't move on the HDI even when you account for inequality? The US sure does, from #3 to #16). Should be great when, under the Trans-Pacific Partnership he sells out to the US to trade a few horses [1] and our healthcare/pharmaceutical industry emulates the American system. Good times ahead.

[1] "there's always horse-trading in these negotiations, but in the end … everyone is better off" - Tony Abbot, November 14, 2013

[voltagex_]

If I think pessimistically, between the TPP, NBN and carbon "tax", this government could do 50+ years worth of damage to Australia's economy, not to mention damage to reputation.

What can we do?

[SyneRyder]

Worth noting that the spying incident occurred in April 2009, which was under the leadership of Kevin Rudd... who would have been Prime Minister if Abbott hadn't won. Voting the other way may not have reduced the impact of this incident at all.

I think all we can do is stop looking to government to solve everything for us. Work on your own sphere of influence, what you can improve yourself. All sides of politics are failing Australia right now, maybe it's better to just bypass government wherever you can, do things yourself or work with the people who can do things directly.

[voltagex_]

Unfortunately I was relying on having 100+ megabit internet for working remotely.

[MetallicCloud]

I think the chance to do anything finished after the election.

[dwd]

There's any number of controversial bills that could trigger a Double Dissolution. The near doubling of the debt ceiling is one, though I expect Hockey to capitulate and take the 400 billion option.

Clive Palmer's senate team are the ones to watch as they will be key in blocking the passage of any supply bills.