New government to be announced today

Updated September 7, 2010 13:05:32

It's been seventeen days since Australia voted and the nation was left in political limbo.

Today, that could change, with the three country independents, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter, believe they now have all the information they need to decide whether Labor leader Julia Gillard or the conservative coalition's Tony Abbott should be Prime Minister. Late yesterday, they agreed on bi-partisan parliamentary reform and received assurance about which side the West Australian National, Tony Crook, would support.

Presenter: David Mark
Speakers: Rob Oakeshott, Independent MP For Lyne; Bob Katter, Independent MP For Kennedy

DAVID MARK: There were group hugs and back slaps.

But even the Independent MP driving new parliamentary reforms, Rob Oakeshott, knew the goodwill binding all sides of politics was temporary.

ROB OAKESHOTT: We've had a nice moment over the last two weeks and we've done some good work. It's not going to last.

DAVID MARK: So the three Independents who'll decide government have stitched up parliamentary reform.

Late yesterday that left one sticking point, the position of the seemingly independent West Australian National, Tony Crook.

Will he or won't he support the Coalition in regards to confidence and supply?

Rob Oakeshott.

ROB OAKESHOTT: If Mr Crook is not in a formal agreement on confidence and supply with Mr Abbott we cannot form a government with Mr Abbott even if we wanted to.

DAVID MARK: It makes it sound as if Mr Crook's position is going to decide your position, which way you'll fall, is that the case?

ROB OAKESHOTT: Well no, no, not at all, we are still working through our process but we, you know, need to get an answer to this question on whether there's formal agreement between Mr Abbott and Mr Crook on confidence and supply is actually in place and if there is not that changes some of the assumptions that we were making in our decision making.

DAVID MARK: It would seem bizarre that it's taken two weeks to establish exactly whether Mr Crook would guarantee not to block supply or support no confidence motions against the Coalition, but then this has been a bizarre fortnight.

Last night he made his position clear, sort of.

Tony Crook wouldn't agree to an interview. Instead he sent these words:

(Tony Crook read statement)

"I will support the Coalition to form a minority government, but I would like to make it clear that there has been no commitment or agreement on our key policy, therefore I will be on the crossbenches until that policy is met."

DAVID MARK: It remains to be seen whether that statement is explicit enough for the Independents.
If it is we should get a decision today.

Bob Katter for one is ready to roll as he explained on the ABC's 'Q and A' last night

(Start 'Q and A' excerpt)

BOB KATTER: I would think that for myself personally, and I would most certainly be in a position to make a decision tomorrow morning, both sides have had their chances and you know they'll have to go on what they put forward.

TONY JONES: So you have made your decision then?

BOB KATTER: No I haven't made it.

TONY JONES: OK, alright we won't go backwards and forwards on it.

BOB KATTER: Well I just told you that, you know, they're responding to the responses so...

TONY JONES: Alright, alright...

BOB KATTER: So over to them...

TONY JONES: Understandably a bit confused. We'll go to our next question, it comes from Jessica...

BOB KATTER: Who's confused?

TONY JONES: Me, I'm confused.

(End 'Q and A' excerpt)

DAVID MARK: We're all confused, but today - maybe - we'll know who will govern Australia.