A ''kinder, gentler polity": it was always going to be a fool's errand

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Editor David Bancroft hazarded a guess that it might only be a day before the Coalition turned against the Independents it had been "courting so earnestly for the last 18 days". However, the speed at which the Lib-Nat tiger turned and attacked fast outran publication of Bancroft's opinion piece in The Daily Examiner yesterday.

In The Australian yesterday:

Senator Joyce told The Australian Online that Mr Windsor's decision to back Labor on the basis that the Coalition would be more likely to win another election was a "complete departure from the fundamentals of the democratic principle".
"In the most primary of political requests, the decision to form a government, the independents [Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor] have departed from delivering what their constituents wanted with the conceited claim that they know best," Senator Joyce said.

Some Coalition MPs have taken to Twitter to vent, with Liberal MP Bob Baldwin writing: "To think Windsor & Oakshot [sic] were going to vote any other way was a folly, the 17 days was nothing more than grandstanding to say the least."
"Did Oakshot sell out for the job of Speaker, surely not!"

Senator Richard Colbeck wrote: "How is a party that didn't even put out an Agriculture policy best for regional Australia?".

Tasmanian Eric Abetz warned Mr Oakeshott that he needed to "watch out" as Labor MP Sid Sidebottom had made a bid for a regional affairs portfolio - the same portfolio the independent may take up.
"Labor will do anything and say anything but when you get into bed with Labor make sure you know exactly who else is sharing the pillow," Senator Abetz said.

Queensland MP Steve Ciobo wrote: "Hard to take them seriously. Claim they're about their constituents, but back Labor/Greens. ALP/Greens polled 11.5% & 17.8% in their seats!"

And Liberal Sussan Ley cryptically quoted Sigmund Freud, writing: "Windsor and Oakeshott: the narcissism of the small differences - feeling negative towards the people who are most like you (Freud)."....

In The Sydney Morning Herald on the same day:

Mr Pyne singled out Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott - whose support tipped Labor into office - saying their decision offended commonsense.

Prominent Nationals Senator Ron Boswell also took a swipe at Mr Windsor, claiming his decision could be seen as "payback" for years of enmity towards his former party.

ABC News yesterday:

A Tasmanian Liberal Senator has condemned the Independent Member for Denison's deal with Federal Labor.

Andrew Wilkie has secured $340 million dollars to refurbish the Royal Hobart Hospital, in return for backing Julia Gillard's Labor minority government.
Liberals Senator Eric Abetz says it is nowhere near the multi-billion dollar deal secured by the other Independents for regional infrastructure projects.
"And I dare say Andrew Wilkie in Denison is scratching his head," he said.