FED:Lib boss says coalition could win

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2010
FED:Lib boss says coalition could win

CANBERRA, Aug 22 AAP - The Liberal Party's national director Brian Loughnane still
believes the coalition can form majority government by winning 76 seats in the new parliament.

At the close of counting at 2.00am (AEST) on Sunday, the Australian Electoral Commission
had Labor and coalition each winning 71 seats with three independents and an Australia
Green.

Four other seats are too close to call.

"It is still possible that the coalition will form government," Mr Loughnane told the
Nine Network on Sunday.

He acknowledged that achieving government by winning a net 17 seats from Labor was a huge task.

A minority Labor government would be "divided and dysfunctional", Mr Loughnane said.

He predicted the coalition could work with the Australian Greens who are certain to
hold the balance of power in the Senate from July 2011, and possibly in the lower house.

"I don't think at the end of the day it will be impossible for us to do business with
the Senate at all."

Mr Loughnane nominated Labor's planned citizens' assembly to consider climate change
action as a "defining moment" of the campaign when voters turned against the government.

As well Labor had "nothing positive to say".

"Their scare campaign was undercut from the very beginning, it didn't work."

By contrast, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's campaign was disciplined and voters knew
exactly what he stood for.

"What you see is what you get," Mr Loughnane said, adding that he did not need to keep
Mr Abbott "under control" at any point.

AAP sld/rl/jm

KEYWORD: POLL10 LOUGHNANE

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.