Australian government loses majority after by-election

In the past eight years Australia has had six prime ministers and after the liberal party losing the slight majority of one seat in the government, the country faces further uncertainties.

Earlier this year former MP and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull resigned from the parliament after he was removed as Prime Minister by his party rivals.

Kerryn Phelps a local doctor and a popular independent candidate comfortably won the Wentworth seat by defeating her opponent David Sharma.

Dr Phelps, who was the first woman and first lesbian to be elected president of the Australian Medical Association, ran a campaign that highlighted her decades of living and working in Wentworth, her commitment to addressing climate change and her position as, simply, an alternative to the status quo.

“This is a great moment for Australian democracy. This win tonight should signal a return of decency, integrity and humanity” she said in her victory speech.

The defeat of the Liberal Party is being perceived as an answer by the public and the voters of Wentworth for the betrayal by the ruling party by removing their popular Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Also, as Scott Morrison tried to persuade Wentworth voters to support David Sharma, the party’s candidate, he pledged government money to local surf clubs and even said he- might consider moving Australia’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, following President Trump’s lead. That would have broken with decades of policy, and the proposal drew scorn as a transparent bid for votes from Wentworth’s sizable Jewish community.