Australia's government finally decided

Australians have finally decided on a government to lead them. But while they went to the polls on August 21, the decision on who to become prime minister rested on three Independents. 

Today, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott announced they were backing Labor Leader Julia Gillard, giving her the slimmest of margins to form the new government. Her party has 76 seats, and while the Coalition of Liberals and National got support from Bob Katter, it was just not enough to gain a majority.

Breaking the deadlock over Australia's first hung parliament in 70 years saw the end to campaigning that reflected the absence of real issues Australians needed for a decisive vote.  

Katter, the tough-speaking but passionate Independent representing regional Australia, made no apologies for the power that Independents in the past weeks had wielded in the two-party system. At last, regional Australia was being heard, he said.

It remains to be seen whether the new government will last, or if Aussies will soon have to go to the polls once again. (Voting is compulsory in Australia.)