ELECTION 2010: Jostling begins to talk with independents as Oakeshott suggests bi-partisan cabinet

Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has suggest that Labor and the Coalition could form a bi-partisan cabinet, with ministers from both sides of the political divide, as bargaining for the support of Oakeshott and fellow independents Bob Katter and Tony Windsor begins.

Oakeshott, who has travelled to Canberra to begin negotiations with Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, says his main focus will be to try and help form a government that can last for three years.

He says one way to do this could be to form a bi-partisan cabinet, rather than a minority government that would be a “by-election away from trouble”.

“It is a cheeky option,” he told ABC Radio this morning.

“I do think here is a moment where we can explore the edges, and explore outside the box. There is a lot more going on in this parliament in a bipartisan spirit than is given credit.”

While the idea is unlikely to be embraced by either side of politics, the suggestions reinforces Oakeshott’s desire to focus on improving the way the Parliament operates, in a move that has many suggesting he could take on the role of Speaker.

For now though, the focus will be on negotiating with Abbott and Gillard, and waiting for votes to be counted in a number of crucial seats, including the West Australian seat of Hasluck and the Tasmania seat of Dennison.

With the counts close in all of the undecided seats, electoral officials will need to wait for postal votes to be finalised in a process that could take up to a week.

Gillard has stepped up her pitch for the independents’ support, arguing that a Labor government will find it easier to get reforms through the Parliament due to their closer relationship with the left-leaning Greens.

The Greens and Labor did a controversial preference deal prior to the last election.

The Coalition has also wasted no time pitching to the independents, with senior Liberal Christopher Pyne playing to Oakeshott’s reform agenda.

“There’s a whole range of things that we can do to make question time and parliament work better,” Pyne told Sky News this morning.

“The independents will find a friend in Tony (Abbott) and I, at least, about parliamentary reform.”

But it’s not just the political parties that want to bend the ear of the independents – business lobby groups including the Australian Industry Group and Franchising Council are also keen to hold discussions with the three kingmakers.