Federal Parliament
We are all getting in a lather about the identity of the next PM.
The first Commonwealth Parliament met in Melbourne in 1901 with great ceremony, but not without stumbles.
When Lord Hopeton arrived to become the first Governor-General he asked William Lyne as the premier of the foundation state, New South Wales, to be the first Prime Minister. It created a revolt. William Lyne did not support the idea of Federation and was a Protectionist (not an altogether popular stance). Lyne was not able to form a cabinet and Hopeton was forced to look again. There were two men, both of whom had equal claim to be appointed to the positions, Edmund Barton and Alfed Deakin. Hopeton appointed Edmund Barton.
For the next nine years Australia had TEN PMs. 2010 seems like a different kind of Ship of Fools.
J Ramsay Sutherland