Julia Gillard has now put together a coalition with a majority of one.

As everyone knows the result hung upon the decision of three independents, and because this site correctly predicted the outcome our original article (below) remains unchanged, together with our later assessment of how the three independents would vote.

Who will these three men support - Gillard or Abbott?

It is important to note that all three must act jointly if they are to have proper influence on which party governs Australia. This means that discussions between the three independents are crucial. However, to draw upon the experience of the recent British elections, Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, was clearly more compatible with David Cameron than with Gordon Brown, and despite Liberal Democrat voters being more inclined to Labour policies, he nevertherless decided to work with the Conservatives.

So the individual relationship between each one of the independents with Gillard, and with Abbott will also be highly relevant.

Astro-Compatibility rating with Bob Katter: Very good - 26 points - but Bob Katter is noted for his scepticism on Global Warming.

Astro-Compatibility rating with Rob Oakeshott: Very good - 25 points.

Astro-Compatibility rating with Tony Windsor: Very bad - 5 points.

Astro-Compatibility rating with Bob Katter: Not good - 10 points - but Tony Abbott is inclined to be sceptical about Global Warming.

Astro-Compatibility rating with Rob Oakeshott: Not brilliant - 16 points.

Astro-Compatibility rating with Tony Windsor: Not great - 12 points.

Those figures alone suggest that all three independents will support Julia Gillard, although Tony Windsor will demand more concessions from Julia Gillard as the price for his support.

Original Astro-forecast for the election on 21st August 2010

Astrologically speaking, Australia was born on the 9th July 1900 with the passing of the Act to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. In Chinese Astrology she is thus a Yang Metal Rat. Rat people are forthright, charming and easy to get along with. They excel at business, invest wisely and spend only where they find good value. The Metal Rat is inclined to think in idealistic terms, but whilst presenting a cheerful façade he can be selfish and possessive. He's not the romantic type, and he holds strong moral values.

An election has been called for the 21st August 2010. The leaders of the main parties are:

Julia Gillard, Prime minister since June 2010, a successful lawyer and leader of the labour Party.

Tony Abbott, leader of the Centre Right coalition since December 2009, a Rhodes Scholar and former journalist.

Who will win? As they go into the election the Labour Party has a slight lead, largely because Julia Gillard is still in her honeymoon period following her successful campaign to unseat former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd (born 21st Septempber 1957). But she also enjoys the advantage of a buoyant economy that successfully weathered the global economic crisis (a product some would say of Australia's sound banking system) and a proposed Mining Tax that has won guarded support from the mining industry. But an astro-forecast takes account of astrological forces, and chief of these are the characters of the two party leaders.

1. Julia Gillard was born in South Wales on 29 September 1961, and is thus a Libran, Moon sign Gemini, born in a year of the Yin Metal Ox. This combination undoubtedly makes her a very fine lawyer with powerful debating skills, yet she also has that natural concern for people's welfare that suits her to the politics of the centre left. She and her parents left Wales for Australia when she was aged 6. She is unmarried but has a boyfriend with whom she lives. Religion plays no part in her life.

2. Tony Abbot was born in London (to Australian parents) on 4th November 1957 – a Scorpio, Moon in Aries, born in the Chinese Year of the Yin Fire Cockerel. He only became leader of the Liberal Coalition in December 2009 by a margin of one vote – significantly by a coalition that is somewhat divided on Climate Change. Cockerels are not very diplomatic. They tend to say it as it is – not the best approach for a politician – but it will play out well amongst climate change sceptics. Cockerels will debate and argue 'till the cows come home, and Tony Abbott is a very single-minded man. He is married with three daughters, is on the anti-abortion side of the argument and is unlikely to get the support of the 'gay' lobby.

Both candidates successfully (and recently) unseated their respective party leaders on issues related to climate change which will probably be one of the two main topics on which the election is fought (The economy and Climate change). As Al Gore correctly predicted Climate change tends to favour the centre left – and fear will drive more female voters to support the warmist lobby. But in this election the opposing question will be how much money need be spent fighting something that may not be true – particularly in a period of financial austerity.

This is not an easy election to call, and much may depend upon how MPs and opposition candidates perform in individual constituencies. But most democratic elections are now decided on how voters perceive the respective merits of the two main party leaders. So here's how astrology works it out. The Yang Metal Rat (Australian character) is financially astute, so he favours the candidate with the best economic policies. He's idealistic, so the concept of fighting climate change will also appeal, and thus favours Julia Gillard. His selfish and possessive character will lead him to support the candidate whose immigration policies are deemed to be the most effective to limit further immigration - particularly boat people flooding across from Asia. And he holds strong moral views, a position that clearly favours Tony Abbott.

If Tony Abbott can persuade the electorate that expensive measures to combat climate change can be deferred without risk to the world's survival until the country's finances are back in surplus (say in 2013), he will emerge as the victor. If he loses that argument, Julia Gillard (the first Sheila Prime Minister of Australia) will continue in the job.

It is unusual to find a Scorpio competing successfully in democratic politics, yet right now we have two – Tony Abbott and Hilary Clinton. Hilary lost her bid for the Democratic nomination in 2008, and the odds are also against Tony Abbott in 2010. But remember, Kevin Rudd was ousted because he wasn't much liked by the electorate, and as a Virgo with the Moon in Virgo politics doesn't really suit him. Nevertheless, Julia Gillard has to hope that he will not intervene during the election to make her chances more difficult.