The senate count is still underway, but the shape of our incoming government is clear. We've all read plenty of hot takes and the analysis will continue for some time.

Right now, I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Science Party's 2019 federal election campaign. It was a protracted effort immediately following the NSW state election and a rash of by-elections.

The last term of federal government was marked by grave concerns about human rights abuses and climate emergency, neither of which featured in the major parties' campaigns. That doesn't mean Australians stopped caring about these things; it just means that voters don't get to set the agenda. We can call for policy reform, but scare campaigns work.

We're looking now at what we can do in the time between elections to be most effective in our aim of improving quality of life for as many people as possible.

I also want to address the Sydney-centric nature of the Science Party. We were founded in inner Sydney, but we want to expand geographically. In the last 12 months we've run several candidates outside of NSW, but a lack of local support made those campaigns difficult. If your electorate has so far lacked a Science Party candidate, you can get one if an extraordinary local puts their hand up to run and manage their own campaign, or if a group of local members starts a branch to support a candidate.

Send me a message if you're considering getting more involved with the Science Party. There's plenty to do, and the best time to start is right now.

Here's to three more years of working towards making Australia a better place for everyone.

- Andrea Leong