Balance of Power
Greens leader Bob Brown has urged Australians to restore the balance of power in the senate to the Greens as Australia goes to the ballot November 24th
In his address to the National Press Club as part of the 2007 election Australian Greens Party leader Bob Brown reminded Australians that this election should be about restoring a strong independent senate that can and will hold that government to account.
“This election is all about the senate and restoring it to its proper role as house of review and backstop for the people,” he said.
The Balance of power may very well determine the outcome of the very issue that divides the nation; Work Choices.
“Our vote will only matter when the major parties disagree. For instance if a Rudd government brings in strong climate change policy and the coalition opposes it, the Greens and the balance of power will determine the result”.
“Alternatively if Labor and the Coalition support further tax cuts for the rich instead of a pay rise for pensioners, we have to grin and bear it. Our vote would be irrelevant. It’s important to note therefore that the Greens would not be able to prevent any legislation being passed, or insist that any legislation be passed, unless we were supporting either Labor or the Coalition”
Mr Brown said that the Greens would “use the balance of power responsibly, just as we have in the West Australian senate in 2001 during the resources boom”.
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