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Labor takes Greens for granted: Seselja

20 Oct, 2008 04:01 PM
The Liberals will have "good faith" discussions with the Greens tomorrow about forming a minority government in the ACT.

After Saturday's general election, Labor and Liberal appear to have won seven seats - two short of an outright majority - in the Legislative Assembly with the Greens holding the balance of power with three seats.

The Stanhope Labor government has lost its majority hold over the assembly on the back of a nine per cent swing against it in the poll.

Liberal leader Zed Seselja said he'd had a conversation with the Greens lead candidate Shane Rattenbury.

"I'm not going to give away my negotiating position as this point," he told ABC Radio today.

"We'll negotiate in good faith, we'll negotiate responsibly."

The ALP had taken for granted the Greens would support a Labor minority government, Mr Seselja said.

"If the Greens do that, I suppose they will be sending out a clear signal that they're not a third force, they're simply an add-on to the Labor party.

"My discussions with Shane Rattenbury indicate he's not taking that approach."

Mr Seselja would not rule out offering the Greens a ministerial position in a Liberal minority government, but said it represented a challenge.

Negotiations could take two weeks: Brown

Taking a week or two to decide which of the two major parties forms a minority government in the ACT is a good investment in future governance, the Australian Greens say.

Neither the Labor government or Liberal opposition has won an outright majority in the 17-seat Legislative Assembly, while the Greens hold the balance of power with three seats after Saturday's general election.

The Greens federal leader Bob Brown said today the ACT community voted for minority government.

"The people of the ACT have said they don't want a majority government here, we want better outcomes and we'll do that by having a number of parties involved in the next government," he told ABC Radio.

Senator Brown said he hadn't discussed any "deal-breakers" with the three Greens MLAs elected on Saturday.

"I've discussed the process in the Tasmanian parliament where the Greens got better outcomes by being in the balance of power.

"It comes down to the Greens sensibly being able to get a good, comfortable arrangement in government."

It would take a week or two before an arrangement for government was agreed upon, Senator Brown said.

"But that is good investment in time when you're looking at the next four years of governance for the people of the ACT."

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Will the Greens' Shane give Labor's Stanhope a blank cheque by supporting him to form the next government in the ACT because of their Gay leanings remains to be seen. If this happens, Labor risks to be wiped out at the next election because of God's wrath through the Christian electorate in the ACT. Don't risk it!
Posted by Speak, 20/10/2008 1:41:33 PM
I think that the Greens should think very carefully as to who they support. They do have a mandate to exact a better outcome for the ACT, especially in terms of governance and accountability of the government. Nonetheless I think it is still important to note that the swing was against BOTH parties, not just the Labor party and ultimately more people still voted Labor than Liberal with some of the high profile Liberal members being thrown out!
Posted by Matthew, 20/10/2008 1:42:20 PM
The simple fact is, that although there was a swing against Labor, NONE of it went to the Liberals ... in fact there was a substantial swing against them too. So Seselja is really talking rubbish if he thinks the results show he has a mandate to rule. On that point alone I think Stanhope (albeit arrogantly) is right to say that should continue to govern, but add to that the fact that Labor also had the majority first preference vote, then the Liberals need to just shut up and get on with working in opposition. If Rattenbury goes with the libs, then it really shows how inept that mob really are as they cannot read the electorates at all.
Posted by Andrew S., 20/10/2008 1:51:22 PM
The best chance for a Liberal majority government in 4 years time is a ALP/Greens government now. It will never work. Just look what happened in Tasmania
Posted by long memory, 20/10/2008 1:52:06 PM
"long memory", Tasmania is a very special case. Their, Labor state government, for quite a few years, would have been grudgingly admired by Joh Bjelke Petersen, as a better player at his kind of game.
Posted by Eric, 20/10/2008 2:07:48 PM
Well if the Liberal Party had kept Bill Stefaniak they may not have had the 3 1/2 % swing against them and could have won this election. Zed Instead? Not likely. Most Liberal Party voters hate the Greens and those they dub Greenies but I wouldn't be surprised if Zed is prepared to prostitute himself to gain power. Liberals and Greens go together like Chalk and Cheese.
Posted by Mary, 20/10/2008 2:19:02 PM
I voted Greens because of socialist issues and if they get into bed with the conservatives whats the point voting for the Greens again
Posted by nicky, 20/10/2008 2:41:18 PM
If I was Mr Rateburry I would go with John - he's honest and real nice guy.
Posted by Could Be , 20/10/2008 4:04:07 PM
I am quite disappointed over the election result, a nice 20 - 30 percent swing against Labour would have been wonderful outcome. I cannot understand why people would want Labour back in after four years of their incompetence, mishandling, and outright ignorance of the people they serve in Canberra. Yes it has been the norm for the greens to side with the Labour party but why hold to tradition? Come on Shane make a difference and show the people of Canberra you are fair dinkum about righting the wrongs of the Labour party. Side with the Liberals.
Posted by Azz, 20/10/2008 4:49:01 PM
As I am located in Queanbeyan I couldn't vote in the ACT election which is fine because they are just as bad as the NSW Government. However I would like to add if John Stanhope gets in please stop your whingeing on TV and the Canberra Times about how bad he is, if the ACT wanted change they would have voted Liberal by voting for Labour or the Greens/Independents you knew that no change would occur and you reap what you sow
Posted by Fed Up, 20/10/2008 4:55:05 PM
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Liberal leader Zed Seselja
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