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Tuesday May 22, 2012

What we're talking about

Independents hold keys to Australia

Posted by: Megan Levy, The Age | 22 August, 2010 - 2:18 PM

3AW BLOGGERS:

Derryn Hinch - Gillard will regret this forever

Steve Murphy - Labor bloodletting begins

3AW AUDIO:

Sunday Presser - Julia Gillard's here

Sunday Presser - Tony Abbott's here

Latika Bourke - Sunday coffee with chatty PM

Andrew Robb - The 'Barnaby Joyce factor'

MEGAN LEVY: Three independent MPs who are likely to hold the balance of power in a hung parliament held a telephone hook-up this morning to discuss who they believe will best be able to deliver a stable government.

Returning New England MP Tony Windsor said he was approached by major party representatives late last night, and was "quite happy" to negotiate with either side to secure the best political outcome for the country.

He held discussions with fellow rural independents Robb Oakeshott from NSW and Bob Katter from Queensland this morning. All three, who were once Nationals, were returned last night with comfortable majorities.

Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie, Tony Windsor and Adam Bandt.

Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie, Tony Windsor and Adam Bandt.

But despite their backgrounds with the Nationals, Mr Windsor denied they were more likely to side with the Coalition.

"All these scenarios and backgrounds of where people have stood in the past, I don't take them into account at all," Mr Windsor told the ABC this morning.

"I think the main point to all of this is to see if there's a way of having stable government for this term of government and if that can't be achieved one way or another we may well end up back at the polls."

Mr Windsor said Prime Minister Julia Gillard called him yesterday evening to offer her congratulations, while Opposition Leader Tony Abbott phoned at 1.15am.

"He must be on his 48-hour run I think," he said, referring to Mr Abbott's 36-hour blitz as the election campaign drew to a close.

"Obviously the hung parliament thing came up, and we've agreed that if, in fact, the numbers come down looking the way they look at the moment, there may be need for some discussions.

"I'm quite happy to have those with both of them and I'm quite happy to talk with the other independents and the Green and the West Australian National as well."

He said the biggest issues for him were access to health services, broadband, water issues relating to the Murray Darling and renewable energy.

"Stability of government is obviously the first one," he said.

Mr Katter, who represents a seat that covers more than 550,000 square kilometres, said he was determined to secure a better deal for rural Australians.

"I can't speak for the other independents, but as far as I'm concerned the gong goes to whoever allows rural Australia to survive," he told the ABC.

"We've had 12 years of LNP [Liberal National Party] government - they smashed us into the ground and the ALP government in three years hasn't restored anything.

"We have got in a position of power and surely we must exercise that to try and ensure survival for our people, which we haven't enjoyed and not enjoying at the present moment."

Two left-leaning MPs - a Green and a former Greens candidate - will also need to be factored into the calculations of any party that hopes to form government.

The Greens' new member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt has already vowed to back Labor in the event of a hung parliament.

Former intelligence analyst Andrew Wilkie, who ran as an independent, but who, in 2004, ran in the seat of Bennelong for the Greens, is also a chance to take the Tasmanian seat of Denison.

Western Australian National Party MP Tony Crook has vowed to act as an independent if he succeeds in knocking off the Liberals' Wilson Tuckey in the seat of O'Connor.

MORE AUDIO:

Blog comments Your Say

  • If good is to Triumph.

    Independents will need to demand constitutional change if they wish to change the way politics operates in Australia.

    In the past charters of behavior have been signed as in the State Parliament of NSW Australia and subsequently thrown out by a new Government. The Constitution is the only bulwark against Parliamentary sovereignties search for the lowest common denominator to retain power.

    markjuliansmith Wednesday 25 August, 2010 - 7:25 PM

  • I hope the Independents make the right decision and donâ??t support Julia Gillard and her Labor government because they do not deserve to be in power. She is all spin, without any substance or integrity. She says one thing, but does the complete opposite. I am so sick of Labor lies and how they broke every promise they ever made. When Kevin Rudd was swept into power I believed something was really going to change, but he proved to be an aggressive liar, narcissist and without integrity. Megalomaniac Kevin Rudd was totally deluded, stood for absolutely nothing and turned a blind eye to systemic Labor government corruption in Queensland and NSW, just like Julia Gillard. I live in Queensland, where Anna Blighâ??s systemically corrupt Labor government continues to cause havoc. The Independents must not force a Labor government on the people of Australia. Please! We are suffering enough under Queensland Labor, a truly disgusting and inhuman administration. Please hear our prayers!

    Fedup Monday 23 August, 2010 - 8:14 AM

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