Greens – Australian Greens, Labor commit to agreement for stable Government

Australian Greens, Labor commit to agreement for stable Government

The Australian Greens and the Labor Party have signed an agreement to
ensure stability for Labor in Government. The Greens will ensure supply
and oppose any motion of no confidence in the Government from other
parties or MPs.

Labor will work with the Greens to deliver improved transparency and
integrity to Parliament and pursue policies that promote the national
interest and address climate change.

As part of the agreement there will be regular meetings between the
Prime Minister and Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and newly-elected
Lower House MP Adam Bandt.

“There will be a Climate Change Committee resourced as a Cabinet
Committee, an investment in dental health care in the next budget and
completion of a $20 million study into High Speed Rail by July 2011,”
said Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown.

“The agreement includes a wide range of measures. These include:
* A Climate Change Committee
* A full parliamentary debate on Afghanistan
* A commitment to work with the Greens on dental health care
investment
* Completion of a $20 million High Speed Rail study by July 2011
* Legislating for truth in political advertising
* A Leaders’ Debate Commission
* Establishing a Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner
* Establishing a Parliamentary Budget Office
* Restrictions on political donations
* A move toward full three year governments
* Specially allocated time for debate and voting on private
members bills and a fixed and fair allocation of questions for
Independent and minor party members in Question Time
* Referenda for constitutional recognition of Indigenous
Australians and Local Government
* A commitment for reform to provide above the line voting in the
Senate
* Better processes for the release of documents in the public
interest in both Houses of Parliament
* Access to relevant departments, including Treasury and Finance &
Deregulation for Greens election policies.

Media contact: Erin Farley 0438 376 082
www.greensmps.org.au