Farmer2Goggin2Wade
R.I.P Captain Beefheart!
JULIA Gillard will remain Prime Minister after securing the required support to form a minority government.
Rural independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have announced they will back Labor, giving Ms Gillard the required 76 votes to form government on the floor of Parliament.
But Mr Oakeshott warned: “This is not a mandate for any government.â€
He said voters were thoroughly unimpressed with the state of party politics in Australia today, and the new parliament would have to do better.
The pair joins the Greens’ Adam Bandt and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie in delivering Ms Gillard the required numbers.
Earlier, fellow independent Bob Katter, broke ranks and declared that he was siding with the Coalition, giving it 74 parliamentary votes.
The announcement follows more than a fortnight of negotiations to brak the deadlock arising from last month’s federal election.
Bizarrely, Mr Windsor said he factored into his decision-making his belief that Labor would be more likely to lose if it called an early election.
He said he wanted stability, not an early election that the Coalition may have been tempted to call.
“I think (the Coalition) would be more likely to win if they did go back to the polls,†he said.
Mr Windsor said Labor’s broadband policy was the most critical factor in securing his vote.
He said the $43 billion network was “too good an opportunity to missâ€.
Mr Windsor said he also wanted to do more on climate change, and he believed Labor had the better plan in that area.
Mr Oakeshott said broadband, climate change and regional education were crucial to his decision.
He said the relationship with the Senate, where the Greens will have the balance of power, had also been important in his decision making.
He said he believed Labor offered greater stability and would keep parliament going longer.
Mr Oakeshott it had been a “points decision†based on stability and the best local, regional and national outcomes.
“This has been an open process by us, and even if you don’t like the decision please accept that we’ve given it our best endeavours to make our best judgment call,†he said.
A package of rural reforms offered to the independents in return for their support will be unveiled soon by Ms Gillard.
"I did not try and make it all about ... my wants and needs,'' Mr Oakeshott said. "This is for 20 years of vision."
The complete recommendations fo the Henry Tax Review will be debated under the deal secured by the independents and there will be a referendum on indigenous recognition in the constitution, Mr Oakeshott said.
Mr Oakeshott said the decision on who to support was extremely close.
"This could not get any closer,'' he said. "My four and six year old are split on this."
Mr Oakeshott said Ms Gillard's first task was to bring Australia together.
He also vowed to "turbo-charge" regional Australia with a promised package for the bush.
More to come
Rural independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have announced they will back Labor, giving Ms Gillard the required 76 votes to form government on the floor of Parliament.
But Mr Oakeshott warned: “This is not a mandate for any government.â€
He said voters were thoroughly unimpressed with the state of party politics in Australia today, and the new parliament would have to do better.
The pair joins the Greens’ Adam Bandt and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie in delivering Ms Gillard the required numbers.
Earlier, fellow independent Bob Katter, broke ranks and declared that he was siding with the Coalition, giving it 74 parliamentary votes.
The announcement follows more than a fortnight of negotiations to brak the deadlock arising from last month’s federal election.
Bizarrely, Mr Windsor said he factored into his decision-making his belief that Labor would be more likely to lose if it called an early election.
He said he wanted stability, not an early election that the Coalition may have been tempted to call.
“I think (the Coalition) would be more likely to win if they did go back to the polls,†he said.
Mr Windsor said Labor’s broadband policy was the most critical factor in securing his vote.
He said the $43 billion network was “too good an opportunity to missâ€.
Mr Windsor said he also wanted to do more on climate change, and he believed Labor had the better plan in that area.
Mr Oakeshott said broadband, climate change and regional education were crucial to his decision.
He said the relationship with the Senate, where the Greens will have the balance of power, had also been important in his decision making.
He said he believed Labor offered greater stability and would keep parliament going longer.
Mr Oakeshott it had been a “points decision†based on stability and the best local, regional and national outcomes.
“This has been an open process by us, and even if you don’t like the decision please accept that we’ve given it our best endeavours to make our best judgment call,†he said.
A package of rural reforms offered to the independents in return for their support will be unveiled soon by Ms Gillard.
"I did not try and make it all about ... my wants and needs,'' Mr Oakeshott said. "This is for 20 years of vision."
The complete recommendations fo the Henry Tax Review will be debated under the deal secured by the independents and there will be a referendum on indigenous recognition in the constitution, Mr Oakeshott said.
Mr Oakeshott said the decision on who to support was extremely close.
"This could not get any closer,'' he said. "My four and six year old are split on this."
Mr Oakeshott said Ms Gillard's first task was to bring Australia together.
He also vowed to "turbo-charge" regional Australia with a promised package for the bush.
More to come