Julia Gillard and Bob Brown formailes the Greens-Labor alliance. Picture: Ray Strange Source: The Australian
THE Greens have secured modest political wins from Julia Gillard in exchange for their support.
But gay marriage and refugee policy are absent from the historic agreement.
Unveiling the deal clinching the support of Greens MP Adam Bandt in the lower house yesterday, Greens leader Bob Brown said it was unfair to describe the gains as small.
He said they were significant and more could be done if Labor formed government.
The Greens-ALP deal includes the establishment of a climate change committee to consider a price on carbon, immediate reform to rules governing political donations, a full parliamentary debate on Afghanistan, a leaders' debate commission and agreement on a private members' bill to debate above-the-line voting.
It also includes a commitment to work with the Greens on dental healthcare investment for next year's budget and the completion of a $20 million high-speed rail study by July next year, already promised by both major parties during the election campaign.
The Greens have won a deal to legislate for truth in political advertising and the establishment of a parliamentary integrity commissioner and parliamentary budget office.
They have also secured a deal for restrictions on political donations, and a move toward governments serving full three-year terms, but Labor has still not backed the fixed terms the Greens favour.
There will also be 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.
A referendum on the recognition of indigenous Australians and local government in the constitution will be held with or before the 2013 election.
The two sides have also agreed for "better processes" for the release of documents in the public interest in both houses of parliament and unprecedented access to relevant departments, including Treasury and Finance and Deregulation for the Greens to cost their election policies.
But no agreement has been reached on a timeframe for a carbon price, which the Greens and Labor agree is vital to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by 2020.
"The Greens will ensure supply and oppose any motions of no confidence in the government from other parties or MPs," Senator Brown said yesterday.
When parliament is sitting, the Prime Minister will meet Senator Brown and Mr Bandt each week to work on the legislative agenda. The deal does not include a cabinet position for a Green, nor would there be a conscience vote on gay marriage as the two parties could not reach agreement on the issue.
Senator Brown rejected suggestions the Greens had not secured enough from the agreement.
He said he had spoken on Tuesday night with Tony Abbott, who indicated he would attack any such agreement.
The Greens leader said if the Opposition Leader became prime minister, he would hold talks with him to discuss how the new Senate would work. He said the deal would not hold if Labor failed to form minority government.
Ms Gillard, Treasurer Wayne Swan, Greens leader Bob Brown, deputy Christine Milne and lower house MP Adam Bandt formally signed off on the agreement.
The deal includes lowering the political donation disclosure threshold from an indexed $11,500 to $1000 and will prevent splitting of donations between different branches of political parties. It bans foreign donations and anonymous donations of more than $50.
Crucially, the Greens have won the right to be part of the budget process, with the Greens Treasury spokesperson and Mr Bandt receiving economic and financial briefings from the Treasurer and the Minister for Finance and the secretaries of the departments of Treasury and Finance and Deregulation.
