It's good to be Greens, as balance of power tipped (in Australian elections)

[depakid]

THE Greens are widely tipped to hold the balance of power in the Senate after August 21 and have promised to use their numbers to push for tougher action on climate change and a more compassionate approach to asylum seekers.

Polling suggests the Greens could pick up an extra four Senate spots, taking their numbers from five to nine.

The Greens' Senate hopeful in NSW, Lee Rhiannon, is rated a 50-50 chance by pollsters of claiming a seat. The party needs 14.3 per cent of the vote to claim a quota. t has been difficult for minor parties to achieve Senate success in NSW - the last being Kerry Nettle for the Greens in 2001. She lost her seat in 2007.

Ms Rhiannon will tomorrow resign her seat in the NSW Parliament. She had been under pressure to quit amid accusations she had used public funds to promote her federal campaign.

''The top priority is climate change. The massive coal developments happening in NSW are making this situation worse and we have to begin to turn away from coal-fired power and increasing coal exports,'' Ms Rhiannon said yesterday.

''The second would be overhauling election funding. We need to bring more democracy to this country.''

More: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/climate/its-good-to-be-greens-as-balance-of-power-tipped-20100717-10f4t.html

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Another version of the Shas Party in Israel

[depakid]

2. Not at all- it's the fastest growing political party in Australia

and the focus is on improving legislative outcomes that neither of the two major parties get right.

Like the recent paid parental leave act.

In Tasmania, The Greens hold 5 seats in the lower house (where government is formed) compared with 10 each for the two major. Thus, they hold Cabinet positions in the government.

First 100 Days Deliver Stability and Positive Outcomes

The Tasmanian Greens today said that the first three months since taking two Cabinet positions have seen positive change and significant policy breakthroughs achieved for the Tasmanian community, including within the State Budget.

Acting Greens Leader Tim Morris MP said that already the Greens have helped deliver a roll-back of Tasmania Tomorrow and a way forward for Post Year 10 education, secured an independent investigation into the Tasmanian Energy industry, a State Taxation Review, and seen off the divisive Tarkine loop road proposal.

“The first three months following the historic and ground-breaking step of Greens taking a seat at Cabinet have seen the Greens deliver on our pledge to provide stability, to ensure Supply, and to make crucial environmental, social and economic policy gains,” Mr Morris said.

“The power-sharing parliament has seen the demise of the controversial and divisive Tarkine Loop road, a $16 million Parks and Wildlife funding boost, and a commitment to introduce a statewide ban on canal estates following the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s rejection of Walker Corporation’s Ralphs Bay proposal.”

“The Greens secured a long overdue Review of Tasmania’s Energy Sector to be conducted by an independent Expert panel. This Review will be charged with identifying how we have got to the current situation which sees serious problems with the operation of the state’s energy entities and ongoing power price hikes being imposed on the consumer, as well as inform the development of a statewide Energy Strategy.”

“We also obtained a further commitment that a Cost of Living Strategy is to be expedited as a matter of priority.”

More: http://mps.tas.greens.org.au/2010/07/first-100-days-deliver-stability-and-positive-outcomes/