“Ms Gillard and Greens Leader Bob Brown have signed the deal which ensures newly elected Lower House Greens MP Adam Bandt will support the formation of a minority Labor government. The concessions secured by the Greens include: the formation of • a climate change committee • a parliamentary debate on Afghanistan • a referendum on recognising Indigenous Australians • restrictions on political donations • legislation on truth in political advertising • the establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Committee • a leaders’ debates commission • a move towards full three-year parliamentary terms • two-and-a-half hours of allocated debate for private members’ bills • access for Greens to various Treasury documents”—
Greens sign deal to back Labor - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Well, we knew that the Greens were going to side with the ALP no matter what (Bandt had said so before the election) but this is a stunning list of concessions from the ALP. Fixed terms, for a start, would be nigh-on impossible under the current system. In the case of a deadlock, or if the house became unstable, the PM must be able to call an election. Furthermore, the ability to call a double-dissolution election is an absolute necessity in the case of an obstructionist Senate.
The weird are turning pro this week.
(via indefensible)
Full terms isn’t necessarily the same as fixed terms. The date of the next election can be fixed with legislation (which would have to be overturned in the case of an early election) from what I’ve heard.
Also even in the case of no leader being able to command a majority, I imagine the Governor-General would have the ability to dissolve the House.
As for deadlock with the Senate, double dissolution has to be one of the worst ways to fix it. If a government is really that dedicated to getting a particular bill through it’s far more worthwhile to let it go to a referendum on that bill. Thanks, constitutional drafters! I’m not convinced that replacing the entire Senate just to get a divisive bill through is the most appropriate way forward.
