Greens back Labor to hold power in ACT
From: AAP
November 02, 2012 4:22PM
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LABOR will govern for another four years in the ACT, after Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury announced his support for Katy Gallagher's government.
Labor and the Canberra Liberals won eight seats each in the October 20 election, with Mr Rattenbury holding the only other seat in the 17-seat assembly.
Both parties won 38.9 per cent of the primary vote, but on numbers, the Liberals were 41 votes ahead of Labor out of more than 221,000 formal ballots cast.
Mr Rattenbury said he had conducted negotiations with both leaders with "goodwill".
"My decision about who to form government with was based on good policy and the capacity to deliver stable government in the ACT over the next four years," he told reporters in Canberra today.
"I have decided to support Katy Gallagher and the Labor party into government in the ACT for the next four years."
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He said a 100-item agreement would be signed, including support for a light rail project for Canberra.
The ACT assembly will meet on Tuesday for the first time since the election.
Mr Rattenbury was left shouldering the Greens agenda on his own after the party, which previously held four seats and supported the Labor government, suffered a 4.9 per cent swing against it.
Mr Rattenbury said the light rail project would transform Canberra, cut greenhouse emissions and ease traffic congestion.
He said Labor had agreed to legislate for gay marriage in the ACT, following the failure of the federal parliament to pass such laws.
Mr Rattenbury has also agreed to accept a cabinet post in the government.
"I believe it is time after 17 years of the ACT Greens being represented in the legislative assembly and on the crossbench for the ACT Greens to play a role in government," he said.
"I want this to be the most progressive and green government in Australia.
"Having the responsibility of a minister I believe I can help achieve that."
Surely this bloke is kidding? ACT has always been a Labor stronghold however this time around Liberals actually beat them. There used to be 4 Greens there is now 1 indicating that the people of Canberra dont trust them and this dork thinks he will be able to turn the government into "the most progressive and green government in Australia"? I have done a fair bit of work in Canberra over the past 2 years and my view is that the Stanhope/Gallagher government are every bit as inept as the NSW and QLD Labor governments that were recently turfed out were and maybe even more so. As per normal, this government is running at a massive deficit and this la-di-da wants to build a light rail network?
LOL I think the people of Canberra and surrounding regions can expect large rate rises very very soon…..
From: AAP
November 02, 2012 4:22PM
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\
\
LABOR will govern for another four years in the ACT, after Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury announced his support for Katy Gallagher's government.
Labor and the Canberra Liberals won eight seats each in the October 20 election, with Mr Rattenbury holding the only other seat in the 17-seat assembly.
Both parties won 38.9 per cent of the primary vote, but on numbers, the Liberals were 41 votes ahead of Labor out of more than 221,000 formal ballots cast.
Mr Rattenbury said he had conducted negotiations with both leaders with "goodwill".
"My decision about who to form government with was based on good policy and the capacity to deliver stable government in the ACT over the next four years," he told reporters in Canberra today.
"I have decided to support Katy Gallagher and the Labor party into government in the ACT for the next four years."
\
\
He said a 100-item agreement would be signed, including support for a light rail project for Canberra.
The ACT assembly will meet on Tuesday for the first time since the election.
Mr Rattenbury was left shouldering the Greens agenda on his own after the party, which previously held four seats and supported the Labor government, suffered a 4.9 per cent swing against it.
Mr Rattenbury said the light rail project would transform Canberra, cut greenhouse emissions and ease traffic congestion.
He said Labor had agreed to legislate for gay marriage in the ACT, following the failure of the federal parliament to pass such laws.
Mr Rattenbury has also agreed to accept a cabinet post in the government.
"I believe it is time after 17 years of the ACT Greens being represented in the legislative assembly and on the crossbench for the ACT Greens to play a role in government," he said.
"I want this to be the most progressive and green government in Australia.
"Having the responsibility of a minister I believe I can help achieve that."
Surely this bloke is kidding? ACT has always been a Labor stronghold however this time around Liberals actually beat them. There used to be 4 Greens there is now 1 indicating that the people of Canberra dont trust them and this dork thinks he will be able to turn the government into "the most progressive and green government in Australia"? I have done a fair bit of work in Canberra over the past 2 years and my view is that the Stanhope/Gallagher government are every bit as inept as the NSW and QLD Labor governments that were recently turfed out were and maybe even more so. As per normal, this government is running at a massive deficit and this la-di-da wants to build a light rail network?
LOL I think the people of Canberra and surrounding regions can expect large rate rises very very soon…..
