Media Release
Peg Putt MHA
Greens Opposition Leader

Wednesday, 1 March 2006

IN SHARED GOVERNMENT THERE’S NO DICTATORSHIP OF THE MINORITY

Labor, Green or Liberal

The Tasmanian Greens today told the Premier to grow up and be prepared to talk to and work with other political parties in a mature approach to shared government as he misconstrued the Greens approach to a potential balance of power parliament.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA laughed off Mr Lennon’s inflexibility and apparent inability to understand that parties working together means that no-one will get everything all their own way and that a conversation is expected that will lead to a consensus and win-win decisions.

‘’The Labor and Liberal leaders need to grow up and be aware that in a shared government there is no dictatorship of the minority, including any future Labor, Liberal or Green minority,’’ Ms Putt stated.

‘’Somehow Paul Lennon has distorted as some sort of threat my positive statement about balance of power requiring a long awaited maturity from all political parties, when we would converse and reach consensus instead of playing winner takes all.’’

‘’The Greens have great, positive policies which we will put into the melting pot, and of course we wouldn’t sit on the sidelines and let awful things be railroaded through any more than the smaller parties did when they were able to restrain John Howard’s excesses in the Senate, but neither will we ever have things all our own way.’’

‘’The Greens welcome the opportunity to end backroom deals which are the hallmark of majority government, and remind Mr Lennon that the reason why the Hydro is still in public hands is because in 1998 when there was a Liberal minority government wanting to sell the Hydro we put our foot down,’’ Ms Putt explained.

Peg Putt
162 Macquarie St
Hobart

Media Release
Peg Putt MHA
Greens Opposition Leader

Thursday, 2 March 2006

IN BALANCE OF POWER THE GREENS CANNOT DICTATE
What are Labor and Liberal Guarantees on Supply and No Confidence?
Challenge to Support Fixed Four Year Terms

The Tasmanian Greens today challenged the Labor and Liberal parties to themselves guarantee supply in a Balance of Power Parliament, as they pointed out that six Greens would not have the numbers to ever defeat the remaining 19 MPs in a future Parliament.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA stressed the Greens’ responsible record in minority whilst both Labor and Liberal have repeatedly moved no-confidence motions during these periods, and said that the other parties are trying to frighten voters by deliberately making wrong claims about the Greens intentions.

Ms Putt pointed out that in a Balance of Power situation there can be no dictatorship of the minority, not of a Green minority, a Labor minority or a Liberal minority, and that a responsible co-operative approach to reaching an accommodation of views is what she has flagged to make it clear that issuing ultimatums is not the approach she favours.

Ms Putt offered the Greens intention to legislate fixed four year terms of Parliament, which would ensure stability and that there would be no early election, and challenged Labor and Liberal to also commit to fixed four year terms if their professed concerns are genuine.

“Six Greens can never dictate or hold anyone to ransom in a twenty five seat Parliament and we have always behaved responsibly in minority government situations, never blocking supply or bringing down a government, yet the other parties who were repeat offenders with their no confidence motions are now trying to whip up hysteria without themselves applying the same standards or making guarantees about their future behaviour,” Ms Putt said.

“I challenge both Labor and Liberal to reveal whether they will give an unconditional guarantee of supply to a minority government, because it is what they do which will have the impact.”

“I make the obvious point that in a balance of power Parliament there can be no dictatorship of the minority, be that a Green minority, a Labor minority, or a Liberal minority, and that therefore the Greens want to engage in mature discussion to reach win-win outcomes.”

“Are Mr Lennon and Mr Hidding both saying that they want it all their own way if they are heading a minority government, that do they want dictatorship of the minority without any recognition that others in Parliament are representing genuine views in the community which should be taken into account?”

“I have never contemplated obstructing a Budget, but rather have said that we hope to influence the formulation of Budget priorities just as the other parties will want to do.”

“The only reason it is impossible to be absolute in ruling out blocking supply is because we cannot know now whether an extreme proposal such as the sale of the Hydro may be taken by a future government when the vast majority of Tasmanians did not want that to occur, although I can say that such circumstances are a remote and unlikely possibility.”

“To ensure stability and confidence that Tasmanians would not be forced to an election mid-term the Greens make a commitment to legislate for fixed four year terms and challenge Labor and Liberal to do the same if their professed angst is genuine.”

“We will continue to play a positive role in Parliament contributing our energy, abilities and expertise.”