The leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Christine Milne, has ended the party’s agreement with the Gillard minority government.
Speaking at the National Press Club today, Milne said the ALP had walked away from the agreement and “into the arms of the big miners”.
Milne said: “The Labor government is making it clear to all that it no longer has the courage or the will to work with the Greens on a shared agenda in the national interest.”
The Greens will continue to support the government on confidence motions and budget Supply, ensuring that the parliamentary status quo will remain through until the election.
Milne’s announcement is a clear sign of differentiation as the 7-month election campaign grinds on. The announcement has also been greeted approvingly by senior figures in the ALP.
- Sep 1, 2010: Greens Signs Agreement To Support Gillard
- Watch Milne (4m)
- Listen to Milne (3m)
Extract of Senator Christine Milne’s speech to the National Press Club.
What has become manifestly clear is that Labor by its actions has walked away from its agreement with the Greens and into the arms of the big miners.
Let’s call a spade a spade.
By choosing the big miners, the Labor government is making it clear to all that it no longer has the courage or the will to work with the Greens on a shared agenda in the national interest.
By choosing the big miners, the Labor government is no longer honouring our agreement to work together to promote transparent and accountable government and the public interest or to address climate change.
Labor has effectively ended its agreement with the Greens. So be it. But, we will not allow Labor’s failure to uphold the spirit of our agreement to advance the interest of Tony Abbott.
We will not walk away from the undertakings we gave to the government in the Agreement and the people of Australia to deliver confidence and supply until the Parliament rises. We will see this parliament through to its full term.
The Greens will not add to the instability that Labor creates for itself every day. We are moving beyond the agreement as the key debates and outcomes left in this 43rd parliament fall outside it. We will continue to vigorously pursue the rapid transition to a clean green and clever country, reforms to the mining tax, a $50 a week increase to Newstart, increased funding to public schools through the Gonski reforms, implementation of the NDIS, and protection of Australia’s precious environment.
