Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard won the first major test of her new minority Labor government’s stability yesterday with the election of her nominee for speaker of parliament.
However, her government’s advantage over the opposition has now been effectively cut from two to one, because the speaker cannot vote in parliament unless there is a tie, underlining concerns the new government will not last its full three years.
Conservative leader Tony Abbott wants to topple the government within the three-year term, and with Labor holding only a one-seat majority, almost anything could end Gillard’s stay as Australia’s first elected female leader.
PHOTO: REUTERS
But the biggest battles are still some time away, with a fine-tuning of Labor’s planned 30 percent mining tax still under way and draft laws not expected until December or early next. Moves for a carbon emissions price are not expected until 2012.
Gillard warned opposition lawmakers against disrupting Australia’s first hung parliament since 1941.
“This term of parliament is not an opportunity to re-fight the election, vote after vote, bill after bill,” Gillard said. “This is a time for consensus, not confrontation, debate not destruction.”
Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce officially opened the new parliamentary session yesterday and said the government would target a stronger economy and tax reforms, including a new 30 percent tax on iron ore and coal mines.
“Having emerged from the global financial crisis with some of the best economic outcomes of any advanced nation, the government will implement measures to ensure Australia’s economy remains flexible and strong,” Bryce said, outlining Gillard’s priorities.
Bryce also highlighted spending on infrastructure, including the US$41 billion rollout of a national high speed Internet service, with laws to support a US$10.5 billion deal with Telstra Corp to help with broadband rollout.
Gillard’s government rests on the support of three independents and a Green lawmaker, after the dead-heat Aug. 21 election.
Members of parliament (MP) were sworn in after an indigenous ceremony on parliament’s forecourt, where Aboriginal elder Matilda House, wearing a cloak of possum skins, welcomed them to Canberra.
Labor MP Harry Jenkins was then elected unopposed as the new speaker, indicating Gillard’s control over parliament.
However, Labor cannot now not have a single lawmaker absent for lower house votes unless the opposition gives permission, making it difficult for Gillard or ministers to travel interstate or overseas when parliament is in session.
Australian Regional Development Minister Simon Crean cancelled a speech at Canberra’s National Press Club today because the opposition would not give him leave by granting a “pair,” where an opposition lawmaker abstains from any vote during a minister’s absence, ensuring the numbers remain in balance.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon said he believed the new parliament could last a full term, as it was in the best interests of the government and independents to make it work.
“I’m just hoping that the new paradigm won’t turn into the old pantomime,” Xenophon told reporters.
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