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Canberra Today 13°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

ACT Greens cement three seats in cabinet 

 

ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, left, with Chief Minister Andrew Barr signing a parliamentary governing agreement. Photo: Belinda Strahorn.

THE ACT Greens have trebled their representation in cabinet, following the release of a power-sharing agreement signed by ACT Labor and the Greens today (November 2).

With nine ministerial positions up for grabs this term after the cabinet was increased from eight to nine, it means the Greens will hold three and Labor will hold six. 

Whilst Chief Minister Andrew Barr won’t formally announce his cabinet until tomorrow, he backtracked on earlier comments about only allowing people with experience on the frontbench.

“In the end it is the iron law of mathematics and the Greens won extra seats and that’s the reality of this parliament,” Mr Barr said.

Reluctant to confirm rumours about the demotion of former frontbencher Suzanne Orr, and promotion of backbencher Tara Cheyne, Mr Barr said he’d prefer to wait until tomorrow to announce cabinet roles.

The announcement of today’s parliamentary agreement comes after two weeks of talks between Mr Barr and Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.

It’s the fourth time the two parties have entered into a parliamentary agreement, but this time things are different. 

In a result no one saw coming, the Greens tripled their seat count in the Assembly from two to six, which has also increased the party’s negotiating power.

Mr Rattenbury said the power sharing deal is a result of “good” discussions with compromise achieved in “goodwill”.

“This agreement outlines a positive and important agenda for the next four years, and the Greens are optimistic about what this partnership between Labor and the Greens can achieve during this term of the Assembly,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“This is an ambitious agenda and we look forward to working with both the Labor party and the community and stakeholders to implement these plans as effectively as possible.”

Housing, climate change, economic development, reducing harm from gaming, transition to zero net emissions and closing the gap for First Nations people, are the key elements of the agreement.

Described as a “strong” and “robust” program, Mr Barr said the agreement would include more affordable housing in the territory, climate strategy and more money for homelessness.

Responding to the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and driving Canberra’s economic recovery will be our core focus,” Mr Barr said.

“However, there were a range of other issues raised through the 2020 election, and this experienced government is in a position to make significant further progress responding to climate change and supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged Canberrans.”

Both parties have agreed to net zero-emissions in the capital, achieved by phasing out fossil fuel gas by 2045 at the latest. 

Mr Barr and Mr Rattenbury were at loggerheads over energy policy during the election with the Greens wanting the ACT to be fossil fuel gas free by 2040.

The deal spells out more support to improve social housing and housing affordability over the next term, including $18 million over four years to expand specialist homelessness services.

The Labor/Greens agreement will see the two parties further reduce the number of electronic gaming machine licences in the ACT to 3500 by July 1, 2025, including additional incentives to move to zero machines within a venue location. There will also be an introduction of $5 bet limits and $100 load-up limits as part of its poker machine reform. 

The two parties have also agreed on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, building light rail Stage 2 to Woden and extending light rail to Mawson as part of the Stage 2B business case will also be considered.

If Barr gets his way, only one Greens MLA will make cabinet

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Belinda Strahorn

Belinda Strahorn

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