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ACT Greens push Labor for new crossbench deal

ACT Greens leader Jo Clay has approached Chief Minister Andrew Barr about replacing the confidence and supply agreement negotiated by former leader Shane Rattenbury following the 2024 election.

The ACT Greens have opened negotiations with the Labor government for a new agreement covering the remaining two years of the Assembly term, with integrity, housing, climate and public services among their priorities.

Greens leader Jo Clay has approached Chief Minister Andrew Barr about replacing the confidence and supply agreement negotiated by former leader Shane Rattenbury following the 2024 election. That agreement expired when Rattenbury retired from politics.

The Greens say both parties are interested in negotiating a shorter agreement containing specific commitments that can be measured over the remainder of the term.

Clay said integrity measures were the Greens’ first priority, with the negotiations taking place following the Operation Kingfisher findings into the Campbell Primary School procurement. She said the party wanted “real integrity outcomes to restore confidence in government”.

Other priorities include more public and community housing and stronger renters’ rights; protecting the Western Edge; recycling and waste measures; more free GP visits; support in response to proposed NDIS cuts; commitments to public schools; free public transport for concession card holders; weekend library opening and First Nations justice.

The Greens moved to the crossbench after the 2024 election rather than taking ministerial positions, agreeing to support Barr as Chief Minister in return for Labor commitments under the previous confidence and supply agreement.

Clay said negotiations with Labor were underway and progressing constructively, but the Greens wanted any new agreement to contain published commitments against which the government could be held accountable.

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