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Australian Greens-Australian Labor Party agreement, 2010 Sept. 1 [manuscript]
Bib ID 5020512
Format ManuscriptManuscript
Author
Australian Greens
 
Access Conditions Available for research. Not for loan. 
Description [2010] 
0.03 m. (1 packet) 
Summary

MS Acc10.166 comprises the five-page agreement signed by Senator Bob Brown, Senator Christine Milne, Adam Bandt MP-Elect, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP and the Hon. Wayne Swan MP, following the 2010 federal election. The election resulted in a minority government formed by the Australian Labor Party with the support of the Australian Greens and independent Members of Parliament, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor. The agreement establishes a basis for stable and effective government, based on the Greens voting with the ALP government to ensure supply and opposing any motion of no confidence in the government from non-Green members. The principles on which the agreement is founded are: transparent and accountable government; improved process and integrity of parliament; policies which promote the national interest; and policies which address climate change. Other policy issues to be addressed include action on dental care and High Speed Rail, and a full parliamentary debate on the war in Afghanistan. The remainder of the agreement sets out the steps to be taken to achieve the stated principles (1 packet).

Biography/History

The Australian Greens is a confederation of eight state and territory parties which grew out of Australian environment movements in the 1970s and 1980s. The campaign to save Tasmania's Lake Pedder led to the formation of the United Tasmania Group in 1972, the first "green party" in the world. The 1980s were a time of enormous growth and professionalism in green movements, resulting in the election of Australia's first green member of parliament in 1982, when Bob Brown was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly after the campaign to save the Franklin River. In the 1990s serious efforts were made to form a Green political party at the national level, resulting in the establishment of the Australian Greens in 1992. In 1996, Bob Brown was elected to the Senate for Tasmania. In a federal by-election in 2002, Michael Organ from Illawarra, New South Wales, became the first Greens member of the House of Representatives, and the second, Adam Bandt, was elected as the House of Representatives member for Melbourne in 2010. Whilst Green representation at all levels of government remains low relative to the numbers held by the major parties, they have on occasion held the balance of power, and serve as a powerful alternative or "protest" vote at elections. Party policies have expanded to include social justice and peace issues. The structure of the Greens comprises local branches, electorate branches and/or regional groups, state parties, state councils, the National Council, working groups and election campaign committees. Bob Brown was formally elected as the first Federal Parliamentary Leader of The Greens in 2005.

The Australian Labor Party grew out of the trade union movement, which began in colonial Australia in the 1860s. The first branch meeting of the ALP is said to have been held by striking shearers under a gum tree in Barcaldine, Queensland, in 1891. Separate labor parties were established in the colonies during the 1890s, sponsored by the trade union movement. The Federal Parliamentary Labor Party (the Caucus) first met on 8 May 1901, following the first federal election for the Commonwealth of Australia. The Party enjoyed rapid growth and some success in its early years. In 1910, Labor won Australia's first federal majority Labor government and Australia's first Senate majority, with Andrew Fisher as Prime Minister. The structure of the ALP is based on branch membership, with each branch electing an executive and delegates who attend local and state fora. A National Executive is elected by delegates at the National Conference, serving as the chief administrative body between conferences. The National Secreatriat is the organisational head office of the Party. The Federal Parliamentary Labor Party are empowered by the Australian Labor Party to represent the views of the Party and their constituents in the Federal Parliament, guided by the values and positions of ALP members through the Party Platform.

Notes

Manuscript reference no.: MS Acc10.166.

Subjects Australian Greens - Archives.  |  Australian Labor Party - Archives.  |  Political parties - Australia - Archives.  |  Coalitions - Australia.  |  Politics, Practical - Australia.  |  Political parties - Australia - Platforms.  |  Australia - Politics and government - 2001-
Time Coverage 2010 
Other authors/contributors Brown, Bob, 1944-  |  Milne, Christine, 1953-  |  Bandt, Adam  |  Gillard, Julia, 1961-  |  Swan, Wayne  |  Australian Labor Party
Terms of Use Copying of Bob Brown's copyright material permitted for research purposes. 

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    Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.