Bandt to Abbott: I will back Labor

It all comes down to Hasluck

With three seats still in doubt nationally, all eyes are on Hasluck for a result that may decide which party can form government.



NEWLY elected Greens MP Adam Bandt has told Opposition Leader Tony Abbott directly that his preference is to help Labor form government, after having a positive second meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday.

The man who emphatically snatched the seat of Melbourne from Labor met Julia Gillard in her office in Canberra, and a third meeting is planned with Greens leader Bob Brown by the end of the week.

After his meeting with Ms Gillard, Mr Bandt last night returned Mr Abbott's phone call from Monday, reiterating his position that he wanted to help Ms Gillard form government.

But he said the Greens wanted to ''keep the lines of communication open'' with Mr Abbott. No meeting with Mr Abbott has been planned.

As both leaders of the major parties attempt to woo Mr Bandt and the four independents to get the numbers for a minority government, Mr Bandt also met the independent member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, yesterday. Mr Bandt and the independents will speak at the National Press Club today.

Mr Abbott continued the line yesterday that a Labor government would effectively be an alliance between Labor and the Greens and that would lead to a higher mining tax and a price on carbon.

He said he had a cordial relationship with Senator Brown and could work with the party, but Mr Bandt had indicated he wanted to work with Labor.

''Now I'm not sure why because quite frankly we've got a more effective climate change policy than the government,'' Mr Abbott said.

Ms Gillard has said she has the better prospect of providing a stable government because the Greens, who will control the Senate next July, were more likely to pass Labor's legislation.

The Greens have been pushing for Labor to revert to its original 40 per cent mining tax to boost funding for schools. Mr Bandt would not comment on whether he would make that a condition of helping Ms Gillard form a minority government.

Before election day, Ms Gillard had ruled out negotiating with the Greens on the mining tax and the Greens had said they would not block Labor's current version.

Mr Bandt said he expected he would share some common ground with the independents around the need to reform the processes of Parliament.

He has proposed giving third parties and independents a greater opportunity to raise issues in Parliament and introduce legislation that could be debated.

Why would the greens hand over power to labor knowing full well they didnt want them to get an ETS through.