Share this @internewscast.com
Despite losing at least two lower house seats, the Greens are hoping to make the incoming parliament the “most progressive Australia has seen” through their voting power in the Senate.
Leader Adam Bandt says the party has received a record Senate vote this election. They are on track to take 11 upper house seats, he said.
He described this as a “remarkable achievement”, adding that he was confident he would retain his own electorate of Melbourne, .
“Because of that strong vote and the result we’ve got, the Greens are now in sole balance of power in the next parliament,” he told reporters on Monday morning.
In the previous Senate, Labor needed not just the support of the Greens, but also that of several crossbenchers to pass legislation that wasn’t backed by the Coalition.

If the Greens end up with the deciding vote in the new Senate, Labor would only require the Greens’ backing — a situation Bandt mentioned might be beneficial for achieving “real progress”.

What are the Greens priorities?

While the party has, at the time of publication, lost at least two seats in the lower house, its representation in the Senate still gives it significant influence over the government’s legislative agenda.

Outgoing MP Max Chandler-Mather has congratulated Labor’s candidate Renee Coffey who will now represent the seat of Griffith.

Bandt said he wants to “get Labor to act” on several of the party’s key policy areas.

“The only barrier to getting dental into Medicare now and passing it through the parliament is Labor,” he said.

“The only obstacle to making child care free is Labor.
“The only obstacle to stopping new coal and gas mines from being opened is Labor.

“We stand ready in the Senate to make this the most progressive parliament that Australia has seen.”

A woman speaking to the media behind some microphones

Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May is party spokesperson for early childhood education and care. Source: SBS News / Cameron Carr

Greens senator for Victoria Steph Hodgins-May said she would be actively advocating for her party’s agenda in the incoming parliament.

“In the Senate, I, along with my colleagues, will advocate for Labor to pursue the goals that families nationwide anticipate and deserve, especially regarding truly universal child care,” she stated on Tuesday morning.

Will the Greens block Labor policy in the Senate?

Bandt was asked if the Greens would respect Labor’s election victory and acknowledge its mandate to pass its election promises.
“When you look at actually what it is that they were proposing to get through, in many respects there’s a thin policy platform, there’s some that they adopted from us, but in other respects, there’s a blank slate,” he said.
“That actually means an opportunity to work together to get things done.

“Take child care for example, there was no platform being put forward.”

Mixed results in the Lower House

There were mixed results for the Greens on election night, including the loss of two of the three Brisbane seats the party won in 2022. The Greens are currently ahead in the seat of Ryan, held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown.
The party is yet to pick up any new seats, although Labor MP Peter Khalil is facing a tight contest against former Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam in the Melbourne seat of Wills, which at the time of publication is still undecided.
Bandt anticipates the party will finish with between one and four seats in the lower house.

When asked if Greens campaigning was too focused on Gaza and too little on climate change, Bandt said environmental issues had been a “priority”.

“We were the only ones talking about real action on climate change and calling for the government to stop opening new coal and gas mines,” he said.
“And we made it clear that that was going to be one of our priority positions.
“I had people coming up to us regularly throughout the campaign and all the polling booths saying, ‘thank you for being the only voice talking about peace and humanity’,” he added.

For the latest from SBS News, and .
Visit the to access articles, podcasts and videos from SBS News, NITV and our teams covering more than 60 languages.
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Alleged Antisemitic Incident Leaves Jewish Teens Traumatized, Reports Police

Victoria Police have announced the identification of two individuals connected to an…
Police said the attack was random and came as a result of an altercation.

Man Indicted for Murder More Than a Year After Alleged ‘Random’ Fatal Attack

A man has been charged with murder more than a year after…

Shark Encounter Leaves Man Critical, Beaches Temporarily Shut Down

A surfer has been bitten by a shark on the New South…
forget smartphone on car sit, lost smart phone ,

Unexpected Rideshare Mix-up Causes Major Inconvenience: How a Simple Mistake Turned into a Massive Headache

Exclusive: We’ve all been there or know someone who has—leaving behind a…

Trump Connects Greenland Proposal to Nobel Prize Disappointment, Vows to Proceed with Tariff Threats

Key Points Norway’s government has released a message United States President Donald…
Piper James, 19, was found dead on K'Gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, yesterday morning surrounded by a pack of about 10 dingoes.

Teenager Found Deceased Among Dingoes on Queensland Island Has Been Identified

A Canadian teenager who was found dead on a Queensland beach was…
Aurora australis in Hobart, Tasmania.

Intense Geomagnetic Storm Over Australia Predicted to Illuminate Night Sky with Aurora

A powerful geomagnetic storm currently in progress could trigger the aurora australis…
Veronika the cow uses a broom in a variety of ways to scratch itches.

Revolutionary Discovery: Broom-Wielding Cow Challenges Scientific Understanding of Animal Behavior

For generations, scientists considered the use of tools to be the defining…
Hyde Park is the traditional starting point for the Invasion Day rally.

Sydney Protest Ban Extended with Adjustments in Preparation for Australia Day, Announce Police

NSW Police have announced an extension of the protest ban for the…

Renowned Italian Designer Valentino Passes Away at 93, Tributes Celebrate His Legacy

Italian designer Valentino Garavani, whose luxurious dresses adorned some of the world’s…
Hate speech laws set to pass parliament despite internal pushback

New Hate Speech Legislation Nears Approval Amidst Controversy: What You Need to Know

After initial resistance, the federal government’s proposed hate speech legislation, crafted in…
French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron Alerts Trump to Potential EU ‘Trade Bazooka’ Response Over Greenland Tariff Proposal

US President Donald Trump‘s pledges to provoke a sweeping tariff fight with…