Independents at odds over deal time
- — 23 August, 2010 09:28
The independent MPs who could decide which party forms the next government are at odds over the likelihood of a successful deal being struck in the next few weeks.
The returned rural independents Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter were due to talk on the phone late on Sunday before deciding whether or not to meet face-to-face in Canberra on today.
Mr Windsor said he's confident either Labor or the coalition will secure the 76 votes needed to pass legislation through the lower house.
"We've got to let the dust settle, see where the numbers fall and then the independents and others on the crossbench will come to some arrangement as to who governs," he told the Seven Network.
"Someone will end up with 76 - I've got no doubt about that."
Late Sunday, the Australian Electoral Commission was calling 70 seats for Labor, the same for the coalition, three to independents and one to the Greens.
Six seats - Boothby, Brisbane, Corangamite, Denison, Hasluck and Lindsay - remain in doubt.
Mr Oakeshott said the three returned independents should stand "shoulder to shoulder" during negotiations with Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
There needed to be a "collective decision" by Parliament on how to proceed in order to achieve stability for the next three years, he said.
"We've got to start to think about the stability of the Parliament ... can we make it work, lower house and upper house?"
But Mr Oakeshott doesn't share Mr Windsor's absolute confidence that one of the major parties can secure a workable minority government.
"Can we get outcomes through this Parliament?" he told the Seven Network.
"If we can I think it's a very enlightened moment for Australia.
"If we can't let's go back to the ballot box and sort it out."
Mr Katter has laughed off suggestions he wouldn't be able to work cooperatively with the Nationals after their leader, Warren Truss, launched a personal attack against the northern Queensland MP on Saturday night.
But he added: "I can almost see Tony Abbott grinding his teeth... and Julie Gillard smiling."
A spokesman for Ms Gillard confirmed the prime minister would be in Canberra today but couldn't guarantee she'd be meeting with the independents.
Mr Abbott's spokeswoman said he was staying in Sydney on Sunday night.
She wouldn't confirm his movements on Monday.
