The Labor Party in the Australian Capital Territory has secured a record third term in Government.
Labor has seven seats in the ACT Legislative Assembly, Liberals six and the Greens, four.
Negotiations have been held since 18 October and on Friday the Greens announced they would back Labor. Mr Stanhope said Labor will work with the Greens on all issues and emphasised that it will be a stable four years.
"I think if you look at Greens policy and Labor philosophy and the Greens philosophy and Labor philosophy we share a lot of the same thinking. We [do] have different emphasis and would proceed perhaps in different ways, but we've thrashed out a significant model of agreement and collaboration and cooperation in the Assembly and it will be a great four years. I'm really looking forward to it."
Labor will deliver its reform agenda put to the ACT people.
- Building a new $90 million Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- Adding more than 100 new buses and an extra $74 million for improved bus services
- Securing Canberra’s water supply, including enlarging the Cotter Dam
- Upgrading all schools with $90 million for better learning facilities
- Cutting up to $11,996 of stamp duty for first home buyers
- Committing $30 million for the construction of a solar power plant capable of powering at least 10,000 Canberra homes.
- Investing an extra $750 million in capital infrastructure funding for new operating theatres, endoscopy suites, a new integrated Cancer Centre and two new Emergency Departments.
- Contributing an extra $247 million for health staff and services.
View ACT Labor policy and platform here.
The Labor/Greens agreement
Labor and the Greens signed a 16-page document that includes 55 separate policy commitments and changes for the Assembly.
Some of the policies adopted by Labor in the agreement are:
- A plan to urgently identify a range of sites for data centres.
- A plumber-visit program to increase water efficiency in low-income homes.
- An inquiry to establish a new target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- A commitment to re-establish a library service in the inner south.
- A 12-month trial of a levy on plastic bags.
- A commitment by the Chief Minister to lobby for the Greens to have observer status at Council of Australian Government meetings.
Changes listed in the agreement include:
- Greater ability for Assembly committees to access government information, including ministerial briefings.
- A requirement for direct answers to questions during question time.
- The abolition of conclusive certificates under freedom of information legislation.
- The registration of political donations every month and every week during elections.
- Provisions to stop the potential for legislation to be rushed through the Assembly.
''What we have negotiated here has made significant improvement, it has enhanced democracy in a way that this Assembly has never seen before,'' ACT Greens Leader Meredith Hunter said.
"I'm quite confident that the promises that were made are doable and represent good policy.
We've signed it, we're committed to it and we will honour it to the letter and in spirit," Mr Stanhope said.
While the agreement largely consists of commitments from Labor, the Greens have committed not to support any motions of no confidence.
The new Assembly will sit for the first time on Wednesday 5 November 2008 to formally elect Shane Rattenbury as the new Assembly Speaker and Jon Stanhope as Chief Minister.
