Andrew Wilkie the Independent who gave his support to the Labor Government is quite mad in trying to force a tougher mining tax on the country. He obviously heard the Green leader Senator Bob Brown say the tax should be higher. But Andrew Wilkie does not do his sums well. The Labor Government can pass legislation without his vote. It has two votes to spare under the Deputy Speaker no vote system. While not supporting the tax in its present form Andrew Wilkie would probably abstain. The problem for Labor is that Tony Windsor has assumed that the mining tax will be reviewed at the tax summit next year. Treasurer Wayne Swan obviously doesn't have a choice. The tax will have to be reviewed.
What hasn't been discussed is whether the mining tax will be passed by the Senate. The Labor Party needs the support of all five Greens the Independent and the Family First Senators to get the new tax through. However, if the tax is held back until next year's tax summit Labor will only need the Greens. Bob Brown could demand a tougher, wider tax. Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor probably won't accept that. While Tony Windsor voiced his support for the tax while making up his mind after the election he would prefer changes that make for a somewhat lighter tax.
Problems surely lay ahead for the current government. Prime Minister Julia Gillard will consult all parties before introducing contentious legislation there is no doubt. She is a natural negotiator, far more so than Tony Abbott. Whether Labor can put up with the ongoing "wishful talking" by the Opposition for the Government to fail is another issue. Since the election some Blogs and newspapers have become emotional when writing about the way the present government came about. Much is being said that will be regretted later. The argument between Bob Brown and the The Australian is a case in point. Surely The Australian editorial about destroying the Greens is pure emotion. The article is clearly wrong in saying that neither Bob Hawke nor Paul Keating would have entered the new governmental alliance. They would have agreed to it out of necessity.
Australia is heading in a new direction. Time will tell if the bush gets more money and the wants of the minority win out over the prerogatives of the majority.
What hasn't been discussed is whether the mining tax will be passed by the Senate. The Labor Party needs the support of all five Greens the Independent and the Family First Senators to get the new tax through. However, if the tax is held back until next year's tax summit Labor will only need the Greens. Bob Brown could demand a tougher, wider tax. Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor probably won't accept that. While Tony Windsor voiced his support for the tax while making up his mind after the election he would prefer changes that make for a somewhat lighter tax.
Problems surely lay ahead for the current government. Prime Minister Julia Gillard will consult all parties before introducing contentious legislation there is no doubt. She is a natural negotiator, far more so than Tony Abbott. Whether Labor can put up with the ongoing "wishful talking" by the Opposition for the Government to fail is another issue. Since the election some Blogs and newspapers have become emotional when writing about the way the present government came about. Much is being said that will be regretted later. The argument between Bob Brown and the The Australian is a case in point. Surely The Australian editorial about destroying the Greens is pure emotion. The article is clearly wrong in saying that neither Bob Hawke nor Paul Keating would have entered the new governmental alliance. They would have agreed to it out of necessity.
Australia is heading in a new direction. Time will tell if the bush gets more money and the wants of the minority win out over the prerogatives of the majority.
