Labor–Greens coalition

For other uses, see Labor–Greens coalition (disambiguation).
Labor–Greens coalition
Labor leaderAndrew Barr
Greens leaderShane Rattenbury
Founded2012; 13 years ago (2012)
Dissolved6 November 2024; 2 months ago (6 November 2024)
Member partiesACT Labor
ACT Greens
Legislative Assembly
16 / 25
(2020−2024)

The Labor–Greens coalition was a political alliance between the Labor Party and the Greens in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.[1][2] The coalition was founded in 2012 but was dissolved after the 2024 election, with the Greens moving to the crossbench.

Unlike what generally happens with the Liberal–National Coalition, Labor and the Greens contest ACT elections on separate tickets. From 2020 until 2024, three Greens MLAs were members of the Barr ministry, while the other three effectively sat on the backbench.[3]

History

Following the 2001 election, Labor was supported by the Greens and Democrats in a minority government. Labor won a majority in 2004, but after losing it in 2008 they were again supported by the Greens.[4][5]

At the 2012 election, Shane Rattenbury was the only Greens MLA to retain his seat in the Legislative Assembly, and entered into a power sharing arrangement to allow the Labor Party to once again form minority government.[6] The Labor Caucus agreed to appoint Rattenbury as a minister in Katy Gallagher's five-member cabinet, and to support various Greens policies.[7]

Rattenbury was re-elected at the 2016 election and joined by party colleague Caroline Le Couteur, taking the Greens tally to 2 out of 25 total seats. As a result, Rattenbury joined the second Barr ministry, although he reserved the right to withdraw from Cabinet discussions on divisive issues and vote independently in the Assembly.[8]

Labor was re-elected with 10 seats of their own in 2020, while the Greens won a record six seats. On the night of the election, Andrew Barr confirmed Labor would again seek to enter into an arrangement with the Greens. Since November 2020, Rattenbury, Rebecca Vassarotti and Emma Davidson have served as Greens ministers, making up a third of the Barr ministry.[9]

The coalition dissolved after the 2024 election, where the Greens lost two seats to Independents. Rattenbury announced on 6 November 2024 that the Greens would be sitting on the crossbench, while continuing to guarantee supply in exchange for Labor adopting Greens policies.[10]

Electoral performance

Legislative Assembly

Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
2012 109,764 49.58
9 / 17
 Steady 1st Coalition
2016 118,920 48.73
14 / 25
 Increase 5 Steady 1st Coalition
2020 138,133 51.32
16 / 25
 Increase 2 Steady 1st Coalition
2024 113,281 46.45
14 / 25
 Decrease 2 Steady 1st Coalition

See also

References

  1. ^ Evans, Jake (22 October 2020). "ACT Greens push for additional ministers in new coalition government with Labor". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ Moore, Michael (13 September 2023). "Is the Labor-Greens coalition getting the shakes?". Canberra CityNews. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ Colebatch, Tim (27 January 2023). "The turn of the electoral cycle could be a long time coming". Inside Story. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Labor to form minority government in ACT". The Age. 31 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  5. ^ Stanhope, Jon; Gallagher, Katy; Hunter, Meredith; Rattenbury, Shane (31 October 2008). "Parliamentary Agreement For the 7th Legislative Assembly for the ACT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009.
  6. ^ Willis, Louise (5 November 2012). "Bourke dumped for Rattenbury". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  7. ^ Gallagher, Katy; Barr, Andrew; Rattenbury, Shane; Copland, Simon (2 November 2012). "Parliamentary Agreement for the 8th Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2024. 4) Commitment to a Policy Program ACT Labor agrees to support or deliver the initiatives as they are described in Appendix 1 of this agreement unless a written agreement to vary the initiatives is signed by both parties (see clause 9).
  8. ^ Barr, Andrew; Rattenbury, Shane; Le Couteur, Caroline (30 October 2016). "Parliamntary Agreement for the 9th Legislative Assembly for The Australian Capital Territory" (PDF). ACT Parliament. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Labor-Greens coalition retains power in the ACT". The Australian.
  10. ^ "ACT Greens say 'business as usual won't cut it' as the party confirms it won't form another coalition with Labor". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.