Green tide sweeps Fielding from Senate - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)Australian Greens leader Bob Brown is celebrating his party's best-ever result in a federal election. He says their Senate vote has increased from 5 per cent to 14 per cent, making the Greens the undisputed third party in the Parliament.
"It looks like we'll have nine senators in the new Parliament, a party room of 10," he said.
"From where I sit, that's a greenslide."
Senator Brown is vowing to work responsibly with the victorious party if they hold the deciding vote in the Senate after today's election.
"Whether it's an Abbott government or a Gillard government we will work with that government, that's what the people will have voted for," he said.
**The Greens' momentum carried over into the Lower House with Adam Bandt claiming a maiden victory for his party in the general election.
Mr Bandt won the seat of Melbourne, which was held by outgoing Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.
The Greens needed a swing of 4.7 per cent to win, but extended the swing to more than 10 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Mr Bandt says the two major parties have let voters down.
"We have seen the need to respond to the climate emergency pushed into the too-hard basket, and we have seen political leaders denigrate the love between two people, just because of their gender," he said.
"But there's another side to us, there's a side that lends a compassionate and helping hand to people who are in trouble."
Further information/detailed results:
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2010/guide/sop.htm
