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| Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (L) is going to cast her vote at Melbourne's Seabrook Primary School polling station, Aug. 21, 2010. (Xinhua/Bai Xue) |
CANBERRA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday announced that the Labor party has signed a formal agreement with Tasmanian independent Member of Parliament ( MP) Andrew Wilkie on his decision to back a Labor-led minority government.
Discussions continue with the other three independent MPs, who also hold balance of power in Parliament.
On Wednesday, Greens' MP Adam Bandt signed an agreement to support Labor. Including Wilkie's decision of support, Labor now has 74 definite seats, two short of the majority needed to secure power to form government, while the Coalition owns 73 seats.
"I have agreed with Wilkie to work towards problem gambling reform," Gillard told a media conference in Canberra, adding that Wilkie also required Labor to build on health reforms.
A Labor government will make available of 100 million Australian dollars (91 million U.S. dollars) for building work at Hobart hospital where the independent MP comes from.
Meanwhile, Labor would also bring in mandatory pre-commitment technology on all poker machines as requested by Wilkie to combat problem gambling.
"I've agreed with Wilkie that we will work with states and territories to deliver this reform," Gillard said.
"But I've also agreed with him that the commonwealth will act if the agreement of the states and territories is not forthcoming. "
Gillard said she would get legal advice on the commonwealth's constitutional ability to legislate around poker machines.
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Independent Andrew Wilkie to support Labor forming Australian minority gov't
Wilkie has also expressed concerns about the public health care system in southern Tasmania, and the state of the Royal Hobart Hospital in particular, which he said will be fighting to bring reform during his days in Parliament.
Wilkie's decision means Labor now has 74 definite seats, two short of the majority needed to secure power to form government, while the Coalition is at 73 seats. Full Story
Australian minority gov't decision may be delayed: independent
CANBERRA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Tony Windsor on said on Monday that he may delay a decision on which side to support, unless more information is forthcoming from Australian Labor and the Coalition Party. Full Story
