ACT Greens

ACT Greens

The ACT Greens is a green political party located in the Australian Capital Territory, and a member of the federation of the Australian Greens.

As of the 2008 election, the ACT Greens hold the balance of power in the 17-member Legislative Assembly, with four members, to Labor's seven and the Liberals with six. After almost two weeks of deliberations with both the Labor and Liberal parties, the Greens chose to support a Labor minority government.

The 2012 election saw the ACT Greens retain the sole balance of power but are predicted to have lost two of their four seats.

The Greens and the ALP signed a 'Parliamentary Agreement' to formalize the arrangement. Under the agreement, the Greens secured a range of policy outcomes in the areas of schools and education, health service provision, housing, public transport and gay rights. It also ensures that the Greens will Chair three of the Assembly's key committees. In exchange, the Greens agreed to maintain confidence in Chief Minister Jon Stanhope. The Greens also secured Government support for the nomination of Shane Rattenbury as Speaker of the Assembly.

The Greens have required the Government to report on progress against the measures outlined in the agreement on an annual basis. The first joint communiqué on the progress of the agreement was issued in July 2008. The next communiqué will be issued in July 2010.

The ACT Greens elect a 'convenor' rather than a 'leader'. Meredith Hunter was appointed Parliamentary Convenor of the ACT Greens.