Perth Voice Interactive

GREENS candidate Sophie McNeill says if the state election delivers a split Upper House, her party will use any balance of power leverage to ban fracking in the Kimberley.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Ms McNeill says her party will haggle with the elected government to push through a series of legislation, but that the fracking policy will be a “priority”.  

“We will use our balance of power to negotiate with the government and enact a ban across all of the Kimberley,” Ms McNeill said. 

“It is the Greens who will have the power to turn this into a reality.

“We really wanted to put forward this issue, banning fracking in the Kimberley, early on because we know how important it is for voters here in Fremantle, but also people across WA and in the heart of the Kimberley.”  

Notre Dame politics professor Martin Drum says that while it is unlikely that the Greens will be able to achieve a balance of power in the lower house, it is “much more likely” that a range of smaller parties will be elected according to current polling. 

“There are 37 seats in the upper house under the new electoral system, unless Labor gets a 50 per cent majority, there will probably be a balance of power in the Upper House,” Mr Drum said. 

“When you have that balance of power, you get to comment on, and amend and adjust, legislation… it doesn’t usually mean you can necessarily impose demands across, but you can certainly have the ability to influence and impact legislation as it comes through. 

“As part of that, there will be opportunities for parties like the Greens to have an impact.”

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER