New-look Greens flex their muscles with failed tilt at Senate presidency

THE Greens have failed in an audacious bid to seize the coveted post of president of the Senate from Labor, as the party flexes its muscles as the chamber's new balance-of-power holder.

Greens leader Bob Brown today nominated Western Australian colleague Scott Ludlam for the position, challenging the incumbent, Labor's John Hogg. The bid ultimately failed with the major parties ganging up on the Greens candidate and knocking him off by 62 votes to nine.

Today is the first sitting of the new Senate, in which the Greens, with nine senators, hold the balance of power. Today's challenge was a departure from convention, with the governing party traditionally filling the post and the opposition filling the deputy's position.

To cries of outrage from Labor and Coalition senators, Senator Brown said Senator Ludlam was “a person of great integrity, he would be an unbiased and fair presiding officer”.

He said it was time the “cosy” agreement over the post ended. Senator Hogg had been expected to be re-elected as Senate president, the equivalent position to the Speaker of the House, unopposed.

“I wish to thank honourable senators for their confidence in re-electing me president of the Senate,” he said after the ballot. Despite the defeat, Senator Brown said the Greens would play a “vigorous role” in the Senate as they became a “growing force” on the crossbench.

Government Senate leader Chris Evans said Labor would offer its support to the Coalition's nomination for deputy president.

 Author: James Massola  - The Australian