Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland Larissa Waters and Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett have announced a preference swap ahead of the major parties this morning at Mt Coot-tha lookout in Brisbane.

“The Greens and the Democrats in Queensland have agreed to exchange preferences with each other before the big parties to give a progressive small party the best chance of winning the final Senate seat in Queensland,” said Ms Waters.

“In 2004 it was Queensland’s landslide win for the Coalition that gave John Howard control of both houses of Parliament.

“We’ve had three years of the Senate as a rubber stamp. It’s crucial that the Senate be restored to its proper role as a check and balance for the Australian people.

“Coalition dominance of the Senate has been bad for democracy, with debates cut short, Senate committees axed, and legislation like WorkChoices, the Northern Territory intervention and the sale of Telstra rammed through.

“This election, Queenslanders can play their part in rescuing the Senate from being a rubber stamp, by voting Green in the Senate.

“Labor can’t get the numbers to gain a majority in the Senate, so the Greens are the only hope of ending John Howard’s control of the Senate.

“The Greens with the balance of power in the Senate will keep the government accountable. We will review legislation to make it better and fairer, as we’ve done responsibly in state Parliaments for over 20 years in the balance of power.    

“Queensland needs a Greens Senator with long-term vision on climate change, protecting workplace rights and building a fairer society, not the greenwash and divisive policies we’ve seen from the big parties to date.

“In the Senate, I will push for real action on climate change, with greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 and serious funding and targets for renewable energy.

“Queensland’s tourism and agricultural sectors will be devastated by climate change, but it’s not too late to act to protect them. You just need to vote Green in the Senate,” concluded Ms Waters.