Intelligence

Howard wins control over Senate to tighten grip on power

Telegraph | News | Howard wins control over Senate to tighten grip on power

By Nick Squires in Sydney
(Filed: 29/10/2004)

Australia's prime minister, John Howard, won the strongest mandate of any leader in nearly 25 years yesterday when he took control of the upper house of parliament.

The result, which follows Mr Howard's fourth successive election win earlier this month, will allow him to forge ahead with contentious plans to weaken the power of the unions and privatise Australia's largest telecommunications group, Telstra.

Mr Howard's conservative coalition now holds a majority in the Senate and the lower House of Representatives, making him the first prime minister to control both chambers since 1981.

Mr Howard called the result an opportunity for change, but opposition parties and unions expressed concern over the government's unbridled power.

Although the election was nearly three weeks ago, the balance of power in the Senate only became clear after the complex preferential voting system was counted.

The government now holds 39 of the 76 seats in the Senate and will be able to force through a range of previously blocked reforms without the support of minor parties.

Mr Howard said: "We don't intend to allow this unexpected but welcome majority in the Senate to go to our heads.

"We certainly won't be abusing our new-found position. We'll continue to listen to the people and we'll stay in touch with the public that has invested great trust and confidence in us."

The treasurer, Peter Costello, said the government would be able to introduce legislation which would give Australia "great opportunities" for the future.

High on the agenda will be the sale of its 51 per cent stake in Telstra, a move which will be unpopular in rural areas and the Outback, where mobile phone coverage is already patchy.

The government also hopes to ease controls on foreign media ownership. That would allow Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to own television stations and newspapers in the same state capital.

There are also plans to reform labour laws to enforce secret ballots before workers can strike, and to make it harder for employees to claim unfair dismissal.

The reforms are in keeping with Mr Howard's emphasis on private enterprise and individual responsibility, an agenda that owes much to Margaret Thatcher.

Labour's leader in the Senate, Chris Evans, said: "Clearly the government has an unfettered power now. I am fearful the government will abuse their power."

The leader of the Australian Democrats, Andrew Bartlett, said opposition parties would be unable to prevent the passage of "bad" legislation or even ensure it was properly scrutinised.

"The Australian people gave the Howard government the keys to the Senate but they didn't give them permission to trash the place," Mr Bartlett said.

"It will be more important than ever that the Democrats and others inform the public of what laws the government is proposing and harness public opinion to try to force the government to listen."

In December, Mr Howard, 65, will become Australia's second-longest serving prime minister after his political idol of the fifties and sixties, Sir Robert Menzies.

There is speculation that Mr Howard will step down half-way through his three-year term of office, handing power to Mr Costello.

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October 28, 2004 at 11:54 PM in Political | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home