Greens see partner in Coalition

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown believes there will be times when his party and the Coalition will side with each other in the new parliament.

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Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown believes there will be times when his party and the Coalition will side with each other in the new parliament.

The Greens are backing a Labor minority government in both houses of Australia's first hung parliament in 70 years.

But Senator Brown said his party was prepared to back the Coalition on some issues, such as improving the government's paid parental leave scheme.

"The need for superannuation to be added to that scheme is one thing," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"Putting a cost on the public purse is another."

The government scheme, due to start on January 1, 2011, will be funded by taxpayers.

A more generous coalition scheme was to have been funded by a levy on big business, a measure backed by the Greens.

Senator Brown has said he is prepared to meet regularly with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott over legislation.


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Source: AAP


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