12.2.3 Balance of power Sometimes smaller parties and independents hold the ‘balance of power’. This means that: • No major party has enough votes to pass laws alone. • They must negotiate with crossbench members of parliament (MPs).
• This can lead to changes in proposed laws. • It gives smaller parties signiýcant inþuence.
FIGURE2 Julia Gillard led a minority Labor government after failing to win a majority of seats in the 2010 federal election. Despite being in minority government, the Gillard Government was one of Australia’s most productive, passing 570 Bills during its term.
SkillBuilder discussion Evaluating democratic institutions and systems 1. What do you know about Julia Gillard’s government? 2. Why might they have been so productive in passing Bills?
12.2 SkillBuilder activity COMMUNICATING 1. Research a current independent MP. a. Which electorate do they represent? b. What issues do they focus on?
c. How do they work with the major parties? 2. Watch part of Question Time and record: a. How many different parties speak. b. What issues they discuss. c. How the balance of power impacts the debate. 3. Create a presentation explaining how small parties or independents have inþuenced a recent decision in parliament.
444 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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