‘Anathema to Labor': ALP veteran Graham Richardson warns the Albanese government not to rely on Greens support to pass legislation
Former NSW Labor senator Graham Richardson has warned the Albanese government should not rely on Greens support to get its legislation through the Senate.
The Albanese government received a boost on Friday with the AEC confirming there would be a slim Labor-Greens majority in the Senate.
From July, federal Labor will hold 28 seats in the 76-member upper house, with the Greens holding 11.
The results mean the Albanese government will be able to pass legislation without the support of either the Coalition, One Nation, or any of the six other members of the crossbench, provided they gain the support of the Greens.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Friday, Mr Richardson said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was now in a 'very strong' position and provided he doesn't make any major missteps he could go down in history as 'one of the great Labor leaders'.
However the former Hawke and Keating government minister and powerbroker of Labor's powerful NSW right faction said it would be foolish for the government to be too reliant on the Greens.
'You can't be reliant on the Greens because they're a mob with their own set of policies, some of which are anathema to Labor,' Mr Richardson said.
'The idea that you can always partner with them is nonsense - they are difficult to manage as a partner in political terms, very difficult.
'You've got to keep your eyes open and see where your opportunities might.'
The former Labor powerbroker said the election result had made it 'very difficult' for the Coalition to regain government.
'I think they've got a big worry on their hands,' he said.
'Their own base is eroding, and that's a big problem for them.
'You've got to hang on to your base if you're ever going to govern. You can't govern… if you keep dropping your base.'
The senate results also delivered One Nation two additional senators after the party succeeded in winning the final senate spots in NSW and WA, which along with the re-election of Malcolm Roberts, increases the size of Pauline Hanson's party to four.
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