Crossbench doesn’t hold balance of power but we do have impact

As independents line up for Caulfield in the upcoming Victorian election, federal Member for Goldstein ZOE DANIEL reflects on what it means to be an independent MP.

Few tasks are more prosaic than putting out the bins, but a few days ago I was doing just that when a group of primary schoolgirls passed by on their scooters.

“Hi Zoe, how are you?” one called out, “how’s running the country?”

I laughed. 

As the independent Member for Goldstein, I am not "running the country", however, the political engagement of young people that became evident during the election campaign, remains a motivating factor as I work on the priorities that the community elected me to deliver.

School visits, demonstrating the curiosity and interest of pupils in our political system, are energising as are the roundtables and representations from the diverse groups that make up Goldstein.

Since May 21, I have been balancing my time in Canberra, where the policies get made and the legislation gets written, with constituent meetings, community events and visits. A forum held by Zionism Victoria and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria at the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre was one such highlight.

Important as parliament is, community matters most, and as a community independent direct engagement is my highest priority.

Australians may have elected the largest crossbench to the House of Representatives since Federation, but collectively we do not have the balance of power. This means working strategically and collaboratively to get things done has had implications for the way I work with other members of the crossbench and the Government and Opposition.

The fact that we do not have the balance of power does not mean that we are without impact, especially on the pillars on which we were all elected: climate change, integrity and gender equity.

The Government to date appears to recognise that the election of the independents reflects a thirst within the electorate for action on issues which Labor and the Coalition did their best to avoid during the election – and probably on economic reform as well.

This has been reflected in the readiness of senior ministers to engage with the crossbench collectively and individually on significant pieces of legislation – the Climate Change Bill and the legislation for the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

The Government invited and accepted crossbench amendments strengthening the climate change legislation and we are in the midst of discussions with Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on the NACC.

On the crossbench, we have already had our differences, as should be expected for MPs elected to represent our communities. What is a priority for one community is not necessarily the case for another.

What we all agree on is that we should have voices in parliament that are proportionate with our numbers.

That meant we were due three of the opportunities in Question Time and what are called Sessional Orders were amended at the start of the 47^th Parliament, to reflect his reality.

However, for reasons of their own, the Coalition decided to take twice as many points of order during Question Time compared with the previous parliament, resulting in crossbenchers missing out on that final question. That means we missed out on an opportunity to speak up for the communities that had voted us in.

I proposed bringing forward the final crossbench question and although the Coalition was not happy, parliament voted in favour of a small but important change to procedure that empowers the crossbench to hold the government accountable.

Standing up for community can produce results.

Notable were amendments I and other crossbenchers proposed to the new Government’s signature Climate Change Bill, entrenching its target of a 43% cut in carbon emissions by 2030.

My amendment was designed to make it categorical that 43% is a floor not a ceiling.

As I said after the legislation became law, it is a good first step, but it is not enough if we are to have any hope of reaching net zero by 2050; to ensure that we make the transformation we need to preserve our environment, protect our health, invest in well paying, secure jobs and enhance productivity.

In short, to underwrite enduring prosperity.

Also important was an amendment accepted by Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor to his legislation setting up Jobs and Skills Australia to ensure a gender lens was applied to its operation.

This amendment may seem a small step for women, but it should have significant implications.

This kind of pressing, amending, and improving from the crossbench holds the Government accountable to its campaign rhetoric; ensuring it takes every possible step to enhance women’s participation in the workforce – for the sake of productivity, prosperity, and gender equity.

As I said at the Jobs and Skills Summit, government must not become bedazzled by the hi-vis side of the workforce, leaving the pink workforce at home yet again.

Employers are bemoaning labour shortages in many sectors of the economy, including within Goldstein.

The answers are staring this government in the face.

For example, a survey of 6500 mainly female retail workers conducted by the University of New South Wales found that 35% of mothers surveyed would work more hours if the rosters were “more predictable”.

The SDA estimates that there is a pool of at least 40,000 underemployed mainly female retail workers and it is much the same story in aged care.

The early lessons are that standing my ground has produced results, that small steps can be the pathway to bigger changes and that genuine conversations are central to solving big problems.

I have much to learn.

And much as the schoolgirls might like it, I am not running the country.

What I am doing, and I think it is what Goldstein wants, is helping bring about better government.

One step at a time.

Photo: (L-R) Crossbench MPs Sophie Scamps, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniels, Monique Ryan, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall speak during debate on amendments to the standing orders in the House of Representatives at Parliament House (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)