Gillard pledges to guarantee full term

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has given a written guarantee to run a full three-year
term, reform parliament and overhaul political donations to appease three powerful
independents in her quest for minority government.
But she has yet to meet a key demand of Tony Windsor, Bob Katter and Rob Oakeshott -
to release Treasury costings of Labor and coalition election policies and the
economic outlook.
The three independents on Wednesday released a seven-point roadmap, including
changes to the running of parliament and elections, and a request for briefings from
departmental chiefs, ministers and shadow ministers.
Ms Gillard said in her written response she was prepared to not only commit to
serving her full term, but nominate an election date in late 2013.
"I can guarantee that if an arrangement was struck with us, we would be going full
term ... (that) is unequivocal," Ms Gillard told reporters.
But Ms Gillard said that while she had no problem with releasing the Treasury
figures, she was seeking advice on whether she could legally do so under the
caretaker conventions of government.
She promised to give the independents details of how Labor would reform parliament
and elections when they returned for further talks next Monday.
In a meeting on Wednesday, she also provided the MPs with details of how Labor's
election promises would benefit their electorates, including commitments to build
training centres.
The trio have acknowledged that any final agreement could not be reached until the
final vote count was known on September 3.
Mr Windsor also warned Ms Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that voters may
have to head back to the polls if a deal can't be struck.
Greens MP Adam Bandt, who is not party to the seven-point plan, has indicated he
would back a Labor minority government. The independents are undecided but have
stressed they are not a bloc.
Mr Windsor told a National Press Club forum on Wednesday that parliament should no
longer be held hostage to a small number of influential figures in the Labor and
coalition parties, and it was time for a power shift to local MPs.
"There's an expectation, and even within the media, that it will be the two dogs
barking ... We're trying to establish a pathway that's slightly different to that,"
he said.
Mr Oakeshott also warned parties against deliberately destabilising government to
enable an early poll.
"If anyone plays that game ... that party should not be rewarded," he said.
Mr Windsor said Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott must show a commitment to a new style of
politics.
"If there's no goodwill, I won't support either of them," he said, pointing to the
prospect of a fresh election.
The forum at the National Press Club highlighted policy differences between the
three independents and the other potential kingmaker Mr Bandt.
Despite their united front on the call for stable government, the forum highlighted
policy differences between the three independents and Mr Bandt.
While Mr Katter dismissed the science of climate change and argued against carbon
and mining taxes, the others called for more speedy action on the environment and
backed the original Henry tax review model for a resource super profits tax.
The seat count following the election currently stands at 71 for Labor, 72 for the
coalition, including the seat of O'Connor held by WA Nationals Tony Crook, one for
the Australian Greens and four to the independents, including Andrew Wilkie who
looks likely to have won the Tasmania seat of Denison.
Three seats are in doubt. Labor is making gains but remains behind the Liberals in
Brisbane, the Liberals have pulled ahead in Hasluck and Labor's lead in Corangamite
is slipping.



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