VICTORIAN rural independent MP Cathy McGowan has declared she will support the Turnbull government on supply and confidence in a hung parliament.
Like Queensland rural MP Bob Katter who made a similar declaration yesterday, Ms McGowan will maintain a watching brief on the parliament’s progress by retaining her right to independence.
Mr Katter put forward his position after meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for talks in Brisbane yesterday while Ms McGowan met the PM in Melbourne today.
Ms McGowan said in a statement, “As an independent I stand by my principle of no deals”.
“A deal is when you agree to do something in exchange for something,” she said.
“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and I agreed that while maintaining my complete independence, I am prepared to contribute to the stability of the 45th Parliament by continuing with my past practice of supporting the government of the day on supply and matters of confidence.”
Mr McGowan said in maintaining her independence she would be totally committed to several points.
She said, “I am not in opposition; I will continue to work with the government of the day to achieve what’s needed for my electorate and the nation; and I will consider each piece of legislation on its merits and vote according to my conscience, my electorate and the needs of the nation”.
Her announcement comes as the snail’s pace counting continues from the weekend’s election.
With postal and absentee votes collected, the Coalition had 74 seats needing 76 to claim a majority to form government.
The ALP had 71 seats but six electorates remained agonisingly close including Flynn in Queensland where incumbent LNP MP Ken O’Dowd had a seven vote lead.
Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie also released a statement saying it appeared that Mr Turnbull would continue to be the Prime Minister, either with a slim majority or with the support of other cross-benchers.
He said as close as Bill Shorten has got to winning the election, “there is no conceivable way he will be in a position to form government”.
“To be absolutely clear, I remain steadfast that I will not enter into any deal with any party in order to help them form government - but nor will I be destructive, especially at a time like this when more than ever the country needs level heads and certainty,” he said.
“My focus now turns to doing what I can to help settle the situation down and foster stable government.
“To that end I repeat my position that I will continue to vote on parliamentary business on its merits and consequently not support a vote against budget supply or confidence in the government unless clearly warranted, for example in a case of malfeasance.”
Ms McGowan won the seat of northern Victorian Indi for a second term at the weekend’s election after winning it off the Liberals in 2013.