Rural Australia wins huge leverage from election
Updated
Australia's hung parliament has delivered rural Australia enormous sway over national affairs.
While the independents are negotiating from a position of strength, MPs from the National Party, the traditional rural party, are also planning to take advantage of any minority coalition government, to secure a better deal for their regional constituents. The three country Independents will meet the heads of various Government departments today. And Prime Minister Julia Gillard will make her case for the Labor party to form a minority government with a speech at the National Press Club. A quick outcome is not expected, with Independent MP, Tony Windsor, hinting he won't decide which party to support until next week. So what are the priorities for country Australia - and how do they match up with the Independents' demands?
Presenter: Cathy Van Extel
Speakers:Charles Burke, National Farmers Federation Vice-President; John Cotter, President of Queensland's Peak farming lobby group Agforce
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