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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/13/lee-rhiannon-delighted-at-di-natale-backdown-over-suspension
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lee Rhiannon delighted at Di Natale 'backdown' over suspension | Lee Rhiannon delighted at Di Natale 'backdown' over suspension |
| (2 days later) | |
| The Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has welcomed the decision by the Australian Greens to allow her to again take part in party-room decisions, saying she is “delighted” that leader Richard Di Natale has “backed down” and reversed her suspension. | The Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has welcomed the decision by the Australian Greens to allow her to again take part in party-room decisions, saying she is “delighted” that leader Richard Di Natale has “backed down” and reversed her suspension. |
| But she has criticised Di Natale’s decision to create a “balance of power subcommittee” (BPS) that will exclude her from considerations of contentious legislation, saying it will not have any power. | But she has criticised Di Natale’s decision to create a “balance of power subcommittee” (BPS) that will exclude her from considerations of contentious legislation, saying it will not have any power. |
| The Greens have struck a compromise deal to allow Rhiannon to again take part in contentious party-room debates after the party voted two weeks ago to temporarily exclude her from all discussions and decisions on “contentious government legislation”. | The Greens have struck a compromise deal to allow Rhiannon to again take part in contentious party-room debates after the party voted two weeks ago to temporarily exclude her from all discussions and decisions on “contentious government legislation”. |
| The unprecedented move was a response to complaints from all nine of Rhiannon’s federal colleagues, including Di Natale, that she had derailed the party’s negotiations over the Turnbull government’s Gonski 2.0 school funding package, and had breached the faith of the party room. | The unprecedented move was a response to complaints from all nine of Rhiannon’s federal colleagues, including Di Natale, that she had derailed the party’s negotiations over the Turnbull government’s Gonski 2.0 school funding package, and had breached the faith of the party room. |
| They said the party’s attempt to vote for the school funding package had been compromised when they discovered Rhiannon had been instructed to vote in line with the wishes of her NSW branch which did not support the package. | They said the party’s attempt to vote for the school funding package had been compromised when they discovered Rhiannon had been instructed to vote in line with the wishes of her NSW branch which did not support the package. |
| They said they had to temporarily exclude her from discussions of contentious legislation until they resolved an issue with the Australian Greens’ federated structure, where the NSW party is the only Greens party that can bind its senators on policy irrespective of what the national party room wants to do. | They said they had to temporarily exclude her from discussions of contentious legislation until they resolved an issue with the Australian Greens’ federated structure, where the NSW party is the only Greens party that can bind its senators on policy irrespective of what the national party room wants to do. |
| According to the compromise position struck on Sunday, if the party finds itself in the balance of power in the Senate – where it has the power to block or pass contentious legislation – Rhiannon can be excluded from the subcommittee that considers the matter. | According to the compromise position struck on Sunday, if the party finds itself in the balance of power in the Senate – where it has the power to block or pass contentious legislation – Rhiannon can be excluded from the subcommittee that considers the matter. |
| But she will not be prevented from voting on the legislation. | But she will not be prevented from voting on the legislation. |
| Rhiannon welcomed the compromise deal, but said she was disappointed that it was leaked to the media, and criticised the BPS as pointless. | Rhiannon welcomed the compromise deal, but said she was disappointed that it was leaked to the media, and criticised the BPS as pointless. |
| “I am disappointed that a party room resolution has been leaked to the media instead of respecting the National Council process and letting it confidentially run its course,” she said on Thursday. | “I am disappointed that a party room resolution has been leaked to the media instead of respecting the National Council process and letting it confidentially run its course,” she said on Thursday. |
| “There are still things to work through confidentially with National Council, and my NSW colleagues and I are fully committed to that process, but I do now need to respond to today’s article. | “There are still things to work through confidentially with National Council, and my NSW colleagues and I are fully committed to that process, but I do now need to respond to today’s article. |
| “I am delighted that Richard has backed down, reversed the suspension and confirmed that I will once again be fully participating in every decision of the Greens party room. | “I am delighted that Richard has backed down, reversed the suspension and confirmed that I will once again be fully participating in every decision of the Greens party room. |
| “It is clear that I will continue to be involved in discussions and decisions of party room on all matters, including when we are in balance of power. | “It is clear that I will continue to be involved in discussions and decisions of party room on all matters, including when we are in balance of power. |
| “As such I do not think there is any need for this new ‘subcommittee’ and I think it sets a bad precedent, but I am pleased it does not have the power to make decisions. | “As such I do not think there is any need for this new ‘subcommittee’ and I think it sets a bad precedent, but I am pleased it does not have the power to make decisions. |
| “The suspension was always unconstitutional and unnecessary, so I am glad Richard has changed his mind. | “The suspension was always unconstitutional and unnecessary, so I am glad Richard has changed his mind. |
| “I look forward to continuing to fully participate in the federal party room in accordance with the Australian Greens Constitution,” she said. | “I look forward to continuing to fully participate in the federal party room in accordance with the Australian Greens Constitution,” she said. |
| There is some disagreement between Greens members at the NSW level and the federal level about the point of the federal party’s new subcommittee. | There is some disagreement between Greens members at the NSW level and the federal level about the point of the federal party’s new subcommittee. |
| Detractors say it has no power, because Rhiannon will still be able to vote on contentious legislation as her NSW branch wishes. | Detractors say it has no power, because Rhiannon will still be able to vote on contentious legislation as her NSW branch wishes. |
| But supporters say it will be useful because it will allow the party room to have frank discussions about contentious legislation before instructing the party room how to vote. | But supporters say it will be useful because it will allow the party room to have frank discussions about contentious legislation before instructing the party room how to vote. |
| The Greens national council will meet again in 10 days, when the compromise plan will be discussed. | The Greens national council will meet again in 10 days, when the compromise plan will be discussed. |
| Australian Greens | Australian Greens |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Richard Di Natale | Richard Di Natale |
| New South Wales politics | New South Wales politics |
| Lee Rhiannon | Lee Rhiannon |
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