The Wire

Independent Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine has announced that he will not stand for re-election when his term ends in July next year. The Senator is well known for basing his decisions on the voice of his conscience and came under the national spotlight when the federal government was faced with a possible double dissolution over changes to the Wik native title legislation. Senator Harradine held the balance of power in the Senate and set about negotiating what he sees as an almost complete win for Indigenous Australians. We spoke to the Senator about almost thirty years of public life – and that famous decision.