The Wire

Queensland’s first Greens senator takes up her place in the parliament’s upper house today, as part of a nine-strong team that will hold an effective veto power over legislation that the Labour party wants to pass. Despite this new position of power, the Greens conceded on the weekend that petrol for personal use will be excluded from the forthcoming carbon tax, as a result of their negotiations with the labor party and independents. Larissa Waters – Queensland’s new Greens senator – is playing down her party’s veto power, but says that she’s determined to use her position to place tougher regulations on the coal seam gas industry.