Coursework - week 6

This weeks task was to come up with a lead and three paragraphs on a newsworthy topic from a press conference (a recording of which I've added below).

Prominent political commentator Professor Brian Costar has accused Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu of allowing the National Party disproportionate influence in the coalition government. 

Speaking at a press conference at Swinburne University yesterday, Prof Costar said, “I think it has more influence that its numerical numbers would show.“

The National Party currently holds 10 seats in the 88-seat lower house and three of the 40 seats in the upper house. The coalition holds a majority in both houses.

Prof Costar also said that Mr Bailieu was “pandering to the National Party” on issues that would not sit well in suburban Melbourne, such as alpine cattle grazing and coal seam gas exploration.