Fed: "All's well that ends well": Xenophon

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2009
Fed: "All's well that ends well": Xenophon

By Cathy Alexander

CANBERRA, Feb 13 AAP - Independent senator Nick Xenophon has turned to literature to
express his feelings about the passing of the $42 billion economic stimulus package.

"Shakespeare said: `All's well that ends well'. That's how I think you can summarise
this," he told reporters.

Senator Xenophon had used his crucial balance-of-power vote to block the package, but
relented on Friday after securing extra funding for the Murray-Darling Basin.

"This is overall a good result. This is a big step for the river, for the entire Murray-Darling
Basin," he said.

"I think we've done pretty well."

Senator Xenophon's kingmaker role has echoes of former Tasmanian senator Brian Harradine.

"I've got less wrinkles and less grey hair than Brian Harradine but I'm sure that'll
change in the next few months," Senator Xenophon said.

He indicated he could use his vote in the future to secure changes to legislation,
vowing to be "pesky ... and a proverbial pain" over the Murray Darling.

Senator Xenophon revealed he got three hours sleep last night as he and the government
worked on a compromise.

He spoke with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after a deal was struck.

"It was quite a cordial conversation. I'm sure he said thanks. I think we were both
thankful and relieved that the process was over," he said.

Senator Xenophon was confident the government would stick with its new promises on
water funding, saying the deal was in writing.

He noted it was unusual for it to take a massive economic stimulus package to secure
changes to stormwater harvesting funding, which he had been advocating for some time.

"I think you all know that politics and commonsense don't always intersect, and sometimes
you have to give it a bit of a nudge along."

AAP ca/rl/cdh

KEYWORD: STIMULUS XENOPHON 2ND UPDATE

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