As the Hon Fred Nile was officially re-elected to the NSW Upper House yesterday, Green influence in the Legislative Council has been neutralised, according to the Christian Democratic Party's NSW State Director, Phil Lamb.
"The Greens have been neutralised from introducing anti-family legislation and they're not in a position to hold the government to ransom as they will not hold the balance of power," he says.
"We see a stable government for the next four years, with the government doing everything it can to regain community confidence again."
In the lead-up to the election, some Anglicans, including Diocesan Registrar and Archbishop's Executive Officer, Dr Philip Selden, voiced their concern over the policies of the Greens on the legal recognition of same-sex relationships and the freedom of private schools and religious organisations not to employ gays and lesbians.
While the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) held on to their two seats, the number of Greens seats increased from three to four, while the Shooters Party increased their representation in the Legislative Council from one to two seats.
However Mr Lamb says Christians do not need to be concerned by this rise in Green representation.
The CDP "works cooperatively with" the Shooters Party, and both share the same views on many issues which the Greens are likely to raise in Parliament.
The strong Green presence in the election has had a positive effect in compelling parties to take notice of environmental concerns, Mr Lamb says.
"There's such an increased awareness of the need to protect and sustain God's creation that all of us should be thinking green."
The final results for the distribution of preferences from the state election were made public yesterday.
Mr Lamb says the CDP is elated by the election results, which have seen Mr Nile's preferential vote rise by 46 per cent, and his primary votes escalate by over 30 per cent, the best result for the party in 20 years.
