The lead-up to the July 2 election has produced a familiar refrain. The Greens have indicated their willingness to form a coalition with Labor. Labor has expressed horror at the prospect, and the Liberals have warned that Labor cannot be taken at its word.

There is an air of unreality about this debate. While Labor and the Liberals express their disdain for the Greens, their tone will change if Australians vote for a hung parliament and the Greens hold the keys to the Lodge. If this happens, deals will be done, and the Greens will receive concessions in return for putting one of the major parties into power.

This is a basic, and inescapable, feature of our democratic system. A party wishing to govern must enjoy the support of a majority of the members of the House of Representatives. If a party has insufficient numbers, it must garner support from independent and minor party members.

This feature is not a failing of the system, but a reflection of community will. If the people do not support one party to govern alone, our politicians must respect this and seek to work with a broader group of elected representatives.