in September 2008. Xenophon resigned from the
South Australian Legislative Council in early October 2007 to stand for the
Australian Senate as an independent at the
2007 federal election in which he was successful, on a primary vote of 14.78 percent. ABC election analyst
Antony Green had stated prior to the election that Xenophon would win a seat, while
Centrebet speculated his odds would start on a favourable $1.50 for and $2.70 against.
Nick Minchin "urged people not to vote for Mr Xenophon", with the
Liberal Party's 2006 upper house vote only 5.5 percent higher, and polled lower than Xenophon in some booths. Xenophon's federal platform consists of anti-gambling, pro-
consumer protection, attention to the water crisis, ratifying
Kyoto, opposition against what he calls a decrease in state rights, and opposition to
WorkChoices. Xenophon shared the
balance of power with the
Greens and
Family First during the 2008–11 Senate parliamentary session, with the Greens holding the sole balance of power since July 2011. Xenophon has been reported in the media as "left-of-centre", whilst Hansard reveals that Xenophon and the
Greens have found common ground on a number of issues. Another ticket known also known as 'Independent No Pokies' contested the
2002 South Australian state election. It was led by Tanya Flesfader. == Parliamentarians==