"and can dictate all the Federal Labor policy according to what...

"and can dictate all the Federal Labor policy according to what they will and won't pass in the Senate."

Only where it isn't a precondition of bipartisanhip between the ALP and Coalition.

"Thanks for that, Ms. Gillard!"

Thank the Australian electorate. (You are quite welcome.)

"Gillard and Co. seemed to be trying to distance themselves from the Greens at the last minute last week"

Solely in order to shore up that pathetic cohort of left-liberals who ar still under the quaint notion that Labor are a progressive political party.