17mar02

VICTORIAN trade union heavyweight Dean Mighell has confirmed he joined the Greens after quitting the ALP.

"I joined on Friday," he told AAP.

"I did my membership over the internet.

"I did not want to make a big song and dance about it."

Mr Mighell, state secretary of the 18,000-strong Electrical Trades Union, had hailed the Greens success in yesterday's Victorian local government elections, saying the party offered the kind of compassionate politics Labor used to have.

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, who refused to confirm Mr Mighell's membership until he did so himself, said he would welcome any such member.

"I could not blame any union leader or member of a community group who saw the Greens as a better option because our record on social justice speaks for itself."