CANBERRA - A likely fourth independent headed for Australia's federal parliament says the other three are acting as a bloc, and he won't join them.
Bob Katter, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott are putting the finishing touches on a roadmap to power, before talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard andOpposition Leader Tony Abbott.
But independent Andrew Wilkie, who looks likely to win the Tasmanian seat of Denison, says he has "quite deliberately" stayed out of the discussions.
"I'm a little uncomfortable with the way the three incumbent independents are apparently acting as one, as a bloc," he told ABC Television today.
The three appear like a "political party with three factions", says Mr Wilkie, who has talked to both Mr Abbott and Ms Gillard, but is yet to favour either.
Mr Windsor told ABC Television the independents weren't acting as a bloc, but were sorting out early issues together.
"I'll talk to anybody that can help resolve this particular issue, but there's no voting bloc intended by the three of us talking," he said.
After the talks with the leaders, the trio of independents do not plan to meet again until next week, when the final result of the election is known.
