Why minor players need a major voice

SUNDAY: After a couple of hours reading the paper and having a morning coffee, the buzz of victory in Melbourne fades as results from the rest of the country come in. Checking my voicemail, I find a congratulatory message from the Prime Minister. Senator Bob Brown flies to Melbourne and we meet Julia Gillard, followed by a press conference. Getting used to the new reality that when I call a media conference, the media now actually turn up.

MONDAY: Would love to spend some time thanking all our volunteers and their supporters for their amazing efforts and give the campaign team a well-earned rest. But the extremely close election results means it's all a quickly moving feast. So after an avalanche of media calls, we're off to Canberra to meet my party colleagues and staff.

TUESDAY: Trying to arrange plans to see the independent MPs. Everyone's voicemail is full. As it turns out, my first meeting with Rob Oakeshott is captured on camera as we cross paths outside the ABC's Parliament House studios on my way to an interview with Jon Faine. Caught up with Oakeshott properly later on and had good discussion about where things were at. Another meeting with the Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan. Later returned a call from Tony Abbott. A cordial conversation, in which I made it clear my preference was to work to reach an arrangement whereby the Greens support a Gillard government. I don't hear from Mr Abbott for the rest of the week.

WEDNESDAY: Who'd have thought that within a few days of the election I'd be having lunch with Bob Katter at the GetUp!-organised National Press Club event. He told me that while I might be the Green in the House of Reps, he was the anti-Green. Interestingly, it turns out that of the four of us on the panel, three support a price tag on pollution being introduced as soon as possible, and all of us are supporters of renewable energy technology. Seems that the common ground of the crossbenchers might go beyond parliamentary reform. Bob Brown shouts me a lovely meal and it's the first downtime I've had in a while. But I've fallen into a trap for new players: agreeing to a live spot with Tony Jones on Lateline at 10:30 means no wine with dinner.

THURSDAY: Preparing for our next meeting with Labor, the Greens party room has a telephone meeting. There's another round of media interviews throughout the day. I meet with the clerk of the House of Reps to give myself a crash course in parliamentary procedure. One of the items being canvassed by the independents and me is how more opportunity can be given for private members' bills to be debated and voted on. If we can get this reform through, it will mean I could move legislation on areas important to me - like tackling climate change, ending mandatory detention and removing discrimination against same-sex marriage - and it would have to actually be dealt with instead of languishing at the bottom of the notice paper. Another dinner with Bob and staff. This time he's on Lateline, so I'll have my first glass of red for the week.

FRIDAY: An 8:30 meeting with Bob Brown, Jullia Gillard and Wayne Swan. Then a press conference with Bob, in which he slams Steve Fielding for threatening to block supply. Happier than ever that the Greens' Richard Di Natale will be taking Family First's spot in the Senate soon. ABC studios again. They already feel like my new home. This time a half-hour conversation about my life and background with Monica Attard for ABC Radio's Sunday Profile. Makes a nice change from discussing the numbers in the Parliament. Race to the plane. Drop in to watch the local young soccer team train: the Northern Lions are mainly made up of kids whose parents have come from Africa, but it turns out tonight is the end-of-season dinner. After they breakfast and say prayers, I'm joining them in sitting down to a huge meal in the community room at the base of the Flemington flats. Great to be back home.