CANBERRA, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- New Australian Greens Member of Parliament Adam Bandt on Wednesday formally sided with Labor Party in the hopes of forming a minority government.

In what was a widely expected move, Bandt signed an agreement with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in her Parliament House office on Wednesday morning. They were joined by Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, Greens leader Bob Brown and his deputy Christine Milne.

In return for Bandt's support, Gillard has offered to set up a climate change committee, make investments in dental care as well as 20 million dollars (17.8 million U.S. dollars) to look at high- speed rail on the east coast.

There will also be a parliamentary debate on Afghanistan and restrictions placed on political donations.

According to ABC Network, the government had also agreed to move towards holding a referendum to change the constitution to recognize indigenous people and local government.

The climate change committee, operating at cabinet level, would move towards setting a price on carbon.

After signing the deal, Greens leader Bob Brown said the Greens, who also hold the balance of power in the Senate, were committed to stable, open and good governance.

"We take that responsibility with a great deal of gratitude to the people of Australia," Senator Brown told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

"We will be discussing, if Julia Gillard is the next Prime Minister, a wide range of other issues in the months and years to come."

The deal with the Greens means Labor is now three seats short of the 76-seat majority it needs to form government.

The three incumbent crossbench Members of Parliament, and newly elected independent Member of Parliament Andrew Wilkie are yet to make up their mind who to support as negotiations continue this week.

TOKYO, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar traded in the lower 84 yen zone early Wednesday in Tokyo after hitting a one-week low at the upper 83 yen level at one point in New York overnight.

At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 84.12-13 yen against 84.13-23 yen in New York and 84.22-25 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The euro traded at 1.2674-2676 dollars and 106.62-64 yen versus 1.2674-2684 dolaand 106.74-84 yen in New York and 1.2658-2661 dollars and 106.63-67 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday.

CANBERRA, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Wednesday confirmed three Australians were among those killed in a plane crash on a remote island in Papua New Guinea.

Smith said a Cessna Citation jet was carrying three Australians and two New Zealand citizens when it crashed on Misima Island on Tuesday.

According to ABC Network, the Trans Air flight overshot the runway in wet and windy weather, crashed into trees and burst into flames killing four of those on board.

An Australian permanent resident who is believed to be one of the pilots, survived the accident with only heavy bruising.

Among the dead is a 61-year-old marine pilot from Sydney who was working for the Brisbane-based company Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), which provides help for vessels navigating in difficult shipping lanes.

ARP managing director, Craig Southerwood, said the marine pilot, a passenger aboard the small Trans Air jet, had been on his way to board a ship to guide it down the east coast of Australia.

"ARP staff on the ground waiting to meet the marine pilot witnessed the accident and are obviously quite shocked," Southerwood told The Australian newspaper.

"The area is very remote and it was raining heavily at the time of the crash."

This is the third fatal plane crash in Papua New Guinea in just over 12 months. Six people died in light plane crash in January. Nine Australians were among 13 killed when a plane crashed into a mountain near Kokoda in August last year.