The Greens’ election review flew under the radar. Here’s what it said
324 comments · 96% upvoted · source · other discussions
comments
Miffernator
SirDesCoeurs
There are interesting points in here, but some of the conclusions at the end are a bit odd. Labor didn't "emulate" the Greens with door knocking – they've been running very well-funded door knocking campaigns since at least 2014. Similarly, Labor's success against the Greens doesn't usually come from out-greening the Greens in policy, but often from capturing a very large share of the centre-left and centre vote.
This seems to be another example of Labor and the Greens not quite understanding each other, which is ultimately a big part of the reason the Greens will struggle to grow, and Labor will never be able to truly bat them away.
[deleted]
I'm one of the young men that is left of labor and reluctantly votes green as there is no better option, but am growing tired of the party at large and at risk of jumping ship if something better comes along. For me, the greens have a crisis in both messaging and focus. Too many politicians who come across as self-righteous and holier than thou. Goals that are noble and right but too many policies that are clearly unreasonable in either public sentiment or economic reality. Not in a federal lens but something that exemplified my issues with the party is Rosalie Woodruff leading her Tasmanian election night speech with a long preamble about the middle east.... in a Tasmanian state election. Just mind boggling the lack of awareness about how that looks to voters.
Vegetable-Advance982
Well you can rejoice that one of their takeaways from the review is that their focus on Palestine helped them.
[deleted]
As I said, policy and vision wise I broadly agree with the platform. But you cannot tell me a Tasmanian state election night speech is a good time for it. Anecdotally I know of many who have been a bit put off more broadly by the overarching focus on it.
Interesting_Sun
I do agree with the Greens' policies and I will continue voting for them but I think it's a big problem that they listened too much to their strongest supporters who will always vote for them anyway instead of stepping back and realising how bad it looks to be blocking housing bills (even if they did eventually pass them) and focusing too much on issues like Palestine
Vegetable-Advance982
Well you can rejoice that the blocking of housing stuff is a thing of the past. Now that Labor is grabbing their balls and likely taking housing tax reform to a budget, The Greens have said that's awesome and they'll pass it a-ok in the Senate. No more letting perfect be the enemy of the good when it comes to generational housing changes that are so badly needed. R-right?
a_cold_human
The headline is contradictory to the actual position of The Greens.
Speaking after a Greens party room meeting on Tuesday, McKim said he was prepared to be flexible about whether changes to the deduction should extend beyond housing.
“Property is the pointy end of the CGT discount for us, but we don’t see an argument where capital should be given such favourable treatment, whether that be capital gains from housing or from shares,” he said.
“So I’m not saying it’s our way or the highway, just to be clear, but we’ll, won’t see what the government puts up.”
But you know, it's Nine Entertainment. Journalism is secondary.
americafreedom666
You'll be happy to know that the HAFF has subsidised about 800 houses in the last year and required the government to top up an extra $1bn or so to stop the fund collapsing.
If the government had directly invested it as the Greens asked that extra 1bn could have built, conservatively 1,000 homes.
By 'stalling' the vote, the greens got an extra $3bn spent directly on housing. That's the equivalent of 6 years of HAFF expenditure.
If the Greens had held out for another 5 years and won absolutely nothing, Australia would still have more afdordable housing than if the Greens had not 'stalled' Labor's terrible policy at all.
The underlying question that I wish people would ask is 'what would it take to ensure every Australian could afford a home?'
The answer is 5-10bn a year for a decade. Nuclear subs cost 368bn.
crustyjuggler1
Same demographic as you. Always voted greens and plan on continuing to do so as Labor are as weak as a soggy ham sandwich, and all other options are pretty much nazis at this point. But I am absolutely frustrated with the greens. Yes I’d say 99% of their voter base (myself included) are appalled by the genocide in Gaza.. but fuck me making it the whole focus of your brand and shifting away from environmental issues has been an awful awful move by them. Climate change affects absolutely everyone, there is so much room to pull in people frustrated by the cost of living, because under climate change it’s literally only ever going to get worse.
Tigristail
Same demographic as well, and similar frustrations about platform. 2022 was so successful for them because they cut through on cost of living, and were able to talk to their traditional platform alongside it. 2025 felt like they lost large parts of that, and were just focused on Gaza, dental into Medicare and rent freezes. There's room for them to do that and talk about climate, green engineering, and integrity. It just feels like they don't know how to earn enough media or run a large enough ground campaign to get a bigger message out.
I'm still a Greens voter, and likely will be in spite of those frustrations. I live in one of the safest ALP seats in the country at both the federal and state level, and it's an indictment on them that the only elected politician in my lifetime that I actually think engaged with the issues of my community is Perrottet. It's also an indictment on the Greens that they have failed to make any significant progress here despite that sentiment not being uncommon.
Proper_Geologist9026
In fairness. Perrottet did seem like a truly competent operator. It's a shame that NSW Liberals have lost Perrottet and Kean. And it shows how stark the gap is between useful conservatives who gets on with the work, even if you don't like them all that much. And the absolute dribble that is the federal Liberal party.
Mikolaj_Kopernik
making it the whole focus of your brand
I think this is pretty misleading. IMO it's more of a case of media coverage focusing on this aspect of their platform.
GraveDiggerTed
I see this kind of comment all the time and I never understand because I watch a lot of stuff coming directly from the Greens (social media, newsletters, etc.) and they talk about climate issues, housing, wealth imbalance WAY more than Palestine.
Its easy for them to get painted as this party obsessed with Palestine but its because they are the ONLY major party that talks about the genocide, with any sense of urgency or empathy, but that doesn't mean it's all they talk about, or even close to the majority.
This kind of take just makes me think that you're a greens voters who doesn't actually pay much attention to their policies or political goals.
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bobbysborrins
This is 100% the case. It's really hard for the greens to cut through on any of their social policies when it serves the owners of legacy media to completely ignore them. You'll see dozens of articles about how PHON is agitating about falling living standards, which the Murdoch/stokes class loves - they can point to PHON stoking anger but instead of solutions they can offer outrage and keep the status quo. The greens platform is a threat to their wealth and influence so they're served incredibly well by ignoring them and instead directing the disaffected to hate migrants rather than the oligarchs
frostyfruit666
Leftism in the 21st century requires a different approach. Apealing to leftist media trends hasn’t worked, because centrist and right wing media shred those narratives to pieces. we have freedom of propaganda, which in my opinion is due to privatised media.
This is how the greens have become a pariah, even though their political crimes amount to nothing against those of the major parties. “the greens have no idea what they’re doing”, as though we haven’t had consecutive blunderous governments under liberal and labor.
Their rhetoric needs to focus on the overlap between egalitarianism and conservatism, which is, economic relief, environment, health and education, and reining in the elite classes to better fund the country so readily exploited.
Also at this point, the greens desperately need a rebrand, or we need a green affiliated party that has better strategic politics.
[deleted]
[deleted]
instasquid
Oh boy, I love Pingers but I can't possibly see him moving anyone further left. The whole thing is very undergraduate.
Proper_Geologist9026
Yeah it's hard to not feel like there's a big disconnect between what the party really is. A socially conscious and more progressive centre left party. Vs the perception of their supporters acting like the greens are leading some kind of socialist revolution.
Like genuinely everyone loves to act like the greens are some vastly different political entity but there not worlds apart from Labor as much as they'll carry on about the lib/lab duopoly of dog shit.
frostyfruit666
They are also held hostage by their own puritanical supporters, who simply want media trends to be parroted by greens, even though it accomplishes next to nothing for progressivism in this country.
those same puritans (a vocal minority, but threatening enough) abhor when the greens appeal to moderates, they see them as sympathising with the devil. Here’s the thing, change will never occur under a model of puritanism.
instasquid
"Certainly, the impotent are pure."
- Gough Whitlam
riskyrofl
Climate change affects absolutely everyone
Problem is voters did stop caring about climate as much as they did in 2022. We saw the same problem in the US where no one cared about the Biden admin's IRA spending. Focusing more on climate when Gaza was a far more salient issue would not have been the way.
FuckwitAgitator
I'm pretty skeptical that "economic reality" is anything more than regurgitated talking points from neoliberals worried about their profits.
We've watched the federal government piss away billions of dollars on dud policy. We sold off Telstra, then kept paying for it anyway. Then when the network was worthless, the Libs bought it back off them, then threw it all in the bin anyway. NDIS is being shamelessly rorted by middlemen who contribute nothing but take the largest cut anyway.
But for some reason, we don't hold the Liberal party responsible for the economic mismanagement that actually happened, but we're supposed to hold the greens responsible for economic mismanagement that might happen?
I'd rather see the Greens "waste" money building something meaningful than watch Liberal and Labor line their mates pockets with it.
Highcalibur10
I’m jumping ship next election with the NSW Socialist party that sprang up since the Vic Socialists did well and their messaging has been on point consistently.
a_cold_human
Despite being completely invisible in the mainstream media, they do very well electorally for a party of that size.
bassoonrage
The left love to have a pissing contest about who is most left, and if you're not entirely aligned with literally every policy point, then you might as well be a nazi.
It is infuriating.
Proper_Geologist9026
Purity purges and idpol. It's killing progressive movements. The irony being they don't even realise they're just as invested in their own little world of grievance politics.
There's a quote I love from Ash Sakar, a leftist in the UK. She's at a town hall with a bunch of the usual progressives types trying to understand why they're failing to have any cut through. And then Roger Hallam, extinction rebellion climate activist, stands up and simply says "because you're a pack of fucking cunts.".
And that's sums it up pretty neatly.
CatboiWaifu_UwU
It sucks because we know that all this identity politics was funded and pushed by the elites in the wake of Occupy Wall Street. Instead of focusing on the pedo billionaire elites we’re focused on not listening to someone because they’re white and shouldn’t be considered qualified to talk on a subject when a black person has a different opinion.
Own-Farmer-5224
I'm also a 'Greens are the best choice I've got', but fact is economically their policies are sound. It's just that they don't fit in the neoliberal mindset so they get reported on as if they're crazy. I will give them this, I prefer a politician whose an honest twat over a charming liar like Labor candidates.
ThoseOldScientists
100%, I’ve voted both Labor and Greens at different times, I feel like I’m more politically aligned with the Greens, but wow do they make it hard to vote for them. I really wish there was a Labor Left party that could occupy that space and behave like normal adults who want to win elections and actually expect to have to implement their policies at some point.
TyrialFrost
Report is pretty insightful with the challenges they face.
a decline in support from young men
climate and the environment not featuring prominently on the agenda
It seems insane to me that the Green party has decided to distance itself from environmental politics in favour of Palestine. The cost of living crisis being their no.1 agenda is understandable.
thrillho145
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
When they push on the environment, they're called loonies, hippies etc and told to expand and shake off the past of being a single issue party.
RedditLovesDisinfo
People who care about the environment know the Greens have good policies, they don’t need to do much more convincing.
Catch 22 since they get slammed as a one issue party or that they’ve “lost their roots”
It’s all BS, greens have always been about broad policy areas with sustainability as an underlying theme.
a_cold_human
Messaging is the problem. No one reads The Greens' website. And The Greens seem to think that Australians are somehow better than they actually are. And time and time again, we show that we're not. They need to appeal, at some level, to people's self interest. No one wants to be scolded into voting for you, but that's how some of the messaging comes across.
Bright_Bell_1301
"Scandanavia of the South". If they say that's their goal, I think everyone understands what it means... higher taxes, stronger social security, better public education, more equality. And, of course, go hard on environmental matters
a_cold_human
Yeah, they need something catchier. As much as people decry "three word slogans", they do work. Not everyone is politically engaged. They need to work to get some of the politically disengaged on board and voting for them.
Speedy-08
It is interesting to see that only one electorate did the Palestine thing actually do well in, which has one of the more lefter leaning parts of Melbourne (like Brunswick)
The other three mentioned have large swarthes of gentrifying going on and the rent and cost of living is creeping up. I say that as someone who used to live in the Fraser district and had to move away to a location within Gellibrand, where the rent is a decent chunk lower.
Not_Stupid
It is interesting to see that only one electorate did the Palestine thing actually do well in, which has one of the more lefter leaning parts of Melbourne (like Brunswick)
I suspect it also has to do with the substantial muslim population in the North. Which, to be honest, isn't otherwise a natural demographic for the Greens (and probably won't be sustained).
cymonster
Gentrification going on while the greens members in inner west and city areas (at least in Sydney) are complaining that they are knocking down some houses for apartments.
At a certain point everyone becomes a NIMBY.
Speedy-08
Fraser already had a left leaning vote in some regards (with the Vic Socialists making ground in the area), but the other tricky thing cropping up is the fact that people have clued on that it's an "undervalued" area close to the CBD, including interstate people.
The house we were renting got sold and the land used for *four* townhouses
BleepBloopNo9
There is an issue as well that previously younger cohorts were able to live closely together in inner city seats, but house prices are disrupting those voting blocks.
bobbysborrins
The problem is that none of their other commentary and points ever get any coverage. The legacy media has done a bang up job promoting the lie that the only thing the greens talk about is Palestine. When do you here about Barbara Pococks continued fight for transparency and her crusade against the privatised consultant take over of government. Hanson-Young has been a continuous force in estimates regarding entrenched inequality (especially in education, especially in Uni governance). We're certainly not being informed about the continuous calls for an environmental policy that actually protects the environment.
No, unless you actually seek out what the greens are advocating, chances are the only thing being shown to you is David Shoebridge talking about his portfolio (and even then, mostly the media just sticks to his Palestine commentary).
And this isn't a case of the greens not putting out media releases, they do so regularly, but good luck finding any comentary outside of the guardian or Michael West media.
a_cold_human
Social media is the great leveller. But The Greens' social media strategy has been lacklustre.
As much as I don't think much of Max Chandler-Mather, he at least has the right idea on social media outreach. However, The Greens need to fund it, and fund it consistently. And I don't see that they'll do that.
briberylibrary_
I don't really see them distancing themselves on the environment at all? They are consistently calling out the government whenever they approve a new fossil fuel project, or native forests logging, or lackluster environmental "protection" bills.
The media doesn't give them any attention really. And when they do it's 100 articles about some culture war shit.
And anecdotally, when I was doorknocking, not a single person mentioned the climate as one of their key issues (which was depressing for me, as it's one of mine). It was mostly the housing crisis, cost of living, and Palestine that consistently stuck out (which is fair). Unfortunately, despite how vital it is for our existence, for a lot of people climate falls to the wayside. For people who are struggling to pay the rent, climate becomes a "luxury" belief. I can't say I blame them.
Some could say Palestine is the same, but I think for many seeing dead children on their social media feeds does create a sense of urgency.
fremeer
The greens are fighting a culture war when they should be fighting an economics war. It's always been the case. It's just become more obvious.
Yes they are on the correct side of history for most things and yes it's annoying that much of what they stand for needs to be stood up for but you win a lot more voters in the short term by fighting for their wellbeing.
SnooStories6404
Does anyone have a link to the review instead of commentary about the review?
Sunshuffle
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CatboiWaifu_UwU
That’s definitely one of the website URLs ever.
K1ngJ0hnXX
The incredible lack of foresight with them making THAT header is mind-blowing. They're probably trying to reclaim it to their side of the spectrum but this is absolutely not the time to do so.
SnooStories6404
Thanks
BinaryPill
My read on it was 2022 was a bit of a 'false triumph' based on exceptional luck with preference flows and last year was more a regression to the mean, and a chaotic Trump favoured a stability vote, which meant a high Labor vote. Couldn't quite notice anything they did particularly wrong, but nothing particularly right either. They're in an awkward spot where they can't make meaningful gains merely being a climate protest party but broadening their message also dilutes it.
JollySquatter
Surprised the review/article didn't touch of the electorates fatigue with "culture wars". People talk about how that hurt the Libs but I think it hurt the greens as well. Maybe it's link to poor policy messaging but if all your doing is yelling about how other people are evil, then your policies about how you are going to help me get lost in the noise.
devise1
Their overall votes were only slightly lower than the previous election, just with preferences and distribution of votes losing them the lower house seats that they had managed to gain. They can probably improve around the edges, but maybe they are close to a cap on where a party with their positioning can get to in Australia.
oohbeardedmanfriend
What a shit article
For example, as to why the Greens failed in QLD state election "This is what played out in Queensland in 2024 when Labor effectively adopted Green-lite policies, such as 50 cent public transport fares and emulated the Greens’ volunteer-driven doorknocking methods"
Given cheaper system wide fares have been implemented by Labor in WA and Vic I wouldnt call it a Green-lite policy. Also volunteer-driven doorknocking is a core of Labor's campaigning consistently so not sure where the Author thinks that never happened?
rindlesswatermelon
Given cheaper system wide fares have been implemented by Labor in WA and Vic I wouldnt call it a Green-lite policy.
QLD Labor have been committed to "cheaper" public transport for a while, but 50c fares were definitely pie in the sky greens thinking until it happened.
Compare the 2017 platforms, Labor sought to half fares, and the Greens sought to abolish them altogether
Again their 2022 platforms, Labor wants to "reduce" fares, and Greens to Abolish them.
It is not neccesarily put of character for Labor to pass and support progressive policy, but it does usually involve them moving towards or taking up a position that the Greens have held for a while (see also; marriage equality).
Rampachs
One thing I found frustrating at a Greens meeting I attended was they very much promoted a "both major parties are as bad as each other" perspective.
It felt extra tone deaf off the back of Trump's win in the US. Are they actually? Are you alienating the many people in Aus feeling favourable towards Labor compared to Liberal party at the time (as we saw in votes)?
BleepBloopNo9
I agree completely. I think it’s because when Labor do bad stuff it feels like more of a betrayal of left wing values - a lot of Greens supporters and voters join the party wanting to work with Labor to get good policy done, and then get burned by them.
a_cold_human
This is The Greens not really understanding why people join them. But it's also because the branches themselves each have their own culture which isn't necessarily friendly to newcomers. They need to work out why people join them and why they leave, and fix that so they have more resources come election time.
palsc5
The report also identified numerous challenges that harmed the party, particularly when it came to retaining and winning new seats in the lower house. This included:
significant shifts in the nature of the campaign over its duration, most prominently the increased anti-Trump sentiment leading to Labor also running hard on a “keep Dutton out” message
changes in Greens voter demographics including a decline in support from young men, particularly in target seats
challenges differentiating themselves from Labor
climate and the environment not featuring prominently on the agenda
difficulties retaining and winning new lower house seats
the role of third parties, citing attacks from groups such as Advance.
This makes it sound like something that happened to the Greens rather than something they contributed to. A decline in support from young men is something the Greens policy and actions contributed to.
Having said that it could just be shit writing. The Conversation has gone down hill. The list says “difficulties retaining and winning new lower house seats” challenged the party’s goal of “retaining and winning new lower house seats”
ProfessorPhi
I think a minor party like the greens are very sensitive to macro trends. The greens saw a lot of gains in the 2022 election where the major parties were doing a race to mediocrity. The greens did work, but that electoral success was also a macro trend. In a hostile anti liberal voting era, it makes sense they would backslide when all the protest vote moved away.
Gen Z men are more conservative globally than the women, is it the greens fault or a global trend. What are the policies that the greens have that make young men vote against them? It's more a cultural vibe shift than anything else.
There is definitely more they can do - but max Chandler Mathers lost his seat despite being the primary advocate on cost of living and one of the best campaigns - what happened there.
Two things can be true. The greens need to look inwards macro trends were always going to be difficult but they didn't necessarily have the right strategy to ride that out.
SunflowerSamurai_
How did they contribute?
peppapony
There's also a lack of candidates.
I was in bennelong which had its lines changed to include lane cove, and should have a better green chance.
But the candidate came in the 11th hour and had no relation to bennelong or the area.
I want to vote Greens, but why would I choose a candidate that doesn't even pretend to care for the region they're representing?
Itsyourmajesty
The Greens need to take over Labours working class faction. Getting a Business Owner and Union Rep, be a workers first party and have a strong emphasis on it. Have older farmer men as MP’s that can talk about the climate catastrophe etc.
CutMeLoose79
As far as parties go, they stand for more of the things I lean towards, but there’s plenty of stuff they’re not tough enough on or I don’t agree with.
David Pocock is the closest politician to matching my overall political beliefs.
Artisanalpoppies
I don't think they accounted for the economy since covid, in redistribution of their voters.
Their target demographic was forced to move further out of the inner city seats due to rental costs. While all those people were still likely to vote for them (though some certainly voted for Labor and stability), the vote was more widely distributed and therefore diluted. You might keep the amount of people voting for you, but if the concentration isn't high enough in an electorate, you can't win that seat.
Trump was also a factor, he shattered the right wing vote and they overwhelmingly voted Labor for stability. They were never going to vote for the Greens.
So if the right wing got smashed, the left thought the same thing, vote for Labor to prevent Dutton getting in.
One of the things not mentioned in the review but is widely known, is that they lose voters as they age. Their primary doesn't drop, because as Millenials get older and vote elsewhere, they are replaced by the younger generations.
Tbh their perception is another big problem. They are widely perceived as obstructive in the senate and a culture war participant. In all honesty, i see them as no different to the Libs- and many greens members are wealthy children of Liberals. They have more in common than they will admit.
Adam Bandt was also personally unpopular and widely seen as arrogant.
The only difference is the Greens have some good policies, but leaning into Palestine was brutally stupid in a cost of living crisis and in the face of anti Trumpism- which they failed to calculate for. They are also selectively outraged by Palestine and i don't see them even mention Ukraine- which has far wider ramifications for the world should Russia win.
The Greens are the party you give a handful of seats to, to try and make a difference. But they will never be in power and no one wants that. They prove time and again they aren't capable. Proved by their pathetic review of thsir own failure.
ProfessorPhi
I think the greens will always have perception problems. They are a large repository of protest votes which likely went to labour in an anti lib sentiment. Usually the greens have better success beating the libs that labour due to preference flows. If the libs had done better, seats might have stayed green lol. I
Do they lose voters with age? My last check at the stats was that millennials were staying progressive. But Gen z is regressing so that replacement theory might actually be changing. (Definitely true for Gen x I believe)
I have to be honest, I felt like the Palestine angle and identity politics felt like a smear job to me than reality. It was definitely part of their messaging, but all their written content was cost of living and environment. Max Mathers had been talking about it since 2022 lol. The only renters in parliament were greens reps. The greens still are blamed for carbon tax repeal (as if tony abbot wouldn't have just repealed all of it like he did lol)
I'm obviously a green voter - but I also think minor parties are very sensitive to macro trends. Gen Z men being conservative is a world wide phenomenon so speaking to them is a tall order when you have to compete with social media for attention anyway. There were things they could do better, Adam has never had the presence of Di Natale or Bob Brown and I think the rusted on reps are getting less impressive than the new sparks. I do feel concern over progressive causes in general - they can't seem to ever build broad appeal, but I'm taking heart from Mamdani and maybe need to think more local
aeonblue158
I'm a millennial man (does that count as young anymore?) and while I continue to vote for the Greens because of their climate policies, the relentless identity politics and focus on Palestine did not help their case. Bandt really annoyed me by the end. I do hope they can take back Melbourne at the next election. (I live next door in Wills.)
David Pocock seems to be doing a good job. Ideally we start getting more like him. But maybe it's hard outside of the ACT.
ZappBrannigansTunic
“Pocock style” greens would actually a sensible direction. Focus on things like actually taxing minerals (still allow business to happen) and reasonable sin taxes for beer etc.
I know plenty of battlers that would rather $10 off a slab of beer than a $10 per week income tax reduction (despite the maths)
StunningMonitor3074
Pocock is an independent just fyi
aeonblue158
Yes I'm aware - most days I enjoy listening to him more than any of the Greens.
Ch00m77
While I like they are tackling more social and economic issues, they really need to have a focus on climate and the environment as well.
TheRealPotoroo
The Greens are never not focused on climate and the environment. They just don't get that covered by the MSM, who like to portray a fictitious single-issue party instead.
saidsomeonesomewhere
It’s a tough balance. As many have alluded to here: if they focus solely on climate, they are often portrayed as tree-hugging loonies by the media and other parties.
I like that they have a focus on social and economic issues because they surely see that there are a number of these issues that the two major parties are just too afraid to really address.
sizz
Labor climate change policy regarding SRES is a stroke of genius. Renewables have asynchronous supply problems where a large amount of energy is supply to the grid. Instead of building a new powerplant, just subside the battery and the consumer fronts the costs that will be paid back in electricity bills
It teaches people the material used to generate 1kw will generate 1 kw for the next 25 years compared to burning coal generate 1 kw and releasing mercury and other crap in the air is bad.
The world is watching to see if this policy works. A Labor policy. The greens have a wishlist and anti free market for some reason
tapwaterpls
I am a centre left millennial man who has voted greens in the past but haven’t in the last two elections. The federal team are not serious people when it comes to reform and policy. At best they are well intentioned but ineffective, at worst they play politics at initiatives that would actually be good - MCM delaying money for housing in the last term was appalling. They delayed new homes so they had something to argue with labor about. Successful green parties do exist around the world but ours just ain’t it.
The Greens need a charming candidate in their party and be the leader. And also has a clear message, go out advertise themselves and talk to the concerned people.
PMFSCV 206 points · Mar 2026 · :norfolk:
If they could get candidates like park rangers, farmers (theres a few, really), green energy engineers etc I'd be much happier voting for them.
Theres a rusted on very comfortable cadre there, just like at the top of the ABC.
BleepBloopNo9 119 points · Mar 2026
I agree, but this is a vicious cycle the Greens are in. Campaigning is hard, time consuming, and expensive (in terms of lost income/time, etc). There’s a lot more people who will put up their hand for a winnable seat than an unwinnable seat, especially if they’re the kind of high achieving person we’d like as a representative. And unfortunately there aren’t many seats which are winnable for the Greens, and not many people who have the commitment to campaign every three years for a decade in order to get in.
Kialae 172 points · Mar 2026
I've stood for the Greens out in my racist shit hole of a PHON territory and it's just a miserable experience. I'm not saving Australia, I'm wasting my time and being abused by wasps.
BleepBloopNo9 94 points · Mar 2026
First of all, thank you. It’s a thankless task which can lead to a lot of negative attention, and I had nothing but respect for people who do it.
Kialae 114 points · Mar 2026
I'm a girl and I had big white dudes trying to attack me. Like physically. Screaming at me telling me that they love global warming and things like that to get a rise out of me.
BleepBloopNo9 52 points · Mar 2026
We’ve lost a few local government members in the Greens, because they’ve been the only progressive member on an otherwise quite right wing council :(
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kaleidoscope_pie 23 points · Mar 2026
Did the same thing in my regional/rural area. I did better than expected. But if you don't have the donations or the help (I don't drive so had no way to get to the places I needed to), it feels a bit futile. Spent a lot of time at the early voting turnouts and changed some minds. And had a hilariously bizarre meeting with Barnaby Joyce. I think he liked me despite being a Greenie 😆. I think it's about being a constant and reliable figurehead for those who lean that way politically and about turning up despite the odds being stacked against you. It's a brave thing to do and people respect you for it. The dumbest thing I heard was someone say "I voted for you last time and you didn't fix anything". Ma'am, that was the state election. This was now the federal election. And I didn’t win the last one. 🤦♀️
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MajesticShop8496 45 points · Mar 2026
They also need a clearer platform. Weird mix of quite left people economically, tree Tories, old school environmentalists (who often believe interesting things about overpopulation) etc. it’s not a coherent coalition.
a_cold_human 30 points · Mar 2026
The problem is all the factions spend an extraordinary amount of time trying to purge one another rather than working to extend their coalition. The politics are vicious because the stakes are so small.
SirGeekaLots 3 points · Mar 2026 · :vic:
Much like every political party.
Proper_Geologist9026 10 points · Mar 2026
I'll bite what do the old school environmentalists believe?
wellwood_allgood 9 points · Mar 2026
That too many people are the problem. A small population is more sustainable environmentally and financially than a large one. Watermelon greens believe otherwise. Read up on the dramas in the US Sierra Society in the 90's.
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Merus 5 points · Mar 2026
Generally that, despite the incredible advances we've made in feeding more people with fewer resources per capita, and the potential of further improvements with e.g. lab-grown meat, that our only way out to a more sustainable lifestyle is depopulation. You don't have to scratch very far to find that these arguments are based on deeply racist foundations where poor countries have to be liquidated and maybe rich countries should drive less.
One of the problems the Greens has in trying to be an anti-racism party is that these old-school environmentalists are hella racist.
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Cat-Lilac 12 points · Mar 2026
David Shoebridge would be a good leader I think .
I don’t mind Larissa Waters but she’s not getting any cut through
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