politicalowl

Australia's Greens, it seems, have joined in the "fear the yellow peril" sentiment. The party's Tasmanian leader, Cassy O’Connor has called on the state government Government to explain why it has backed a 900 per cent increase in visa applications by Chinese business and skilled migrants. As reported by the Hobert Mercury Ms O'Connor believes “the relationship between the Hodgman Liberals and the Chinese Communist government is unhealthily close” . “Will Hodgman is being played by the Chinese Communist party because he only understands the value of something if it’s got a dollar sign in front of it. “He is putting Tasmania’s sovereignty, food security and environment in jeopardy.”

The breathtaking beauty of Julis River, captured by Francois Fourie, in all of it’s wild takayna / Tarkine glory. Help us bring the plight of takayna / Tarkine to the Earth’s attention by pledging to fund Australia’s largest environmental arts project: https://t.co/RJOp5OJoJZ pic.twitter.com/p8zHPeTan6 — Bob Brown (@BobBrownFndn) March 21, 2018

At the two recent state elections the Greens vote has fallen. In South Australia on Saturday their 6.6% share was two points down on their 2014 effort and 1.5 percentage points down on 2014. SA Green Vote Year Vote 2018 6.6% 2014 8.7% 2010 8.1% 2006 6.5% A fortnight ago in Tasmania the Greens had their lowest vote since 1998 Tas. Green Vote Year Vote 2018 10.3% 2014 13.8% 2010 21.6% 2006 16.6% 2002 18.1% 1998 10.2% 1996 11.1% 1992 13.2% 1988 17.1% 1986 5.6%

The steady decline of the major political parties in Australia shows no signs of ending. This graph is from the ABC's website this morning: Click to enlarge Liberals should be thinking about adding someone else to their Coalition alongside the National Party. And the Labor lot should stop complaining about the Greens. With their vote in the mid-30s Labor shoulf accept that it will not be winning anything in its own right.

It's time we had a rail link to #Tullamarine airport. Let's get it built. #ausvotes #Greens16 pic.twitter.com/Xnq69WY0Wh — Josh Fergeus (@JoshFergeus) June 5, 2016 Promises are easy to make when you will never be in a government that has to keep them

A Green version of all care but no responsibility - promises you will never be in a position to fulfil Lost: 30 species of mammals in Aus. At risk: 1700 species. No more: https://t.co/SOUHlaI6sm #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/DzJBSpL8M7 — Queensland Greens (@QldGreens) June 5, 2016 Greens will restore community radio funding cuts. Now let's get Libs to change their mind too! #keepcommunityradio pic.twitter.com/JzCfAKtY1W — Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) June 2, 2016

I went today to a National Press Club lunch, a rare thing for me, and heard one of the better political speeches of my experience. Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale came close to convincing me that I should abandon the habits of a life time and vote for someone other than Labor. Be that as it may. A matter of little consequence in the scheme of things. But what did surprise me was the absence of coverage of Senator di Natale's address on tonight's television news. I despair that a thoughtful and considered addressing of the policies Australia needs was so totally ignored by the television media

Big, brave Anthony Albanese. Toe the party line and keep silent during the parliamentary debate. Wait until the legislation is passed and then pretend you are against it. What a weakie. What a pathetic attempt on Sky Television this morning to suggest Labor has gone too far in supporting the Abbott government’s national security agenda, particularly the new “draconian” restrictions on press freedom which would see journalists jailed for between five and 10 years. I am judging him for what he is. A politician terrified that the Greens, a party with true left-wing sentiments, will win his seat at the next election.

Tuesday, 27th March, 2007    - Richard Farmer   If Kevin Rudd does become Prime Minister at the end of this year it is a fair bet that from 1 July 2008 he will find himself having to deal with a Senate in which the Greens hold the balance of power. The likelihood of that Senate outcome, in fact, has increased considerably with the decision by the Opposition Leader to back away from the pro-trees policy of his predecessor Mark Latham. Whereas Mr Latham opted to lock up substantial areas of old-growth forests in Tasmania, Mr Rudd, according to this morning’s Australian, supports the existing Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement, announced in May 2005 by John Howard. Mr Rudd, writes Steve Lewis, has committed to consulting with unions, industry and the state Government on a "sustainable" forestry plan. Which translated means that the Greens alone will be campaigning this year as the protector of old growth forests. That should enable them to maximise their own...

11th October, 2004    - Richard Farmer   With the wonders of hindsight I can see what an excellent job the Coalition did on the Greens. I should have factored the attacks on radical Green policies into my calculations. Because of them the vote for minor parties went down and down with it went Labor’s chances. The Greens did not even manage to pick up the votes of those who this time deserted the Australian Democrats. Greens and Democrats combined in 2001 totalled 10.4% of the House of Representatives vote. That figure this time was down to 8.1%. The only significant newcomer to the minor party ranks was Family First and their preferences helped replace the losses that the Government side lost from the collapse of One Nation. John Howard now has the opportunity to really put his stamp on the future of Australia. For his first three terms his agenda was hampered by a hostile Senate. From 1 July next year when the Senators elected on Saturday take office the L...

Steam rolling Peter Garrett in to the endorsement for a safe seat has certainly improved Mark Latham's chances of becoming Prime Minister and it is not because more people are likely to vote one for Labor. Winning Federal elections these days is not just about maximising the vote of your own party. It's those second preferences that count and, with the Greens likely to be the largest third party, getting their 2's next to a Labor name will be all important. Back in 1975 was the last time that a government secured a majority of votes in its own right and before that it was only Robert Menzies in 1949 and 1951 who gained more than 50%. At the other 19 elections since 1949, votes for minor parties and independents were the determining factors. The importance of those second preferences has increased dramatically as the combined Labor and Liberal/National share of the vote has declined from the high 90% of the early 1950ies to the less than 81% gained in 2001. Fo...