Queensland Greens optimistic

Queensland Greens optimistic

By Maurice Sibelle

BRISBANE — Queensland Greens are optimistic that Drew Hutton will be elected to the Senate at the March 13 election.

"I suspect that more people than ever are disenchanted with the major parties", said Hutton. "Despite the attempts by the media to make the elections a two-party race I can sense an enthusiasm for Green politics."

It is expected that either one of the Queensland Greens or the Australian Democrats will be elected. The latest Bulletin poll puts the Democrats at 5% and the Greens 4%. "I suspect we have more people on the ground than the Democrats", claimed Hutton.

Hutton said that the Greens in the Senate would hold back the GST legislation, block the Liberals' industrial legislation and vote against the expansion of the nuclear industry and removal of petrol taxes. The Greens would pursue a creative interventionist approach to economic policy. They would pursue renewable energy options, encourage "leading edge" industries and look at creating jobs in environmental management.

Hutton concluded, "Parliament is important but not nearly enough. We need to build a movement that has links to a party. That party has to be autonomous. The Greens are part of that and may even become that party. This third force has to develop a theoretical and organisational coherence."

From GLW issue 91