Janet Powell

15-10-2007 Greens member and former Democrats leader Janet Powell has the runs on the board when it comes to balance of power. She says the Greens have a strong record on negotiating with governments, in the states as well as federally. In recent weeks we have been seeing and hearing attacks on the Greens’ willingness and capacity to perform in a balance of power situation, especially from the Australian Democrats. The evidence shows that the Greens are both experienced and effective in exercising balance of power. They have held balance of power in Western Australia since 2001, a period of unprecedented economic growth for that State. They currently share balance of power in Victoria, South Australia and NSW. In the ACT too, the Greens have had balance of power in the past.

As far back as the 1980s the Greens formed working arrangements which allowed minority governments to function in Tasmania, under the leadership of both Bob Brown and Christine Milne. In concert with the Greens, the minority Field Labor Government initially carried out a strong reform program which saw the doubling of the size of the state’s Western World Heritage Wilderness. State debt was tackled by increasing royalty payments from big interstate and overseas companies which exploited forest and water resources – the extra finance allowed 25 threatened community schools to stay open. Green legislation to ensure the right of 18-year-olds to vote in the face of snap elections was passed by both houses.

Eventually, in 1990, corporate pressure over-rode Premier Field’s commitment to the Green Accord, and he was supported by the Liberals to legislate for “resource security”, giving major logging companies control over almost all the remaining unprotected forests. The two old parties formed their own de facto coalition for the remaining three months of the government – which then lost office to the Liberals. The Greens retained all their seats.

The Greens are a grassroots party and we pride ourselves on our links to local communities. We have 88 councillors around the country in addition to the 15 members of state parliaments – all but one of whom currently have or share balance of power – and four members of the federal Senate.

It is often said that the Greens just say no. In fact, Bob Brown surprised many by spelling out the conditions under which he would support a pulp mill for Tasmania – but one with no chlorine released into the environment and all pulp sourced from plantations.

Democrats Senator Andrew Murray, architect of the GST, has been critical of the Greens as “position takers”. In fact that’s what many voters are looking for – politicians of conviction who stand by their promises, but who, nevertheless, can work in co-operation to achieve just outcomes for the community and the planet, as Greens are doing all around this country.

Contrary to Murray’s view, it is actually the election of more Greens senators that will prevent the gridlock that he fears, because low ALP numbers in the Senate make it virtually impossible for them to achieve a Senate majority at the coming election. A Green balance is the only way to ensure progressive reforms from an ALP government, should it be elected.