It's hard to escape the conclusion that disenchantment with the old parties is reaching stratospheric levels. Greens candidates encounter this every day on the campaign trail when complete strangers approach and pour out their frustrations. It also shows in the polls, which show The Greens' support rising solidly and consistently. Is this, then, a "protest vote" as some commentators would have it? I don't think so.
There's no question that the sheer awfulness of the old parties, while being bad for the country, is good for The Greens. But their race to the bottom on asylum seekers and their appalling climate change policies, cannot by themselves account for the enthusiastic support for The Greens. Clearly when people take a look at us they like what they find, and they now realise that The Greens have mature alternative policies in almost all policy areas. Indeed, The Greens have undertaken to never block legislation without putting forward a constructive alternative.
The misconception that The Greens are a "single issue party" is now falling away. Citizens concerned with a variety of issues, from the general (health, education, the economy) to the specific (sex education, electric cars, irrigation) are finding policies that they can identify with. Our opponents have recognised this, and have instead taken to attacking us for having policies that might be desirable or even visionary, but not practical. It's almost a compliment, but is it true?
We recognise that none of the important social, health or environmental policies we are so passionate about can be delivered without a strong economy. To that end, we appreciate the importance of costing each initiative as carefully as possible. Resources are finite, and some policies will have to take priority over others. But it doesn't follow that neglect, populism and under-investment must be the order of the day. There is vision, principle and economic realism in our outlook.
This message is getting through. The Greens are enjoying support from quarters that previously would not have given The Greens a second thought. For instance, today the Weekly Times, the foremost rural newspaper, has condemned the lack of vision offered by the other parties and urged its readers to take a second look at The Greens. In the same issue, they point out that The Greens have more farmers standing as candidates than the National Party (who have none). At the same time, the Bendigo Advertiser is calling for The Greens to be included in election debates as the third voice in Australian politics.
These are just examples of the new support we are getting from farmers, professionals, unions and ordinary voters who have taken a hard look at The Greens and like what they see.
So the next time you hear a line like, "The Greens could promise to put a man on the moon, but they'll never have to deliver," you will recognise it as simple rhetoric. Ask yourself: Which policy does the speaker take issue with, and why would it be bad for Australia? We are happy to defend any of our policies. Voters deserve more than cheap one liners and The Greens are offering them something better.