Australian Greens

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?

Today, the Greens announced a plan to endorse and expand the "Empty Spaces" program, turning disused buildings into hubs for arts and entrepreneurship. Marcus Westbury, the founder of the program, explains how it can revitalise urban centers.