2016-06-20
Rob Delves
An important aspect of our commitment to doing politics differently is for our members and supporters to be the very opposite of what we are seeing in Lib-Lab at this moment: inactive or almost non-existent for almost three years, then called to action as servants of the centralized election campaign machine for a couple of weeks.
Examples abound. Bust the Budget was an energizing four week campaign co-ordinated by Rachel Siewert that was embraced by hundreds of members over four weeks in 2014 – with great success. Surely the template for future grassroots action. All through 2015 our Fremantle-Tangney RG, assisted by others, worked closely with groups such as Save Beeliar Wetlands to create the campaign to Stop Roe 8. This extended into the Rethink the Link movement, which has had a massive influence on public opinion. "Stopping Roe 8" is a very common response when our doorknockers ask people what matters to them in this election.
While we pride ourselves on being much more than an election machine we acknowledge that elections matter a lot and for a range of reasons. There's the blindingly obvious ones such as getting Greens into parliament and seizing the special opportunity elections offer to get our message out.
Election campaigns provide an avenue for active participation for hundreds of members and supporters who don't get a huge adrenelin rush from attending monthly RG meetings. Membership booms during and immediately after election campaigns. Those of us who participate are motivated to find out more about The Greens policies and to reflect/discuss how best to communicate them. Some excellent training is provided in these important skills.
Two issues that I've been forced to think about hard and long as a result of this election are Refugees and Climate Change. On the first, how to wind back the toxic levels and find common ground. On the second, how to get an issue of overwhelming primary importance into the election limelight? Maybe some hints there about future themes for Green Issue.
This edition has been cobbled together while the editors and contributors have had their energies working overtime on the campaign. Hence we are running late on getting it out. There are some fascinating ideas and stories that come out of campaigning - and so we offer many editorial thanks to those who've offered them up. Hope you can spare some time from campaigning to enjoy reading and learning from them.
Photo: Doorknockers at the Freo Day of Action, 19th June Jacqueline Jane