2014-10-20
Grahame Bowland
The last two years have been a roller coaster for the Greens WA, with five campaigns following closely upon one another — a state election, federal election, local government election, an unexpected re-run senate election, and now a by-election for the state seat of Vasse which took place on the 18th of October.
In those two years weve learnt that we can get out and talk to voters, face to face and on the phone — and that its fun, and it works. Over the past few weeks weve been applying that lesson in Vasse — a seat in the south-west of the state, taking in some of WAs most beautiful coastline (and producing some very nice wine.)
We made hundreds of phone calls and knocked on a huge number of doors, mobilising both locals and folks from elsewhere around the state. The result of our efforts: a near doubling in our primary vote, to 18%.
We were lucky to have a terrific local candidate in Michael Baldock, with Giz Watson taking on the role of campaign manager, and other talented campaigners taking on organising roles. Our Greens WA representatives Senator Rachel Siewert, Senator Scott Ludlam and Lynn MacLaren MLC hosted events and door-knocked, and were grateful to Australian Greens leader Senator Christine Milne for visiting and lending her voice to the campaign.
Our campaigning hasn't ended with Vasse. Using funds raised from WA members and supporters, we have employed a coordinator to organise a phone banking effort to assist the Victorian Greens in their state election.
At the beginning of the year Western Australia was the beneficiary of a concerted national effort to re-elect Senator Scott Ludlam. Weve seen what the Australian Greens can do when we focus our collective energy on a state campaign, and were keen to see that become the new normal for the party. We aim to make 20,000 calls to Victorian voters — any Western Australians reading this who havent volunteered, consider this your call to action!
In late September we took a break to enjoy our largest ever state conference, celebrating 30 Years Green. In 1984 Jo Vallentine was elected to the senate representing the Nuclear Disarmament Party, and in 1990 went on to be the first ever Green elected to the senate. It was wonderful to hear about those first days from Jo and others, the early commitment to consensus, transparency and the four pillars which still remains vital to our culture.
The conference was foremost about learning — both from fellow Greens, through workshops and open discussions, and from people from outside the party — Uncle Ben Taylor from the Whadjuk Noongar community, activists campaigning for the rights of refugees, representatives of the union movement, guests from the Indonesian Greens, and many others who attended our open day.
From the number of enthusiastic and committed first-time attendees at the conference, theres absolutely no doubt well continue, stronger than ever. I very much look forward to the celebration to be had thirty years from now, and to a just and fair future with a Green government.