When we build our power, we can Take them on

By Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens 

Over the last few weeks, there’s been more and more attacks on the Greens. 

In Parliament, Labor’s upset. We are trying to negotiate, but Labor keeps approving new coal and gas mines, they’re giving $176 billion to wealthy property inventors and refusing to negotiate to help people struggling to pay the rent and keep a roof over their heads. 

Right now, we have the numbers to end the handouts to coal and gas corporations, wind back billions in negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions going to wealthy property investors and make price gouging illegal to stop big corporations ripping people off - but Labor has refused. 

We all know why. They take big donations from coal and gas, the property industry and big corporations. 

In the media, there’s the usual right wing voices trying to claim the sky will fall if more Greens are elected to Parliament. While over on Facebook, there’s a new organisation called “Advance Australia” who are trying to stop the Greens’ growth.  

After their own internal research found the Greens to be the most trusted party in politics, Advance Australia has decided to tell lies instead. 

Advance Australia is the organisation responsible for running some of the worst misinformation during the Voice Referendum. Their billionaire backers have decided to turn their guns on the Greens, and their lines have started being picked up by Labor, who are amplifying their claims.  

Advance are aiming to raise millions of dollars more ahead of the next election from billionaires and big corporations to attack the Greens. They’re putting huge dollars behind the negative attacks in the media to amplify them to people online. 

Advance Australia is backed by those making billions of dollars causing the climate crisis and fuelling the cost of living crisis.  They killed the Voice for the fossil fuel industry. Now they’re coming after the Greens, because they know we’ll take on the big corporations. 

They’re opposed to our campaign to make them pay their fair share of tax. They want to keep making billions from coal and gas. 

We’ve seen similar styles of campaigns operate in other countries around the world. They’re backed by the same people who spend millions of dollars each year in donations to the Liberal and Labor Party. 

But we can beat them. 

It’s always important to remember that first they ignore you, then they mock you, then they fight you, then you win. But only if you campaign with everything you’ve got. 

Right now, we need to dramatically boost our community campaigns. If you’re reading this, then if you can, commit a few hours a week to door knocking. 

We have a powerful story to tell. People want big corporations and billionaires to stop ripping us off and wrecking our politics through donations and misinformation. Please, go out there and tell this story. When we win, it’s because we put in the hard work. 

To change everything, we need everyone. In just a few months, there’s going to be a Federal Election. To win more seats, hold the balance of power, and take the fight up to these powerful forces, we all need to get out there and talk to our neighbors and friends. 

When we stand together, when we grow our movement and when we build our power - we can take them on. 

We can win.