2025-10-21
By Nick McKim
Senator for Tasmania
A big year for elections, and a big year standing with people and the planet. In the portfolios of Economic Justice, Forests and LGBTIQA+ we’ve taken on big corporations, defended nature, championed human rights and held the ground against the tide of neoliberalism.
Economic Justice
Our year-long fight against price-gouging supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths paid off. We shone the disinfectant of sunlight on their greed and lack of care for their customers, and our pressure ultimately forced both Labor and the Liberals to change policy. During the election campaign Labor announced they would legislate to ban supermarket price gouging, and the Liberals adopted our long-standing call for divestiture powers.
Greens pressure works! But neither reform has passed the Parliament, and we know Coles and Woolies are already working behind the scenes to water them down or push them back off the agenda. We’re not going to let them, and will keep fighting until these reforms become law and people stop getting ripped off at the checkout.
We also prevented a quiet but dangerous power grab over our financial system. Section 11 of the Reserve Bank Act allows the Treasurer to direct RBA policy, including on interest rates. It’s the last vestige of democratic oversight of the central bank technocrats. Labor’s attempt to remove it would have been one of the final surrenders of our democracy to the forces of neoliberalism. Our successful campaign to save section 11 may have been low profile but it was a significant win.
We’ve also continued to expose corporate tax dodging, predatory lending, and the ways in which the economy is rigged against young people. We’re working to end fossil fuel subsidies and to impose a levy on fossil fuel exports. The fight for a fairer tax system, price signals to bring down emissions and stronger corporate regulation remains front and centre.
Forests
Forests should be defended and protected for their intrinsic values, but ending native forest logging is also one of the easiest, quickest ways we can reduce emissions. It would save money and deliver a massive biodiversity dividend. Forests are carbon sinks, threatened species strongholds and cultural landscapes. But Labor continues to facilitate their destruction to prop up a mendicant, publicly subsidised industry.
This year, we exposed how the federal government quietly lobbied the European Union to delay world-leading anti-deforestation regulations. It was a shocking act of climate vandalism that confirmed what we already knew: Labor is still siding with the planet cookers.
The Greens also introduced our Ending Native Forest Logging Bill to the Senate, backed by scientists, First Nations communities, and campaigners across the country. The bill would finally end the destruction of native forests and redirect support toward protecting ecosystems and creating secure, sustainable jobs in restoration and tourism.
Poll after poll shows that Australians are tired of seeing their forests destroyed and their climate future sold off. They want trees left standing and ecosystems left intact. The Greens have fought since our inception to defend nature, and it’ll be a major priority for us in this parliament.
LGBTIQA+
So sad to lose Stephen Bates from the Parliament this year. He brought courage, authenticity and heart to everything he did, and countless LGBTIQA+ people felt seen and supported thanks to his work.
Stephen may no longer be in the building, but the fight he led continues. I’m really excited to have taken on the portfolio and will do everything I can to carry Stephen’s work forward.
We’re pushing to finally end the legal loopholes that allow religious schools and institutions to discriminate against LGBTIQA+ staff and students. It’s disgraceful that in 2025, kids can still be expelled and teachers sacked for who they are or who they love.
And as far-right culture warriors ramp up their attacks on trans and gender-diverse people, we’ve been pushing backstrongly, loudly and proudly. These attacks are dangerous. They’re designed to divide and dehumanise, and they have no place in our politics or public debate. Trans rights are human rights!
Lutruwita/Tasmania
In May, Tasmanians delivered the highest Greens Senate vote in the country, with a solid swing towards us. That result came from months of planning, hard work, community conversations, and fighting on the issues that matter. A massive shout out to everyone who contributed to the campaign.
We ran on housing, climate, and taking on the polluting industries of fish farms and native forestry logging. People are sick of being ignored, ripped off and taken for granted by the major parties. They want a future that’s fairer and greener.
And just when we thought we could recover from the federal campaign, Tasmania had its third early state election in a row, this one nearly three years early. We Greens ran a strong campaign, achieved a statewide swing and were really happy to see our five outstanding Lower House MPs re-elected.
Once again, Tasmanians backed our strong stance on forests, environment, housing, cost of living, and integrity. In Tasmania we have achieved positive swings in the last three federal elections and the last three state elections.We’re here to stay and momentum is with us..
Massive thanks to everyone who knocked on doors, made calls, chipped in, hosted signs and helped power our campaigns. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Go Greens!
- Nick