2023-08-18
Greens Leader Adam Bandt said that even with the generously-named “Left” faction holding the numbers in the Party, the Labor National Conference has cemented Labor’s place as Australia’s centre-right party, with the Greens now the country’s only social democratic alternative.
Mr Bandt said the Greens were the only party opposed to war and neoliberalism after Labor agreed to back native forest logging, more coal and gas, stage three tax cuts for the wealthy and the AUKUS pact, while opposing a corporate super profit tax and any grassroots pushes for peace, forests and economic redistribution.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:
“The national conference has confirmed Labor is a centre-right party and the Greens are Australia’s only social democratic alternative.
“The Prime Minister is asking for decades in power, presumably so that after tax cuts for the wealthy, nuclear submarines and new coal and gas mines, Labor can implement more Coalition policies.
“With Labor locking in support for stage 3 tax cuts for the wealthy and nuclear-powered submarines, the Greens are now the only party opposed to war and neoliberalism.
“It is incredible that even when the so-called Left has the numbers, the Party still backs unfair stage 3 tax cuts and the logging of native forests while opposing a tycoon tax on corporate super profits.”
“Instead of de-escalating tensions between the US and China, Labor’s AUKUS pact risks dragging us into the next US war. The Greens will continue to fight this dangerous and expensive deal that undermines the peace and security for our country.”
Quotes attributable to Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson for defence
“It is not surprising that unions are challenging the Albanese Government’s position on war and AUKUS because it’s their members who do the fighting and get killed.
“The AUKUS deal was made in a backroom by a few powerful insiders and US government advisers and they were never going to let it be upset by a rank and file revolt within Labor.
“There is a growing peace movement in this country opposed to AUKUS and the push towards war and it largely lives outside the two major war parties. That’s where the hope lies for Australia to avoid being trapped in the next disastrous US war.”