2024-09-02
The Greens’ response to the rise of Community Independents should be based on acceptance of their appeal and appreciation of the role they could play in improving our federal and state upper house vote
By Callan Gray, Perth Greens Regional Group
As more community independents put their hands up for their electorates such as Moore and Forrest at the federal level and the three western suburbs state seats of Cottesloe, Churchlands and Nedlands we as The Greens face a challenge and a question: how do we work with and respond to the rising independents movement?
From personal experience it’s simple ‒ acceptance and appreciation for our Upper Houses.
Acceptance: Community Independents are naturally more appealing in some electorates than a generic Green candidate. Perhaps it’s clearly a fight between an Independent and a Liberal like in Curtin at the last federal election.
In most parts of Curtin there was a clear fight between Chaney and Hammond but in others it was a mixed battle ‒ like Nedlands, where local Greens get a respectable vote around the UWA Campus.
Other independents, especially in the context of pro-Gaza, are worth encouraging, as they push normally strong Labor voters to break away from their party due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Many of these are in seats where The Greens’ vote is naturally low ‒ like Mirrabooka, Landsdale, Morley and West Swan at the state level and Cowan at the federal level.
Appreciation of our Upper Houses: Many Curtin booths in the Senate race showed a very strong Greens vote, especially Nedlands, West Leederville, Shenton Park, Subiaco and parts of Cottesloe. Many Teal voters ‒ aware that no Teal was running ‒ voted Green to hold the major parties accountable.
Many pro-Gaza independents may even advocate for a Green vote in the Senate ‒ as we are the only party in mainstream politics standing up for the liberation of Palestinians.
But it must be said there are valid criticisms that should be made of the Teal movement ‒ Kate Chaney deciding to back away from the sheep export ban, for example. In addition, there have been independents who are just Liberal-aligned independents, such as former Independent MPs ‒ Liz Constable in Churchlands (1996 - 2013) and Janet Wollard (2001 - 2013) as part of the old Liberals for Forrest.
We must push a genuinely left-wing and progressive alternative in all areas of this vast state.
A Greens candidate is more effective than an Independent ‒ any day and every day.
[Opinions expressed are those of the author and not official policy of Greens WA]