Green Issue Editorial June 2025

2025-07-03

This Green Issue dissects the results of the 2025 federal election and examines the consequences for the Greens. One article poses how the overall move to the “sensible centre” advantaged Labor over the Greens. Another analyzes how the preferences of the party finishing third in a three horse race often have the final say. These factors led to loss of Greens Lower House seats but the overall Greens vote was hardly diminished, resulting in all state #1 Senate candidates being elected, to ultimately give Greens a balance of power in the Senate.

Rather than just wallow in the “sensible centre” it is argued that bold action is needed to implement big ideas on how to tackle the nation’s biggest problems, when the prevailing tendency is to sweep them under the carpet. One of those problems is health as affected by adverse food habits. Stronger government intervention is needed in areas like food education and better regulation of food, particularly junk food, advertising.

A journey back into the past reveals our ignorance of genocide, ethnic cleansing and blatant racial discrimination. Immediately after World War 2, where these factors were in full view, we had no idea of the extent they manifested in Australia, and among First Nations people across the world subject to colonization. Another journey into the past takes us to the early days of Antarctic exploration, and reveals the wonders and dangers of that.

We also include updates from Senator Jordon Steele-John and our representatives in the WA Legislative Council – Brad Pettitt, Sophie McNeill, Jess Beckerling and Tim Clifford.

Header photo: People lining up to vote for the 2025 federal election at Merri-bek Primary School, Wills electorate Licence cc-by-sa-2.0