Dirty tricks against the Tasmanian Greens reach new low

Linda Seaborn

By the time you read this, we’ll know the results of the March 18 Tasmanian state election. It’s been an election dominated by efforts to keep the Greens out of government.

Several years ago, in an effort to exclude the Greens, the state Labor and Liberal parties agreed to reduce the number of parliamentarians per electorate from seven to five. Despite this, in 2006 the Greens have a real hope of holding the balance of power.

During the campaign, the Greens flagged that in this event they will pursue the position of deputy premier and ministries. Unfortunately, they did not clearly rule out forming a government with the Liberals — who would be quick to implement Howard’s Work Choices attacks.

During the last week of the campaign, a Labor Party staffer was alleged to have released anonymous media statements implying impropriety in the Tasmanian Greens legal structure, and hinting that it did not declare received donations.

Advertisements have been run in the Tasmanian newspapers and leaflets distributed by a group called “the Exclusive Brethren”. The ads invite the reader to indulge in homophobic and right-wing reactions to the Green’s policies by using selected texts from Greens current and past policies on sexuality, gender, drugs and taxation. For some this may make the Greens more appealing, even though the party has backed away from some of its progressive policies on drugs.

The Labor Party also ran television advertisements that implied that property prices would fall if there was a minority government. An anonymous group of “businesspeople”, called “Tasmanians for a Better Future”, also ran anti-Greens advertisements.

Why the attacks on the Greens? From the point of view of the capitalists — who already have a choice between Liberal and Labor — it makes sense. The Greens have not been bought off and are therefore not an option for the ruling elite.

Let’s just hope the Greens stay that way. But it is worth noting that the Green’s image has become one of candidates in suits. The Hobart Mercury reported that at the Green’s campaign launch there were no dreadlocks or tie-dyed T-shirts in sight. The word on the street is that a ticket to the Greens’ election night bash is $100.

On a brighter note, Harry Quick, a federal Labor MP who is planning to retire at the next election, has put his support behind both Labor candidate Lara Giddings and the Greens’ Nick McKim. Quick said that he didn’t think any party had a monopoly on good policies. At an eight-hour day celebration on March 13, ACTU president Sharan Burrow also threw in an endorsement for the Greens, but said that only a majority Labor government could fight the IR changes.

The Socialist Alliance ran two candidates — Matt Holloway and myself. We campaigned on five points: opposition to the federal IR attacks and for the state government to strengthen its protection of Tasmanian workers; protection of the environment, highlighting the link between profit-making and environmental destruction; support for community, welfare and health services; civil rights, including a bill of rights that includes the right to take industrial action; and for the nationalisation of Gunns, Tasrail and the Hobart Private Hospital.

The Socialist Alliance has made the most of the opportunities election campaigns offer by presenting an alternative, socialist perspective. We’ve had good feedback on our refreshing views that clearly put people before profit.

[Linda Seaborn is a member of the Socialist Alliance and stood for the alliance in the seat of Denison in the March 18 state election.]

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