Labor must be forced to act
Extinction Rebellion, 11 May 2025
"The climate crisis, the billionaire capture of governments, the genocide in Gaza, the logging of native forests, the destruction of our oceans. None of these will be addressed without public pressure. They need our voices. They need our resistance."
"The propaganda machine is already in motion. Headlines and commentators are declaring the Greens finished. They want you to believe the public turned away from climate action, justice, and truth. That narrative is a lie, manufactured to protect power." —Craigus McVegus, Radio Show Host, Former Scientist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
The Greens are far from finished. Their primary vote remained steady, in spite of the multi-million dollar attack campaigns run by far right groups.
There are many barriers that prevent a third party from securing seats in our electoral system, and the lower house result hides how many primary votes the Greens actually won. As Natalie Feliks points out in a Crikey.com article, it isn’t a coincidence that the one party that is the most receptive to the needs of human rights organisations, the transgender community, refugee community, and anti-poverty advocates is also the one that is struggling with our electoral system the most.
All Greens representatives who didn't gain seats will be missed, but the loss of Adam Bandt from the lower house seat of Melbourne, was an especially bitter blow. Adam has given 15 years of service to the planet. He's made an enormous contribution to the fight against rampant, destructive capitalism and is greatly respected by climate activists and the broader community.
"Thank you for your support Adam Bandt. It’s a rare politician that values the essential role that civil disobedience plays in our society. And thank you for all that you’ve done over the years. You're a great loss to that toxic parliament. The history books will vindicate you. We wish you and your family all the best." —XR Vic statement on social media
But despite the disappointing results in the lower house, across the country, people rejected fossil fuels, racism, and authoritarianism. And following this election, the Greens hold the sole balance of power in the senate and remain a major force in the parliament.
As the Greens Senator Nick McKim says:
"The Prime Minister's instructions that the Senate should get out of his way reek of arrogance and hubris.
The Australian people gave the Greens a strong Senate vote and a mandate to hold Labor to account and to push them on issues like climate, environment, housing, and social and economic justice. We will be doing exactly that.
We were not elected to get out of Labor's way and the sooner the Prime Minister understands this the better. "