The Greens have now lost much of their influence in the upper house. The Albanese government will find life a bit tougher too.
It’s not easy being green, as Kermit sang. He is perhaps not the only creature of that colour feeling this morning like a bit of a muppet.
As Parliament resumes, and the Albanese government begins the process of reshaping the country, the Greens have lost one senator with the departure of Lidia Thorpe — and much of their power in the Senate. As a chaser, on the same day, they also lost control of Yarra City Council in Melbourne, much of which lies across party leader Adam Bandt’s seat. Smaller potatoes, but this was a majority-Greens council, five out of nine seats, with a council-elected mayor. What’s happening among the leafy Greens?
Look, the first thing to note is that what is remarkable is not that there has been a Greens defection in the Senate, but that there haven’t been more, or sooner. The Greens have been in the Senate for more than 30 years, and it is a party founded on a set of abstract values rather than sectional interests, with a strong emphasis on the individual conscience. That it has kept together through some difficult decisions and compromises is due not only to the Greens being a real global movement, but also the high quality of leadership they have had over the years.
Read more about the spot of bother the Greens have found themselves in.
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