Graham, you forgot, there's another party in Queensland. How does your qualitative polling suggest the Greens are doing?
2
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 20:43
Brian
Greens? Never seen one in Jindalee!
3
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 21:26
Graham Young
Hi Philip, it doesn't tell me much. The level of Green involvement in the poll is not as high as it has been, which suggests there isn't a strong Greens surge on. They have one member of parliament, but he got elected as Labor, and I don't get enough of a sample from Indooroopilly to be able to draw any conclusions about him.
Same goes for other electorates where they might have a chance.
However, I think that their propensity to just vote one may have an impact on Labor's chances in a number of seats.
4
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 23:07
Tom Fletcher
Graham - Are you serious or trying to be funny? The problem for the Greens is that they are not backed by big money. Labor has the unions to back them whilst LNP have big business interests to back them. The Greens have neither and without this money coming in, it is difficult to field candidates and get the message across. Furthermore, much of what the Greens stand for appears as a threat to the vested interests of Labor and LNP supporters. We humans cannot continue on the way we are going with our throw-away society and I believe this plus total greed have caused the present economic crises. (Note, I used the plural form there).
5
Thursday, 29 January 2009 20:42
Graham Young
Hi Tom, I'm serious. Not sure what there is to joke about. I don't think it is money that is holding the Greens back. Afterall, One Nation got 23% of the vote and a number of seats in 1998 without any substantial financial backing.
My impression is that the Greens don't really want to be a major party. They're certainly unwilling to do the things that they need to. Which means they are likely to continue to be a party of influence who can occasionally get the balance of power in an upper house.
As Queensland has no upper house, then their impact on Queensland politics is limited to whether they end up preferencing Labor in the lower house.
Their best chance to win a seat in Queensland was the by-election for Brisbane when Beattie left, but that didn't happen.
I keep meaning to do a study on the Greens, because I probably have more information about them than anyone else. Remind me to get around to it.
6
Saturday, 31 January 2009 10:06
Stewart Beveridge
From what is seen in the media, the alternative to the current government is LNP and there is nothing to show that it has any position, other than personality attacks. It seems they are only 'seat warmers'. This may be only media reporting, which can be grossly biased and or inaccurate, but if it is a true representation of what is the state of affairs, then in a Labour biased state , we are stuck with ad hoc Anna Bligh, spin, botox and all. Not an enviable prospect.
7
Monday, 02 February 2009 12:50
Peter Whalley
I agree entirely with respondents' perception that Bligh's government is driven by by spin. Beattie had the rare political gift of being able to declaim his honesty publically as a political asset. I can't see that in Bligh. Even though she might have other qualities, the ineffective use of spin by a tired and an only modestly competent administration will start to wear thin. And as for the so-called greens? Did Ronan Lee defect so that history would show he was the first green mp in queensland or was it because he wasn't going to be re-selected by labor in Indooroopilly? what about all the greens working in politically anointed positions inside Bligh's administration? Come now! Some could argue the greens already were governing in parts of the executive building
Same goes for other electorates where they might have a chance.
However, I think that their propensity to just vote one may have an impact on Labor's chances in a number of seats.
My impression is that the Greens don't really want to be a major party. They're certainly unwilling to do the things that they need to. Which means they are likely to continue to be a party of influence who can occasionally get the balance of power in an upper house.
As Queensland has no upper house, then their impact on Queensland politics is limited to whether they end up preferencing Labor in the lower house.
Their best chance to win a seat in Queensland was the by-election for Brisbane when Beattie left, but that didn't happen.
I keep meaning to do a study on the Greens, because I probably have more information about them than anyone else. Remind me to get around to it.
This may be only media reporting, which can be grossly biased and or inaccurate, but if it is a true representation of what is the state of affairs, then in a Labour biased state , we are stuck with ad hoc Anna Bligh, spin, botox and all. Not an enviable prospect.