Are the Victorian Greens about to be engulfed in the same kind of factional infighting as their New South Wales counterparts? A Facebook page belonging to a group calling itself “Grassroots Greens” appeared this week, with a “statement of intent” document taking aim at internal policies and the party’s tactics to increase its support. The page has only a few dozen likes so far, and it doesn’t seem to be aligned with any actual elected state or federal MPs. The manifesto has taken aim at the party’s recent Victorian and federal election campaigns, where resources were pushed into fighting seats in Melbourne’s inner south-east:
“We must not be afraid to be outspoken on the issues we care about, and we must not be afraid to put forward radical policy, out of fear of negative press. Instead of chasing votes in wealthy, inner-city blue-ribbon electorates by being careful and playing small target politics — we should instead be appealing to low income earners, working class, and middle class people in suburban and regional areas by being bold and radical but staunchly progressive.”
But who’s behind it? Group members are not so keen to put their names to the sniping, writing that they do not reveal their names or have official spokespeople. “It is up to individual members whether or not they out themselves as a member of the Grassroots Greens.”
Late last year a group called “Left Renewal” popped up in New South Wales, grouping around Senator Lee Rhiannon and promising to “fight to bring about the end of capitalism”. The groups have both use a version of the Greens logo as their group symbols.
The Greens have long claimed to be without factionalism, but that seems to be falling apart in a few places.
All it takes is a gripe and a copy of photoshop to convince the media you run a faction. This article probably won someone a bet.
Grassroots, participatory democracy being one of four foundation principles of the world’s Greens parties, (just four, not five thousand!), then perhaps only a writer ignorant of this fact would describe a group supporting one of their party’s principles as a “faction”.
A more astute journalist would be aware that the Victorian Greens set up a “head office” style control of the resources during the elections in question, which action is, in fact, a denial of just exactly that grassroots principle being championed by the writer’s so-called “Faction”, with local grassroots groups in each electorate being left out of the decision making loop.
Pathetically ignorant reporting, of that there can be no doubt, but that is the established “standard” for journalists writing on The Greens.
Just how long have The Greens been promoting their four, international principles?
Noted peace activist, Ian Cohen, acting in accord with the principle of disarmament and non-violence of the Society of Friends, and subsequently adopted as one of those four Greens principles, is remembered for surfing, in protest, on the bow wave of warships visiting Australian harbours.
Standing as a Greens candidate for the Senate in 1984, Ian Cohen’s election posters prominently displayed the four Greens principles.
Is that long enough for supposedly political journalists to pay attention?
Thirty three years ago?
Forty five years after the grassroots community activism of the famous Sydney “Green” bans which gave the international parties their name.
Too much information?