Cabpoll extra

Something extra for those avid fans of Cabpoll...

Here's a follow-up chat with Greens supporter Chris from the inner city seat of Sydney. We discuss likely scenarios pertaining to the Greens holding the Senate balance of power from next July. Other passengers I’ve spoken to reflect the strong result for the Greens in Saturday’s poll when many Labor supporters switched across in protest...

An NGO officer in HIV prevention travelled to University of NSW to deliver a lecture on health policy.

He confirmed the Greens ascendency would be a positive mainly due to their progressive policies in the areas of sexuality, education and safe drug practises.

“The current provisions are pretty good,” he stated, “which is why Australia leads the world in HIV prevention. However it’s a constant battle and we can always use more funding. So yes, the Greens will be supportive of that.”

Some, though, were not so enthused about the Greens increased power. One middle-aged businessman was pessimistic regarding their ability to knee-cap the coal industry.

“They have a non-negotiable agenda,” he claimed, “and are committed to Australia becoming carbon neutral and converting to renewable energy sources in ten years. It’s a disaster for the coal industry.”

Another businessman was less worried by the Greens influence saying they would not have unbridled power as the major parties can easily negotiate together on critical issues to neutralise the their Senate vote.

No matter, the Green’s can claim a mandate from their increased support, albeit from disaffected Laborites, and will have an undoubted effect on much legislation passing through the Senate.

Get ready for a mad legislative rush from the new Government before next July.

Comments

[Turner Mitteron]

I think your use of the words "green mandate" are interesting. Can a political party that has failed to be elected to government claim a mandate?

If you think about it, more people voted against The Greens than for them, so whre is their mandate?

[country boy]

why is it only inner city dickheads who vote for the wacko greens.

[Skyring]

The Greens policies might sound lovely, but when they start eating into the lifestyles or the bank accounts of voters, I reckon their support base will plummet. How, for example, do you cut carbon emissions by a significant amount without making the demand drop? Tax the crap out of the users. That's how. Electricity and fuel prices will zoom up.

And solar power might sound great when it's just a few panels on the roof, but you can't power a city like Sydney from rooftop panels - you have to build solar farms. On farmland. Or parkland.

[Slatts]

Want some fun? Suggest to a Green that their party is racist and this link verifies it. The red-faced yammering is to behold.

[waaah!]

half of the greens have a tan in winter, why would they be racist?