When I was in the Assembly (1989 to 1992, 1994 to 2008), to call a fellow member a hypocrite was unparliamentary. I was never sure why, as it’s a term constantly used by the public and media when talking about politicians.
The local Greens seem to exude hypocrisy when it comes to local elections. I love the way, whenever the local elections come around, they try to distance themselves from their Labor coalition partners and comrades by suddenly pushing all these policies that they could have delivered whilst in government, but never did.
The sudden interest in spending money on city maintenance, some environmental initiatives – even though they have had control of the environment ministry – astounds me. Whilst on the environment, I was shocked to read revelations that during the recent kangaroo cull, 300 wallabies and wallaroos, three-quarters of the population of the supposedly safe Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, were shot (as well as about 60 kangaroos there). Most 10-year-old children can tell the difference between a kangaroo and a dear little wallaby and/or wallaroo. How did this outrage take place under the Greens’ watch? Hopefully, the Liberal opposition will take this up when the Assembly sits again next week.
Indeed, the only newish Green policy that is not something the Greens could have done in Government, because Labor and the Liberals would not let them, was to support Jo Clay’s ideological zealotry policy of compulsorily acquiring Thoroughbred Park so she and her Green mates can destroy horseracing in the ACT. Thankfully, her ACT Labor comrades seem to continue to oppose that, as do the Liberals. Her attempts to dress it up as a housing initiative are disingenuous and hypocritical.
Voters should also be wary of any new policies ACT Labor is announcing. The same questions should be asked: You have been in government for 23 years. Why didn’t you do it before?
In the 2020 election, the Greens largely got away with distancing themselves from Labor, as a lot of Canberrans seemed to not realise they were part of a coalition government. At least this time round, most people I talk to realize that the local Greens and Labor are joined at the hip and are the ACT Government.
Recently, I had a coffee with two charming and very capable, experienced Canberrans running in Kurrajong (inner south and north): Peter Strong AM and Ann Bray AM. Peter formerly owned Smith’s Alternative Bookshop, and is a prominent small businessman and women’s soccer coach. Ann is a trained medical scientist, and, until recently, was a senior diplomat at our Washington embassy.
They suggested to me that the Strong Independents and the Belco Party should organise three soapbox events: one in Woden/Weston, one in Haig Park, and one in Belconnen, so any interested independent candidates can get on a soapbox (which I will provide), say in five minutes what they will do if elected, and take questions from the public.
It should be fun. Watch this space for further details.
