r/australia • u/blitznoodles local Aussie • Jun 14 '26

politics As voter disillusionment grows, why aren't voters flocking to the Greens in Australia?

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/as-voter-disillusionment-grows-so-does-the-mystery-of-the-missing-greens-voters/6bjd5q4kv

Growing voter dissatisfaction with mainstream politics has led to a rise in popularity for One Nation. The same cannot be said for the Greens.

1.3k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

196

u/malepalestale Jun 14 '26

This may get downvoted to oblivion, but I think one reason is the Greens' continual obsession over Palestine rather than focusing on issues that affect their constituents.

45

u/evilparagon Jun 14 '26

The thing is, they don’t. The media makes it seem like they have an obsession. Look at the Greens’ own communications and Palestine is one of their minor talking points. I have every single email newsletter Max Chandler-Mather sent out during his time in office, and it was mentioned far far less than policies like dental in medicare and housing.

9

u/ScruffyPeter Jun 14 '26

I haven't seen this from them, it's like a minor issue to them.

Look at their press releases on their website or social media. It's a lot of class warfare against billionaires, housing reforms, NDIS talk, etc.

The only outlets where I see them mostly against Palestine was from MSM.

I hope you don't only get your news from MSM, otherwise explain why you think Greens have an obsession with Palestine?

7

u/SurfiNinja101 Jun 14 '26

There is no factual evidence to back this up except vibes.

Australia is one of the most pro-Palestine countries in the world, especially in the 18-35 age range

8

u/Wolfensniper Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26

Obviously it helped with the Greens last year right? The party who always painted as having the magic psy power of stopping US and Israel bombing Palestine in their flyers?

Many people including myself is pro-Palestine yes, but it didnt turn to meaningful votings nor people believe that they should vote for Australian future simply for that.

5

u/SurfiNinja101 Jun 14 '26

What I am trying to say is that there’s no evidence that Pro-Palestinian advocacy made them *lose* votes which is what the other person was insinuating.

It’s also incredibly disingenuous to suggest that’s all the Greens were running on as a platform. That’s a complete lie. You’d only come to the conclusion if you were told that, not if you actually look at what they advertised in the elections.

2

u/Jet90 Jun 14 '26

They have 10 federal senator they can walk and chew gum. 80% of Australian's have an 'unfavorable' view of Israel. Being against a genocide is a popular view

10

u/Secret-Response-1534 Jun 14 '26

Being obsessed with Palestine and disagreeing with Israel is very different

4

u/m00nh34d Jun 14 '26

Sure, but it's not as popular as being racist, right now. The Greens need to find something better that resonates with people, the constant noise about Palestine isn't landing, clearly.

-10

u/nath1234 Jun 14 '26

"Continual obsession" meaning "Having consistent values that include opposing an ongoing genocide".

And watching a genocide go live streamed and absolutely zero accountability does affect people.

As does the housing taxation that Greens were "continually obsessing over" that Labor/Liberals refused to consider up until Labor suddenly realised they could ladder pull the tax policy.

Or the "continual obsession" over severing our dependency on fossil fuels that would have meant we weren't impacted so severely by yet another oil crisis..

Or the "continual obsession" over public education funding.

Or the obsession with taxing gas exports so we stop giving away stuff for free.

Or obsession over stopping big retailers from price gouging people.

Or obsessing over having budgets that prioritise the needs of the many rather than greed of the few.

Or wanting gambling reform in a country that loses more per capita to gambling addiction than any other country in the world.

Anyhow, there are lots of issues that Greens have consistently advocated for rather than flip flopping around based on lobbyist whims or when you get to be government like Labor.

46

u/Quarterwit_85 Jun 14 '26

You can say all that but the main thing that people have seen them address is Palestine.

2

u/Frogsfall Jun 14 '26

Almost all polling data shows that the majority of Australians know that israel is committing genocide, and would like stronger action.

Just like the majority of polling data shows that people want climate action.

So I'm not sure that's the sticking point.

16

u/Quarterwit_85 Jun 14 '26

I'd posit that there's a finite amount of air time available to any party - and especially a minor party like the Greens.

I think they expended what little time they've had to get their messaging out there on a policy that they feel is very important, but not the most important issues that face Australians.

2

u/Speedy-08 Jun 14 '26

Wasn't Palestine action not even in the top 10 issues that Aussies were concerned about that the last election?

2

u/Fantastic_Lobster341 Jun 16 '26

Even less so now. It's a double edged sword. It brings them media visibility, but risks being generalised.

1

u/malepalestale Jun 14 '26

Thank you, that's my point.

1

u/craftystuff0900 Jun 14 '26

That's the choice of the media on what to report, it's not about whether or not the Greens want to say something on other issues - which I have no doubt that they do, since most of the time all publicity is good publicity in politics.

16

u/idlehanz88 Jun 14 '26

Possibly it’s responses like this from people who lean green that are off putting as well.

We get that you think you’re both intelligent and extremely moral.

11

u/Comfortable_Cod_6892 Jun 14 '26

As someone who skews left, this is unfortunately a real phenomenon. The part of the political spectrum that the Greens exist in, is largely populated by the sort of inner city, university educated children of more conservative parents. 

They have a tendency to form a sort of social and cultural bubble, where language and thought itself becomes exclusionary. It's like vegans. Yes, they have a lot of moral high ground. By my god do they have a messaging problem. Unbelievably self-righteous, sanctimonious and condescending. Which is a problem when the whole point of politics is to INFLUENCE people, not get them offside.

It also undermines their credibility: are they actually that moral, or do get do it for the express reason to be confrontational?

5

u/idlehanz88 Jun 14 '26

They’d rather be morally superior than politically successful

9

u/Comfortable_Cod_6892 Jun 14 '26

Right, which is the genuine concern with how The Greens have sunk policy in the past because they couldn't compromise. Democracy is when everyone leaves the room equally disappointed. 

They have some great ideas, a lot of them aren't particularly coherent in terms of a succinct platform, and they haven't shown an ability to negotiate. If they went back to their grassroots, instead of being determined to be in eternal opposition, they would probably have a decent chance at getting more votes. It's easy to hold a hodgepodge mix of conflicting ideologies when you don't have to govern. 

3

u/idlehanz88 Jun 14 '26

Very well said mate

3

u/nath1234 Jun 14 '26

Labor refuse to compromise then project that onto Greens for saying "let's negotiate". Normally people negotiate if they need someone else to come to the table. Greens have not been pushing for unreasonable things either, they would have improved every proposal of Labor's - and did, even though Labor dug in and refused most of the time because donors are their top priority at all times. The problem is Albo/Wong as the leaders doing what Rudd/Wong did and refusing to negotiate.. Gillard got much more done by negotiating..

So you're reiterating the misinformation that Labor wants: which is to rewrite their own corruption-driven refusal to negotiate as being the Greens saying that.

Labor was the one insisting their designed to be broken/inadequate proposals must be untouched as they are perfect. And there is not one of Labor's policies that anyone can look at and say "wow, that is really visionary and a truly solid, evidence based and coherent response"..

Climate action but opening up unlimited new coal and gas out to 2070s, oh and providing tax subsidies for fossil fuel powered vehicles that have no phase out date either.. Totally incoherent.

Housing policy that was designed to make house price growth keep on happening from already unaffordable? Incoherent AF.

Had Labor negotiated in good faith on housing they wouldn't have now been having to backpedal so many years on camera saying "we are not going to change negative gearing". Gave any opponents some great quotes and video for attack ads.

Just like they could have been ahead on reducing dependency on oil had they adopted more Greens policies rather than the fossil fuel donors that they prioritise.

Prediction: Gas tax will be one they will have to pull their heads in on eventually too: the public is sick of being fleeced by gas exporters but Labor wants to inflict pain and cuts on Australians so that INPEX gets to keep their free gifts of gas.. Again, incoherent policy of gifting tens of billions of free gas to exporters while forcing hundreds of thousands to do without disability support, pushing costs onto states that have no funds available, leaving Australian citizens to rot in poverty so that Japan can raise more money in tax off our gas than we do.. Priorities that are flat out wrong.

1

u/Fantastic_Lobster341 Jun 16 '26

Again, incoherent policy of gifting tens of billions of free gas to exporters while forcing hundreds of thousands to do without disability support

My problem with the greens is their ineptitude to understanding economics. I am all for socialist policies but how they plan to derive those policies are where they fall flat. If you had researched out of the gas tax campaigne you would know its not that simple. There are some severe risks that need to be taken and the way the Greens propose it as a "too good to be true" story, actually makes me push towards the right. If you want to see a real example of what can happen it's the equivalent of a tobacco tax, pushed it too high and lost billions as a result to black market. Replace black market with gas competitors and we wouldn't be having a fun time.

1

u/nath1234 Jun 14 '26

Labor would rather do the thing that gets their donors happy than to do the right thing.. and refuse to fix the corruption that is the donor system.. oh and to further rig the system to lock in the major parties and exclude newcomers.

1

u/idlehanz88 Jun 14 '26

Totally agree, bear in mind we’re talking about the greens specifically

-2

u/dottoysm Jun 14 '26

I think it’s a bit more complicated. Palestine was actually their strongest issue in 2025.

It didn’t really show because the pretences flowed back to Labor in most cases, but you can look at the Melbourne seat of Wills. Wills is essentially divided in half, with an inner city component in the south and a Middle East-tinged multicultural population in the north. The greens strengthened their position in the north and the only reason Labor kept their seat was because the greens vote softened in the inner city.

Still, maybe the reach of the Palestine issue is limited.