Kevin Kiernan, a bedrock founder of environmentalism, first publicly raised a loss of faith of in Green political philosophy and direction in Tasmania in a comment on Tasmanian Times (HERE). But he wasn’t the first to voice doubts. Before the Greens entered Cabinet, Tasmanian Times Commentator Peter Tucker warned against twoo-swift a marriage of convenience.
On April 12 last year he wrote:
I’m probably in the minority here (pardon the pun) but I think the Greens’ long term political future is best served by not being involved in the Labor Cabinet.
Not in this government. Wait for the next.
The Greens quite understandably want to make the transition from fringe protesters to mainstream political party. Under the astute Nick McKim they have moved more into the centre, focussing on social and economic issues, not just environmental. It has been a relatively gradual development, based on internal re-structuring and presenting a more business-like persona to the electorate.
But voters may not yet be ready for those incremental steps being replaced by a giant leap. They will be wary of Green influence and I believe would prefer to see how the Greens go supporting a government rather than being in it.
Some – perhaps most – successful changes in politics are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The logical and careful approach for the Greens would see them go from environmental activists, to permanent minor party, to responsible cross-benchers to, finally, a partner in government. To go straight to the end game now might be counter-productive. There are three good reasons.
The full article, on Tasmanian Times, by Peter Tucker, 12.04.10 8:00 am
