Belly: You didn't answer my question about democracy. Your claim that Green voters are nothing more than disillusioned Labor voters, not true I, through talking and listing to voters have found people are attracted to our policies, people with a social conscience. The ALP is now down to their 'rusted on voters' those that vote Labor without giving it a thought the red neck 25% of conservative Labor.
Typical of Labor you take the Green preference when it suits but slander us at every turn. Its you conservative Labor people who destroyed your own party and now you try to blame The Greens for your own disaster.
True there are many members within The Greens that believe one of our function is to try and keep/get Labor into office, the lesser of two evils stuff, I'm not one of them, to my way of thinking like NSW there was no real change in Queensland on Saturday one conservative mob was replaced by another, as there will be no real change when Abbott replaces Gilard. Those that control society, big business, don;t lose any sleep when your mob are voted into office, yours are most complaint, a bit of window dressing, that;s all, big business will do very well when Labor holds the reins.
Unlike Labor The Greens allow the candidate to determine preferences. AT the last Federal election, after much debate, our candidate decided to let the voters choose their own preference. This resulted in Labor winning with a 6% margin. Next time I know who will be the Liberal candidate, a small l Liberal, I'm not sure who will run for Labor. I would not oppose giving our preference to the Liberal over Labor on the grounds that the Labor candidate is an incompetent fool. Naturally minor progressive parties, and like minded independents, would both be placed above Liberal and Labor on our how to vote guide.

Lexi, there comes a time when enough, is enough, and this is what happened here in QLD.

In fact, it should have happened last election, however, we didn't have a strong leader, as that was all that was missing, the proof being in the result.

Julia will be hoping and praying another CN doesn't come out of the wood work to lead federal libs.

It may happen now as CN has paved the way for many changes in this country.

Paul, the main issue I have with the greens, is their anti progress policies.

I think we need to decide, do we stay where we are go backwards, or move forwards.

After all, do you think it is fair to bring a child in to our world, not offering them the same opportunities we had.

Anti progress policies will deprive future generations of these opportunities.

Precisely - that is why there are conservatives on one side, and progressives on the other.

By their very nature, conservatives can't/don't see a way of moving forward, preferring 'business as usual'.

Anti Progress, isn't that what Abbott is all about.
CN hasn't opened his mouth yet and you have him up there with Christ, best to wait a little before you come to any conclusions. It could fall in a heap.

rehctub: Many ill informed believe us Greens are a bunch of tree hugging pot smoking hippies. As one who has spoken to 100's of Green members, nothing could be further from the truth. On the economy sustainable development is what we are on about as for society we believe in social justice. I have worked with many Green Candidates over the years, not one has been the 'hippie type' (they grew up and become merchant bankers on a zillion dollars a year, swapped their flowered shirts for a 3 piece suit, moved out of Newtown and joined the St Ives branch of the Liberal Party LOL) and I can best describe them as well educated thinking people, with a true commitment to the dispossessed in our society. We Greens hide nothing love'm or hate'm our policies are there for all to see.
I would hate to see The Greens try and embrace some kind of populism (aka Labor) which may well appeal to many in the short term, delivering a victory or two. But in the long term it would leave the party with no direction and no support (aka Labor). I don't expect everyone to agree with us,but policy develops over time as does true lasting support, we listen to people, we try to develop policy through consultation with those that otherwise would not be given a voice, not at the behest of the rich and powerful, big business, big union, by and large that is the ordinary Australian.

Paul,

The Greens are the party of flowery Ideals and no accountability. Lots of wishes and no care for the consequences.

The carbon tax is a prime example. Bob Brown blackmailed Juliar into breaking a promise and imposing an unpopular and economically imprudent tax on an unwilling populace. As the QSW election has shown, the voters do not forget or forgive politicians that lie to them.

In 2 years Juliar and her carbon tax will be gone, and it will be as popular as work choices.