Let's just imagine there was an election tomorrow, and the labor/green alliance won.

First, let's also assume Shorten is gone and labor have their best person at the helm.

Now, this is a question for all those who either support labor/greens, or, they oppose the Abbott government.

So, what would you change, how would you change it, and most importantly, where would you get the money from too change it.

Butch your assumptions are unfounded, answered your own question again.
Lets get rid of knights and dames before it goes any further. This is au and it's 2014.

Shorten is gone and labor have their best person at the helm.
rehctub,
Who'd fit that then ? Best is not always good as Rudd & Gillard have proven beyond any doubt.
The ALP has a long way to go before it can climb up to the low standard that the Coalition are at now.
Australia has no-one who could be called a Statesman now. Neither have other countries.

Butch,
You have too much unfilled time on your hands.

Butch, firstly I don't see your 'hypothetical' eventuating for quite some years, irrespective of how poorly Tony Abbott does - since he is definitely between a rock and a hard place, courtesy of 'innovations' implemented via 6 years of Labor/Green social experimentation, and a reasonable portion of the electorate are not going to forget that 'history' any time soon.

Now, why would you restrict the possible responses to your posed nightmare scenario by your included stipulation?:

>Now, this is a question for all those who either support labor/greens, or, they oppose the Abbott government.<

Your best possible responses would most likely come from Coalition supporters - since Lab/Green supporters are most likely to say "yahoo, let's get on with more experimentation".
(And of course, the Greens are now largely out of favour with Labor anyway.)

Would Labor overhaul Fair Work Australia?
Or crack down on Union thuggery and rorting?
Or act to put a dampener on increases in wages and prices?
Or reintroduce a Building and Construction Commission?
Or put some reasonable limits on the NDIS, NBN or Gonski?
Do anything to rein-in national debt?
Do anything about limiting foreign ownership/purchase of significant national natural/environmental/agricultural resources?
Do anything to reserve a portion of our energy resources (principally LNG) for the nation's future - and possibly limit increases in the price of domestic LNG supplies?
Or limit electricity price increases?
Or re-evaluate the pursuit of coal seam gas extraction (fracking)?
Or shelve any moves to introduce Carbon Trading (ETS)?
Or wind back and totally reassess the Carbon Tax Scheme?
Or maintain effective border control, and maintain reasonable limits and selectivity on immigration, and get rid of offshore detention by repatriating non-refugees to their home countries' refugee centres (or to any other country willing to reassess their status)?
Or in fact be relied upon to do anything sensible at all??

As for a replacement for Shorten, how about Anthony Albanese?

Of course, Tony Abbott should re-think his Parental Leave revision - by including a reasonable 'cap' and an assets test - or he may just hasten the transition to your 'nightmare'.

Yes I can see another 50,000 plus welfare for lifers being let in because the Labor fools would have to pander to the Greens.

Labor only tried to stop them last time because they knew it was an election loosing policy if they did nothing.

<<Let's just imagine there was an election tomorrow...so what would change?>>

Nuffin!

It would be a rerun of 2013 right down to the candidates:

Tony would lead the LNP.

Christine would lead the no-hopers

And the ALP would redraft Kevin --think I'm joking?
Kevin has more oomph than Shorten (then again, Paw Rugg has more oomph than Shorten!)

But if oomph wasn't enough --get a load of Kevin's impeccable working class roots:
"Therese Rein is due a multimillion-dollar payday after selling her multinational jobseeker company Ingeus to a US employment firm in a deal worth as much as $US206 million ($222 million).

The wife of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has struck a deal with the Nasdaq-listed Providence Service Corporation that could see her personally earn up to $US140 million ($151 million) in cash and shares if certain performance targets are met."
http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/therese-rein-set-for-151m-payday-after-selling-ingeus-20140401-35uuh.html#ixzz2xbbkr5sJ

I shoukd say that i dont expect an election however, I get a bit sick of the labor/green supporters complainng about the job Abbott is doing. This is why I am simply asking them, if labor/greens were elected tomorrow, what would they change and, more importantly where would the money come from to make those changes.

It's really a case of, put up, or shut up, b cause the boats look to have been stopped and it is very obvious there is no money left thanks to the six years of waste.

So that's why I asked the question and it is totally hypothetical because the only way there will be an early election is if the new senate proves unworkable. The DD election trigger is there and I suspect Abbott is ready to pull the trigger should he need to.

While ever we cling to the Oligarchy as our preferred system of government, little will change. Regardless of whom occupies the government benches in Canberra, a government headed by Tweedle-Dum or the one we have now, headed by Tweedle-Even-Dummer.
The "fortunate" thing about Australia, and this applies to the developed world in general, is we have enough wealth produced that a satisfactory amount of that wealth is distributed to enough of the populous to keep the majority relatively satisfied.
Australia produces so much wealth that no matter which of the Tweedle twins is stuffing up at this moment, society remains very much the same.
Cut off the wealth distribution and see how quickly thing change!

Abbott is way to far to the right to be doing any good for anyone. Bring spending power down and you can end up with a depression. Our GDP is sitting nicely and not dependent on mining. What we don't need is someone raising the cost of living to somehow cut govt; spending.
Abbott has done nothing but trivial alterations that result in nothing.
Big Joe is a bag of wind, and could cause a gigantic consumer backlash, in a form never before seen. The noalition are off the planet with their leanings, all of their policies so far is to cost our GDP. What is the good of making it more profitable for miners which has proven not to aid our bottom line. Health and schools will get hit, and this will put them on a collision course with community. Current expenditure is around 200 million per day, which is 73 billion of borrowed money / yr.
This mob are living in hope of favorable election results. That means they can't govern without. Their policies are that far out they have no cooperation at all.
But they have their far right supporters, who only think of their own bottom line.

rehctub,

"...it is very obvious there is no money left thanks to the six years of waste."

Only if you believe the fakery of Hockey (which you obviously do)
http://www.crikey.com.au/2014/04/01/fiscal-fools-give-us-a-break-on-the-budget-bs-joe/

"...Hockey has been circulating a document to journalists portrayed in the media as a “Treasury analysis” that shows how “the Coalition inherited an unsustainable budget position” and Labor “hid [expenditure] from the public”. Hockey would like us to see him as a budgetary innocent who has found himself in the middle of a fiscal minefield planted by Labor.
"....Well here’s the document, and it isn’t a “Treasury analysis” it’s prepared by Hockey’s media adviser, former Australian Financial Review journalist Gemma Daley. And if Hockey seriously expects us to believe his latest argument, he must have nothing but contempt for us."

Hockey is a charlatan with a swagger.

"....The DD election trigger is there and I suspect Abbott is ready to pull the trigger should he need to."

Only one thing to say to that, and it's "Go ahead, make my day."

rehctub,

Here's a little more on Hockey's fake "budget emergency":

http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/on-the-budget-and-the-economy-joe-hockey-is-faking-it-20140304-341qf.html

"On the budget and the economy, Joe Hockey is faking it"

"It's getting harder and harder for the Treasurer and Minister for Gloom, Joe Hockey, to keep faking it. No matter how much he scowls, the evidence keeps mounting that his MYEFO (mid-year economic and fiscal outlook) forecasts were a crock."

Bring on the Double Dissolution!

579,

Abbott was considered a joke during the Howard years, To be considered a joke in a Howard Government, is akin to being considered a fool by the Marx Brothers. Abbott has one saving grace, he does make Groucho Marx look rather serious and believable. Its a pity he doesn't imitate Harpo and keep his trap shut, then even better he could do a Gummo and never be seen at all!
At least Turnbull had some intelligence, something totally lacking in Abbott, they say he is a "Rhodes Scholar" can anyone confirm that the Mad Monk did in fact graduate from the Benny Roads School of Correspondence?

Survive without mining you say 579, are you serious'

Ok, so let's take a good look at where we are, now, and in the short to medium term future.

We have manufacturing, retial, tourism, hospitality, government services (including health and education) mining, transport and logistics, private business and agriculture.

Manufacturing, struggling now and soon face a train wreck with car industry and associated business closures. could loose up to 50,000 jobs. No real way back either.

Retail, another industry on it's knees. A combination of out of control costs, online business and domination from the big two.

Hospitality, suffering badly from penalty rates and while the likes of coffee sales might be up, profits are what pays the bills, not sales. I think you will see some changes to this award in the not too distant future.

Gov services, yes well, it's the usual see saw whereby labor creates jobs for the boys then the libs have to make the tough choices and wind back spending of money we don't have. Of cause they get ridiculed for that.

Mining, well we all know what's happening there.

Transport, it's about to get hit with the carbon tax, the tax that charges us, while the rest of the world continues to pollute.

Private business, yes well, costs are the issue there and, as the rest of the economy declines, the spending money they rely on will also dry up somewhat.

Then there's farming. This industry are price takers and, thanks to madam Julia, the cattle industry has not recovered from her minute of fame.

You see things from a receivers side, not a creators side and that's the primary difference.

Paul, wouldn't it be nice if the proceeds from these minerals we have were accumulating funds for future generations and the retirement of current. Instead, we now rely on them just to pay the bills. Too many noses in the trough.

Future generations have 97 billion $ in the futures fund. Mining is best left at the present rate without wild swings. Tony is cutting your red tape, which you want but still winge. Have you ever thought some of your businesses are over represented. Abbott has put on 1700 public servants in six months. You can't blame the consumer for everything, all of those things you talk about, without people with expendable money at hand can only be bad for business.
Business can't thrive unhindered and uncontrolled at the expense of the consumers.

Paul, Howard himself was considered bynmany as a joke when he first became PM, then he grew into the position and gained the trust of the people, then ended up as one of our best ever, so give Abbott a chance he may do similar.

Pairot, so I'm guessing you think there's plenty of money and nothing to worry about.

So, if that is the case, why then did labor leave the likes of the NDIS and Gonski unfunded?

579, tell me of any sector that is booming and has a bright future?

I. Note that nobody yet has made any suggestion as to what they would change, or where the money would come from for any suggested changes. Why?

Is it necessary to have a particular sector booming, doesn't that show there is an imbalance, so prepare for a bust. As the latest mining boom did was thieve labour from stable companies and send them to the wall.
Now those workers have drifted back, and find themselves facing an unemployment boom that is guaranteed,and that makes it makes it all the harder for them to resettle. And all this happening in our most productive state. I think you are blaming the short comings of newman on the rest of au. Your fanaticism of mining has warped your idea of what constitutes a healthy state. There is no fracking fracking going on here. We run a stable economy no matter who is in charge

rehctub,

"So, if that is the case, why then did labor leave the likes of the NDIS and Gonski unfunded?"

They didn't...unless you believe dodgy Joe and Co.

http://www.jennymacklin.net.au/media/abbott-must-stop-hockey-getting-his-hands-on-the-n/

"I. Note that nobody yet has made any suggestion as to what they would change, or where the money would come from for any suggested changes. Why?"

But dear rehctub, this govt spins "so many" lies and sprinkles so many distractions that it's a little difficult to keep up with their spin.

A real fair dinkum election is being held in Western Australia this Saturday. The people of WA will be given the opportunity to be the first state in Australia to pass judgment on the incompetent Abbott government. The worse possible outcome for Australia will be if the voters of WA deliver unrestricted control of the Senate to the Tory this government. I am confident the voters will have the good sense to return The Greens SCOTT LUDLAM, who since 2008 has been one of the best senators representing the ordinary people of Australia. Scott is now working hard to resist the excesses of the Mad Monk and his band of Merry Men.
Given control of the Senate the Tory's will in rapid succession reintroduce Work Choices II. hike the GST, and generally introduce draconian legislation that will penalise ordinary Australian whilst pandering to the elite of society and standing ideally by while thousands of Australians lose their jobs.

WA votes again....Why thank you, Paul, don't mind if I do.

It's not often one has the chance to vote in an election having seen first hand what a bunch of liars the govt are...after only six months.

A joe Hockey face pulling exercise. A few loose words being left around to gauge reaction. This mob could do anything especially with Abbott's wacky ideas floating around. The RET scheme could get the chop, to slow the advancement of solar, putting pressure on power generators.

Pirot, labor themselves admitted that the policy was not fully funded and that what had been agreed upon was just the beginning, less than half if I recall correctly. This happened well be fore the 2013 election. So what's changed?

579, as we replace fossil fuel power generation with renewables, where do you propose we find the jobs that will most certainly be lost?

It's all well and good to have a wish list, but, to every action there is a reaction.

Paul, my tip is the highest number of vote will either be no shows, or invalid votes, because WA people are fed up with useless publicly funded departments.

Bring on electronic voting so we can remove these dinosaurs.

On 12 December 2012, the Queensland Government announced a funding commitment of $868 million over 6 years (2013–14 to 2018–19) to address the historic underfunding of disability services in Queensland. This represents the largest increase in disability funding in Queensland’s history.

In 2019–20 an extra $197 million will be allocated to Queensland as its share of the funds raised from the 0.5% increase in the Medicare Levy, to assist with the cost of the scheme in Queensland.

This additional funding will allow Queensland to meet its estimated share of the scheme’s costs of $2.03 billion in 2019–20.

The Commonwealth Government will meet the balance of the cost of the full scheme, contributing an estimated $2.14 billion to the scheme for Queensland residents. The Commonwealth will also cover the full cost of people who turn 65 and choose to remain in the scheme.

Prior to the commencement of the full scheme, the Productivity Commission will review costs to inform the Council of Australian Governments' agreement on final scheme funding arrangements.

As cold as it may be, at some point people must be accountable for their own actions, health and finacial security because as the government rightly says, the erra of entitlement has come to an end.

Now I have no problem with supporting a person with a disability that has been burdened upon them through no fault of their own, but, when I'm expected to support some drunken clown who decided to jump off a fence into a canal and sustain a life long disability, I get a bit snaky.

There are insurances available for almost anything today and, if one can't afford it, then choices have to be made, as simply expecting the working Joes of the world to support the result of ones stupidity is simply not sustainable, because our public revenues are headed south.

Gawd there are some ding-a-lings on here !
I have been away in Perth for a week and to come back to read this lot
is most depressing.

We have got problems coming that will need real positive thinking to
overcome the very great difficulties we face.

The early count in the WA Senate re-run shows a big swing to THE GREENS and a disaster for both Liberal and Labor, seems Palmer is also doing well.

Yes Paul, it just added evidence to the case that fewer people voted, simply because they don't care.

The irony is a mining state voting green. Wow! Il bet there are some people who didn't vote, who now wish they had.

Also, my tip is the postal/absentee vote will not be as favorable for the greens. I could be wrong.

Butch,

The warning signs are there for Labor, as they have been for some time, they did themselves no favors by putting up a 'wombat' as their lead candidate. Love him or hate him, Scott Ludlam has been a strong performer in the Senate and is an asset to both Australia and The Greens. Palmer spent up big to get his 'mystery candidate' across the line, mostly I suspect from disillusioned conserves and a few old Labor voters. I'm not concerned about PUP, if Big Clive should fall off the perch any time soon, heaven forbid, PUP will flush itself down the proverbial.

WA is the usual by-election result. The Greens market themselves as a protest outfit. They are not credible as an alternate government, ever.

Beach,
I would expect that comment from you, as a supporter of the extreme right wing Australia First Party and the political ideology of its leader Jim Saleam, As you raised the subject one time, I asked you to comment on the pathetic voter support for Saleam in the seat of Cook at the last Federal election, something you have strenuously avoided. As The Greens are not a protest party but a party made up of caring individuals, a party with solid policies supporting justice and fairness in our society. The Greens are the antithesis of a party like Australia First which is a party based onn hate. It is shameful that the word Australia should be included in such a malevolent nonentities name.
Sad news for some, The Greens in NSW are right now mobilizing its members and supporters for an all out assault on the reactionary O'Farrell government at the up coming 2015 state election. Just this weekend, I was surprised and somewhat shocked by the support shown for The Greens from a most unexpected quarter, affluent Liberal voters on the North Shore of Sydney at Beecroft. That is akin to finding communists in Toorak! many did say there have never ever voted Greens but in 2015 they certainly will be.
Beach call this a protest if you like, but people power will win out in the end.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/news/residents-plea-with-premier-to-save-trees-in-beecroft-and-cheltenham/story-fngr8gwi-1226777096942

rehctub,

What's with low voter turn out line?

This Senate re-run is just as "compulsory" as the other elections. I know quite a few people that weren't going to be in town on the day who made sure they dropped in and voted before they went away. My mum voted early at her retirement village...etc

People here in WA took our second bite of the cherry seriously and approached it with relish. The polling booth I attended was busy "in the afternoon" when it's usually quieter.

This time Ludlum was returned with vehemence. Otb says the Greens can't make govt so they're not credible...but they can have impact in the Senate and that is why we vote for them.

As far as I can make out, LNP and Labor both fared badly in this re-run. Disaffected Libs moved their vote to Palmer - and disaffected Labor supporters moved en masse to Green - not to mention a great campaign by Ludlum as opposed to a lot of babbly ads by Palmer.

The Abbott govt is seen more and more as a deceptive outfit - so obvious in the swing against it over here.

As a WA voter, I can tell you that there was the usual long lines and crowds at the polling booth on Saturday!

I believe the results show that 85% of WA voters took to the polls?
That's not bad for a repeat election.
Where I live, there was a huge swing to the Greens, and I was not surprised.

We have a Liberal leader here in Colin Barnett.
His Treasurer and Transport minister, Troy Buswell, has just resigned after allegedly drink driving in his Ministerial car, crashing into several parked cars on his way home, and leaving the scene of all those crashes!

Now, that is bad enough, but Barnett keeps talking about when Buswell comes back to work!
No wonder West Aussies are sick of the Libs.

Paul 1405,

I am not and never have been the supporter of any particular party, least of all the one you mention.

Quite simply, it is always expected that a by-election will draw a higher protest vote. Which is why the Greens played their usual 'a pox on all parties' routine to pick up the protest vote.

The Greens,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH_MBwQhGgA

I was pleased to be a part of a Greens 'Meet The Candidates' Forum on the weekend. Where ordinary members are given the opportunity to both hear from, and question, people who have put forward their names as prospective candidates for political office. No member is above any other in The Greens, a parliamentarian, just as a first timer must face the party membership to be voted on when wishing to seek office on behalf of the party. This kind of "grass roots" democracy just doesn't happen in either of the dinosaur parties Labor or Liberal. When the membership put forward a candidate you get a Scott Ludlum, when the party impose a candidate you get a Joe Bullcock! I rest my case.

Beach,
Why not run your flag up the mast, to say "(I'm not a)supporter of any particular party" Judging by your past posting I'm sure there are a whole host of political parties out there who you would support, The Green don't appear to be on of them, its a democracy, free choice. The Youtube was funny the first time, getting a bit boring now. I don't know who posted it to Youtube, could have been a member of The Australia First Party for all I know.

Paul 1405,

As Julia Gillard said, and she had the experience with the Greens as Labor's sidekicks to know, the Greens are just a protest party.

It follows that the Greens have no compulsion nor it seems any inclination to put together a coherent set of policies that could work in government.

The Greens are fortunate that over all of the years of their existence and especially after the 'watermelon' faction displaced the original environmental concerns for social activism, that none of the media and least of all the ABC has ever taken the looking glass to the Greens policies such that they are.

Nor has there been any real assessment of Greens' policies when in government with Labor, which allows the Greens to escape the accountability that is occasioned upon the major parties.

What is known about the Greens however from Labor experience with the Greens federal and State, most recently Tasmania, is that they are always treacherous and cannot be relied upon. Also, that the Greens are relentless headline hunters, pursuing sensationalism. The Greens are never positive or constructive.

It is easy to throw mud at governments that are responsible for managing all needs and services as best possible and within the confines of a budget. The greens do not even attempt to do that and nor could they if they tried.

The Greens cannot lie straight in bed, which is the concern of most voters, as indicated by the few who vote Green and then only as a protest.

otb,

"The Greens cannot lie straight in bed..."

Lol!...it's a wonder that Tones can straighten up enough to walk out to podiums to deliver his slogans.

Latest Credlin directive is for govt employees to "dob in a colleague" if they criticise the PM on social media.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/colleagues-told-dob-in-political-web-posts/story-fni0cx12-1226875635588

How very Stasi of her....

Beach,
In a democracy, naturally you are entitled to your opinion about The Greens, even if it lacks substance and any shred of credibility. I cannot envisage you supporting any kind of progressive policies from any quarter. I still recall your Fabian paranoia, and your oft quoting of that Miss Marple type character. Isn't Gillard a dreaded Fabian and not to believed on any count, lest one is to suffer the pain of death, then you go ahead an use her as evidence for you nonsensical claims. "As Julia Gillard said, and she had the experience,,,"
Poirot, nice one The Mad Monks "dob in a colleague" policy, and who said The Gestapo was dead, Tony is in the process of resurrecting it, dissenters will be expelled, to of all places, wait for it, Cambodia. That's the new place to send those undesirables, Cambodia, there Abbott and Morrison will have you fed to the Son's of Pol Pot. Beach there could be an opening somewhere there for you, why not apply

Beach,
I suggest you ramp up your attacks on The Greens, as like a runaway loco the Green Express is coming to a parliamentary seat near you! A long time before the last federal election I made predictions to my old sparing partner. and now defunct forum member, Belly, as to how I seen events unfolding. The election of Abbott was a gimme, and vital to the future Green agenda. I can hear you now, that little green pixie Paul1405, must be on the wacky tobacky to make a statement like that. A watermelon wanting the election of a Tory Government, sure did, you better believe it, I went as far as preferencing the Liberal with my own vote, but not in the Senate, it is vital the Tory's don't control the Senate. The Mad Monk has exceed my wildest expectations, I knew this bunch of wacko's masquerading as a government, would stuff up big time, sooner or later. I gave Abbott and his band of wombles 12 months to make total fools of themselves, they are running ahead of schedule, able to achieve total fooldom in under 6. That must be some kind of all time record for a government, complete fooldom in under 6 months, well done Tony!
Not to be out done the Labor Party have done exactly what is required of them, make complete prats of themselves, the election of Electricity Bill was manna from heaven for us Greens, short of electing Bozo the Clown to lead the party, Shorten was the next best choice. Given a couple more years of these misfits, and with the only other alternative being Fat Clive and his dodo party, things are looking bloody good for THE GREENS.

Well done Paul, a nice little scenario, but, if anything, big Clive has taken some of the steam away from the Greens - per way of the reactionary vote - and Christine had better get back to fundamentals, the environment and human dignity for our own dispossessed, our indigenous and homeless, and stop thrashing around so much about the Third World's dispossessed. We can't solve the world's problems, and the Aus public have largely recognized this, so why not Christine?

Latest: 'Hurray, we did it, Scott's back in spades in WA', with video clip of Christine in a Tassie world heritage old growth forest talking conservation, biodiversity and the need to tackle climate change. But in debate and media it's mostly carbon tax, clean energy fund, marriage equality and refugees. Not a mention of bee preservation or protection of our agricultural resources from introduced pests and diseases (though Christine says she has credentials with the farming community).
Where's concern for the down to earth bread and butter fundamentals? But no, its gay marriage, boat people and carbon. Pure populism.
(Of course, so many UNFCCC GOP's would have anyone's head spinning.)

When there is a reasonable balance of the two major parties, in both federal houses, and honest conviction and conscience from all members for the national interest, and only the national interest, then we won't need anyone to 'keep them honest' - and genuine reform, progress and traction can prevail.
Then, members will be selected and elected on merit, and not on populism, slogans, or unrealistic scatterbrained promises.

We need a National Charter and genuine altruism; not ideology.
Leave all prejudice, preconception and supremacist ambition in the trashcan provided.

Hi Salty,

Spot on, I'm personally a small 'E' Green, E for the environment, and not wishing to underscore the importance of said environment, can't do without it. I'm also pragmatic to the point where the bread and butter issues, something old time Labor was once proud to champion, should now be in the front line of Green thinking. I can say as a diverse party, not totally populated by the disparagingly called 'tree huggers' and 'academics' as some think, many share my thoughts. Here in NSW where there is an election due in 2015, there are many, many, bread and butter issues which require urgent attention, health, education, transport, housing, and political corruption, the list is almost endless and I haven't yet mentioned the environment, and it should be mentioned.
I don't see The Greens as a pale imitation of old time Labor, nor should it be. Labor had its roots in the working class and the trade union movement. the Greens does not have such roots. We are a relatively new party compared to the big two dinosaurs, although one of the dinosaurs appears to be rapidly shrinking. Political parties stand and fall on their core values, and commitment to policy. Having said that, and not underscoring the importance of core values, political parties have to be dynamic in their thinking and willing to move with the times. Speaking to Green MP's and party members, I am confident, well at least in NSW, the party is well positioned and well resourced to move forward politically, but only time will tell.
As a foot note, all parties have their duds in parliament, but I must say here in NSW I firmly believe the Greens 6 MP's are all outstanding members doing a top job. I put that down to the parties pre-selection system, which works well to weed out potential duds.

<<I'm personally a small 'E' Green, E for the environment>>

More like E for Ebola virus.

If the LNP & ALP are the dinosaurs the closest analogue for the Greens has to be the Ebola virus.

SPQR, you think nothing of blindly supporting the likes of a Arthur Sinodinos from the Liberal Party, others would vote for Eddie Obeid without question, all awhile meekly accepting corruption as the norm. Don't be fooled by the Dinosaurs they are riddled with corruption, from top to bottom, but ignorance is bliss. You have the cheek to call The Greens a virus.