The Greens started out as an environmental protest party aligned with the hard left and grew rapidly as the Labor party started to move to the centre. However, recently this growth has hit a wall. Richard DiNatale and Brown have seen that for there to be any chance of the greens holding real power, the party needs to move from the fringes, and that involves replacing the old die hards.

"Greens co-founder Bob Brown has urged a “clean-out” of the party’s NSW division, which is dominated by extremist hardliners left over from the Cold War. Although many Greens spring from the environmental movement, the party’s NSW leadership includes senator Lee Rhiannon, formerly of the Soviet-sponsored Socialist Party, and convener Hall Greenland, a one-time Trotskyist expelled from Labor in 1984....

“They need a clean-out in NSW,” he told the magazine. “The people who have been for decades running the NSW Greens need to do what I did: retire and make way for new blood and ­people more in tune with the electorate in 2016 — this is no longer 1986.”

Senator Rhiannon, first elected to state parliament in 1999, said Greens in every state needed to be “very frank with ourselves” and have “a respectful discussion of what’s happened”. The Monthly says the senator burst into tears when asked about her faction — derided as the “Eastern Bloc” — saying the label had been hurled at her ilk to associate them with Soviet communism."

The question is that if this happens, will the greens simply become Labor Mark II?

Shadow, having a slow day, as you try and resurrect this ancient beat up.

A ringing endorsement for Lee Rhiannon and The Greens with around 330,000 votes from the people of NSW.

The same can't be said for the Liberals, as a first term government they were lucky to scramble back in with a wafer thin one seat majority after appointing a speaker, could prove unworkable. This will call for massive soul searching as voters deserted the Liberals in droves. Turnbull himself suffered a swing in his blue ribbon seat of Wentworth where the Green vote was up, and the Liberal vote was down.

Abbott and co, must be over the Moon with this result. The Nationals have already thumped Turnbull over ministerial positions. The parties hard right has him dancing on a string, as they make him their lame duck leader, they call the shots. On the first item of business, The hard right made Turnbull back flip over Rudd, made him look like a lier. Shortly they will threaten to divide the government over gay marriage, if they don't get their way, will we see another back flip from turnbull. Turnbull is trying to paper over the cracks without much success. I give him about 18 months or less, then the 'Nasty' faction will make their move. Its not looking good Shadow, is it!

This government has no legitimacy or mandate, as 58% didn't vote for a Coalition candidate. They are falsely over represented in the Parliament.

p/s You can kiss the bozo's in the Country Liberal Party Government in the NT goodbye in a couple of weeks time, they will be the first to go. Turnbull will be following shortly after.

Shadow, how about a few links to all that hearsay and palaver you are sprooking in the post above, Bob said this, and Bob said that. You might be making it all up. You are well known for derogatory wishful thinking when it comes to the Greens. Is this just a bit more of your usual guff?

I saw Bob Brown a few weeks ago; he didn't seem to have changed at all. His 'clean out' talk would only be in aid of getting younger people into the Greens, as they are the only people would hold his views, I believe. The electorate hasn't changed in any way that would benefit the Greens, whose vote dropped at the election. The electorate hasn't changed that much all, really.

Paul,

From your favourite left whinge news outlet:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-29/bob-brown-says-nsw-greens-old-guard-should-quit/7673340

Key points:

1-Bob Brown calls on NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon to step aside
2-Mr Brown says the NSW branch of the party needs renewal to attract voters
3-Says Greens have underperformed in NSW due to "old guard" not moving on

"I've been approached in the streets in Sydney by people saying, 'I'm a Green but I'm not going to vote for the candidates you've put up here in Sydney.' That's not the feedback I get in Melbourne or elsewhere around the country. We need a change.

Shadow, now its Mr Brown, when it suits you, its Brown Eye Bob at other times. Can't have it both ways.

Bob Brown is expressing an opinion, and I always respect that opinion. Looking at the 16 candidates who put their names forward for the NSW LC casual vacancy position, I would have no problem with the majority should any one be the selection of the grass roots membership.
The Greens, unlike the Labor and Liberal parties rely solely on a members democratic vote to select candidates, and again this is the process being followed. I have not been asked to support any particular candidate over another, by anyone.

BTW Shadow, your political knowledge is zero. with egg on face! still claiming The Greens lost 3 senate seats. You scoffed when I told you we lost one seat in SA to the Nick X team, not 3. maybe you are confused with the 14 seats lost by the Coalition.

ttbn another dreamer "Greens, whose vote dropped at the election" The Greens vote in the House of Reps was up 1.6%, and the Senate vote was steady at 8.6%. Your wishful thinking has the Green vote down, but like Shadow you are detached from reality.

If you fellas are going to make political comment, you should get your facts right first, and stop relying on what grandma tells you in your dreams.