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.

Paul,

You are right I should use Brown eyed Bob's true moniker.

This time I was agreeing with the old fart that the NSW greens are outdated retards fighting a struggle that was lost decades ago, and that Lee Rhiannon was a liability to a party that was trying to appeal to the rational majority. With NSW failing to even reach one quota of votes in the senate in a DD election.

Shadow, how can anything you say of a political nature be taken seriously, when you can't even get the basics right. There was your ignorance as to what constituted a donkey vote. That was followed by your big, but wrong call, that the Greens had lost 3 Senate seats, when in fact the big loser was the Liberal Party. What a joke it was for Turnballs to expand the ministry when he had lost so many members. That was to appease Barnyard and his cow cockies. Who is running the show this week? Is it Barnyard and his cow cockies, maybe its the Mad Monk and his hard right faction. Then again it could be the disloyal pair Morrison and Bishop calling the shots. one who is defiantly not running the show is Turnballs!

What I do know is, from now on every Coalition member with a barrow to push, or an axe to grind. and there are many of them, will be in Malcolm's office making demands. It is so easy for a member or two, to miss a critical division, and bring down the government. 18 months and the clock is ticking.

"Turnballs", "Barnyard" and "Mad Monk" - the lexicon of the far left, the 'useful idiots' who constantly need excuses for their own lack of success in life (resulting from their own poor decisions) and who allow others to do their thinking for them.

Paul1405's 'Aunty Lee Rhiannon' is laughing all of the way to the bank with two very large publicly-funded golden superannuations and entitlements for life and all she has had to do is reflect the insecurities and ill-informed hatreds of the 'useful idiots' back to them.

You would imagine that one day the penny might drop and the 'useful idiots' would wake up to their being had for years. But no, there is just a conga line of more Greens politicians going on with the same old, same old protest BS and polishing leather seats in the Parliament.

Richard Di Natale is fighting a rearguard action as the Greens go the way of the Democrats. The NSW 'Watermelon' Greens can only hasten that slide.

When will the Greens have a policy on overpopulation? Never! But they are all for 'open door' immigration and a welcome mat out for people smugglers.

As long as the ABC doesn't ask any hard questions ever of those seat polishing Greens Senators. Easy work if you can get it.

Paul,

The coalition has still formed government in their own right, something the greens will never do

As for political credibility you are at the level of a complete political ignoramus. Considering that you were crowing as to how well the greens have done, and the reality is that you have gone backwards. Next you challenge me on what Brown eye Bob said and instead of admitting you were wrong you call Brown eye Bob a liar.

P.S. How is Cathy Fireman today or Christine Minge?
How is Disease Rhiannon feeling now that the founding father has told her that she is a worthless hag? Perhaps next on the chopping block is Syph Hansen young?

Your predictions are almost always completely wrong

Shadow, the forums number one goose-stepper has come on board to try and lend you support, doomed to failure. Government? Is that what you call that leaderless rabble in Canberra! In two weeks of "government" the nincompoops have managed to stuff one Royal Commission, as well as make us the laughing stock of the United Nations. They got off to a good start. wouldn't you say!

Beach, you should be over the Moon, now that you pin up gal the lovely Pauline is finally in Parliament. How much will she pocket from the taxpayer this time round

Paul,

I would have thought that you were the No1 goose stepper on the site, as the Soviets and Left whinge dictatorships world wide are the main ones goose stepping today.

Secondly Aus will not be the laughing stock of the UN now that Rudd won't be going there. Though Disease Rhiannon is the laughing stock of the parliament.

"as the Soviets and Left whinge dictatorships world wide are the main ones goose stepping today."

LOL Shadow Minister, "the Soviets", News Flash!... News Flash for Shadow Minister, there has not been any "Soviets" since December 26th 1991. Where have you been for the last 15 years, doing a Rip Van Winkle.

Look! Malcolm is unhappy with his mates, the 'Big Banks', as they pocket billions more by sabotaging the Australia economy. What was the governments reaction, Morrison stuck up for the banks, and Turnbull belted them over the head with a feather! Nothing like strong leadership!

Paul1405,

As an avowed mate of 'Aunty' Lee Rhiannon (Brown) and other 'Eastern Bloc' Watermelons such as her featherweight sycophant Sandalplank, of course you are always in denial of the faction constantly undermining Greens leadership.

Just as a reminder of how long and disruptive the Eastern Bloc's stirring has been,

then,
http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2011/may/1307065885/mark-aarons/comment
and
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/greens-senator-lee-rhiannon-is-naive/story-fn56avn8-1226114783375

now,
"Greens acrimony: Bob Brown unloads on Lee Rhiannon and NSW party
Former Greens leader says NSW Greens are lagging behind other parts of the country and the party needs to ‘move on’ from Rhiannon"
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jul/29/greens-acrimony-bob-brown-unloads-on-lee-rhiannon-and-nsw-party

It is Lee Rhiannon's over-ambition as well isn't it? She is green with envy to take the leadership position she has always failed to recognise.

Paul,

I find it strange that you think OTB is an old socialist.

As for the Banks, it was the socialist twerps Krudd and Juliar from that ruined the Aus Economy, and Shortarse who is trying to blame someone else.

Shadow, obviously OTB is a double agent, pretending to be a disciple of the rabid right, when all along the socialists, progressive watermelon trot is posting with the aim of making your side of politics look ridiculous, and he is doing an excellent job at that. Comrade Beach does a sterling job in my view, although you help in that regard yourself with your of the planet comments. Where are those "Soviets" when you need them?
NINE GREENS IN THE SENATE. You got that one wrong?

The trouble with the Greens is, they're still in their luxury homes,
with all their stuff, while they advocate the closing down of industrys that
cost other people their jobs .

Also, if they throw open the borders to all, and displaced millions pour in
how are they going to save the environmemt.

The environment will be demolished and all those animal habitants destroyed to
build residences for the overpopulation.

No, the only reason the greens pander to the ideas of some big ethnic groups in Melbourne is they have become their main voter base,
helping them hang on to their seats and the big money that goes with it.

Today, I think you could really call them the Ethnic Minority and Immature Uni students
party. They have no credibility they are in it for the money.

Paul,

You are crowing because the greens lost only one seat? It put the greens in the same league as the one nation party (the green's mirror on the right) got half as many votes and seats.

As for that soviet blochead Rhiannon, I can't wait for her to be purged.