Greens policies don't matter much, or at all, when we don't have to bear the consequences of them, but that is likely to change after the approaching federal election. The Gillard Government's preference deal with the Greens has made it very likely that the Greens will, in effect, share government with Labor if Gillard gets up. If the Libs triumph the Greens are likely still to have the balance of power in the senate, an unfortunate glitch in our parliamentary system whereby a handful of people have veto over the government. In fact, the Greens could have even more power as the balance of power than as a member of a shared government, or at least perceived as being in shared government, because they need have no regard at all for the ramifications of their implemented policies.
The Greens have sanitised their policies since I last wrote about them in 2003 - the helicopter ban, for example, is no longer in their policies, or their published policies I should say. In that policy the Greens promised "the immediate cessation of the use of helicopters for general detection of drug crops" because helicopters were expensive, polluting, invaded rural privacy and created a downdraft that damaged crops. They are very effective at finding marijuana crops too, but that didn't get a mention.
In my column in the Newcastle Herald today I mention a few of the policies the Greens are promising to implement when they get the power, and while those policies will appeal to some it is clear that the Greens are not concerned with the ramifications. Here's a few.
Require Australian companies operating overseas to comply with Australian environmental standards. That will be interesting for Australian firms in China.
Oppose the establishment of new coalmines and the expansion of existing mines. There'll be a great deal of sympathy for opposing the establishment or expansion of some coalmines, but all coalmines! With the Greens guarantee of a nuclear-free Australia, life with a half-hour-a-day ration of electricity will be exciting.
Ensure that energy price subsidies are not used to attract or retain energy-intensive industries. It's true that all Australians subsidise the electricity use of many industries, but will we be better off without an aluminium industry and its jobs?
Ban Tasers. Should coppers go back to shooting crims to protect themselves?
And forbid police using racial descriptions. Police seeking public help in identifying a dangerous criminal will be able to tell us height, perhaps skin colour, physique but not the fact that he is Asian. Very sensible.
Introduce an equitable retirement income system that effectively and adequately provides women with financial independence when they retire. Motherhood stuff, but what about men who don't have financial independence when they retire? Does this mean that women will get a bigger pension than men?
Support the granting of political asylum on humanitarian grounds to people persecuted in their own countries on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity. Gay Australia.
Abolish all TAFE and university fees for Australians and forgive HECS debts. A blunt and irresponsible bid for the young vote.
End the ANZUS treaty unless Australia's membership can be revised in a manner which is consistent with Australia's international and human rights obligations. Immediately close Australia's ports and territorial waters to nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed vessels. Will we look to New Zealand or Indonesia instead of the US for superpower back-up if ever we need it?
Ensure asylum seekers are fully informed of their rights on arrival and given immediate access to legal assistance. Restore asylum seekers' legal right to challenge decisions that affect them in the courts. And the Greens will be ensuring not only that a final decision never be made, that all asylum seekers can stay here indefinitely, but that we will keep the world amused as we pay non-Australians to tie us in knots.
Life will certainly be more entertaining when the Greens hold the power, but will it be better?
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