For a party that claims to champion grassroots democracy, my ousting as state convenor raises real concerns about the future of the Greens. | OPINION by Linda Gale
I have been a member of the Greens since 2010, but the recent, ugly episode that saw meraises real concerns about the future for a party that claims to champion democracy.
I was decried as “transphobic” because in 2019, I co-authored an internal discussion paper in response to a proposal published by other Greens members titled “Trans Exclusionary Rhetoric”, which sought to ban debate around issues of sex and gender.I asked whether there were potential complexities about the rights of non-trans women – in sport, in intimate medical procedures, in domestic violence shelters, in hospital wards and prisons – and if so, how should the party address them.
After four days of escalating attacks, Greens state parliamentary leader Samantha Ratnam used an administrative process to have the election overturned. The party’s internal tribunal set the election aside and ordered a fresh election. This decision was wrong, but I accepted it.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Represents dispossession': Greens leader removes Australian flag from press conferenceICYMI The Australian flag was moved out of shot as Greens leader Adam Bandt fronted reporters on Monday. In front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, he spoke to the “hurtful” symbols of Australia's colonial past. NITV auspol Read more:
Read more »
Greens-run Yarra Council warned over ‘unsustainable’ financesSpring Street-appointed monitor Yehudi Blacher will remain in place for a further three months at the council, which he says is suffering from a “problematic legacy”.
Read more »
Albanese's message to Greens leader amid backlash over Australian flag removalThe Prime Minister said he was 'surprised' by the comments made by Adam Bandt who declared the Australian flag is a symbol that is 'hurtful' to Indigenous people and added the 'country has a lot of work to do on racism'.
Read more »
Ex-bikie jailed for attacking police and police horse at Melbourne protestsThe former Hells Angel bikie used a flagpole to bash a police horse when he stormed St Kilda Road in Melbourne in October 2020 as part of a large protest against COVID-19 lockdowns. 9News
Read more »
World Rugby changes concussion protocols, with 12-day break to become the normThe new rules come into place from July 1, with the World Rugby also agreeing to updated assessment criteria that take a player's history of concussions into account.
Read more »