Greens vote isn’t wasted, says this election’s most left-out man

HE COMES across as genuine and friendly, mostly avoids negative politics and isn’t averse to making the odd fashion statement.

But in an exclusive interview with news.com.au, Greens leader Richard Di Natale says he is frankly a little frustrated.

With the Liberals preferencing Labor ahead of the minor party in many seats where the Greens had their best chances, it’s no wonder the 46-year-old former GP and public health specialist is feeling overlooked.

“If I’m being absolutely frank, sometimes it is a little frustrating,” he says. “The reason, for example, the Greens haven’t been able to participate in the leaders’ debate is because the argument goes that, well, you’re unlikely to be in a position where you can form government.

“But of course, if we don’t get the coverage of our policies, which I think really resonate with a big chunk of the Australian electorate, then of course we’re not going to be in a position where we can influence the shape of the next government.”

http://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/a-greens-vote-isnt-wasted-says-this-elections-most-leftout-man/news-story/4e3f7b70b615c29d6acdd92070abc87c

I will be voting Greens again this election

He is a good leader and surprisingly many Right leaning economist have come out rating his economic plans better than the labour parties.

I think if more people paid attention to policies instead of sound bites then a lot of people would be voting greens this election

.
       I WILL vote Greens (again) for the Senate...


However, no green candidate outside of the Capital city areas has any chance of gaining a lower house seat..

In most regional seats, the Greens will still be preferencing Labour.  

Likewise, anyone who's silly enough to vote for a minor RW looney candidate like the "Christian Democrats" or the "Liberal Democrats" will see their vote being directed towards their local L-NP coalition candidate..          

It's the same here, if you vote Green people say it's wasted.
Ive voted Green twice in seperate GE's and tbh, if I don't like any other party or leader, I'll vote Green; they're like my back-up vote.

.
        A VOTE for the Greens down here isn't really a "wasted" vote, though --  despite what many local tories often like to claim...

The Senate (Upper House) is elected through a "proportional" representational system, where the Senators are elected to represent each state, for 6 years (a double length term, so there's usually a half-senate election every three years - except when the PM asks for a 'double dissolution', as Turnbull has done this time 'round..).

There are (were) several Greens senators, a couple of Christian Democrats, a couple of Shooters and Fishers, a Motoring party, and six or seven genuine "independents" sitting on the Cross Benches in the Senate, with the current guvm'nt.
Often, these 'cross-benchers' will find themselves holding the balance of power with some issues --  leading to horse trading with the major parties to pass or block certain legislation, so the minor parties do often influence some policies, especially those where they have special interests..


ALSO, with the House of Representatives (Lower House) vote, with it's 'preferential' voting system --  when a minor party is preferencing a pollie from a major party, some people will often vote for that minor party candidate as a "protest vote" against their main candidate, knowing that the vote carries through their preferenced party, anyway...        

it shows how tilted 'representative democracy' really is greens got over 15% in the primary vote for the lower house yet only got 1 seat out of 150. less than 1% in representation, by rights it should be about 22 seats.


the senate is a better down here, definitely better than the house of lords setup.

Here in uk... last gen election...


DUP got 8 MPs from only 185,000 votes.

Sein fein got 4 MPs from 176,000 votes.

Plaid cymru got 3 MPs from 180,000 votes.

SDLP got 3 MPs from 99,000 votes.



While...


Lib dems got 2.4 million votes = 8 MPs.

SNP got 1.45 million votes = 56 MPs.

Greens got 1.1 million votes = 1 MP.

Ukip got 3.9 million votes = 1 MP.

Tommy Monk wrote:Here in uk... last gen election...


DUP got 8 MPs from only 185,000 votes.

Sein fein got 4 MPs from 176,000 votes.

Plaid cymru got 3 MPs from 180,000 votes.

SDLP got 3 MPs from 99,000 votes.



While...


Here in uk... last gen election...


Lib dems got 2.4 million votes = 8 MPs.

SNP got 1.45 million votes = 56 MPs.

Greens got 1.1 million votes = 1 MP.

Ukip got 3.9 million votes = 1 MP.

yep time for a revolution.

Live Democracy made possible through technocracy.
Get rid of House of reps and lords, get rid of bureaucrats

Have Ministers elected directly from a national vote, have major issues put to public vote...

We CAN make and app for that
How may reality T V shows have managed it

I agree Veya. Major issues should always be a public vote.

The idea of democracy by referendum has appeal- but as the EU debate is showing it can be toxic (in this case on both sides). And with a viciously biased media I don't think referendums for all major issue would work well in the UK. Maybe one day, but not right now.

The leave side are telling it how it is... the Remainians are lying...