Joe Ebono Campaigns at The Mulummbimby Farmers market
Joe talking to a stallholder at the Mullumbimby farmers market
View video
Joe Ebono went to the Mullumbimby farmers market last Friday . The video
shows the real face of campaigning, talking to people and stall holders.
A significant issue of concern was the many peoples' interest in The
Greens not preferencing Labor. They were happy to hear that The Greens are
running an open ticket in Richmond.
The problem is that the ALP has deserted its traditional role as a progressive party. Since time immemorial politics has been a debate between the hawks and the doves – the dominators and the nurturers. Last century that divide separated the rights of capital versus those of labour. The ALP had a clear role.
This century the divide is between those who want to nurture our resources to give our grandchildren a future, and those who would dig them up and sell them to buy the latest plasma screen. The politics of the twenty first century will be divided into greens and browns.
Ironically, here in Richmond, the conservative candidates are running on their green credentials. Alan Hunter is regenerating a swamp on his Tyagarah farm, Joan van Lieshout is building a Sustainability Institute in the Nightcap ranges.
Justine Elliot is left alone to defend the rights of miners to dig up or poison farmland or international conglomerates to buy up the farm and the factories that formed the backbone of regional Australia and sell them overseas.
As she woodenly parrots the party line, progressive voters flood to The Greens seeking real action on global warming, a humane response to refugees and a responsible approach to economic development.
Conservative voters are tempted to stick to the parties they know, but are increasingly aware that there is a huge gap between what local candidates say in elections and how they vote when they are in Canberra. But that’s the topic for another column.
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