Opinion
Teals show their strength David Lowe
I
Playing politics with lives
n a week when the major parties raced Late in the week, teal to the bottom in independent and former reaction to the High journalist Zoe Daniel Court’s decision on spoke about the threats indefinite detention, the to social cohesion in teals in Canberra showed Australia as those seeking another way of doing to exploit the situation politics, on issues includconflated Hamas with the ing lobbying, forests wider Palestinian comand truth in political munity, and the actions advertising. of the Israeli government The Force is strong amongst the Teals. with all Jewish people. The latest strategy of the loosely grouped cross- Cloudcatcher Media She said a narrowlybench representatives is averted riot in Caulfield Dr Ryan’s bill seeks to rein to support one another demonstrated what the in the secretive, multi-million Director-General of ASIO has where there’s common dollar commercial lobbying ground, in an attempt to cut described as the ‘direct conindustry, enforce currently through the usual opposinections between inflamed language and inflamed comtional approaches which stall optional codes of conduct, munity tensions’. and prevent politicians so much political progress. Zoe Daniel suggested from stepping directly from While this group can’t ensure Australian multiculturalism portfolios into affected legislative changes on their was facing its greatest test own, they can put a spotlight industries, as happens now. since the 1970s. Curtin MP Kate Chaney on issues that would other‘We must pull this up backed her up, saying ‘we wise be ignored, and steer here, in Australia; we must have a right to know who the resulting debates. pull back from this tipping is accessing our ministers The recent Voice referenpoint, where hate and anger and executive so citizens dum showed the teal indebecome so dominant that can make up their own pendents’ strong leadership any nuance, any capacity for minds about whether our roles within their own comgovernment is focused on the reasoned conversation or munities, with all but one of empathy for others, is lost.’ public interest or private and their electorates voting ‘Yes’. Ms Daniel again took the vested interests.’ As the Coalition drifts further floor as parliament scrambled into Trump-land, these seats Stop the lies to respond to the High Court’s may well be permanently decision to release a number unwinnable by the Liberal Warringah representative of people convicted of serious Party, with more likely to join Zali Steggall followed crimes from indefinite immithem after another election. with her Commonwealth gration detention. Electoral Amendment (Voter Issues ‘Humanity must be at the Protections in Political centre of all policy,’ she said, Advertising) Bill, which Mackellar representative noting that both sides of govseeks to protect voters from Dr Sophie Scamps led out on ernment knew this day was misleading and deceptive Monday with her launch of coming, and should have been the forest pledge, designed to political advertising. prepared. Zoe Daniel said she ‘Voters want a debate end logging of public native would support the governbased on policy and facts, forests in Australia, at a time ment’s bill in the knowledge not lies and fear mongering,’ when 19 local ecosystems that there would be further she said. teeter on the brink of failure, changes to it when the High She noted the in the midst of an extinction Court published its reasons. disingenuous smear and climate crisis. ‘We must now work to procampaigns of shadowy ‘We need to act and we tect our communities, while organisations like Advance need to act now,’ said Dr adhering to basic human Australia (her political Scamps. ‘In this context, rights for people who are opponent Tony Abbott is a continuing to log our beautirefugees. This legislation must director of that organisation), ful native forests is simply be neither misused by the as well as misinformation madness; it’s morally wrong.’ government nor weaponised campaigns run by the ALP, Her forest pledge has by an opposition that plays such as Mediscare. already found the support politics with people’s lives.’ ‘A sceptic might claim that of 36 organisations and A factual and humane lies have always been part of 29 scientists, experts and political response in late 2023. politics,’ said Ms Steggall. ‘But academics, including several How about that! research shows that the sheer former senior politicians. While some would say the quantity of false political Later in the green election of the teals forced chamber, Dr Monique Ryan of advertising is growing.’ the Liberal Party further to the She asked her fellow Kooyong read her Lobbying right, and into short-sighted (Improving Government Hon- representatives what they extremism, it could equally be were so afraid of. ‘Are your esty and Trust) Bill a second said that the capture of major claims not valid? Can you time, saying ‘Sunlight is the parties by vested interests has not back your claims up or best medicine, and it’s time led to the creation of alternaprove them? Just like any to shine a light into the halls tive, mostly female voices, of this place to illuminate the manufacturer or business with what was once the centre cannot scam consumers, you workings of the light on the now looking like the left. should not be able to scam hill.’ Time will tell if these new ‘We need to know who has voters.’ voices are marginalised, or Zali Steggall’s bill was the ears of our politicians and strengthened. we need to close and stop that seconded by Kate Chaney. It Q Read David Lowe every will be interesting to watch revolving door. Australians how the major parties wriggle Monday on The Echo online deserve to be able to trust at: www.echo.net.au. when this bill is debated. their government,’ she said.
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