WA Senate Election (mark 2)

[Wokko]

The Greens are the left wing protest vote, most disgruntled Labor voters will immediately Vote 1 greens. I assume the disgruntled Libs now do the same with Palmer.

[David]

^ I think you underestimate the popularity of Scott Ludlam (particularly amongst young voters) and the massive lack of excitement generated by Labor, particularly when they've essentially screwed themselves into losing a capable sitting senator (Louise Pratt) for an idiot who doesn't even like the party to begin with.

I think the days of the Greens just being a "protest vote" are long over—they're not all that far away from achieving major party status. I agree with you on Palmer, though.

[stui magpie]

They're not "Just" a protest vote party, but they're a fair way from being a major party.

They do have now a fair core of loyal supporters, and pick up the extra votes when people are pissed off with Labor. They're basically where the left leaning people go when they get sick of Labor, so they can really only grow by taking support from Labor.

Unless they actually overtake Labor as a major party, the best they can hope fro IMO is to be the biggest of the minor parties, or be the Labor version of the Nationals.

[1061]

If the Greens were going to be a Major party they would be.

[David]

^ That's a nonsensical statement. All parties have to start from somewhere, and it takes a lot to break into the political duopoly that's been in place in Australia for around a century (Labor vs Liberals and their antecedents). The Greens are still battling the persistent notion that they are a single-issue fringe party with extremist associations, something that hasn't actually been true for over a decade now. The more people realise that, the more votes they will get. As far as I can see, that perception is all that stands between them and major party status, as they now have moderate, researched, common sense policies on every issue and generate considerably more passion and excitement than the ALP.

Note that they don't necessarily need to overtake the ALP to become a major party. Getting 20-25% of the vote probably puts a party in that category automatically. It's possible for a country to have more than two major parties. I'm not saying it'll happen in the next decade, but if their vote continues to improve we could well have a Green government within the next 20-30 years.

[Wokko]

[David]

Is it just me, or is anyone else depressed by the concept of a policy-free would-be-comedian oligarch holding the balance of power for the next three years? There are plenty of minor parties out there on both sides of the political spectrum with clear (sometimes extensive) policies, experience and credibility. Why don't they have three senators? Because of money.

[Proud Pies]

and how's this for a comparison of headlines.

The Aged 'Labor, Liberal vote dives in WA poll'
Herald Scum 'Labor crashes as Greens surge ahead'.