Minor parties like the Greens and Teals will destabilise Australia if they are part of a minority government.
Australians deserve stability and accountable leadership, not policy paralysis and ideological ultimatums.
THE FACTS
Greens' Opposition to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (2009)*
The Greens Party used their power to stop the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme because it wasn't radical enough for them.
When they held the balance of power, they backed a weaker option but it was already too late. The policy was later repealed.
As a result, Australia was denied a coherent climate policy, stopping the government from taking immediate action on climate change for over a decade. Australia has struggled to recover from this, which hurt us as a nation and embarrassed us internationally.
218 million tonnes of emissions could have been avoided by 2020 - if the Greens had just said yes.
Teals Won't Say Who They Support
The Teals, backed by Climate 200 and billionaire Simon Holmes a Court, refuse to say which major party they would support in a hung parliament.
This ambiguity isn't noble, it's risky. As voters, we deserve to know where our vote will go - not find out in a backroom deal after the election.
This lack of transparency raises concerns about potential instability and unpredictability in government formation, especially as the Teals typically vote in a bloc.
*https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/teals-silent-on-who-they-will-back-in-a-hung-parliament/news-story/e49a75fb0d72988294534cddb18b46be
Minority Government (2010-2013)
The last major minority government couldn't pass major reforms without gridlock.
Reliance on crossbench support led to complicated negotiations and compromises, affecting the government's ability to implement its full legislative agenda. For instance, the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) faced significant opposition and underwent multiple revisions. This lead to a weaker version becoming adopted that the Greens and independents could support, which was later repealed.
Teal Opposition to Electoral Reform Proposals (2024)
In late 2024, bipartisan legislation was proposed to introduce donation transparency and spending caps in politics - making our elections fairer.
The Teals blocked it because the changes would have limited the influence of their own donors.
The Teals and their Climate 200 backers talk about cleaning up politics, but only when it suits them.
Greens Delay Environmental Protection (2024)
In 2024, the government proposed 'Nature Positive' reforms. This would have provided Australia with an environmental agency that could hold polluters accountable and protect Australia's biodiversity.
The Greens did not believe this bill was good enough, so they stalled negotiations for over a year. The bill was shelved - and much like the CPRS, Australia was left with nothing.
*https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/nature-reform-laws-likely-to-be-delayed-until-october-at-least/104358236*