By Tom Flanagan
HOBART — The results of a statewide poll of greens on forms of political cooperation were a topic of discussion at a meeting in Launceston on September 21. The meeting was attended by about 70 supporters of Tasmania's five Green Independent MPs.
A questionnaire had been circulated to about 2500 people to determine levels of support for various forms of green party and non-party collaboration.
The views of the 440 respondents were summarised in pie charts. Exact figures were not given, so the results described here are estimates from the charts.
There was an overwhelmingly positive response — more than three-quarters — to the question, "Do you think the Green Independents should have a national political agenda, in addition to their involvement in state politics?"
Respondents were asked to reply to questions with one of five choices: (1) No!; (2) No, but I'd live with it; (3) I don't feel strongly about it; (4) Yes, but I'd manage without; (5) Essential!
Asked whether the Green Independents should be involved in forming a national green party, about half responded "Essential", while another quarter chose the "Yes, but" option.
The next question was worded, "For the purposes of the next federal election, indicate the strength of your opinion about each of the following possible strategies on party formation:
"A. Form a broad based, national party incorporating the present diversity of Green organisations (excluding the Democrats).
"B. Form a national party incorporating some of the present Green organisations (excluding the Democrats).
"C. Form a coalition of Green organisations and Democrats, each retaining a separate identity, cooperating and not competing.
"D. Merge the Green organisations and the Democrats to form a new national party with a new constitution and name.
"E. Do something else."
The most popular of these options was C — the only option to receive responses of "Essential" (about a third) and "Yes" (about a quarter) which totalled to more than 50%. Only about one in eight responses was a flat "No".
Option D was the next most popular, about a third replying "Essential" and a tenth "Yes". These responses were mirrored by about one third reply "No!" and a tenth "No, but". Options A and B were each answered with one of the negative responses by something over half the respondents.
A fourth question was the reverse of question 2, asking whether national green politics "should be organised without a formal party structure". More than half responded negatively.