8 Comments
Mar 24Liked by John Quiggin

I generally, and more than generally, agree. This is for reasons that I have stated many times.

Expand full comment
Mar 24Liked by John Quiggin

From where I’m sitting, journalists Paul Karp and (particularly) Amy Remeikis look at least Green-adjacent

Expand full comment
author

"Green-adjacent" is correct, I think, though neither much that explicitly supports the Greens. To expand the point a bit, the whole section of the political spectrum to the left of Albanese is largely unrepresented in mainstream political commentary. Karp and Remeikis are notable examples. Now that Katharine Murphy is officially working for Albo, we might see a bit of a shift at the Guardian.

Expand full comment

As a member of the Greens, I'm most frustrated with the ABC's reporting. I don't think this is just partisan griping. It's not that their reporting is biased, there just isn't enough of it. It's as if they can't figure out how to report on minor parties and so they just don't. It's particularly a problem nationally, less of an issue in the Qld bureau and fine on local radio.

Expand full comment

Nice point about "hung" being the wrong description.

I watched TAS election televised last night and the big swing was to independents (JLN + independents) and the swing to teals / independents in Federal election paints a bit of a different picture than ALP-GRN coalition. TAS swing to ALP and GRN were each smaller than swing to independents. Perhaps we need a centrist party to run up the middle, adhering to informed decision making and ethical integrity, with its own no-BS journo pack to report on its point of difference to red, blue and green parties. The electorate clearly wants something different to what's on offer.

Expand full comment

The 2010 Gillard minority government is another approach – the smaller supporters agree on a set list of concessions going both ways (in Gillard’s case, all she asked for was guaranteeing supply and support for confidence), then everything must be negotiated. In other words, the parliamentary committee works as it should, rather being a rubber stamp for the majority party.

Expand full comment