The polls indicate that in a matter days, Australia will enter a the ‘Abbott era’ and the loss of many things we hold dear: care for the poor, industrial relations fairness, equity in schooling, human rights for desperate refugees (already condemned by the UN and making us a pariah worldwide). Unrestricted CSG mining, coal port expansion on the Great Barrier Reef and complete denial of the enormous climate threat are also on the horizon.
The only possible hope now is for The Greens to hold the balance of power in the Senate. Abbott only needs to win three more Senate seats to have absolute control of both houses of Parliament. If this happens, Abbott will be able to legislate whatever he wants. Statistically, Labor cannot win enough seats to moderate Abbott in the Senate.
In NSW, the last Senate seat will be a toss-up between The Greens and Pauline Hanson, or the Shooters Party. It’s a stark choice and one voters need to think about very carefully, otherwise we may end up with far-right parties with extremist policies doing deals to help pass Abbott’s agenda through the Senate.
The Greens have a vision for Australia and the courage to stand up for issues that matter. We need more Greens in parliament to stop the excesses of an Abbott government.
Graeme Williams, Mullumbimby
See the Echo’s full election coverage on the page Election 2013
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