Illawarra Greens. Social justice, environmental sustainability, peace and non-violence and grassroots democracy.

Greens eye holding balance of power as experts predict tight result in New South Wales election

The Greens say they will not support a Coalition government if the party holds the balance of power after this month's New South Wales election.

The Greens outlined seven priorities for the next parliament, including gambling reforms,  banning no-grounds evictions, action to address climate change,  banning new coal and gas projects, reforms to rental laws, beginning a treaty and truth process for First Nations people in NSW, and repealing controversial anti-protest laws. The party will also push for cashless gaming, the introduction of nurse-to-patient ratios, a ban on logging in public native forests and scrapping the public sector wage cap.

All of the party's candidates for "winnable" lower house seats are women

More than half of candidates on the party's upper house ticket are women, as are all of its candidates for "winnable" lower house seats.

 

Upper house member Cate Faehrmann said if the Greens did hold the sway of power after the election, they would not settle for "half measures" such as a cashless gaming trial that has been set up to fail.

"This election, we have a powerful opportunity to make change for the people of New South Wales and our previous environment because there is a real chance that the Greens could hold the balance of power in both houses of parliament."

"Labor has a lot of work to do to convince the Greens they are worth supporting."

"Voters know where the Greens stand on issues that matter to them."

 

Newtown MP Jenny Leong said the election was a chance to change the toxic political culture in NSW.

"Recent elections have shown that sharing power is crucial to forming government. The days of claiming an absolute mandate by any of the old parties is well and truly over."

The Greens "will not support a Perrottet Liberal National government. But our support for a Minns Labor government comes with expectations — expectations to see real action on the changes that people in our communities and on our streets are crying out for."

 

Story by Heath Parkes-Hupton at the ABC, 11 March 2023.