Greens and Labor heavyweights line up behind Greenwich
In perhaps a further ploy conducted by Labor’s Sussex Street headquarters to ensure a Liberal defeat after deciding not to contest the Sydney by-election, former NSW Premier and recently retired Labor MP Kristina Keneally has today publicly thrown her support behind Independent candidate Alex Greenwich.
Keneally’s words of backing come as federal Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was forced to hose down her public support over Twitter for the former Australian Marriage Equality national convener after coming under fire from enraged local Greens members.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Keneally said though she remained a loyal Labor supporter it was important for the seat to stay out of Liberal hands.
“It’s a pragmatic decision,” she said. “What Barry O’Farrell and the Liberals would like to see is the Greens, Labor and independent split the vote and therefore the Liberals can sneak in up through the middle.
“Alex represents the best opportunity to make sure there is another voice in that Parliament arguing against the massive cuts we have seen already in education and in health.”
Greenwich welcomed the support from Keneally, whom he has got to know well over the past few years through his campaigning for marriage equality.
“The only thing Barry O’Farrell has done for Sydney recently is take away our vote, and force a by-election in the hope he will insert a silenced Liberal backbenchers in the seat,” Greenwich added.
The Greens are also contesting the seat but following poor polling for the party at the recent local government elections most election analysts believe Liberal Party candidate Shayne Mallard will pose the biggest threat to the seat no longer remaining independent.
Proving himself to be a popular first-time politician, Greenwich was caught in the crossfire of an internal Greens slanging match after Hanson-Young last Thursday sent off a tweet in support.
“Fabulous news! wonderful to see @AlexGreenwich putting his hand up for the people of Sydney. A great community advocate and good friend,” she tweeted.
A day later, De Brierley Newtown – who contested the 2011 election as a Greens candidate for the seat – fired off an email to Greens head office questioning the motives of the South Australian senator.
“Is SHY (Sarah Hanson-Young) this stupid or is this calculated?” Newton wrote.
“Perhaps a call to her office explaining that if Sydney goes pear-shaped it will impact on the Federal election result for The Greens and our lead Senate candidate.
“Might help.”
Hanson today clarified she still wanted Greens candidate Chris Harris to win the seat.
“I was just commenting on what a great advocate Alex Greenwich has been for marriage equality,” she said.
Proving himself to be adept at the political game, Greenwich was non-plussed about the controversies surrounding the other parties and said he was only committed to emulating his “political hero” Clover Moore to ensure the seat remained independent.
“Even a former Labor Party Premier understands the effectiveness an independent member of Parliament can have in being a strong voice for the community, if elected I will be that voice,” he said.
Photo: Independent candidate Alex Greenwich with former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally
- Tags: Alex Greenwich, Australian Marriage Equality, Barry O'Farrell, By-Election, Chris Harris, Clover Moore, De Brierley Newton, Greens, Independent, Labor, Liberal Party, Politics, Sarah Hanson-Young, Shayne Mallard, SX, Sydney
Comments (13)
Barry O'Farrell's liberal government trashed democracy and ignored the votes of the
costituents of the State seat of Sydney when they forced Clover Moore to give up her
seat in the NSW Parliament this week.The greatest advocate for GLBT rights in the
history of N.S.W. was forced out by the liberals with the support of Fred Nile and The
Shooters Party.They could never beat her at the ballot box so they decided to change
the rules and ignore the wishes of the people as expressed at the last State election.
Now the constituents of the State seat of Sydney are forced to go back to the polls on
October 27 to vote again.Anybody who votes liberal in this by election betrays democracy.
Any GLBT person who votes liberal not only betrays democracy but also themselves
and the GLBT community of which they are a member.
The clear and ethical choice to be the new Member for Sydney is Alex Greenwich the outstanding national advocate for marriage equality. He is a proven performer who knows how to reach across the aisle and achieve consensus on the most emotionally charged issue facing our community.Clover Moore has passed the baton on to Alex Greenwich because she knows he stands for a strong progressive and independent Sydney. She knows he is not bound to vote on dictated party lines.
Compare the smart articulate independent candidate Alex Greenwich with the tired party hack who just so happens to be gay, put up by the liberal party. The party who has trashed our vote in the last State election because they didn't like the result. The party who federally deny us marriage equality and embrace bigots such as Bill Heffernan and Cori Bernardi . Bernardi this week compared our relationships with beastiallity. The party whose federal leader is on the record as saying he feels threatened by gays and who cannot even find the goodwill to write a message of support for our gay and lesbian Mardi Gras.Do not let the liberals get their grubby bigoted hands on the most enlightened progressive seat in the State.
Chris, you are aware that LABOR is in govt Federally, not the Liberal Party?and that Julia Gillard is the first PM to vote against Govt policy in rejecting marriage equality? And in fact Alex focussed on issue of marriage equality as a Federal issue? Shayne and Alex are BOTH on the record as supporters of marriage equality.
It is plain narrow minded for you to criticise the many many members of the GLBTI community who ARE Liberals, and those who will vote for the Liberal party. Some could say that was a bigoted comment by you. Sexuality transcends politics.The same issues that effect non GLBTI residents of Sydney also effect us-roads, transparent governance, education, licensing and development issues. Focusing on the limited issue of marriage equality wont help Sydney run, voting for a progressive member of the party which is in government in NSW with a resounding mandate will.
Michael , focusing on the failings of the Labor Party is irrelevant in this by election as they have chosen not to split the progressive vote by running a candidate.What we can focus on however is the tawdry record of the liberal party in delivering anything to advance the civil rights of our GLBT community. We can focus on the party who uses a bigot like Alan Jones as its mouthpeiece. Just listen to the audience of Liberal Party members at The Waterfront Restaurant in The Rocks , in the heart of our State Seat of Sydney chortling with delight as there hero Alan Jones says Julia Gillard's father died of Shame . Do we want these sort of 'people ' representing us in state parliament ? No I don't think so ! As for that tired old whiney defence that the homo conservatives trot out to cover their shame for rewarding their oppressor.That which states they don't just vote on issues pertaining to their sexuality. Well guess what neither do people from the center or the left. We also run businesses , want a good economy , jobs etc. Same old liberal arrogance that they have a monopoly on issues relating to the economy. They do have a monopoly on mysogeny , homophobia and a lack of decency and civility as illustrated by their favourite son Alan Jones. The voters of Sydney want no part of this thats why they will elect Alex Greenwich.
Chris you meed to look beyond your partisan view of the world and accept that GLBT issues are not the domain of any one party or candidate. Both major parties have made good steps forward and at the same time, both are littered with MPs who won't support marriage equality. In this respect both have let us down. You also need to zoom out and remember that the marriage Act is a Federal issue and we're about to vote in a State by-election. While it's great that both Alex and Shayne support marriage equality, let's not lose sight of the fact there are dozens of other issues we need to focus on at the local level. Let's judge the candidates on these issues not on one which wile important, is largely outside their control.
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A number of the comments by Chris Lewis on this story and others are offensive and hateful. I'd ask in the interest of ensuring educated debate that you remove them or make it clear that this sort of hate should stop.
Alex "Oakeshott" Greenwich says he is an independent and yet he has aligned himself with the toxic Labor party who are not even running a candidate and getting endorsements from the greens. Clover's puppet is nothing but a Labor stooge.
I can only imagine what the local Sydney Labor branch members think of this!
This is just typical Labor politics of looking to detract from the best candidate in the field who is clearly Shayne Mallard. If they really wanted to endorse a candidate why did they not run their own?
As a number of people have already said, Shayne has been a member of Sydney City Council for 12 years and knows the electorate inside out.
What does Alex Greenwich bring to the table beyond his work with Australian Marriage Equality? Shayne too is a fantastic advocate of marriage equality, but people in Sydney should be considering the whole picture when they are voting. We need a representative who is part of the O'Farrell Government, not someone who has been endorsed by the person who led Labor to their worst defeat in NSW election history!
The last thing people lving in Sydney needs is another single issue independent representing us - and that is what will happen if Alex Greenwich is elected.
For a so called Independent, Alex it seems is happy to receive the endorsement of the established political party or members. Firstly with Sarah Hanson-Young and now with the former Labor member for Heffron the former Premier Kristina Keneally, who broke her promise to those who voted for her at the last election, instead she decided to jump ship and cause a by-election of her own this year.
Unlike Shayne Mallard who has represented the community for 12 years on both South Sydney City Council and then the City of Sydney Council holding Clover Moore to account. Shayne will be a fantastic voice for all members of the Seat of Sydney in government, the first time were we will be truly represented. He will be the voice for the marginalized, the homeless, small business, residents and he know the issues surrounding affordable housing and transport that impact the seat of Sydney.
Steve, with respect, I think you missed the point. Alex's campaigning is centred on his being an independent yet he’s now promoting that fact he’s been endorsed by a former Labor leader and defacto by the ALP who are not running in the campaign. Either he’s a credible independent or he's with an established party; he can’t walk both sides of the street and retain any shred of credibility as being an independent.
Rob, you just answered your own question. The fact that two prominent members of two different political parties have come forward to say they support Alex, shows just how decent his credentials are. It's previously unheard of. Alex is an incredible guy and would make a brilliant representative for the people of inner-cty Sydney
Let's not forget that as nice as Kristina seems, it didn't take long following her political demise for her to write a story for ABC's "The Drum" advising Julia Gillard to drop her principles in favour of playing populist politics.
Kristina's obviously quite loose with her principles, and obviously her endorsements too.
What a cynical ploy from Labor and one which I hope the electorate will see for what it is; a crude attempt to funnel votes to Mr Greenwich. Rather than being a net positive this endorsement aligns Mr Greenwich to one of the worst performing Government's in NSW history and it could well end up being a massive own goal for him. How many voters are going to take seriously the credentials of a so-called "Independent" who is first endorsed on twitter by Sarah Hanson Young and now, by a former Labor Premier?