From Gaza to the gasfields: Why the Greens won’t back down

In a political landscape defined by fear, Senator David Shoebridge affirms our commitment to justice for Gaza and climate alike. This isn’t an electoral calculation — it’s what Greens values demand.

For many Greens members and supporters this is a hard moment. The loss of Adam Bandt’s seat has hit deeply—he was not only our parliamentary leader but a symbol of what principled, bold representation could look like in the heart of the establishment. His voice in the House, standing firm on climate justice, human rights, and economic fairness, was a source of immense pride. It’s okay to feel grief, frustration, even anger. These are the emotions of people who care deeply, work tirelessly, and believe in something bigger than themselves.

But while we pause to acknowledge the pain, we must also look clearly at what this moment demands—and what it makes possible. This is a time for discussion and understanding what happened, but also a time for growing our movement, unity and solidarity – listening to those who see a future for the party rather than being rooted in decades old grievances. 

The overwhelming feedback I received from speaking with so many people during this campaign was excitement at the Greens platform to tackle corporate greed to deliver a fair and sustainable planet. However behind that was fear of Dutton who seemed to be bringing with him a dark side serve of Trump. This drove people to the status quo, not for love of Labor’s 75c tax cut, or rejection of our Greens platform, but fear of a right wing menace. 

In this election, many Australians voted with one aim: to keep Peter Dutton out of government. That’s understandable, I felt that too. At a moment in history that is being pummeled by the hatefulness of Donald Trump, Dutton’s politics of fear and division struck a painful nerve. But let’s be clear, voting Labor to avoid Dutton isn’t voting to fix anything. It sure isn’t voting for a better world that is grounded in justice, courage and climate leadership.

Labor won not on hope, but on fear. While it was called a landslide election, and it may be electorally in seat numbers, Labor’s vote increased by barely 2%. Liberal preferences delivered Labor MPs in seats where Greens and independents were the electorate’s genuine alternative. This is the quiet truth of the so-called two-party system: it works to protect itself. While the major parties claim to be enemies, they mean it only when it’s convenient. When their real opponents — in this case the Greens — gain ground, they close ranks.

But here’s the good news: despite media spin and establishment messaging, the real shift in Australian politics is happening. A third of the electorate didn’t vote for Labor or Liberal. Greens and independents are the rising tide. We’re not a flash in the pan. We’re a long-term movement—deeply rooted, principled, and growing. 

The far right, meanwhile, suffered a resounding defeat. Despite their money, megaphones, weird trumpet imagery and billionaire media boosters, Australians rejected their hate-filled vision. We should celebrate that. This was a rejection of racism, misogyny, and climate denial. But we cannot afford to become complacent. The conditions that feed the far right—economic pain, housing injustice, political distrust—are still with us. 

For the Greens, this was a paradoxical election: yes we lost three lower house seats, we had a strong Senate vote and have sole balance of power in that chamber and we now have an expanded map of real lower house possibilities. While we hold just one seat in the House, there are at least six within reach—and more coming into view. Our vote is spreading, in part as the housing crisis forces many of our traditional voters out of inner-city electorates and into new communities. That’s both a challenge and a beautiful opportunity. This is not denying the electoral hit, and the real sadness of losing Adam, Max and Stephen. However I firmly believe that when the Greens campaign on principle for a fairer and better world, we are building the political foundations we need to take on our opponents, who campaign on bugger all for electoral power.

For those who suggest the Greens will somehow change our stance on Gaza and global solidarity as an electoral tactic… this is offensive to me and my Greens colleagues.

We are also the only party still speaking clearly and urgently about Gaza. As others fall silent or equivocate, we say what must be said: this is a genocide. We will not stop calling for a ceasefire, an end to the two way arms trade and real action to hold our government accountable to international law. Many people voted Greens for the first time because of our stance—and many of them are joining the party. Their voices, strength, and leadership will shape the next chapter of this movement.

For those who suggest the Greens will somehow change our stance on Gaza and global solidarity as an electoral tactic I say two things. First, this is offensive to me and my Greens colleagues who care deeply about this. As Senator Nick McKim said just today, “Let’s be really clear about why we took the stance we have on Gaza, this was not about some kind of political calculation. There’s genocide underway in Gaza. It’s not a war. It’s not a conflict. It is mass murder. It’s a war crime”.

My Greens colleagues and I speak up for Gaza because we deeply know that the only thing you can do in the face of a Genocide, is everything in your power to stop it. This was never electoral and these basic facts will never change. Second, if we let our response to such appalling human tragedy be mediated by political spin and convenience then we are accepting a post-truth world where no principle holds. Look around the world right now and you can see how plain scary that alternative is. 

Let’s also remember: despite the naysayers, we have never stopped fighting for climate justice. We stand strong against Middle Arm and we are the only party saying no to the climate and cultural bomb that is the expanded north west gas industry. We opposed every new coal and gas project that Labor approved. We stand against Tasmania’s dirty stinking salmon industry. We defend native forests and we’ll keep going. Our 11 votes in the Senate make us a powerful force, one the media often ignores, but which every government must reckon with.

Now is not the time to pull back or become more “moderate”. There are whispers that we should or will abandon renters or soften our stance on Palestine for political convenience. I’m here to call bullshit on that. That’s not who we are. That’s not the people Greens members choose to send to Parliament. We are here for people doing it tough. We are here to fight the forces of greed and cruelty—whether they’re mining companies, billionaire media barons, the war industry or cowardly politicians.

This is a time for real talk, yes—but also for radical hope. We have a world to win. And we’re not starting from scratch—we’re building on decades of grassroots organising, movement work, and leadership. We’re Bob Brown’s party, and Bob’s not just in the history books—he’s in the forests and the streets with us now, in 2025, saying hold the course.

So let’s grow this movement. Let’s take it further into Western Sydney, regional towns, and outer suburbs around the country. Let’s unite around the hope for a country that values people and the planet over profit. This is our time. And we are just getting started.

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Greens NSW Senator David Shoebridge is a recognised voice for social justice and public accountability. David is a former barrister and longtime environmental and social justice advocate. First elected to the Senate in 2022 after serving in the NSW Legislative Council (2010-2022). A defender of human rights, David has been outspoken on climate justice, militarism, and Gaza, challenging corporate power while advocating for grassroots democracy and ecological sustainability.

Image credit. Feature image, provided by Sukhjinder Singh and David Shoebridge.