Greens face disaster in October if they don't refocus on what matters

An election year is usually when political parties hone their positions and try to get their messaging laser-sharp.

But the ACT Greens seem to have forgotten why they were so successful at the 2020 election and have so far produced a performance this year that is decidedly off-key.

Leader Shane Rattenbury has set the winning template for the Greens, with a focus on local issues, sensible sustainability and energy transition proposals, urban development in tune with the bush capital ethos and support for public transport and active travel.

His reasoned and pragmatic approach, even when articulating some of the party’s more ambitious goals, established the perfect tone for a highly educated and informed electorate.

In the ACT, there was no divisive watermelon politics of other jurisdictions and inability to work with the dominant Labor Party.

But in recent times Mr Rattenbury has had to mop up after some of his team have wandered off into fringe areas that won’t pay much of a political dividend or have a chance of success, shot themselves in the foot or indulged themselves in tired and unhelpful rhetoric.

So far this year, we have heard calls for all advertising involving fossil fuel companies to be banned at sporting events, the ACT Government to divest itself of any investments to do with Israel over what’s happening in Gaza and claims that the government is in bed with developers and happy to sacrifice the environment to housing.

The grandstanding may play well in the Greens’ inner-north bicycle belt but is likely to put off voters who took a chance with them in 2020 or might be tempted in October.

In some cases, they simply got their facts wrong, such as the extent of ecologically sensitive land at risk in the Stromlo Reach development in Denman Prospect, or ventured into areas outside of what should be their scope, such as Gaza.

The divestment issue is always a perilous path and so it proved to be when Jo Clay and Emma Davidson had to fess up to owning small amounts of suspect shares.

The mea culpa amid cries of hypocrisy was humiliating.

The grenades tossed at Labor and the developer over Planning Minister Chris Steel’s calling in of the Denman Prospect development were ill-considered, given the protections that the conditions will impose and the government’s commitment to preserve adjacent areas that are important.

Where there was a need for a measured and reasoned response, Jo Clay and Rebecca Vassarotti opted for histrionics and cheap shots.

What followed was more about the fraying partnership with Labor and the dysfunction in Cabinet than the merits of the call-in powers or the environment.

It was up to Mr Rattenbury to talk about the healthy tension in the governing partnership and that there would always be areas of difference to be managed.

As a Leader and an old head, he needs to bring his team together and remind them of what’s important and how they should present themselves to the electorate.

The Greens, with their grassroots democratic structure, have always given the impression of being a much looser collection of MLAs than their opponents, but if they wish to retain their numbers in the Assembly, some discipline is needed in order to stay focused and take a team approach.

Too often it seems separate MLAs venture off on their own without any strategic plan.

As a result, it’s quite possible that the Greens could lose half their representation in October.

Labor is likely to pick up a seat in Brindabella after the departure of the disgraced Johnathan Davis, having only just missed out last time.

Emma Davidson has had a torrid term as minister and must be considered at risk in Murrumbidgee, while Andrew Braddock, who was behind the divestment disaster, must also be vulnerable.

Even the usually competent Jo Clay has let her performance slip and may struggle in Ginninderra.

In an election in which there should be a strong independent presence focused on local issues and a more competitive Canberra Liberals, the Greens need to refocus and polish that winning template.

The ACT Greens also need to remember that they are in a privileged position unique in Australia – in government – where they have actually achieved things and have the opportunity to achieve more.

They should not throw that away lightly.