Michael Organ was the first Green MP elected to the House of Representatives in the Cunningham by-election in 2002. Green Left Weekly's Nicole Hilder spoke to both Organ and Chris Williams, the Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham. There has been considerable collaboration between the parties, who are giving each other first preferences in the seat.
Michael, what have you achieved since you were elected to the seat of Cunningham in the 2002 bi-election?
Organ: Using the opportunity to raise issues and embarrass and publicly shame PM John Howard. Parliament is a very cold and clinical place. Politicians have to face up to policy and know the tragic implication of policies such as mandatory detention. The Greens are a voice of dissent, community and compassion. The ALP is such a weak opposition especially on controversial issues like gay rights and refugees. The Greens are a party of principle, we don't compromise on people's basic human rights. We won't sell out. We're real people. We make our decisions based on the welfare of ordinary Australians.
Chris, what's been the effect of having a Green MP?
Williams: There was a real community feeling of confidence after Michael was elected. A Green voice has been invaluable in exposing the unity of the major parties and backing up social movements. A lot would otherwise go unheard. The corporate media aren't interested in exposing corruption and treachery.
What do you think are the key election issues ?
Organ: Getting rid of John Howard. He called this election around the issue of trust but we can't trust John Howard. We don't want policy focused around vested interests but on health, education and welfare. The gap between the rich and poor is increasing — there is a poverty crisis which is not being addressed at all. Here in the Illawarra it's poverty, unemployment and the casualisation of work. We need to create all the jobs that are needed by funding the public sector. The wealth needs to be spread around.
Williams: This has been the most socially destructive government in Australia's history. Howard must go, people are absolutely jack of him and his pack of liars, which is why the "End the Lies" rallies the week before the election are going to be fantastic.
Do you support opening the borders for refugees and closing the detention centres?
Organ: The Greens are totally opposed to the mandatory detention of refugees. It's barbaric and inhuman. Refugees should be released after preliminary assessment and they should be dealt with in the quickest possible time and live and be part of the community while that decision is being made. One people smuggler just got eight years [in jail] while refugees could be in detention for ever. I'm thinking of telling [immigration minister] Amanda Vanstone I'll put up [long-term imprisoned Kashmiri refugee] Peter Qasim at my place.
Williams: We should abolish the Border Protection Act, repeal the temporary protection visa system and give new arrivals access to the social security system.
Preferences from independent union candidate Peter Wilson helped you get elected, Michael. With Wilson not running this time, do you think many unionists will vote Green before Labor?
Organ: Local trade unionists have realised the Greens are very supportive. I have a strong union background. However, the NSW Labor Council has issued a directive, straight from Macquarie Street, to unions telling members to vote for Labor. This is unfortunate because they're better off with us.
What do you think of the way Greens are portrayed in mainstream media?
Organ: What we stand for is often misrepresented which makes it difficult to get out the truth because unfortunately the message from the media is often just lies.
What of the 'watermelon' label?
Organ: The Greens stand for social justice, the environment and peace, that doesn't make us communists.
Williams: The Socialist Alliance also believes in the Greens four principles of social justice, peace, democracy and environmental sustainability. The only difference is we're anti-capitalist — we don't believe it can happen under predatory capitalism but through the democratic ownership and management of society's wealth. I don't think the red-baiting has intimidated Greens members here at all though.
What is your opinion on increasing joint work between the Greens and the Socialist Alliance?
Organ: There is a strong activist aspect in the Socialist Alliance and the Greens. From my work with Socialist Alliance members I know we have similarities, for instance on issues of basic human rights and social justice. The Greens are evolving. People from all walks of life have joined the Greens, perhaps in the future this will include many people in the Socialist Alliance.
Williams: We have a close working relationship with the Greens here in the social movements, particularly the Illawarra Refugee Action Collective and we do joint work like letterboxing, we attend each others fundraisers, hand out for each other during breaks on polling day. It's a non-sectarian atmosphere. We have a lot of respect for and we'll continue to learn from Greens members who have been active in local community campaigns.
The ALP says that if people want to kick Howard out they should vote for Labor's Sharon Bird. Organ: I say if you want to get rid of John Howard vote Green. We can and do make a difference, we're now the third party in Australian politics. You could say we're the conscience of the ALP. It has often been forced to rethink its policy because of us, for example, in regards to the treatment of the East Timor gas fields. I think that the ALP are scared because Australians have realized they have choices. That really scares them- the thought of losing control.
Williams: Neither major party deserves to win the seat of Cunningham. We're asking people to support the socialist alternative and help the Greens keep Cunningham by voting for the Socialist Alliance first and then preferencing the Greens. This will maximise the opposition. But voting isn't enough.
From Green Left Weekly, September 29, 2004.
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