By Anne Pavy
PERTH — It is not just a matter of getting people into parliament: "We need to change the way people think and view and operate within the world", Stewart Jackson, secretary of the WA Greens, told Green Left Weekly.
The Greens are standing in 35 lower house seats in the WA state election and in all the upper house electorates.
Jackson himself has been involved in the Greens for three years.
"Because we are a minor party we have to shout louder than everyone else", he says, promising a vigorous campaign.
One of the main aims of the Greens' campaign is to get the electorate to realise that alternative parties "do have serious policies". In the last few weeks the Greens have launched several policy statements, including one on the economy and another on education.
Jackson states that "you cannot have an economy without an environment, but you can have an environment without an economy".
The Greens' economic policy is called Community Economics, which moves away from large resource and capital-based projects, favouring smaller enterprises
One example of this is that the Greens support small pulp and paper mills rather than large ones, because small mills use less wood more effectively and employ more people without "chewing up" old growth forests. The overall aim is to have a decentralised economy which is based on locality and region and is more self-sufficient and cooperative.
The Greens are also concerned about the victimisation of youth by both Labor and Liberal. They reject Labor's Repeat Offenders Act as an "appallingly regressive piece of legislation" and no solution to the problem of youth crime.
Instead the Greens argue for giving youth employment and adequate housing, and ensuring that they have an income they can live on comfortably.
The Greens have a pro-choice stance on abortion and an affirmative action policy to give all women equality of access. Women from working-class backgrounds are at a distinct
disadvantage.
Their policy calls for increasing women's income levels and education, and breaking down stereotypical images of their role in society.
According to Jackson, the Greens realise that legislation on its own will change little; activism is also an essential part of bringing about change. However, he believes that activism on its own will achieve little. Legislation is needed to stop catastrophes such as dumping of oil in Port Phillip Bay.
The WA Greens place strong emphasis on mobilising communities around local campaigns, such as garbage disposal, and fighting for more community facilities such as public swimming pools.
Jackson says there is also a need for community activists to work to change people's attitudes on issues such as race. Problems like racism can only partially be addressed through legislation.
The Greens recognise that the parliamentary system doesn't currently serve the interests of the majority in society. "Our long-term plan is a reduction of government away from a centralist to a decentralised system". They want to give more power to local government, which will allow the community input into decision making.
In the short term the Greens see reform of the Legislative Council as essential to making parliament more democratic. Jackson proposes having a single house of parliament which incorporates the concept of proportional representation. "This would break down the duopoly of Labor and Liberal" and give smaller parties a real opportunity to make an impact.
"Both the major parties have outgrown their usefulness", says Jackson. He sees a need for alliances of those genuine about building a political alternative.