Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sarah Hanson-Young on why progressives need to ‘take on’ One Nation
The Greens’ longest serving federal politician said politics ‘isn’t working’ for ordinary voters and all parties need to do better at addressing their grievances.
Sarah Hanson-Young, a veteran Australian politician and leader of the Greens, discussed the current state of politics with The Conversation's politics podcast. Having served for 15 years, she compared the current term with the Albanese government's first three years, noting increased negotiation with the government due to the balance of power in the Senate.
Hanson-Young emphasized the Greens' philosophy of "getting stuff done," with new leader Larissa Waters aiming to achieve tangible results. However, recent legislation like gambling and National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms demonstrated the Greens' struggle against vested interests, as they chose the Coalition over the Greens.
Voter disillusionment, driven by the cost-of-living crisis, has led to a fragmented political landscape in Australia. The Greens' leader highlighted the frustration of people who feel the system is failing them, particularly the most vulnerable. As a result, some Australians are turning to One Nation, which Hanson argued is not only a threat to major parties but also to the type of nation Australians desire.
She criticized Pauline Hanson for not addressing genuine grievances and for targeting vulnerable groups, suggesting progressives should confront Hanson and her supporters rather than "taking her on."
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
