SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Still think Greens Leader Adam Bandt and co are just benign tree-huggers? Think again

Just over a week ago, war memorials in Canberra were vandalised by pro-Palestinian activists.

Subsequently, Parliament considered motions to condemn the vandalism of sites dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Australia.

Unanimous support, you would think? Wrong. If you thought that, then you don’t understand the extremism of the Greens.

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie moved the Senate motion of condemnation. This was no stitch-up. Jacqui is one of the most determined veteran advocates in the Parliament.

Senator Lambie’s motion identified that the vandalism was insulting to our current and former serving personnel and undermines the significance of these memorials as a symbol of national pride and remembrance.

Yet the Greens voted against condemning this vandalism and in defence of these abhorrent acts. Greens deputy leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi went so far as to call it “some paint on a building”.

The decision to vote in support of such vandalism is telling and deserves highlighting to the many Australians who innocently vote for the Greens thinking of them as well-meaning environmentalists.

If that wasn’t enough to get you thinking, then take the interview of Greens Senator Faruqi on ABC’s Insiders program on the weekend.

We all know that Hamas is the listed terrorist organisation that committed the atrocities of October 7 — beheading, murdering and raping innocent babies, teenagers, the elderly, and entire families — and have publicly stated that they would do it again.

When asked if Hamas should be dismantled or removed any reasonable person would expect the answer to be unquestionably, yes, right? Wrong, again, at least in the eyes of the Greens.

Not once, not twice, but six times Senator Faruqi was asked that question and each time avoided giving a direct answer.

In reality, a vote for the Greens is a vote empowering extremism.

Australians should be prompted by these latest outrageous acts by the Greens to look deeper and think again. Because they will discover many disturbing Greens policies that are hidden under the veneer of caring for the environment.

Here are just a few I am almost willing to bet you didn’t know about.

The Greens policy calling for “abolishing the private health insurance rebate” — meaning more expensive health insurance and more pressure on our public hospitals.

The Greens policy to decriminalise hard drugs that says the “use of illegal drugs should not fall within the criminal framework”.

The Greens policy to “scale down” funding to non-government schools, meaning parents would have fewer options of schools for their children and higher school fees.

And the Greens’ policy for defence to be cut by over 30 per cent and to “renegotiate the US alliance”. Yes, you read that right.

My advice as we head towards an election in less than a year is to consider who you want to govern Australia.

Don’t like Liberals? Then vote Labor. Don’t like Labor? Then vote Liberal. But make a choice; don’t sit on the fence.

Many commentators are speculating the number of independent and Greens candidates to increase come the next election which could see Anthony Albanese looking to do a deal with some to govern.

Voting for minor parties or independents might get individuals elected but it will not put those parties in a position to govern.

Think about that. The essential things that matter to all of us — health care, education, housing and the cost of living cannot effectively be addressed if a Parliament is forced to a standstill by competing priorities.

For decades we have seen Labor making preference deals with the Greens. If you take a look at election results, in most cases of Labor or Greens held seats you will see that one used the preferences of the other to get elected.

It is important to mention this preferencing because the time will come for the Prime Minister and Labor to decide if they want to do a deal with the Greens.

The offensiveness and extreme nature of the Greens’ positions should have already seen Anthony Albanese rule out preferencing the Greens so that Labor no longer helps to put such views in Parliament.

Failing to take such action amounts to an admission by Albanese that his political priorities take preference over those that avoid empowering extreme views.

A minority government, let alone one reliant on individuals from parties with extreme views, is the last thing we need in our Parliament or for Australia.