Greens enter Wentworth battle

The Greens have announced a female candidate for the seat of Wentworth and will direct preferences to Labor in the hotly contested local race.
Susan Jarnason, a drug health nurse at Kings Cross, said the Greens had matured into a party with over 170 detailed policies that reflected a commitment to a fair and equal society.
“We decided to preference Labor, not because there’s a lot of difference between their policies at the moment, but because we’re really committed to getting rid of the Howard Government,” Jarnason said.
Civil liberties have been eroded under this Government, she said, which made it essential to have a conscience in the Parliament – but it wouldn’t be the opposition.
“The Greens stand for no discrimination, equal opportunity – whereas only three years ago the two major parties passed a bill against equality,” she said.
In her experience the city-side of Wentworth was most concerned about industrial relations and gay rights, which became personal to Jarnason after a friend had to go overseas to get married.
She said it was up to areas like the inner-city, with large representations of gay couples, to be a role model for the rest of the country – which includes voting with their conscience.
“I think our democracy is strong in Wentworth because the gay community has such a strong voice and that’s not the case in many parts of Australia,” she said.
“Although I feel like the gay community is empowered in this area, I think it’s very much an issue about civil liberties,” she said.
During her 17 years in the Green movement, Jarnason has seen the party’s fortune rise as Labor and Democrat voters demanded a more principled stance.
“I don’t think we celebrated [the Democrats’] demise in any way, but it did advantage us. But to see a left-leaning party go was really unfortunate,” she said.
It was the example of Senator Kerry Nettle, Jarnason said, that showed Australians that effective action can be taken by minor parties.
She cited cities around the world where the Greens have influenced climate change debates that impacted the whole country.
“We have demonstrated that we have a role being the conscience of the other parties and really pushing for integrity in Parliament and making sure the rights of Australians are looked after, particularly the groups at risk.”