Why did the greens form?

The Australian Greens, often simply called the Greens, is an Australian political party. It was initially established in 1992 following a two-day conference in Canberra attended by 350 delegates sent from state and territory Green groups and the Tasmanian Greens.

At the time of its formation, the Greens were seen as an alternative to the traditional two-party system and attracted support from people with concerns about the environment and social justice issues. The party has experienced several periods of growth in its popularity, particularly during the 1990s and early 2010s. However, it has also faced challenges, including competition from other small parties, internal conflicts, and a lack of electoral success at the national level. Despite these challenges, the Greens remain an influential force in Australian politics and continue to attract support from a diverse range of voters.

Here are some specific factors that contributed to the formation of the Australian Greens:

1. The rise of environmentalism: The 1980s saw growing public awareness and concern about environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation, and climate change. This led to the emergence of various environmental activist groups and movements in Australia, which ultimately contributed to the formation of the Greens.

2. Disillusionment with traditional politics: Many people felt that the existing two-party system had failed to adequately address environmental issues and other social concerns. They were looking for a new political alternative that would take action on these matters, which contributed to the support for the Greens as a third party.

3. The Tasmanian Greens: The Greens have their origins in the Tasmanian Greens, which was formed in 1972 as a state political party in response to environmental issues such as the proposal to build a dam in the Franklin River National Park. The success of the Tasmanian Greens provided a model and inspiration for the formation of the Australian Greens at the national level.

4. Electoral success of minor parties: In the lead-up to the formation of the Greens, several small parties, including the Australian Democrats, had electoral success in Australia, particularly at the federal level. This showed that there was a potential space for alternative parties in the political landscape and offered encouragement to the Greens to contest elections at the national level.

5. The Canberra convention: The decision to create a national Greens party was made at a conference held in Canberra in July 1992. The conference brought together delegates from various Green groups and activists, who agreed on the formation of the Australian Greens and endorsed its founding principles and policies.