Greens Surge in Ryan

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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Saturday, 17 March 2001

Greens Surge in Ryan

Brown predicts 2-5 Greens Senate seats 

The Greens vote of 6.3% in the Ryan by-election shows the recent surge in
support for the Greens is continuing, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.

"On these figures the Greens would win a Senate seat in Queensland for
starters and could win between 2-5 Senate seats after the Federal election
later this year," Senator Brown said.

"This great Greens result continues on from the WA and Queensland state
elections and shows that the increased Greens vote at state level is
translating nationally.

"The Greens polled 3.6% in Ryan at the 1998 federal election while the
Democrats polled 8%, so the jump to 6.3% this time for the Greens is
fantastic.

"Environment and social justice issues are back on the agenda.  The major
parties are going to have to take note of these concerns.

"The Greens directed their preferences to Labor in this by-election
following the ALP's breakthrough commitments to stop land clearing
nationally.  The Democrats did not preference Labor.

"If Labor wins Ryan it will be because of the Greens preferences but if the
Liberals win it will because of the Democrats decision to direct some of
their preferences to the Howard Government candidate.

Further information: Ben Oquist 02 62773170 or 0419704095


Senate Brown will hold a media conference in Canberra on Sunday afternoon to
comment further on the results.


Ben Oquist
Greens Senator Bob Brown
02 62773170 ph
02 62773185 fx
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