Voters swing away from Greens, despite Adam Bandt's re-election

Updated

While the Greens are celebrating the re-election of Deputy Leader Adam Bandt in the seat of Melbourne, results from the rest of the country have not lived up to the party's hopes.

There has been a 3.3 per cent swing against the Greens across the country, with the biggest damage done in the party's heartland of Tasmania.

Nationally the vote dropped from more than 11 per cent to just under 8.5 per cent and commentators suggest the party should be disappointed in the result.

Last night former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke said the party has some serious reflecting to do.

"They really do have to have - as does Labor - they have to have a very good look at themselves," he said.

"Because as one of the outstanding features of tonight, is the way they've been smashed."

Liberal Party power broker Michael Kroger told Sky News: "The Greens have been smashed all over the country."

"What's happened with the Greens is they've put all their resources into Melbourne to hold that seat and they, typical of the Greens, this inner-city obsession, they've lost complete interest or understanding of what's happened in the rest of the country," he said.

Greens hope to retain seats

The Greens' remaining hopes now rest on the outcome in the Senate where they are hoping to retain several seats in other states.

Former leader of the Greens Bob Brown told the ABC that fewer votes had not translated to a loss of seats.

He pointed to a "very feisty performance" by Sarah Hanson-Young.

"Antony Green predicted she would lose in South Australia but the polls are looking like she's going to retain that seat," he said.

"Same with Scott Ludlam in Western Australia. [We have a] new seat for Janette Rice. Peter Whish-Wilson is home and hosed in Tasmania."

Party leader Christine Milne was buoyed by Mr Bandt's victory and confident about the party's prospects in the Senate.

"I think Adam's win in Melbourne and the strong vote that we've seen for Greens across Victoria will see that realised," she said.

"I've said all through the campaign that I thought we could pick up another Senate seat in Victoria with Janet Rice.

"It's really an exciting time for us. Adam has run a fantastic campaign.

"We argued that Melbourne made history last time and that we could do it again. And to do it again in the face of such a swing to the conservatives is pretty terrific."

Ms Milne suggested the Labor party is partly to blame for the Greens' result.

"You know so many good things came out of this period but it was damaged by the fact that the community had this unrelenting negative attack from Abbott but Labor allowed it to happen by virtue of their own internal difficulties," she said.

Australians have voted for a 'mean' government

The Greens say they are confident voters will return to the party once they have experienced a Coalition government.

Mr Brown told the ABC he thought Tony Abbott's Government would be "mean".

"I think we're going to see a government that's going to put a wrecking ball through the environment," he said.

"Tony Abbott has promised he's going to try to lift World Heritage off the world's tallest forest here in Tasmania.

"The Barrier Reef's at great threat with dredging spoil going into the Barrier Reef World Heritage area.

"We're going to see open go on coal seam gas and open-cut coal mining.

"I think we'll see privatisation and cutbacks across the board.

Mr Brown said the Australian people were responsible for their government.

"People have voted for this," he said.

"Yesterday was a celebration of democracy. Australians have voted for it with their eyes wide open."

Topics: federal-elections, greens, melbourne-3000, australia

First posted