Amanda Blackburn and Bruce Stone, Political Science,
University of Western Australia
Environmentalism, conservative politics, minor parties and
electoral competition in Australia: The case of the Liberals for Forests
It is known that there are large numbers of environmentalists among Liberal-National
voters. However, the lack of importance of environmentalism in influencing voter
behaviour, compared with socio-economic ideologies and issues, means that such
voters are unlikely to desert the Liberals and Nationals for those parties on
the left of Australian politics which have been the most successful in marketing
an image of environmental concern. Given the balance of influences on the vote,
Liberal and National vulnerability on environmental issues would seem to be
most exploitable by a right of centre environmental party were one to emerge.
This paper examines the case of the Western Australian based ‘liberals for forests’,
a rare example of just such a party, which had a considerable measure of success
in Western Australian elections early in 2001. The origins and nature of the
Party, which created its unique appeal, are discussed, followed by its campaign
strategy, constraints on its campaign and the extent to which its electoral
objectives were attained. Then, within limits determined by the aggregate data,
the paper explores the proposition that the LFF was able to exploit a gap in
the political market-place for a right of centre environmental party and that
it succeeded in siphoning off a significant share of the Liberal vote. Alternative
explanations for the LFF’s performance are also examined, in particular that
it may have benefited from undifferentiated support for green parties at the
state election or that its appeal had little to do with its anti-logging message
but instead reflected Liberal voters’ disaffection with the Liberal Party. These
are found to be less plausible than the primary hypothesis. In general, the
paper supports the notion that environmental issues have the potential to be
electorally salient, in a positive sense, on the right as well as the left of
Australian politics.
Email: bmstone@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Nick Economou, School of Political and Social Inquiry,
Monash University
'Green' performance in Australian federal elections: Much
ado about nothing?
Amongst the many features of the 2001 federal election that have interested
post-poll commentators was an emerging perception that the Greens had done very
well in this contest. This perception was based on a number of factors, including
the re-election of prominent Green senator Dr Bob Brown, a very spectacular
primary vote for the Greens in at least one federal electorate (the seat of
Melbourne), and the election of a new Green senator from New South Wales. These
examples of electoral success appear to add grist to the mill of those who see
Green politics as the harbinger of the 'new politics' that will challenge the
predominance of Australia's two-party system. This paper seeks to challenge
this view and try to place the 2001 Green performance in to a more realistic
context. It does so by, first, exploring the structure and dynamics of 'green'
politics and its impact on national elections, and, second, by examining the
features of the 2001 result and comparing it with green performances in previous
elections. While conceding that 'green' politics has achieved some significant
successes in the context of being part of the minor party system, this paper
argues that these achievements have been limited and fall far short of representing
a major challenge to the two-party system.
Email: Nick.Economou@arts.monash.edu.au
Fred P Gale, School of Government, University of Tasmania
The politicization of market Instruments for ecological sustainability:
The case of Voluntary Forest Certification in Canada
Voluntary environmental certification and labelling of products is a market-based
instrument to promote sustainability. Such certification schemes are designed
to provide consumers with information about a product's impact on the environment.
They can also function to promote market access for producers working in environmentally
sustainable niche markets (i.e. organics). In the 1990s, certification and labelling
was promoted by environmental organisations to promote better forest management
practices. At the same time, forest certification became politicized as different
schemes were developed by different interest groups and governments and each
vied with each other over the forest management standards to be applied and
the processes by which certification and labelling could be granted. This paper
examines the Canadian forest certification case, showing how a market-based
instrument of sustainability became quickly politicized by federal and state
governments acting in the interests of themselves and the wider forest industry.
Grant Jones and Jenny Stewart, University of Canberra
The emergence of environmental governance
Are we seeing the beginnings of a form of environmental governance in Australia?
This is one of the themes of our forthcoming book Renegotiating the Environment,
to be published early next year by Federation Press. Governance in this context
involves the sharing of responsibility for environmental outcomes between government,
business and the community. The paper is based on nine case studies falling
into the broad categories of forestry, river management and urban development.
Each case involves making policy and management choices about how particular
parts of the environment are to be used —the balance to be struck between
conservation, development and recreational use. Our analysis follows the pathways
to resolution and shows how the deep political structure of each situation influences
the decision making process and fashions the outcome. We argue that there are
signs of an emergent model of natural resource governance that may command more
stakeholder acceptance than orthodox approaches to improving sustainability.
However, for this kind of governance to develop, new approaches to public management
and accountability will be required.
Email: jbs@management.canberra.edu.au
This site maintained by Phil Griffiths. This page updated 30 September 2002