The leader of the UK Green Party has advised their Australian counterparts to engage with public anger, as a conservative campaign targets the party over sexual misconduct allegations. The advice comes amid a sustained advertising blitz by the right-wing group Advance, which has been running ads during cricket broadcasts featuring quotes from alleged victims of sexual abuse within the Australian Greens.
Advance's ad, which began airing over the summer, shows anonymous silhouettes of women claiming they were 'belittled, silenced and victim-blamed' and that the party 'knew about my alleged sexual predator and did nothing'. The group says the ad has reached 3.4 million video plays on digital TV and over a million people on social media, alongside 70 billboards in metropolitan areas across several states.
Advance spokesperson Sandra Bourke defended the campaign, stating that 'accusations and revelations about serious sexual misconduct and bullying inside the Greens have been going on for years'. She claimed the party has been inundated with stories from former members and supporters, and that the campaign has contributed to a drop in Greens support in recent polls.
Recent polling shows a decline in Greens support, particularly among younger voters. A Resolve Political Monitor survey found support among 18- to 34-year-olds fell from 27% to 23%, while Newspoll data showed national support dropping from 13% to 12% in the last quarter of 2024.
The UK Green leader's comments suggest a need for the party to address voter sentiment more effectively, though no specific details of the advice were provided. The Australian Greens have faced ongoing scrutiny over workplace culture and handling of complaints, which Advance's campaign has sought to amplify.
