Some facts about the new Greens leader: a champion of science

Australia’s federal parliament may have lost a “tireless” climate campaigner with the resignation of Greens leader and federal Senator Christine Milne, but in the new leader of the Australian Greens it will gain a much needed champion of science.

Former GP and public health specialist Richard di Natale has been elected as the new leader for the Australian Greens, just hours after Milne announced her retirement from the role on Wednesday.

In a statement to reporters directly after the vote, Di Natale described the Greens as “the natural home to progressive, mainstream Australian voters.”

And in response to questions about whether the party would now be more amenable to working with the Abbott government, he said this:

“I’m going to talk to (Tony Abbott) and see if there’s areas where there’s common ground. Sadly I don’t think there are many.”

A member of the Victorian Greens, Di Natale was elected to the Australian Senate in the 2010 federal election, since which time he has secured and spearheaded Senate inquiries into many significant science-based public health policies, including wind farms and climate change.

On climate, di Natale on Wednesday acknowledged Milne’s role as “chief architect” of the (now largely dismantled) clean energy laws that passed through parliament under Labor’s Gillard government, and assured Greens supporters that he would keep up the fight:

“There are 11 members of our party room, with me as leader of that party, who will be doing everything we can to ensure that this country once again starts to do what is our moral responsibility, what is our social responsibility, what is our economic duty and that is to start taking tough action on climate change.”

More broadly, though, he has made his opinions on the importance of science – as well as his disappointment at how it has been misappropriated and distorted in the Australian parliament – very clear.

In a 2013 speech (see video below) during a Senate debate over wind farms and their effects on human health – a bill, he described as “largely the product of …mischief by vested interests” – di Natale lamented the “paradoxical” fact that as our lives became more dependent on science and technology, its status in the public debate was being eroded.

“What we are debating today are matters of scientific fact—are wind farms noisy, how much acoustic energy do they introduce into the environment, does that energy have a direct impact on the human body that can lead to health problems? These are not political questions; they are questions of empirical fact.

“Science is the pursuit of truth; the pursuit of knowledge. As a scientist by training I have always respected, indeed have been in awe of, the scientific method and what it has achieved for the human race. The results are all around us. In a few generations, in the blink of history’s eye, we have seen air travel, electric power and instantaneous global communication all move from the miraculous to the routine.

You’d be hard-pressed finding another pollie who can engage with science on this level in parl http://t.co/JZd8FTSPuE pic.twitter.com/5LsqX6sF8z

Di Natale was also instrumental in the campaign that resulted in the federal government’s Future Fund divesting from tobacco – an experience that might prove useful as the campaign for divestment in fossil fuel assets gains momentum in Australia.

Di Natale is also the Chair of the Senate Select Committee into the Abbott Government’s Budget Cuts and Deputy Chair of the Senate Select Committee into Health.

He is the co-convenor of the Parliamentary Friends for Drug Policy and Law Reform, the Parliamentary Friends of West Papua and the Parliamentary Friends of Medicine.

Comments

9 responses to “Some facts about the new Greens leader: a champion of science”

  1. lin Avatar
    lin

    Thanks Sophie. It is always sad to see a good leader depart, but perhaps the new team will be able to translate the large percentage of people who are well aligned with the Greens science and evidence backed policies (as demonstrated by the ABC vote compass) into enough votes to worry the major parties into representing their electorates. Or even better, hold power and force positive change in their own right.

  2. Rob G Avatar
    Rob G

    For a parliament that is in desperate short supply of scientific minds this is a very welcome move from the Greens. A change may make many who have pigeon-holed views of the Greens, rethink their position – especially if they are not happy with the 2 major parties. Dr. Di Natale comes across as intelligent and sensible – something that is almost non-existent in the current government front bench. I did like Milne and her frequent calling out of Abbott’s government. But now with new blood I think will see a lift in Green votes.

    Love the new toilet paper! Hope that one goes viral.

  3. Motorshack Avatar
    Motorshack

    I watched the video above, all 20 minutes of it, and I have to say that it was quite weird to hear a politician who actually makes sense. No meaningless soundbites, no deliberately distorted logic, no appeals to nasty emotions like racism. Just a straightforward analysis based upon carefully established empirical facts. What a concept.

    Unfortunately he’s almost certainly just the exception who proves the rule, so, as a species, I still think we’re doomed to make the planet uninhabitable for ourselves (and countless other species).

    Basically Dr. Di Natale reminds me of the orchestra on the Titanic – doing a very competent job, even as the ship is about to up-end and head straight for the bottom.

    1. Alan S Avatar
      Alan S

      Mark Parnell talks in a similar fashion and sends prompt and sensible replies to queries. It must be a green thing.

  4. David K Clarke Avatar
    David K Clarke

    If only this country had more parliamentarians with a combination of understanding of science, critical thinking ability and ethical standards; such as Richard.

  5. onesecond Avatar
    onesecond

    Vote Green! Nuff said.

  6. Alan S Avatar
    Alan S

    .As a scientist I guess he can explain why some of us walk erect and others still drag their knuckles. BTW – the photo of the book replacing toilet paper could be misinterpreted by some.

    1. Petra Liverani Avatar
      Petra Liverani

      Only if they don’t know who the IPA is.

  7. Jason Avatar
    Jason

    I’m joining the Green party. They are the only ones who seem to have a understanding of the context of our collective situation and aren’t completely corrupted by mining money. … and can speak up for common sense!!!

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