Politics

‘Which pollies should we target?’ Activists take aim at hard-right MPs

Jan 07, 2019

GetUp asked voters: "Which hard right MP do you want to see out of Parliament?" Source: Getty/Shutterstock.

Activist group GetUp has launched an online poll, asking Aussie voters to choose which “hard-right politicians” they would like to see booted out of parliament at the upcoming federal election.

The group, who describe themselves as being “powered by the values and hopes of everyday people”, pulled together a shortlist of 18 politicians who they believe have no place in government due to their “hard-right” views.

GetUp then asked Australians to select the three right-leaning MPs they would most like to see targeted in their federal election campaign, as voters prepare to head to the ballot box in May.

“The hard right of the Coalition are holding back progress on the issues that matter most,” the call to action reads. “Whether it’s action on climate change, or evacuating the camps on Manus and Nauru – we won’t see the change we need while the hard right still has power.

“GetUp’s gearing up to take on hard right MPs in the upcoming federal election. And we need your help deciding who to target.”

The website was launched after a recent survey of GetUp’s members found that 92 per cent wanted the organisation to target politicians standing in the way of progress on the issues they cared about.

Pollies named in the round-up include Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, due to his desire to “abandon the Paris Agreement”, his ministerial responsibilities for Manus and Nauru and the failed leadership coup he launched against then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in August last year.

Voters can also bid for the targeting of current Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with the group focusing on his policies of cuts to the ABC, opposition to marriage equality, turning back the boats and his comments regarding school children after he told young strikers protesting inaction on climate change to be “less activist” in November.

Several other cabinet ministers also made the cut, including Health Minister Greg Hunt, Minister for Defence Industry Steve Ciobo, Attorney-General Christian Porter and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott was also nominated thanks to his stance on climate change, which he said was “probably doing good”, offshore detention and marriage equality. While ex-deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce found his way onto the list for a number of reasons, including his backing of the Adani coal mine.

Following his removal from power in August, Turnbull called out his predecessor Abbott for his right-wing views on same-sex marriage during a speech at an event in Manhattan.

First speaking about Julia Gillard, the former Liberal leader said while he admired the 27th prime minister, she was strong in her belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman, the ABC reports.

Turnbull then said: “Any my predecessor and opponent in the Liberal Party, Tony Abbott – who’s sort of a right-wing character, to say the least – he had the same view.”