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The co-founder of the Australian Greens Drew Hutton is considering his legal and political options after he was officially expelled from the party over what it considers his pursuit of debate harmful to trans people. Hutton, however, has framed it as an issue of free speech.
The story of Hutton’s termination began in 2022 when he took to Facebook with a series of posts and comments, weighing into moves to annul the election of the state convener in Victoria and expel a member from the New South Wales party over what the Greens deemed to be their transphobic comments and writings. Hutton labelled those moves “authoritarian and antidemocratic”.
The party’s constitution and arbitration committee found that while Hutton himself had not demeaned trans people, he had provided a platform for others to do.
Hutton, who has drawn on the written support of both the Greens’ first and second national leaders, Bob Brown and Christine Milne, issued his own statement saying that the party he founded had “lost its way”.
The Australian Greens leader, Larissa Waters, has backed the expulsion of Hutton, saying it reflected “good governance” and sent the message that “nobody is above the rules”.
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In pictures
Sheep and dog competitions, shearing, fashion, craft and food were all part of the 25th Australian Sheep and Wool Show held in Bendigo over the weekend.
What they said …
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“Getting an education shouldn’t mean a lifetime of debt.”
Anthony Albanese says Labor’s bill to cut Hecs debts will be first on his government’s agenda when parliament resumes on Tuesday, saying “getting an education shouldn’t mean a lifetime of debt”. We hear the legislation will be introduced midweek into parliament, and while the Coalition say they haven’t seen the bill yet, it’s expected they might support the change.
In numbers
An Oxfam charity store in Hove, England received the trove which according to one staff member spanned a wide range of topics including philosophy, art, religion and fiction paperbacks. A few of the books even have ephemera used as bookmarks, including old plane tickets, a crushed cigarette packet and an old envelope bearing the words “Lukes tooth”.
Before bed read
The Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian has appealed against her narrow loss to Nicolette Boele in Bradfield to the court of disputed returns. Voters deserve to know the fight is being resolved with the fairness integral to Australian elections and decoding a voter’s poor handwriting is subjective, writes Simon Jackman, who makes the case to enlist AI to help.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: NAG. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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