Green party leader urges radical shift, calls for ‘taking on’ populist right

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, is urging his Australian counterparts to embrace the anger of the electorate and learn from the persuasive tactics of the populist right – specifically, the strategy employed by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Acknowledge the discontent – it’s a strategic imperative

Speaking via video link at the Victorian Greens campaign conference, Polanski argued that the Australian party needs to directly confront One Nation, mirroring the approach his own party adopted against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. He’s not advocating for gentle engagement; he's suggesting a deliberate, forceful response.

Polanski’s assessment isn’t theoretical. He pointed out the right’s demonstrable success in harnessing public anger, stating, “They’ve been very, very good at connecting to people’s anger, fuelling it, and that makes things happen quicker.” The key, he contends, is not to shy away from this sentiment, but to truly understand its roots.

Listening, not dismissing, is the path forward

“Progressives have a responsibility not to fuel that anger,” Polanski declared, “but they should be listening and talking about it.” He dismissed the notion of a rapid, hopeful rush to solutions, arguing that such a tactic often fails to resonate with a population increasingly disillusioned. It’s a crucial distinction – acknowledging the pain, validating the struggle, and then offering tangible solutions collaboratively.

Separating leaders from ideologies

Polanski’s advice extends beyond individual politicians. He urged a critical separation between the leaders of right-wing parties and the voters who might be drawn to them. “I would imagine that a lot of people who are thinking about voting for them could actually be Green voters,” he observed. “They are people who are rejecting establishment politics, who want to see something different – who might have issues with some of your policies – but actually on those core messages around cost of living, around inequality, those are the things that they are worried about.”

A tactical adjustment, not a fundamental shift

The Green Party’s recent electoral successes in England and Wales, coupled with Reform UK's rising prominence, underscore the urgency of this shift. Ellen Sandell, the Victorian Greens leader, highlighted the challenge: “The situation is similar in Australia, with the party grappling with how to be ‘the antidote to disillusionment’ without ‘beating up’ and giving air time to One Nation.” Polanski’s response suggests a more assertive approach: “For a long time I didn’t want to give any air time to Reform and actually just wanted to focus on our hopeful alternative,” he admitted, but now suggests a calculated confrontation is necessary.

Hope and a plan: a necessary combination

While acknowledging the undeniable power of hope, Polanski cautioned against presenting it as a simplistic panacea. “There reaches a point, though – and I imagine from the way you describe One Nation, you might have reached that point already – where they are dominating the news agenda or, far too often, other political parties are constantly dancing to their tune.” He stressed the need to directly challenge their narrative.

Reframing the conversation

“It is a little bit like when you have a friend and you are annoyed about something,” Polanski explained, drawing a relatable analogy. “If someone immediately starts to jump to what you can do about it, sometimes it feels like they haven’t really heard you. Whereas if they can give you a moment to be really annoyed about something, to vent about something, to hold that space and then offer solutions together, that’s a really powerful experience – and I think it is exactly the same at the macro level in politics.”

The bottom line: action, not just words

Ultimately, Polanski’s message is clear: Don't offer platitudes. Engage with the anger, understand the anxieties, and then – and only then – present a concrete, actionable plan. The current political landscape demands more than just wishful thinking; it demands a reckoning.