LNP state conference: Adrian Schrinner labels Greens ‘most divisive force in Australian politics’

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says he plans to shine a light on “most destructive and divisive force in Australian politics” in the lead up to next year’s council election.

• Sri’s tilt at top job

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has slammed the Greens as the “most destructive and divisive force in Australian politics” as he rallied the LNP to stay focused on winning next year’s council election.

Mr Schrinner will today use a key speech delivered at the party’s state conference in Brisbane to paint the Greens as “the ultimate con artists” – and claim a Labor/Greens alliance victory next March would cause “chaos”.

Calling the future of the Brisbane City Council at a “critical turning point”, Mr Schrinner said “after almost 100 years of progress and stability” the March election could lay the groundwork for the city’s future.

“For the very first time in the City’s history, Labor enters an election incapable of forming a majority in its own right,” he said.

“Over the course of many years, Labor in Council have ceded ground they would normally hold to the Greens.

“They’ve created a vacuum on the left, and the Greens have filled the void.

“What this now means, is that Labor’s only real path to victory … is through an alliance with the Greens.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the future of Brisbane City Council is at a ‘critical turning point’. Picture: John Gass

Mr Schrinner urged the party to keep the spotlight on the Greens and their policies in the run-up to the March election, describing their agenda as “fraudulent and highly destructive”.

“And until now, nobody has invested any real effort or resources into fighting the Greens.

“While the major parties focus on each other, the Greens have had a rails run.

“For the first time in a major election campaign we’ll be shining a very bright spotlight on what they really stand for.

“This election will be the first where The Greens finally receive genuine scrutiny.”

The most powerful elected Liberal leader on the Australian mainland was also critical of the state Labor government, slamming their inaction on re-purposing the Pinkenba quarantine facility into crisis accommodation, and slow movement on much-needed inner-city transport projects.

“A Green/Labor alliance won’t solve the housing crisis,” he said.

They will make it significantly worse, condemning more people to longer waiting queues for housing and making homelessness much worse.”

“Meanwhile – in the midst of the housing crisis – we’re still waiting for state government approval for our Kurilpa plan.

“Brisbane’s future is just too important to hand over to a destructive Labor/Green alliance.”