James Campbell: Anti-war rally scenes reveal Greens happy to hang out with thugs

The fact that NSW Senator Greens David Shoebridge thinks it’s a good idea to front a mob of anti-war protesters shows how far the party has drifted from the Bob Brown era of the 1990s.

You’d think it was obvious, wouldn’t you, that no MP should be anywhere near a “protest” where the organisers are calling for people to turn up wearing masks?

Especially if this “protest” came after days which had seen acid, horse manure, glass bottles and a can of baked beans thrown at police and their horses.

The fact that NSW Senator Greens David Shoebridge thinks it’s a good idea to front this mob shows how far the party has drifted from the Bob Brown era of the 1990s.

Many people witnessing the violence that occurred outside the Melbourne Convention centre could have been forgiven for thinking it appeared to come out of nowhere.

But with hindsight it was the inevitable end point of the growing radicalisation of the anti-Israel protest movement.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge visits protesters at the anti-war rally outside the weapons expo. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

For almost a year Labor MPs have complained the Greens calls to protest outside their offices amount to an effective endorsement of attempts to physically intimidate them as they go about their work.

In April two of Cooper MP’s Ged Kearney’s staff were injured and one called a bitch when protesters stormed an event she was holding with Energy Minister of Australia Chris Bowen at the Thornbury theatre.

Many people witnessing the violence that occurred outside the Melbourne Convention centre could have been forgiven for thinking it appeared to come out of nowhere. Picture: Getty Images

On that occasion there were Greens activists and former candidates were present at the protest, just state MP Gabrielle de Vietri and Senator Shoebridge were on hand this week.

Which is why Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was right on Friday when he said “Greens addressing the protesters today is licensing the violence that has occurred and right too when he said “this year, we have watched the Greens throw their lot in with thuggery time and time again.”

If there is any comfort to be taken from this sorry episode it is that everyone can see that though they want to be treated as a respectable mainstream party, they’re happy to hang out with thugs.

Originally published as James Campbell: Anti-war rally scenes reveal Greens happy to hang out with thugs