Who’s behind ‘Greens Info’, the attack ad linked to a state-owned house?
By Rachael Dexter and Tom Cowie
We’ve finally made it – voting ends at 6pm on Friday in Victoria’s 2024 local government elections. It’s like Christmas, except the present under the tree is 79 newly elected councils.
This will be the last edition of Ward Games before polls close. We’ve had fun reporting on the antics of this campaign – keep an eye out for a post-results column with all the wash-up of who won and lost.
And don’t stop with the tips – we appreciated everyone who has taken time to get in touch: rachael.dexter@theage.com.au and tom.cowie@theage.com.au.
EAT YOUR GREENS
An attack ad from “Greens Info”.
There’s the dark arts, and then there’s 90 per cent cocoa dark arts.
Mystery surrounds a cashed-up anti-Greens attack outfit called “Greens Info”, which has appeared online in the past two weeks and thrown serious money at negative ads highlighting the Greens’ internal controversies.
The ads, on Facebook and Instagram, direct voters to a website with a forest-green-coloured background that lists news articles about Greens party scandals, reminding voters “this council election, remember – no one’s above accountability”.
A very similar outfit appeared at the state election, weighing into the battle for Northcote between Labor MP Kat Theophanous and Greens candidate Campbell Gome with social media posts, a website and posters authorised by the ALP.
Meta’s backend shows that about $20,000 has been spent on the ads targeting people between 18 and 40 years old in 16 postcodes inside the City of Melbourne’s boundaries. That’s serious coin.
In fact, the page has beaten the Victorian Electoral Commission’s $17,000 ad spend in the past 30 days.
The only election-related page that has spent more is current Lord Mayor Nick Reece, whose “Get Good Done” campaign has dropped $44,000 in the past month. His main rival, Arron Wood, has spent just $7771.
So, who’s behind it this time? That’s where things get even weirder.
The “Greens Info” website includes an authorisation address that is state-owned housing in Ascot Vale.
We’re not going to describe it for safety reasons, but it’s not the kind of place you would imagine being involved in such political games.
Now, the housing minister’s office has categorically denied the website is linked to them. We know authorisation addresses can be gamed – we’ve heard of some linked to vacant blocks of land.
A phone number for “Greens Info” rings out, and we’ve had no response from the outfit’s email address.
We asked Labor HQ, and the teams running the campaigns for the leading lord mayoral candidates, and no one is owning up.
CHAMBER POT
Speaking of Town Hall, we’re not going to predict the outcome of that race. But at least one candidate is burning some bridges.
Outside contender Jamal Hakim has cut loose at the big end of town – accusing his main rivals Reece and Wood of “incestuous relationships” and “quid pro quo politics” with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
City of Melbourne councillor an mayoral candidate Jamal Hakim fared well from preference deals.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
The chamber is a vocal lobby group in the City of Melbourne and a key influencer at election time, not least because businesses are entitled to two votes.
What’s Hakim’s gripe?
The Reece campaign in July announced a board called Melbourne 3000. Its purpose would be to “ensure our city’s status as the business, cultural and events capital of Australia remains unrivalled” and would be chaired by the chamber’s chief executive, Paul Guerra.
Then in October, Wood promised a taskforce that would provide guidance to the council so it stops “stymieing businesses”.
And who would chair it? You guessed it: Guerra.
The 2024 Victorian Chamber of Commerce lord mayoral candidate scorecard.Credit: Victorian Chamber of Commerce
The chamber refused to engage with Hakim’s allegations, with a spokeswoman for Guerra saying “we won’t be responding to this”.
Wood snagged the VCCI’s valuable endorsement last week via its “candidate scorecard”, which also gave almost-but-not-quite full marks to Reece. Hakim fared poorly.
Hakim said the promises to give Guerra a gig was a “clear conflict of interest”.
“It’s jobs for the boys,” he said. “It’s despicable and lacks transparency and integrity.”
The roles are unpaid, but Hakim reckons they are positions that money can’t buy.
The chamber refused to weigh in on Hakim’s allegations. The Reece camp said it was proud to have received top marks from VCCI, while Wood said Hakim was posturing and his remarks were “nothing more than sour grapes”.
ON THE FRINGE
After the huge protests against Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdowns, there were warnings about an influx of so-called “freedom” types at council level.
The Municipal Association of Victoria even offered candidates training on dealing with conspiracy groups who bombard them with theories about 5G towers and 15-minute cities.
Lockdown protesters march through central Melbourne in July 2021.Credit: Eddie Jim
So how has that panned out?
Well, some keen-eyed clever clogs (researchers Dr Mark Chou of ANU, Ben Moffitt and Rachel Busbridge at ACU and Luke Dean at Monash) tell us they’ve been keeping tabs.
The upshot: it looks like vaccine mandates, lockdowns and 5G towers are out, with the new fringe issue du jour aimed at LGBTQI initiatives run by councils.
Freedom activist Monica Smit with ex-United Australia Party MP Craig Kelly. Credit: Craig Kelly (Twitter)
The Age reported on some ugly scenes last year when fringe groups, including My Place and Reignite Democracy Australia, rallied supporters to attend and protest against drag queen story hour events at councils.
Chou says there were about 86 candidates across at least 23 council areas classified as “fringe” – anyone who has waded into stuff that is anti-climate change, anti-LGBTQI and anti-vaccine. It also includes the far right or folk railing against a “globalist woke agenda”.
The City of Whittlesea in Melbourne’s north in particular caught our eye. As per the VEC website, a number of candidates are running on “child-friendly” policies (typically a thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQI community).
Readers may also remember Monica Smit, the Reignite Democracy Australia co-founder who went to court to fight her arrest during the anti-lockdown protests.
Smit is running on a platform called Fair Dinkum, which is promoting 17 candidates at this election who have signed up online and answered a survey.
The survey includes basic questions about recycling and rates, as well as conservative hot-button issues like Australia Day and the transition to a cashless society.
IT HAPPENED AGAIN
What’s going on with Australia Post and brazen thefts?
After a postal van was stolen last week, potentially with ballots on board, we regret to inform you that an entire post box has now been pilfered near Brighton’s main drag.
The post box in Brighton that was stolen this week.Credit: Google Maps
The VEC issued an urgent plea on Thursday for voters who posted their ballots in the Australia Post box at 79 Asling Street, Brighton on Sunday or Monday this week to contact them for a replacement vote.
Locals can pop into the Bayside election office at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hall, 14 Thomas Street, Hampton, to complete a replacement ballot, or call 131 832.
Election offices are open until 8pm on Thursday and from 9am to 6pm on Friday.
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correction
A previous version of this column stated Nick Reece launched Postcode 3000 in October. It was in fact announced in July. The story has been corrected to reflect this.