The Queensland Greens are poised to hold a decisive vote next week that could see the reinstatement of life membership for Drew Hutton, a co-founder of both the state party and the national Australian Greens. This dramatic turn of events follows internal legal advice which concluded that Hutton was denied natural justice when his membership was revoked earlier this year.
A Victory Deemed 'Hollow'
Informed via email on Sunday, Hutton was told the party's state council would meet to consider a proposal to withdraw the July decision that confirmed the termination of his membership. This action is a direct response to a memo from the party's lawyers, which stated the termination was made 'for want of procedural fairness'.
The lawyers identified that the Greens had repeatedly failed to provide Hutton with the information used to justify their decision and had given him insufficient time to consider evidence ahead of hearings. 'Failure to afford natural justice means that the decision is no decision at law,' the legal advice asserted.
Despite the potential reinstatement, Hutton described the development as a 'hollow' victory. He stated that readmission alone is not enough, demanding a formal apology, coverage of his legal costs—estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars—and a guarantee that he will not be expelled again for any past actions. He has vowed to continue his court case against the party, initiated in September, if these conditions are not met.
The Root of the Conflict
Hutton's expulsion in June stemmed from a long-running dispute concerning his public comments on 'transgender ideology'. The party considered his pursuit of debate on the matter harmful to transgender people, citing comments associated with his social media posts. Hutton, however, has consistently argued that the issue is one of free speech.
He expressed uncertainty about the vote's outcome, noting the strong ideological views within the Queensland Greens. 'There's a lot of this transgender ideology which permeates the Queensland Greens, and it all depends how ideologically fixated they are,' he remarked.
A spokesperson for the Queensland Greens reaffirmed the party's position, stating, 'Our longstanding position that trans rights are non-negotiable has not and will not change.' The spokesperson added that it would be inappropriate to comment further due to the ongoing court matter.
A Legacy of Environmental Activism
Drew Hutton's involvement in green politics stretches back to the 1980s. A former high school teacher, he was instrumental in founding the Australian Greens in the early 1990s and has been a perennial candidate for various levels of government.
Beyond party politics, Hutton's environmental legacy is significant. In 2011, he founded the Lock the Gate Alliance, a prominent environmental organisation that actively opposes the expansion of the coal seam gas industry in Queensland and New South Wales.
The upcoming state council meeting will determine whether this founding figure is welcomed back into the fold or if the internal party conflict will continue to play out in the public sphere and the courts.
