Stone makes intentions clear to bolster Greens' stocks

ADAM STONE, the Greens' most prominent state election candidate, will try to become the party's second Queensland senator at the federal election next year.

By InvestSMART · 16 Sep 2012

By InvestSMART ·
16 Sep 2012

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ADAM STONE, the Greens' most prominent state election candidate, will try to become the party's second Queensland senator at the federal election next year.

Mr Stone will be named as the Greens' lead Senate candidate at the Brisbane Pride Festival fair at Perry Park at noon today.

The Bardon resident was the Greens' lead candidate at this year's state election, where he contested the seat of Mt Coot-tha against the then Labor incumbent, Andrew Fraser.

They both lost out to the LNP's Saxon Rice, but Mr Stone gained more than 20 per cent of the primary vote, the highest percentage in the state for any Greens candidate.

Mr Stone hopes to join Larissa Waters, the state's first elected Greens senator, whom he has served as a media, communications and policy adviser, but acknowledged there was work to do in communicating the Greens' message to Queenslanders.

"We have seen support for us swell up and down in the polls over time," he said. "I think what tends to happen is there is a very high degree of support for a lot of what the Greens stand for and you often see that in opinion polls. When people are asked about issues, rather than political parties, they often back a lot of our positions - they back our advocacy for standing up for the rights of indigenous people, and for homosexual people, they back the idea of trying to get Australia ahead of the curve in terms of developing our clean energy. I think there is good reason to think there are a lot of people who support what the Greens stand for, which means we then just have a communication task ahead of us, to make sure people realise we are the party that represents those things."

Mr Stone acknowledged Katter's Australian Party as a growing influence in Queensland politics and said there were issues where the two parties stood side by side, such as concerns for food and water security and the CSG industry, but for voters who were looking for a "genuinely progressive party", "I think the Greens are the only choice".

"Over the years we have got to the point where we are far more than a single-issue party and I think that is what people expect," he said. "They are not going to vote for a party they think is only strong on the environment ... they want a party that is fit to govern. My part will be to communicate that we have progressive, forward, optimistic and ambitious solutions to address a whole range of public concerns."

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Adam Stone and what is he running for in Queensland?

Adam Stone is a prominent Greens politician in Queensland who is seeking to become the party’s second Queensland senator at the next federal election. He has been the Greens’ lead candidate in recent state contests and will be officially named as the Greens’ lead Senate candidate at a Brisbane Pride Festival event.

What electoral experience does Adam Stone bring to his Senate bid?

Stone was the Greens’ lead candidate at this year’s state election, contesting the seat of Mt Coot‑tha. Although he and the Labor incumbent lost to the LNP’s Saxon Rice, Stone won more than 20% of the primary vote—reported as the highest primary vote percentage in the state for any Greens candidate.

What issues does Adam Stone emphasise that investors tracking policy might notice?

According to the article, Stone and the Greens emphasise developing clean energy, standing up for the rights of indigenous and homosexual people, and broader concerns such as food and water security and the coal seam gas (CSG) industry—issues that can shape public policy and regulation.

How does Stone describe the Greens’ public support and communication priorities?

Stone says opinion polls often show high public backing for many Greens positions when people are asked about issues rather than parties. He believes the party’s task is to communicate clearly that the Greens represent those positions and to show they are more than a single‑issue party and are fit to govern.

What is Adam Stone’s relationship with Senator Larissa Waters?

Stone has served as a media, communications and policy adviser to Larissa Waters, who is the state’s first elected Greens senator. He hopes to join her in the Senate if elected.

Does Stone see any common ground with other Queensland parties?

Yes. The article notes Stone acknowledged Katter’s Australian Party as a growing influence in Queensland and said there are areas of common concern—specifically food and water security and issues around the coal seam gas (CSG) industry—where the two parties stand side by side.

How do the Greens position themselves politically, according to Stone?

Stone says the Greens have moved beyond being a single‑issue party and present themselves as a genuinely progressive party with progressive, forward, optimistic and ambitious solutions across a range of public concerns—aiming to be seen as fit to govern.

When and where was Stone set to be named the Greens’ lead Senate candidate?

The article states that Mr Stone was scheduled to be named the Greens’ lead Senate candidate at the Brisbane Pride Festival fair at Perry Park at noon.