Drew Hutton, a co-founder of the Australian Greens, said the party is beyond reform and may vanish within 10 years [1].
The assessment from a founding member suggests a deep ideological rift within one of Australia's most prominent minor parties. If the party fails to evolve, it risks losing its political viability and influence over national policy.
Speaking in an interview with Sky News Australia, Hutton said the internal culture of the party has shifted toward a narrow focus. He pointed to the influence of identity politics and gender ideology as the primary drivers of this change [1]. According to Hutton, these ideologies have taken a deep hold of the organization, limiting its ability to adapt to a broader electorate [1].
"I think it’s beyond reform," Hutton said. "I think the whole identity politics ideology, gender ideology has gone so deep in the party" [1].
Hutton said the party's current direction is a result of a leadership shift. He said the leadership has been taken over by these ideologies and they are not going to let go [1]. This internal capture, he suggested, prevents the party from returning to its original core mission or expanding its appeal.
Because of this stagnation, Hutton predicted a bleak future for the organization. He said the party is going to either stay still or disappear over the next decade [1].
The Greens have long positioned themselves as a progressive alternative to the major parties. However, Hutton's critique suggests that the movement has traded its broad environmental and social goals for a specific set of ideological markers that may alienate potential supporters [1].
“I think it’s beyond reform.”
The critique from Drew Hutton highlights a growing tension within progressive movements globally, where the balance between traditional policy goals—such as environmentalism—and modern identity-based activism is being contested. If a founding member believes the party is 'beyond reform,' it indicates a systemic failure in the party's internal democratic processes to pivot away from ideologies that may be perceived as limiting their electoral growth.
