Changes

There had been an effort to create a Green party in Australia during the 1970s-80's as issues such as the Franklin Dam and other green issues rose in importance. The Greens were formed in the early 90's and elected their first senator who is the current leader Bob Brown in 1996.<ref>http://greens.org.au/history</ref> As time progressed The Greens electoral performance improved dramatically and in the Australian Senate and the parliaments of various State and territories around Australia they make up a visible minority.  

There had been an effort to create a Green party in Australia during the 1970s-80's as issues such as the Franklin Dam and other green issues rose in importance. The Greens were formed in the early 90's and elected their first senator who is the current leader Bob Brown in 1996.<ref>http://greens.org.au/history</ref> As time progressed The Greens electoral performance improved dramatically and in the Australian Senate and the parliaments of various State and territories around Australia they make up a visible minority.  

The casual NSW seat created by his resignation was filled by Portsmore. Portsmore duly left the party, along with many leading figures of the Victorian branch of the party, and unsuccessfully stood as an Independent candidate when her term expired.

The swing seat of NSW created by his resignation was filled by Portsmore. Portsmore duly left the party, along with many leading figures of the Victorian branch of the party, and unsuccessfully stood as an Independent candidate when her term expired.

==Electoral performance==  

==Electoral performance==  

The Greens initially had very poor electoral performance but eventually improved and in the 2007 federal election received close to 1 million votes in the [[Australian House of Representatives]] representing around 8% of the total primary vote. Despite this, The Greens did not receive any seats (and haven't in the past) as their support is deep but not broad. In the [[Australian Senate|Senate]] they received over 1 million primary votes, but after preferences received close to 1.5 million votes representing close to 12% of the final vote giving them a total of 5 seats out of 76 with the help of proportional representation. <ref>http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/06/1199554486499.html</ref>

The Greens initially had very poor electoral performance but eventually improved and in the 2007 federal election received close to 1 million votes in the [[Australian House of Representatives]] representing around 8% of the total primary vote. Despite this, The Greens did not receive any seats (and haven't in the past) as their support is deep but not broad. In the [[Australian Senate|Senate]] they received over 1 million primary votes, but after preferences received close to 1.5 million votes representing close to 12% of the final vote giving them a total of 5 seats out of 76 with the help of proportional representation. <ref>http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/06/1199554486499.html</ref>