My name is Drew Hutton. I was a founder of the Queensland Greens and co-founder of the Australian Greens. I was the party’s main spokesperson between 1990 and 2006, was convenor six times and a candidate on numerous occasions during that period. I was made a life member in 1995. I have fought the good fight in social justice and environmental campaigns for over 50 years, culminating in my leading the ongoing Lock the Gate campaign against coal and coal seam gas, working with farmers and other rural and First Nations communities around the country. I was the president of the Lock the Gate Alliance from 2011 to 2017 and was awarded Australian Environmentalist of the Year 2013 by the Bob Brown Foundation. For the last 40 years my guiding principles have been ecological sustainability, social justice, democracy and nonviolence. This includes the rights of trans people and fair treatment for all.

In 2022 I posted on Facebook defending the convenor of the Victorian Greens who was removed from her position because she had co-written an article three years earlier that discussing possible changes to party policy. I did not know her but I defended her free speech rights.

I believed that the Greens supported free speech and welcomed all kinds of comments and thoughts, including those which are dissenting or critical, made in the spirit of constructive and civilised dialogue.

However, in November 2022, the Queensland Greens notified me that a complaint had been made about my posts. On 14 July 2023 I was suspended indefinitely until I deleted various comments by other people and a post said to be critical of the Greens.

Over the next two years I complained on several occasions about my suspension. In response, in June this year, the Greens changed my indefinite suspension to expulsion. I believe I was again denied procedural fairness.

I appealed against this decision to the Greens state council but my appeal was refused at a meeting in which most delegates had not even seen the documentation until the day and I did not see one of the key documents until days later.

I believe that the Greens denied me both procedural fairness and natural justice, goals that are prescribed by both Queensland state legislation and the party’s own constitution.

After arranging legal advice and representation I decided to take the Queensland Greens to the Supreme Court.

I want a public apology and my membership returned. This court action will cost me many thousands of dollars. Can you help me?

It is important to hold the Greens to their own values of free speech and welcoming dissenting opinions within the party. It is important that everyone, including myself, is afforded procedural fairness and natural justice. The Greens do not see that what they have done is wrong, so I am going to have to prove it in Court. The party needs to hold true to its democratic ideals and values.

Please consider donating to my legal fund for this Supreme Court challenge.

Important Information for Donors

1. All Donations: All donations made using this crowdfund site are by way of gift.

2. Use of Funds: Donations will be used for legal fees and related expenses incurred by Drew Hutton.

3. No Refunds: Donations are non-refundable. Any surplus funds not used for legal and related expenses will support the Bob Brown Foundation and the Lock the Gate Alliance.

4. No Donor Control: Donors do not have any control over legal decisions, the use of funds or actions pursued.

5. Legal Actions: Legal actions will only proceed where Drew Hutton determines that they are appropriate and have reasonable grounds. However, no outcome can be guaranteed.