United Tasmania Group

The United Tasmania Group (UTG) is generally acknowledged as the one of the world's first Green parties^[1] in addition to the Values Party of New Zealand^[2] . The party was formed on 23 March 1972, during a meeting of the Lake Pedder Action Group (LPAG) at the Hobart town hall in order to field political candidates in the April 1972 state election. They received 3.9% of the statewide vote and came within 200 votes of winning a seat.^[3] They also contested the 1976 election, this time receiving 2.2% of the votes.

The United Tasmania Group's first President was Dr Richard Jones and it lasted for five years, briefly reforming in 1990 for the federal election. Most of the original candidates, including Bob Brown went on to form the Tasmanian Greens (who enjoyed considerably more success) and then ultimately, at the national level, the Australian Greens.

See also

• List of political parties in Australia
• Living Soil Association of Tasmania

External links

• History of Green Politics in Tasmania
• The UTG 'New Ethic' Charter

References

Further reading

• Armstrong, Lance J.E. (1997). Good God, He’s Green! A History of Tasmanian Politics 1989-1996. Wahroonga, N.S.W., Pacific Law Press. ISBN 1-875192-08-5
• Lines, William J. (2006) Patriots : defending Australia's natural heritage St. Lucia, Qld. : University of Queensland Press, 2006. ISBN 0-70223-554-7