United Tasmania Group
The
United Tasmania Group (UTG) is generally acknowledged as the world's first
Green Party. 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. They also contested the 1976 election, this time receiving 2.2% of the votes.
The party's first President was
Dr Richard Jones.
The UTG lasted for five years, and was briefly reformed 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.
*
History of Green Politics in Tasmania*
The UTG 'New Ethic' Charter*
Brown, B. (1987) 'Greening the conservation movement'. In Hutton, D. (ed)
Green politics in Australia. Australia: Angus & Robertson Publishers. ISBN 0207156247
