Election eve.

I'll recite a little story the candidate for my electorate told me recently.

He's been doing this for a while now. Back in the day, Greens and their ilk weren't exactly welcomed. He recalls even getting "mugged" as he put it (it sounded like bashed, or attacked, to me) when doing election work.

Things got better, the violence stopped, but he still copped verbal abuse. "Fuck off greenie." Reminds me of the angry cowboy-hat laden chap that told me "Greens tell lies" last time I handed out HTV's.

But people, over time, have changed. Gone from making snide remarks to ignoring him, to faux interest, to genuine interest.

His most recent highlight was a group of rednecks, fresh from a ute. They all ignored him, and entered the pub/whatever building it was. But one stopped.

The man that stopped engaged him, questioned him - what did he stand for? Does he just want to destroy all logging, farming, and steal all the water for his illegal hemp plants?

He explained his position as a Greens member, that what he stood for was not for his own benefit, it was for the benefit of all, today and into the future.

The man walked inside. He returned with the others from the ute. They listened for a good portion of an hour, surprised by the honesty and concern, and left with words of support.

His nose probably is a bit misshapen from standing up for his beliefs, but the harsh battles really are over. We aren't the crackpot minority best left ignored, those that oppose us are - climate change being the best example thus far. Things have changed. People have changed.

I just hope the parliament changes.