If Australian politics are currently tinged with green, the tinge could turn to singe after tomorrow’s Victorian state election. The Greens look likely to hold the balance of power in the Upper House, win perhaps one Lower House seat and clip the wings of both major parties in the process.

The rise of the Greens in Victoria will be interpreted in all sorts of ways by political parties in Canberra and elsewhere, but the pundits will be hard pressed to deny that it represents a clear signal from the the electorate that it wants more action on climate change.

In which case we can expect more talk of nuclear power and alternative energy from the federal government, more Kyoto talk from the Opposition, more money thrown at climate issues from all politicians, and the ascension of Peter Garrett and Malcolm Turnbull to spearhead the major parties’ charge on the issue de jour.

Which will probably turn their colleagues green — with envy.