Drew Hutton helped found the Australian Greens. So why has the troubled party booted him from its ranks?

The former life member says his support of those voicing trans-critical' views is a matter of free speech - but others say it's a question of what values the party supports

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Drew Hutton had assumed he would live out his life a card-carrying Green. The 78-year-old retiree turned up to local branch meetings, staked party corflutes into the lawn of his home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and handed out how-to-vote cards long after stepping down from active duty in the party.

Given Hutton had been awarded life membership and his friend - and the Green's first national leader - Bob Brown had lauded him a towering figure in Australian environmental and social politics" who, more than anybody" (including Brown himself) was responsible for the formation of the Australian Greens", it must have seemed a safe bet.