Greens elect David Shoebridge as new party leader after Larissa Waters steps down
The Greens have elected David Shoebridge as new party leader after Larissa Waters stepped down on Monday evening citing health issues.
The Greens have elected David Shoebridge a new party leader after Larissa Waters stepped down on Monday evening citing health issues.
The NSW Senator secured the party room ballot to replace outgoing leader on Wednesday over hopefuls Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi.
In a statement ahead of the 11 Greens senators and MP meeting in Sydney to choose a leader, Senator Shoebridge had said was partnering with Senator Stephe Hodgins-May on a joint ticket to refresh the party’s direction.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“We do not seek to reform Labor, but to replace them,” he said.
A former barrister and longstanding NSW State MP for 12 years, Senator Shoebridge had transitioned to Federal Parliament at the 2022 election.
Senator Shoebridge received six primary votes to defeat Senator Faruqi’s three. Senator Hanson-Young received two votes.
First-term Victorian Senator Steph Hodgins-May was elected deputy leader with six votes after she put up her hand alongside WA Senator Jordan Steele-John with two votes and Tasmanian Senator Vanessa Bleyer with three.
Speaking at his first press conference as leader on Wednesday, Senator Shoebridge outlined his new direction for the party while thanking Senator Waters for her service.
“I want to pay enormous tribute to the work of Larissa. She took on the leadership of the Australian Greens in challenging circumstances, and bloody hell, she rose to the occasion, led with compassion, led with principle, showed what collective leadership can do,” he said.
Senator Shoebridge said that he was sick of Australian politicians’ failure to “meet the moment” and described his leadership as a “moment for the Greens to fill the vacuum that has been left by the Labor Party”.
“Families anxious as they’re pushing their supermarket trolley down the aisle, wondering if they’ll be able to afford their basic groceries when they get to the checkout,” he said.
“We have a national housing crisis.
“We are also going to meet the climate crisis. This summer could potentially be the mother of all El Ninos.
“We know the Greens need to seize this moment — because politics demands it of us.”
Senator Hanson-Young was elected uncontested as the manager of Green’s business while Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim was elected uncontested as the Whip.
Queensland Senator Penny Allman-Payne was elected uncontested as the Party Room Chair and then defeated Senator Bleyer to also secure Deputy Whip.
While a strong performer and prominent voice on government accountability and the justice and defence portfolios, Senator Shoebridge has doesn’t have the household name recognition of Senator Hanson-Young.
His portfolio recently expanded to include digital rights with a focus on artificial intelligence and has been a leading voice on regulation of AI models and data centres.
Following her shock resignation on Monday, Senator Waters will remain in the party and told reporters on Wednesday she would be “very proud to be a humble backbencher” as she looks after her health.
“It’s been a wild ride. While I’m proud of the time that I have spent leading this incredible team, I am very proud to be a humble backbencher and a senator for Queensland after I take some medical leave,” she said.
Senator Shoebridge’s elevation means One Nation is now the only party with a female leader, alongside Labor’s Anthony Albanese, Liberals’ Angus Taylor, and Nationals’ Matt Canavan.
