Push to allow party members a vote for Greens leader
Noah Secomb and Andrew Brown |
The Greens are being urged to allow rank-and-file members to decide who next leads the party to ensure greater electoral success.
Greens parliamentarians are jostling for position for the leadership after Queensland senator Larissa Waters announced she would quit the party’s top job because of a worsening kidney disease.
Members of the minor party are expected to choose a new leader during a regularly scheduled two-day policy meeting in Sydney starting on Wednesday.
South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young used a social media post to confirm she would seek the party leadership.
Deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi and Tasmanian senator Nick McKim also confirmed they would run on a ticket for the leadership.
“As the far-right gains strength, we think we are the right people to resist and to grow our movement alongside our colleagues, members and supporters,” the two senators posted on Instagram.
“Our politics are unapologetically bold and we want to lead with hope over hate and people over profit.”
AAP has been told senators David Shoebridge and Steph Hodgins-May may also seek a joint ticket.
Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather believes all party members, not just those in parliament, should decide the leadership.
Mr Chandler-Mather, who runs the Greens’ internal think tank after his election loss in 2025, said expanding the voting for leadership would ensure a more popular mandate.
“How we can build a movement that wins real, lasting and meaningful change? Opening the election of the next leader up to a full member vote is a crucial step in building that movement,” he said in an open letter.
“People become involved – en masse – because often for the first time in their lives they were given a real, meaningful say over the politics, strategy and policies of an institution that may actually have the power to change their lives for the better.”
The Greens lost three lower house seats, including former leader Adam Bandt’s long-held seat of Melbourne, at the 2025 election after a swing away from the party among inner-city voters.
Mr Chandler-Mather said a popular vote would go a long way to help recreate the success of democratic socialists such as New York mayor Zohran Mamdani or UK Greens leader Zack Polanski in Australia.
“Direct member election of the leader won’t achieve on its own. But I fundamentally believe it is a crucial step towards building the movement we need,” he said.
Former Greens senator Andrew Bartlett said the intense focus on the leadership missed the point and the party’s success was not tied to an individual.
“It’s not all about who is the fricking leader. It’s about your messaging,” he told AAP.
“David Shoebridge has had immense cut-through with a bunch of issues.
“Barbara Pocock has, Jordon Steele-John has. (It) doesn’t mean they need to be leader to do that … it’s about the team.”
However the internal vote lands, there is a strong sense of optimism among former party leaders for whoever takes the reins in coming days.
“(The Greens are) currently sitting on 14 per cent on the averaging of polls, which is unprecedented, and Larissa can be very proud of that,” inaugural Greens leader Bob Brown said.
Dr Brown would not put his support behind any one contender but said there are “three or four options” with the experience and ability to take on the major parties.
“The future is looking very bright.”
Mr Bandt said voters were looking for action.
“There is a growing sense, especially amongst younger people now, that the government is just not doing enough,” he said
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wished Senator Waters well and thanked her for constructive engagement during her tenure.
“I obviously have differences with the Greens political party, but this is a human issue. I can also have compassion and I have a good relationship with Larissa,” Mr Albanese told reporters.
AAP