Shoebridge over troubled Waters: Greens select leader
Noah Secomb and Lucinda Garbutt-Young |
The Greens have voted for a complete shake-up of the party leadership after former head Larissa Waters stepped down due to ill health.
NSW Senator David Shoebridge was elected to lead the party, promising that he and new deputy Steph Hodgins-May would take the political fight to Labor and One Nation.
“We know the Greens need to seize this moment because politics demands it of us,” he said on Wednesday, blaming the government for creating the space for right-wing party One Nation to surge in popularity.
“The Greens, the progressive alternative … we’re here to beat down One Nation and we’re here to replace Labor and return hope and faith to politics,” he told reporters in Sydney.
The former barrister, NSW state member and relative newcomer to federal politics won the final ballot with seven votes, against four for former deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi.
Senator Shoebridge has a forthright approach to attacking political opponents in Senate estimates and press conferences, and has taken strong stances in defence and foreign affairs as a critic of the AUKUS security pact and Australia’s reliance on its US alliance.
Taking on the gas industry and tech giants will also form a focus of the party in the immediate future, according to incoming deputy leader Senator Hodgins-May.
“I am looking forward to working with David to bring a bold vision to Australia, to grow our movement, to confront the impending climate crisis that is here now,” the Victorian senator said.
“I am here to work with my colleagues as constructively as I possibly can to build this Greens movement to something so big that we can reassure the community that democracy works for them.”
The party, which has a primary vote of about 12 per cent in most opinion polls and holds the balance of power in the upper house, voted for the new leadership team during a two-day policy meeting in Sydney.
Senators Shoebridge and Hodgins-May announced their joint ticket earlier on Wednesday morning.
While only in parliament for a little over two years, Senator Hodgins-May has appealed to young voters through sharp social media posts and spearheading the push for a 25 per cent gas tax.
The change in leadership comes days after Senator Waters’ decision to step down from the leadership due to deteriorating health issues.
During her first media appearance since that announcement, she said it had been a privilege to lead the Greens since the election.
“Whilst 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.
She took the reins during a transitional phase after the minor party lost three lower-house seats, including the electorate of then-leader Adam Bandt, at the 2025 election.
Senator Shoebridge paid tribute to Senator Waters for her leadership in the face of personal struggles.
“There are few politicians that you can really point to who so clearly put the planet and the public ahead of their own interests,” he said.
“Our party was rock solid behind Larissa, but I can’t tell you how much of a joy it is going to be over the next 18 months. A lot of hard work, but what a joy.”
AAP