New Greens leader David Shoebridge declares Greens ‘here to replace’ Labor
- Written by: Weekend Times
New Greens leader David Shoebridge targeted Labor with a strong attack after the party on Wednesday chose him to succeed Larissa Waters, who this week resigned from the position because of ill
health.
Shoebridge at a post-ballot news conference focused on the Greens going after Labor, arguing it had left a vacuum by “rushing to the right” and the Greens were best placed to combat One Nation. “We’re not here to make the Labor Party any better. The Greens are here to replace them,” he said.
Shoebridge, 55, is seen as a compromise choice by the party, which has the balance of power in the Senate. To pass contested legislation, the government needs the support of the Greens or the opposition.
Labor will be dismayed by the change of leadership. Shoebridge is regarded as likely to be tougher than Waters in negotiations with the government. He is a strong communicator and active in the media.
Shoebridge was elected to the Senate at the 2022 election, after serving in the New South Wales upper house in 2010–22.
The new Greens deputy is Senator Steph Hodgins-May, 41, from Victoria, who has been in the Senate since 2024, when she filled a casual vacancy.
Three senators of the 11-member Greens Party (which has ten senators and one lower house MP) sought the leadership: Mehreen Faruqi, from NSW, who was deputy, Sarah-Hanson-Young, from South Australia, and Shoebridge.
Shoebridge ran on a ticket with Hodgins-May. Faruqi and Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim were also on a ticket.
Shoebridge won six votes, Faruqi three and Hanson-Young two. The final result was seven to Shoebridge and four to Faruqi.
In the deputy ballot Hodgins-May secured six votes, defeating Tasmanian Vanessa Bleyer with three votes, and Jordon Steele-John, from Western Australia, with two.
Faruqi is on the radical end of the Greens, while Hanson-Young is seen as a pragmatist.
Shoebridge told the news conference:
This is an extraordinary moment in politics and we can all feel it. We can feel that politics as usual is not providing the answers that people are desperately calling for now.
After four years of a Labor government, things have got harder, much, much harder for ordinary Australians, better for the 1%, but much, much harder for ordinary Australians and we hear this when you’re out talking with the community.
This is the moment for the Greens to fill the vacuum that has been left by the Labor Party rushing to the right. We know that One Nation didn’t create itself. It’s the classic post turtle – sits on a post, you know it didn’t get there itself, you wonder what it’s doing there.
Labor has created the circumstances for One Nation and Labor is not the answer. The Greens, the progressive alternative – we’re here to beat down One Nation.
Shoebridge called for the Greens to build “a mass movement across the country, connecting that mass movement to politics and saying to people again that you can have hope in politics”.
Shoebridge and Hodgins-May said in a statement before the decision:
This is the time to build our movement as the home for every Australian who wants action on the climate crisis, a fair return from our resources, a secure home and income, and to not sell out our independence to the US or the 1%.
The answer to the rise of One Nation and the far right is giving people hope, and making people’s lives better with real economic and environmental security. It is as simple as a meal before school, as clear as no new coal and gas, and as challenging as holding back the wave of US billionaire tech bros and their vampire Al data centres.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers was quick to counter the new leader’s targeting of Labor, suggesting the Greens’ attention should be on the parties of the right.
Chalmers told a news conference: “I’m told that he was particularly focused on the Labor Party in his introductory remarks. I think it’s really important that we focus on the risks posed to workers and to our economy by One Nation, the Liberal Party and the National Party.”
Faruqi after the vote criticised the fact there hadn’t been a vote of the party membership. “Without a member vote, we cannot call ourselves a grassroots party. I call on the new leadership team to set a timeline for one member, one vote.”
Waters, who has a kidney disease, intends to return to the Senate after a taking medical leave.
Since the election the Greens have lost one senator: Dorinda Cox (WA) defected to Labor. The term before Lidia Thorpe (Vic) left the Greens to sit on the crossbench.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
