Profile: New Greens leader Richard Di Natale

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By political reporter Johanna Nicholson

Newly elected Greens leader Richard Di Natale, the son of Italian migrants, grew up in Melbourne and was a GP and public health specialist before entering politics.

Elected to Federal Parliament in 2010 as the Greens’ first Victorian senator, he used his maiden speech to pay tribute to his parents.

“Their story is a universal one,” he said.

“It is on their shoulders, and those of millions of families just like theirs, that this nation has been built.

“My family has contributed teachers, doctors, factory workers, lawyers, builders and now a senator.

“I owe them a great debt. I owe this country a great debt.”

Senator Di Natale has served as acting leader of the Greens on a number of occasions, and has held portfolios in multiculturalism, youth, gambling and sport.

Given his medical background, he is focused on issues around health, and addressed this in his maiden speech, saying there needed to be a holistic approach to health care.

“Our efforts as health professionals are futile unless we also improve people’s access to housing, education, clean air and water, secure employment, and participation in community life,” he said.

“The reality is that inequalities in health arise because of inequalities in society.”

Senator Di Natale lists his greatest achievements in Parliament to date as securing almost $5 billion towards Medicare-funded dentistry and winning a campaign to divest $250 million worth of tobacco stocks from the Future Fund.

He was also heavily involved in Senate inquiries into issues including hospital funding, medical cannabis, dying with dignity and gambling reform.

Recently, the former doctor was part of the debate about the Medicare co-payment policy that the Federal Government has now abandoned.

Late last year, he travelled to West Africa to see the effects of Ebola first-hand.

During his visit, he met with Liberian and United Nations officials and travelled to the country’s virus hot spots with the Red Cross.

The Senator said he joined the Greens because the party offered a progressive, compassionate and optimistic vision for the future.

Senator Di Natale is married to Lucy and has two young sons.