Victorian senator Richard Di Natale has been elected unopposed in a ballot to replace Christine Milne as Greens leader in what Senator Milne has described as a day of generational change for the party.
Queensland senator Larissa Waters and WA senator Scott Ludlam have been named “co-deputy leaders” – replacing Melbourne-based Greens MP Adam Bandt – after standing unopposed.
New Greens leader Richard Di Natale. Photo: James Boddington
The leadership team was announced after a ballot was called on Wednesday morning following Senator Milne’s surprise decision to step down.
In a media conference at Parliament House, Senator Di Natale said it was an honour and privilege to be named leader of the party and “I’m going to do the best to pay back the faith they’ve put in me”.
The former GP singled out health and multiculturalism as two issues he would champion in Parliament.
Senator Richard Di Natale and Adam Bandt arrive for the Greens leadership ballot. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
“I spent a few years as a GP and a public health specialist working in places like Tennant Creek and north-east India,” he said.
“It became pretty clear to me that if you want to improve people’s health, you’ve got to start looking at the things that make people sick. You’ve got to have a clean environment, clean air and clean water.
“You’ve got to make sure that people have got a roof over their head, that they’ve got a decent education, that they’ve got meaningful work and they’ve got a social safety net if they get into trouble.
Former Greens leader Christine Milne. Photo: Jesse Marlow
“They are the ingredients of good health care and I’m going to be a champion for those things and along with a decent system in this Parliament.”
Senator Di Natale paid tribute to Senator Milne, saying “I could spend a long time talking about her legacy”.
He said “tough action on climate change” was her biggest achievement.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young arrives for the ballot. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Di Natale said he would bring a different style to the leadership: “… you might see more or me, you might see less of me”.
Senator Milne did not give a clear timeframe for her departure from the Parliament, but said she had been considering resigning for some time.
She said there needed to be generational change both in Tasmania and the Greens leadership.
Click for more photos
Christine Milne resigns: cartoons by David Pope
Christine Milne announced she will not contest the 2016 election and has stepped down as leader of the Greens. David Pope has selected some of his favourite cartoons of the Senator.
Senator Milne said now was the right time to step down because the party was “in really good shape”.
“We’ve had a lot of change in the party organisation. We’ve got a great new national council so we’re well organised. We’ve got a new model of campaigning, which I said we would be rolling out around the country and we have. “With my party room, they are all ready to go. They are just so good in their level of confidence and capacity and I feel like they’re ready to fly and I’m just delighted by that.”
Senator Milne announced her resignation as leader on Wednesday morning, bringing to an end a 25-year political career.
Adam Bandt ahead of the Greens partyroom leadership ballot. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Milne said she had made the decision to resign after speaking with her family.
“It is with a mix of optimism, pride, excitement and sadness that I am resigning the leadership and leaving the Senate”, she said.
The preselection process in Senator Milne’s home state of Tasmania opens shortly.
Senator Milne was elected to the Senate in 2004, was elected deputy leader in 2008 and became leader in 2012 after the resignation of Bob Brown.
She entered politics 25 years ago when she was elected to the Tasmanian Parliament and became the first woman to lead a political party in Tasmania in 1993.
Senator Milne said she had achieved what she set out to achieve since taking over the leadership of the federal party.
“The Greens have gone from strength to strength with solid election results and a growing, engaged party membership,” she said.
“I promised a more cabinet-style, collaborative approach to leadership. I am so proud of the way my colleagues have responded. We are a strong, capable, visionary Greens team.
“We have stood strongly for a safe climate and an end to wealth inequality. We have stood with the community against the cruelty of the Abbott government, with their first budget resoundingly rejected by the people, and the Senate.”
Surprised Tasmanian Greens will start a priority search for a candidate to succeed Senator Milne, despite her assurance she will stay in the chamber after resigning as leader.
“It’s not a panic situation,” said party state convenor Austra Maddox. “But it’s very critical we get the best possible person in place as soon as we can.”
Ms Maddox said Senator Milne had told her by phone on Wednesday she would remain in the Senate.
“I am calling an urgent meeting of the state executive tomorrow night to discuss this,” she said