Australian Greens leadership elections

The Australian Greens have had three leadership elections in their history. On each occasion, a single candidate was elected unopposed.

2005

The Greens had their first leadership election on 29 November 2005; prior to this they did not have a party leader, preferring a consultative model of government. At a party conference in Hobart, the Greens announced their intention to formalise their party's structure in anticipation of a growing presence in Federal Parliament. Tasmanian Senator Bob Brown was elected leader unopposed, with Western Australian Senator Rachel Siewert appointed the party's first Whip.[1]

2012

Brown served as party leader until 13 April 2012, when he announced his retirement from politics.[2] The Greens parliamentary party room was immediately convened to appoint a new leader and deputy leader. Christine Milne, Senator from Tasmania, was elected unopposed to the leadership.[3] Adam Bandt, the member for Melbourne in the House of Representatives, became the second Greens MP to be elected to the position of deputy leader of the party, Milne having previously filled the role after its establishment in 2008.[2] The leadership election had no effect on the deal that existed between the governing Gillard Labor Government and the Greens, to which Milne remained a signatory.

2015

On the morning of 6 May 2015, Christine Milne announced on Twitter her resignation from the position of leader of the Greens, prompting a meeting of the Greens' parliamentary party room to fill her replacement.[4] Shortly after her announcement, Victorian Senator Richard Di Natale revealed he would stand as a candidate for the leadership, whilst the media speculated incumbent deputy leader Adam Bandt would seek re-election to the position.[4] At the party room meeting however, Bandt did not seek re-election to the deputy leadership, later saying he was "happy" to hand over the role and instead focus on the birth of his partner's baby.[5] Consequently, the party decided to elect two Senators as co-deputy leaders; Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters.[6]

Di Natale was elected to the leadership unopposed and he became the first leader of the Australian Greens to represent a state other than Tasmania.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Greens firm up party structure". ABC News. 29 November 2005.
  2. 1 2 "Bob Brown resigns as Greens leader and Senator". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "As it happened: Bob Brown resigns as Greens leader". ABC News. 13 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 "As it happened: Greens leader Christine Milne resigns". ABC News. 6 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Greens leadership: There's a whiff of Moscow about this all-smiles change". ABC News. 6 May 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Australian Greens: Richard Di Natale elected new leader after Christine Milne resignation". ABC News. 6 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Richard Di Natale elected Greens leader following Christine Milne resignation". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 May 2015.
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