David Shoebridge has been elected as the new leader of the federal Greens.
Senator Shoebridge defeated Senators Mehreen Faruqi and Sarah Hanson-Young in an unprecedented leadership ballot.
The 11-member party room met in Sydney, on Wednesday, following the resignation of former leader Larissa Waters due to health concerns.
Senator Shoebridge secured seven votes to Senator Faruqi’s four after preferences were counted.
Senator Steph Hodgins-May was elected deputy leader, defeating Vanessa Bleyer and Jordon Steele-John.
At his first press conference, the new leader declared his intention to “beat down” One Nation and “replace” Labor, promising to restore “hope and faith to politics”.
Highlighting growing divisions within the party, Senator Faruqi released a statement expressing disappointment that the party room had chosen a different direction.
“[I] know many others will feel the same way,” she said.
Faruqi echoed calls previously made by former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather for party members to directly elect their leader.
“I share members’ frustration that the opposite happened this week. 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.”
Image: Hilary Wardhaugh / Getty Images
