Full Breakdown
Shoebridge Elected Greens Leader, Vows to Replace Labor Amid Rising One Nation Support
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Leadership Contest and Outcome
On September 30, 2026, the Greens’ 11-person federal party room met in Sydney to elect a new leader after Senator Larissa Waters stepped down because of worsening chronic kidney disease. In a contested ballot, Senator David Shoebridge secured the leadership with seven votes to Senator Mehreen Faruqi’s four after preferences. Senator Steph Hodgins-May was elected deputy with six votes to Senator Vanessa Bleyer’s five. It was the first time the Greens chose a leader by secret ballot rather than by consensus.
Background & Context
Waters had taken over the leadership in May 2025 following the defeat of former leader Adam Bandt. Her tenure saw the Greens support several environmental reforms and use its Senate balance of power to influence legislation, but the party lost three of its four lower-house seats in the 2025 election. The leadership change comes as the Greens seek to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with both major parties and the surge of the right-wing One Nation party.
Data & Statistics
- Greens poll support has steadied at 11-12 % over the past year.
- One Nation’s polling rose from 7 % early in the previous year to a high of 29 % (Resolve Political Monitor).
- The Greens hold 10 Senate seats and one lower-house seat (MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown).
Official Statements & Responses
Shoebridge called the leadership change an “extraordinary moment” and argued the Greens must “replace” Labor, which he said had created conditions for One Nation’s growth. He pledged to “beat down One Nation” and fill the policy vacuum left by Labor’s shift to the right.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged the new Greens leader to focus on the risks that One Nation, the Liberal Party and the National Party pose to workers and the economy.
In her resignation statement, Waters expressed sadness at leaving the role, praised recent environmental wins, and noted that the Greens were polling higher than ever amid a right-wing surge.
Criticism & Opposition
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, the former deputy leader, voiced disappointment with the leadership process, arguing that the party’s 10 senators and one MP should not be the sole decision-makers. She called for a “one member, one vote” system, saying the Greens could not claim to be a grassroots party without broader member participation. Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather echoed this view, urging the party to open future leadership elections to its nearly two-million members.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is an extraordinary moment in politics and we can all feel it. Politics, as usual, is not providing the answers that people are desperately calling for,” — David Shoebridge
- “My doctors have been clear: my prospects for recovery are good, but the best path forward means a slower pace of life than leading a political party allows.” — Steph Hodgins-May
What’s Next
Shoebridge indicated the Greens will intensify their campaign against corporate influence, climate inaction and the rise of One Nation, while seeking to broaden their appeal ahead of the next federal election. The internal debate over leadership election reforms is expected to continue, with calls for a member-wide vote likely to shape future governance structures.