Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young removes references to her party in new logo

GREENS Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has revealed a new promotional logo with one particular colour missing, as she faces competition for the top spot on the party’s Senate ticket.

HIGH-PROFILE South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young has stripped back references to the Greens on her public communications, fuelling speculation about her future with the party.

Highly-placed sources have told The Advertiser that Senator Hanson-Young was facing competition for the top spot on the party’s Senate ticket ahead of the next Federal Election.

Her move to dump the usual Greens logo from her email newsletter — which instead features a stylised triangle logo in yellow, pink and teal — has been seen by some as preparation for a potential run as an independent.

The traditional logo was still on her new fridge magnets and calendars, the Senator’s office confirmed, and said this was not the first time email headers did not feature it.

Senator Hanson-Young failed to explain the reason behind the rebranding, but in a statement said: “As Greens Senator for South Australia, I want our state to know that we are focused on SA and its unique issues. Progressive voters in SA can take comfort knowing that we represent them.”

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s new promotional material — pink, yellow and teal.

SA was the only state in which the Greens lost a senator at the 2016 election and had to rely on preferences to get Senator Hanson-Young over the line.

Robert Simms, who lost the Senate seat, said he was hopeful of securing a seat for the Greens at the upcoming state election, but he would not rule out a Senate comeback.

The Advertiser understands Mr Simms, the Greens candidate in Adelaide, would likely have the numbers among party members to nab the top spot on the party’s Senate ticket.

The Greens run an open preselection process, which allows any member to nominate and face the vote of fellow party faithful.

Given the result at last election, if Senator Hanson-Young was bumped down the ticket, she would likely be booted from Federal Parliament.

Senator Hanson-Young personally earned the fourth-highest number of first-preference votes of any SA Senate candidate in 2016 — behind only Nick Xenophon, Labor’s Penny Wong and Liberal Simon Birmingham.

Mr Simms faces a tough battle in March to claim the state seat held by Liberal Rachel Sanderson, and is also fighting against Labor’s Jo Chapley.

“It’s certainly something I’d be open to. I’m only 33 so I think I still have a lot to contribute in political life,” he said.

“It’s very much an open contest. People are looking for something a bit different.”

Last year Greens leader Richard Di Natale dumped Senator Hanson-Young from the immigration portfolio on which she had built her profile.

In the reshuffle, she was given education and trade and has also been a vocal advocate on the Murray River.