Christine Milne resigns as Greens leader
UPDATE: New Greens leader Richard Di Natale says it was Adam Bandt’s decision not to run for leadership after speculation the Melbourne MP was “shafted”.
NEW Greens leader Richard Di Natale says it was Adam Bandt’s choice not to run for the leadership as his party tries to quell speculation of internal wrangling over the position.
Following the announcement that he would take over from retiring leader Christine Milne, there were suggestions Melbourne MP Bandt - who was tipped to be a future leader of the party - had been “shafted” during the ballot.
But in an interview on ABC’s 7.30, Senator Di Natale said that Mr Bandt told him prior to the ballot that he was not going to contest the leadership.
“I had a chat with Adam about it, Adam is about to become a new father for the first time,” he told program host Leigh Sales. “He’s got a huge job in retaining Melbourne and he told me that he wasn’t going to contest the leadership today.”
When pressed further if it was Mr Bandt’s choice not to run, Senator Di Natale replied: “He told me he would not contest the election and I was elected unopposed, so of course it was his choice.”
Senator Di Natale is the new leader of the Greens after Christine Milne announced she was resigning on Wednesday morning. He has already indicated a new direction for the party, with an increased focus on achieving outcomes, and a passion for health care and multiculturalism.
Speculation over how he was elected surfaced on Wednesday during a press conference in Canberra.
Senator Milne refused to comment on questions from the media about whether she had tipped off some party members ahead of her resignation, in order to “shaft” Mr Bandt.
“You always have people saying whatever comes into their mind,” Senator Milne said.
Senator Di Natale said “someone might have been disappointed by the outcome” but the party had followed the same process as the last leadership change.
“I suspect, look, someone may have been disappointed with the outcome. Surprise, surprise, that’s politics, right,” he said.
“Someone may have been disappointed with the outcome. We did exactly what we did last time and there wasn’t a skerrick of concern about it last time.
Congrats Richard & new team! V happy to hand over Deputy to focus on new baby (due in few wks!) & winning further Reps seats in Vic & NSW.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) May 6, 2015
While many seemed surprised by Senator Milne’s resignation, Senator Di Natale told reporters at the press conference that he had spoken to his family, particularly his partner, about the possibility of taking up the leadership position “six months ago”.
“I had a long chat with my partner, Lucy, and the impact it’s going to have on my life,” he said.
“I was talking to Lucy about this six months ago because, you know, I might not be from a political background but I’m smart enough to know when something could happen.”
In another surprise move, senators Scott Ludlam of Western Australia and Larissa Waters of Queensland, were also elected unopposed as co-deputies in a party of just 11 members.
In doing so the party dumped Bandt, the only Green in the House of Representatives, as deputy. After the vote Mr Bandt took to Twitter to explain that he was handing over the position to focus on a new baby and winning further lower house seats.
Senator Di Natale has said while he hoped to continue Senator Milne’s legacy by achieving tough action on climate change, he said also wanted to be a champion for decent health care and multiculturalism.
“The debate on terrorism and refugees means that the multiculturalism issue needs a champion and I’m going to be that champion,” he said.
He also flagged bringing dental care into Medicare and legalising medicinal marijuana as two causes he would focus on as leader.
“We are the natural home of progressive, mainstream Australian voters," he said.
Di Natale is a 44-year-old doctor lives in regional Victoria in the Otway Ranges and is well liked by senators broadly. He also represents a relatively moderate face of the party while strongly associating himself with its policies.
He said that he was in politics to “get outcomes”.
“What you are going to see is us working together as a party room. We are going to negotiate on issues where we can reach agreement,” he said.
“But we are also going to have to make a stand on issues we think are important.”
Senator Di Natale also paid tribute to Senator Milne and the fact that she took action on climate change.
“She’s done a great job ... particularly as a woman because it is harder for women in politics,” he said.
Senator Milne said she was very proud of the new leadership team and that the party is “ready to fly”.
“He (Di Natale) will be a fantastic leader for the party,” Senator Milne said.
She also confirmed she would be leaving the parliament before her Senate term was due to end.
“I will be leaving before 2017,” she said.
The outgoing leader said she had been thinking about her decision for some time.
“I decided that really there needs to be generational change both in Tasmania and in terms of the Australian Greens’ leadership and that it’s either go now and let a party build itself into a good fighting position into the next election or stay until after the election and contest that election and make that promise,” she said.
“And I decided that now is a very good time for me to be going, because the party is in a really good shape”.
Senator Milne’s resignation caught media and political veterans by surprise, with the former leader making the announcement via Twitter.
“Feeling optimistic, proud & sad to announce I’m not contesting 2016 election, and so I resign as Leader of Australian Greens,” she wrote.
A meeting to elect a new leader was scheduled for an hour later, at 11.30am.
In 2013 Senator Milne reportedly survived an aborted push to challenge her leadership from Bandt.
In an interesting development, Bandt and Di Natale walked into the Greens party room together, and Bandt was spotted working the phones in the corridors ahead of the meeting.
The transition marks the end of the Bob Brown/Christine Milne era, which was based on the legacy of great environmental battles in Australia’s most southern state.
Di Natale was elected leader by colleagues after Milne stood aside at almost the same point in the parliamentary cycle as her predecessor Bob Brown.
Mr Brown went in April, 2012, about midway through the term of the Labor government, handing over to Senator Milne, who was herself unanimously elected.
She in turn has chosen halfway through the term of the Abbott Government to declare she would not stand for another six years in the Upper House. She next week turns 62 and is enjoying the prospect of being a new grandmother.
Feeling optimistic, proud & sad to announce I’m not contesting 2016 election, and so I resign as Leader of Australian Greens
— Christine Milne (@senatormilne) May 6, 2015NEW LEADERSHIP
Richard Di Natale, leader: A GP before switching to politics, Di Natale joined the Senate as a member of the Victorian Greens in the 2010 federal election and was once described as the party’s “next strongest hope” by former leader Bob Brown. His policy interests are healthcare, gambling reform and human rights.
Larissa Waters, co-deputy: Queensland’s first Greens senator, Waters was an environmental lawyer for eight years before becoming a senator in 2011. She was formerly the Greens spokesperson for the environment and biodiversity, women, resources, mining and coal seam gas.
Scott Ludlam, co-deputy: Greens Senator since 2008 representing Western Australia. A former filmmaker and graphic artist, he twice unsuccessfully ran for a state seat before being elected federally in the 2007. He has headed campaigns on climate change, indigenous land rights and opposing uranium.
Former Greens Leader Bob Brown said he was surprised by Senator Milne’s resignation.
Mr Brown handed over the leadership to Senator Milne when he resigned three years ago.
He said she had given three years of great leadership to the party but he was looking forward to seeing a lot more of her in their home state of Tasmania.
“Christine Milne has given a huge contribution to both Tasmanian and Australian politics and the Greens have lost a fantastic leader,” Mr Brown told News Corp Australia from Europe.
He said the Greens had a great pool of talent to draw from and that the next leader was likely to be from the Australian mainland.
“They’ve got a great talent pool to draw from,” Mr Brown said.
“Peter Wish-Wilson (the Greens Tasmanian Senator) would make a great leader but he doesn’t have as much experience as some of the others in the party.
“I would say that the next leader will be from the northern island of Australia.”
Mr Brown said he was looking forward to inviting Senator Milne round to his Tasmanian property for dinner.
“One of good things for me out of this is I’m going to see a lot more of her,” Mr Brown said.
“Paul and I will definitely have her round for dinner.
“We’ve been great friends for a quarter of a century and we will continue to be in conversation and talking about the future of the planet.”
Reacting to the news, Treasurer Joe Hockey told reporters in Canberra: “I hope it is a retirement for all the right reasons,” Mr Hockey said.
“I just say to whoever is the new Greens Leader: please offer us some bipartisan work and bipartisan support in the Senate.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he wished Christine Milne all the best in her future life.
“Christine Milne has a distinguished record as the leader of a political party that has considerable influence,” Mr Abbott said.
“I respect Christine Milne ... look I wish her well in the future.”
Meanwhile Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said it didn’t matter who led the Greens.
“Does it really matter who will lead the freedom hating @Greens? Their anti-family & community destroying policies remain #greenspill #auspol,” he tweeted.
Labor leader Bill Shorten congratulated Di Natale, saying: “I’m sure he’ll continue to advocate for the issues that the Greens regard as important”.
The Australian Greens Co-convenors commended the “excellent leadership” of Senator Milne, and thanked her for the energy, passion and commitment she put in to the party and Australian politics.
“Senator Milne has led the Australian Greens to increased electoral success in all the recent elections in Victoria, Queensland and NSW as well as the WA senate by-election,” said co-convenors Giz Watson and Penny Allman-Payne in a statement.
“The party is in great shape: our membership is growing, our national organisation has been revitalised and our polling remains strong.
“We are also very pleased to welcome Richard Di Natale as our new Parliamentary leader and Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters as deputies.”
“We thank Senator Di Natale for his willingness to take on this demanding role.”
In an extended statement placed on her Facebook page this morning, Senator Milne said: “I have achieved what I set out to achieve when I took over the leadership.
“The Greens have gone from strength to strength with solid election results and a growing, engaged party membership.”
She said her decision to resign was made with her family.
“After 25 years in politics, I am looking forward to spending more time in my beautiful home state of Tasmania, with friends and family, and especially as I am soon to be a grandmother.”
Earlier Di Natale tweeted about Senator Milne’s resignation.
“Christine Milne has left an enormous legacy after 25 years in political life. It’s been an honour to work with you Christine,” Senator Di Natale posted.
Other colleagues and Twitter users also paid tribute to her leadership.
Christine has been a fearless and courageous activist, politician and leader. Party has grown under her leadership. Sad to see her leave.
— Senator Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) May 6, 2015
An extraordinary leader. I am privileged to have worked with @senatormilne - integrity, courage, vision, heart. Thank you, Christine
— Senator Penny Wright (@PennyWrites) May 6, 2015
.@senatormilne You are an amazing inspiration, and you've made such a difference.
— Polly Morgan (@pollymorgan) May 6, 2015And so goes an inspiring leader. Thank you @senatormilne https://t.co/4DKGF4PKGe
— Harrison Morrow (@HJPMorrow) May 6, 2015Thank you to @senatormilne for her incredible contribution to politics and our party. She be sorely missed.
— sarah hanson-young (@sarahinthesen8) May 6, 2015Milne, a former schoolteacher, took over the Greens leadership from Bob Brown in April 2012.
She was first elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1989 and went on to become the first female leader of a political party in Tasmania.
“I am 67. I am aware that one should always make room for renewal in politics. A democracy is the healthier for the turnover of the depth of talent there is in its community,” Brown told reporters at the time of Milne’s succession.
After losing her seat, Milne quit state politics and in 2000 became an adviser to Brown before being elected to the Senate in her own right in 2007.
Senator Milne was booked to address the National Press Club tomorrow delivering the Greens’ pre-budget address.
The now former leader is due to outline opportunities in the 2015 budget “to set Australia on the path beyond neoliberal economics”.
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