Bob Brown's leadership worthy of recognition

LAST year was perhaps the most turbulent year in Australian political history and Greens leader Bob Brown was one of the central figures.

LAST year was perhaps the most turbulent year in Australian political history and Greens leader Bob Brown was one of the central figures.

He emerged from 2010 with a greatly enhanced reputation as a political craftsman.

Brown cemented the Greens as a genuine third political force with their impressive polling in the August election.

He oversaw the election of the first Green member to the federal House of Representatives, and by July his party will assume control of the Senate.

While the Greens recorded their highest primary vote last year -- partly due to widespread disenchantment with Labor and the Coalition -- there is little doubt that Brown's strong leadership was the party's driving force.

Brown's commitment to the environmental cause and his role in guiding the Greens to their elevated position on the Australian political landscape make him a worthy nominee for The Australian's Australian of the Year award, which has been celebrating our nation's top achievers since 1971.

Nominations for the award close on January 17.

The winner, to be chosen by a panel of senior editors, will be announced in The Weekend Australian on January 22.