David Shoebridge has been elected leader of the Australian Greens following the first contested leadership ballot in the party's history, vowing to challenge One Nation, expose Labor's policy shortcomings and champion working Australians struggling with cost-of-living pressures. The result was announced in Sydney after a two-day party policy meeting, with Shoebridge securing six primary votes from the party's ten senators and sole lower house member, ahead of senator Mehreen Faruqi on three votes and senator Sarah Hanson-Young on two.
The leadership contest was triggered by the sudden departure of Larissa Waters, who stepped down earlier in the week citing deteriorating health. Shoebridge, a former barrister and longtime NSW state politician who entered federal parliament as a senator in 2022, has been joined on the new leadership ticket by Victorian senator Steph Hodgins-May, who was elected as deputy leader. Hodgins-May entered the Senate in 2024, replacing Janet Rice, and has built a following among younger voters through pointed social media engagement and her push for a 25 per cent gas tax.
Shoebridge outlines a combative, grassroots-focused agenda
In his first remarks as leader, Shoebridge made clear he intends to take an assertive approach — taking aim at entrenched wealth and influence in Australian politics while promising concrete policy alternatives to what he described as a vacuum left by Labor.
"People are desperate for material change," he said. "They don't want another meaningless message being delivered by some Labor hack that they know isn't going to change their lives. They want to take on the vested interests."
Drawing on a recurring theme of economic fairness, Shoebridge framed the Greens as the one party not captured by powerful interests. "We're not punching down on migrants. We're taking on the 1 per cent that have bought our parliament. They've bought the Labor Party. They've bought the Liberal Party. They've bought One Nation. Well, they bloody well haven't bought the Greens," he said.
He also dismissed One Nation's appeal as a temporary fix that could not withstand scrutiny. "Their non-policies are being tested," he said, adding that the Greens would "beat down One Nation" by offering genuine solutions rather than what he characterised as a "short-term sugar hit" that exploited voters' legitimate frustrations.
Earlier in the day, Shoebridge and Hodgins-May released a joint statement signalling the direction of their ticket. "This is the time to build our movement as the home for every Australian who want action on the climate crisis, a fair return from our resources, a secure home and income, and to not sell out our independence to the US or the one per cent," the statement read.
Shoebridge is well known in federal political circles for his sharp style in Senate Estimates hearings and his outspoken positions on defence and foreign affairs, including firm opposition to the AUKUS submarine agreement. His election represents a considerable shift in the party's public face, with the new leader and deputy both signalling a more confrontational posture toward the major parties. For more background on the journey of Greens leadership in Australia, see our profile of the Greens leader.
Faruqi voices disappointment over the outcome
Senator Faruqi, who served as deputy leader before the ballot, did not conceal her feelings about the result. "I was disappointed the party room chose another direction," she said, adding that she believed "many others will feel the same way."
Faruqi also indicated she would not be contesting the deputy leadership position, saying she had concluded she could best contribute to the party outside that role. The decision marks a significant shift for a senator who had been a prominent figure in the Greens' public identity in recent years.
A smaller but strategically pivotal party
The Greens Shoebridge now leads is considerably diminished in raw numbers compared to recent years. At the 2025 federal election, the party lost three of its four lower house seats, including the seat held by former leader Adam Bandt. The blow was compounded when senator Dorinda Cox subsequently defected to Labor.
Despite that contraction, the party currently holds the balance of power in the Senate on legislation not supported by the Coalition — giving Shoebridge significant leverage over the government's legislative agenda from the outset of his leadership.
The Greens' primary vote sits at approximately 12 per cent in most current polling, though the party has struggled to grow beyond that level even as both major parties have experienced declining support and One Nation has surged.
Chalmers signals cautious cooperation
Treasurer Jim Chalmers offered a measured response to Shoebridge's elevation, noting he had not yet met the new leader or his deputy but nonetheless anticipated working with them in the Senate. "I think it's really important that we focus on the risks posed to workers and to our economy by One Nation, the Liberal Party, and the National Party," Chalmers said — a framing that appeared to leave open the door to cooperation with the Greens while redirecting attention toward shared opponents on the right.
The new leadership team's full policy platform is expected to be fleshed out in the coming weeks as parliament resumes.
