Adam Bandt has been elected Greens leader unopposed, with Larissa Waters and Nick McKim to serve as co-deputy leaders.
The Greens party whip Rachel Siewert delivered the result of the Greens’ party room meeting on Tuesday, settling the leadership question created when Richard Di Natale announced his resignation on Monday.
Bandt, the member for Melbourne, immediately announced the Greens would campaign on a platform of a Green New Deal, phasing out fossil fuel extraction in favour of an advanced mining and manufacturing sector powered by renewable energy.
Bandt, a former industrial lawyer with close links to unions, was elected to the lower house in 2010. He was the first Greens member of the House of Representatives.
Waters was also elected elected Senate leader and McKim will become deputy Senate leader.
In a statement Bandt thanked Di Natale “for his leadership of our party and service to our country” and his colleagues “for their support and the confidence they have placed in me”. Di Natale resigned on Monday to spend more time with his family.
“In particular, I want to congratulate Larissa Waters for being elected today as leader in the Senate and Nick McKim for being elected as deputy leader in the Senate,” he said.
“We are in the middle of a climate emergency and long-running jobs and inequality crises.
“People are angry and anxious because the government has no plan for the big problems facing the country.
“I call on everyone, but particularly young Australians, to join our movement for a Green New Deal so together we can fight to save the future.”
Siewert was returned as whip and Janet Rice continues as party room chair and also takes on the new role of deputy whip.
