Adam Bandt MP, Member for Melbourne, has been elected as the Australian Greens Parliamentary Leader.
Adam will use his first media conference as leader to call for a government-led Green New Deal to tackle the climate emergency and the jobs and inequality crises. Adam will also make a strong pitch to young people to join the movement for a Green New Deal.
In a ballot held in the Greens party room today, Adam was elected uncontested. Larissa Waters, Senator for Queensland has been elected Leader in the Senate and Nick McKim, Senator for Tasmania has been elected as Deputy Leader in the Senate. Rachel Siewert has been returned as Whip and Janet Rice continues as Party Room Chair and also takes on the role of Deputy Whip.
Adam was elected to the Federal Parliament in 2010, making history as the first Green elected to the House of Representatives at a general election. Since his first election he has doubled the Greens vote in Melbourne taking it to one of the biggest in the country. Before entering Parliament, Adam worked for many years as a public interest and industrial lawyer protecting workers from privatisation and big corporations.
As stated by Adam Bandt MP:
"I want to acknowledge the fantastic work of our former leader Richard Di Natale and thank him for his leadership of our party and service to our country. I want to thank my colleagues for their support and the confidence they have placed in me. I also look forward to working closely with Greens National Councillors, State MPs and local councillors, State Conveners and branches in the coming months as we go forward.
"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. Holding these leadership positions reflects the years of hard work and commitment you've each made to the Greens movement, and I'm excited to work closely with you both in the years ahead.
"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.
"That is why Australia needs a Green New Deal.
"A Green New Deal means government leading the country in transforming our economy, creating new jobs and industries powered by clean energy and delivering universal services like dental into Medicare and genuinely free education. This is what I will be fighting for.
"We are a smart and wealthy country and if we have the guts to take on the big corporations and the weak politicians they have in their pockets, we can solve the problems we face.
"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."
