Shalailah Medhora Wednesday 6 May 2015
The Tasmanian senator has resigned as the leader of the Australian Greens and announced the party would hold a ballot for a new leader less than an hour later
Christine Milne: ‘After 25 years in politics, I am looking forward to spending more time in my beautiful home state of Tasmania, with friends and family.’ Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Christine Milne has announced her resignation as leader of the Greens, and the party will hold a ballot on the new leadership on Wednesday morning.
Milne said she would not seek pre-selection for her Tasmanian Senate seat.
The party’s health spokesman Richard Di Natale immediately announced his candidacy on Twitter and paid tribute to Milne. The current deputy leader Adam Bandt, the Greens’ sole member of the House of Representatives, was another likely candidate and was seen by bookmakers as the favourite. Western Australian senator Scott Ludlam was also a possible contender, as was South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
“It is with a mix of optimism, pride, excitement and sadness that I am resigning the leadership and leaving the Senate,” Milne said.
“My decision to resign today is one I made with my 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.”
She vowed to continue her advocacy of environmental issues.
“Life after parliament is not, however, life after politics. The fight for action on global warming will continue and I will take my passion, and all that I’ve learned, to that fight standing shoulder to shoulder with the community here, and all over the world, for climate justice.”
Milne took on the leadership role in 2012 after party stalwart Bob Brown resigned.
Greens senator Penny Wright paid tribute. “An extraordinary leader. I am privileged to have worked with @senatormilne - integrity, courage, vision, heart. Thank you, Christine.”
“Christine has been a fearless and courageous activist, politician and leader. Party has grown under her leadership. Sad to see her leave,” tweeted another Greens senator, Lee Rhiannon.
Her resignation caught senior government ministers off-guard. “I’m surprised, and I’ll be very interested to know why,” treasurer Joe Hockey said when informed of the decision.
But Kevin Andrews, the defence minister, tweeted: “Does it really matter who will lead the freedom hating Greens. Their anti-family & community destroying policies remain.”
Tony Abbott, on a visit to Perth, was more conciliatory, praising Milne’s “distinguished record” as a senator and “as the leader of a political party which has considerable influence on the parliament”.
Abbott added: “Obviously, we come from very different political traditions but I respect Christine Milne, as I respect all senior members of the parliament. It takes a great deal of commitment and patriotism to offer to serve in the parliament, to serve in senior levels as Christine Milne has done.
“It is a testament to her commitment to Australia. Even though we have far more often than not been on opposite sides of most political arguments, I respect her commitment. We’ve always had good and cordial relations. I understand that she’s soon to be a grandmother and that’s a marvellous time for any individual and I wish her well for the future.”
Milne said in her statement: “I promised a more cabinet-style, collaborative approach to leadership. I am so proud of the way my colleagues have responded. We are a strong, capable, visionary Greens team.
“We have stood strongly for a safe climate and an end to wealth inequality. We have stood with the community against the cruelty of the Abbott Government, with their first budget resoundingly rejected by the people, and the Senate.”
