The Australian Greens face mounting pressure from former leader Adam Bandt to block the Albanese government from approving new fossil fuel projects by any means necessary as the party prepares to elect a new leadership team at a two-day retreat in Sydney starting on Wednesday.
Following Larissa Waters’ decision to step down from the leadership on Monday night due to declining health from chronic kidney disease, three separate tickets have emerged to contest the role. South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced her candidacy on Tuesday, while deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi entered on a joint ticket with Nick McKim as her deputy. Senators David Shoebridge and Steph Hodgins-May confirmed their runs on Wednesday morning. Party figures, including Bob Brown and Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Adam Bandt, have emphasized that the upcoming leadership transition brings immediate policy demands regarding major climate flashpoints before the next election.
Leadership Candidates and Parliament Strategy
The upcoming leadership vote at the Sydney retreat follows Larissa Waters’ public statement that managing chronic kidney disease has made the travel and pressure of the leadership role unsustainable, though her recovery prognosis remains positive. Bandt told Guardian Australia that the new leader will have no excuses for permitting Labor to approve new fossil fuel developments. Key climate flashpoints facing the incoming leadership include Woodside’s Browse gas project near Scott Reef in northern Western Australia, gas fracking proposals in the Beetaloo basin in the Northern Territory, and whether datacentres will gain permission to use fracked gas.
“In terms of what approach gets taken in parliament, the view from the movement is: look, there’s no excuse now, there’s no parliamentary blocker to stopping new coal and gas mines and to stopping deforestation,” Bandt said. Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather also weighed in via an open letter, arguing that rank-and-file members rather than just MPs should elect the new leader. Meanwhile, Bob Brown praised Waters as a splendid leader and argued that her successor must act as a strong negotiator capable of extracting significant reforms from Anthony Albanese.
Greens primary vote holds steady amid fluctuating polls
Despite a surge in popularity for One Nation through 2026, the Greens primary vote has largely held steady, recording 12.22% in 2025 compared with 12.25% in 2022, alongside various poll results fluctuating between 11% and 15% throughout 2026.
Public Reach and Electoral Dynamics
While party elders like Brown and Bandt maintain that the Greens are successfully cutting through to the public—drawing comparisons to progressive movements like New York mayor Zohran Mamdani—internal figures acknowledge significant obstacles. NSW state Greens upper house member Sue Higginson highlighted the difficulties of cutting through media narratives against opponents backed by heavy financial resources and dark interests.
Data from various polling outfits throughout 2026 illustrate shifting public support. The Australian’s Newspoll recorded the primary vote at 13% in August and September, while Nine newspapers’ Resolve poll showed a high of 15% in March before dipping to 11% in September. Redbridge Group and Accent Research polls published in the Financial Review similarly charted the primary vote moving from 14% in June down to 12% in August.
Three tickets contest Greens leadership following Larissa Waters departure
Who is running for the Greens leadership?
Three separate tickets have declared intentions to stand: South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young, a joint ticket featuring deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi with Nick McKim as her deputy, and senators David Shoebridge and Steph Hodgins-May.
Why did Larissa Waters step down?
Larissa Waters announced she is stepping down from the leadership due to managing a chronic kidney disease that has declined significantly over recent months, making travel demands detract from her health focus.
What are the primary climate flashpoints for the new leader?
Key flashpoints include Woodside’s Browse gas project near Scott Reef in northern WA, gas fracking in the Beetaloo basin in the NT, and whether datacentres will be permitted to use fracked gas.
How will the incoming Greens leadership balance parliamentary negotiations with grassroots activist demands ahead of the next election?
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