Politics · Greens leadershipShoebridge Wins Greens Leadership, Faces Member-Vote DisputeAired September 30, 2026 at 11:48 PM UTCWritten October 1, 2026 at 12:02 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:09David Shoebridge won the Greens' leadership, but the broader party membership did0:13not choose him.0:13He replaces Larissa Waters, whose worsening kidney disease has forced her to0:17relinquish leadership responsibilities.0:19The party has a new leader and deputy, but an argument over member participation0:23remains unsettled.0:25What has this transition resolved, and what remains unanswered for the Greens and0:28Waters?0:29Shoebridge and Steph Hodgins May were elected at the parliamentary party room0:32meeting on September 30th, 2026.0:35That completes the immediate succession, two days after Waters announced her0:39departure.0:40Shoebridge is a New South Wales senator who entered the Senate in 2022.0:44Hodgins May represents Victoria and is serving her first term.0:47The leadership contest also involved Merheen Farouki, another New South Wales0:52senator and the previous deputy leader, and South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson0:57Young Waters represents Queensland.0:59These are the incoming team, the outgoing leader and the two other contenders, not1:03separate people behind the variant spellings of their names.1:06The reported leadership result was seven votes for Shoebridge and four for Faruqi.1:11That numerical tally is not independently corroborated, even though the appointments1:15themselves are confirmed, and seven to four does not explain the whole three-way1:19contest.1:20Hansen-Young's vote count is unknown, as is the number of ballot rounds.1:24It is not established whether she withdrew or was eliminated before that result.1:28There is also no established vote count for Hodgins May's election as deputy.1:32Those gaps limit what can be concluded about the contest's sequence or the strength1:35of support for each candidate.1:37Ferrucci challenged who got to make the decision.1:39She expressed disappointment that party members had not elected the leader and said1:43she shared their frustration.1:44Shoebridge said the outcome followed the rules set by the party.1:47Those positions address different questions.1:49A leadership result can comply with an existing process while participants still1:53object to that process.1:55What happened was a parliamentary party room election, not a ballot of the broader1:59membership.2:00The complete governing rules, voter eligibility provisions and secrecy arrangements2:04are not established.2:05There is no basis to call this a proven rules violation.2:08Nor does winning the ballot establish that Shoebridge has settled the argument about2:11participation.2:12The positions are clear, but the exact wording of either politician's remarks is not2:17established.2:17Waters is leaving the leadership, not the Senate.2:21She will remain a senator while taking medical leave, with no definite duration or2:25return date established.2:27Her pre-existing kidney disease has worsened significantly over recent months.2:31The condition has also been described as chronic kidney disease, but that more2:35specific clinical label is not independently established.2:38No clinical stage or prescribed treatment is known.2:41Her prognosis for recovery is positive.2:43That is not a confirmed recovery or a timetable.2:46Leadership demands including additional travel were incompatible with giving her2:50health the attention it needed.2:51Stepping down removes those additional responsibilities while preserving her Senate2:55role.2:56The departure announcement is dated Monday, September 28th.2:59A conflicting late Tuesday timing remains unresolved.3:02The September 30th leadership change does not establish a different original3:06departure date.3:07Waters held the leadership for roughly 16 months.3:09She was elected on May 15th, 2025.3:12unanimously in an uncontested federal party room ballot, succeeding Adam Bant after3:16his defeat at the twenty twenty five election.3:18When she announced her departure, a meeting was expected later that week, and no3:22successor had been named.3:23The September 30 election supersedes that vacancy.3:26The Greens are no longer preparing to choose a leader.3:28They have chosen one.3:30What remains is the new team's task of addressing the internal argument, and3:34Waters's uncertain timetable for resuming parliamentary duties.3:37Shoebridge inherits a divided team and a challenge to improve the Greens' political3:41cut through.3:42One Nation's polling support has been described as rising, but no comparable polling3:46figures, field work dates, or measured change are established.3:49That assessment cannot support a numerical claim about voters abandoning the Greens,3:54and the leadership result does not show that the party's divisions have been3:57resolved.3:57The transition has answered who leads the Greens.4:00Shoebridge, with Hodgins May as deputy.4:02It has not answered whether the new team can resolve the dispute over member4:06participation.4:07Waters retains her Senate role while stepping back from leadership demands.4:11No dated return to parliamentary duties or further leadership transition event has4:15been announced.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗