Greens leader David Shoebridge wants to woo the same angry voters as One Nation - but from the left
David Shoebridge has been appointed as the new leader of the Australian Greens, signaling a shift toward a more populist, left-wing economic agenda. The party aims to challenge Labor in inner-city electorates by focusing on cost-of-living issues and aggressive progressive rhetoric.
Why it matters
This leadership change marks a strategic pivot for the Greens to capture voter dissatisfaction, potentially altering the balance of power in Australian federal politics.
David Shoebridge may not have the charisma of Zohran Mamdani, but he wants to follow his playbook. ( ABC News: Callum Flinn )
Link copied Share Share article The elevation of NSW senator David Shoebridge to the Greens' top job is the clearest indication the party is prepared to swing further to the populist left and fight harder to demolish Labor, especially in its inner-city heartland.
He wasn't the only contender to lead the party — Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi also put their hands up for the top job.
Faruqi is reportedly divisive inside the party and Hanson-Young, despite being the longest-serving Greens senator, is seen as too moderate, according to sources.
Greens leadership talks are usually done under a cloak of secrecy, driven by consensus. But yesterday's contest broke convention.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in