Top Green to leave Canberra
VICTORIAN Adam Bandt is poised to become the next leader of the federal Greens after Richard Di Natale announced yesterday he was quitting parliament to spend more time with his family.
The decision immediately vacates his position and those of co-deputies Mr Bandt — the Greens’ only Lower House MP — and Queensland senator Larissa Waters.
Mr Bandt, who holds the seat of Melbourne, will nominate for leader and Senator Waters re-nominate for deputy when the 10-member Greens party room meets today to elect a new leadership team.
Senator Di Natale said the top job had taken a toll on his wife, Lucy, and sons Luca and Ben.
“It’s been the greatest honour of my life to be able to lead a movement that is committed to all of the things that I believe so deeply in,” he said.
“The bottom line is it’s a tough and demanding job and my boys are nine and 11.
“I want to be present in their lives.
“My wife has been a huge support for me in my career and I want to be able to support her in her career.”
He said recent major surgery and the bushfire-prone location of his home were also factors in his decision to resign.
Senator Di Natale was first elected in 2010 — the Greens’ first Victorian senator — and became federal parliamentary leader in May 2015 after the resignation of Christine Milne.
During that time, he threw his support behind a federal corruption watchdog, passing a private Bill to establish one through the Senate.
He also pushed for the banking and disability royal commissions, and advocated for action on climate change, medicinal cannabis and higher standards for MPs.
Senator Di Natale backed the “intelligence, compassion and courage” of his parliamentary colleagues heading into the leadership ballot.
“We have, as a nation, just endured one of the most horrific events in the nation’s history,” he said.
“This is now an opportunity for a new leader to step up at a time when the nation’s focus is on this place.”
He highlighted the 2010 carbon price negotiation, the royal commissions and legalisation of same-sex marriage as some of the proudest achievements of his political career.
The former GP and public health specialist will resign from the Senate once his replacement has been appointed and leave politics within months.
Among those wishing him well was Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who has worked with him in the Senate since 2011.
“I want to acknowledge his service and wish him and his family all the very best for the future,” she said