The 2025 Australian Greens leadership election was held on 15 May 2025 to elect the leader of the Australian Greens.
Larissa Waters was elected unopposed to replace Adam Bandt, who resigned the leadership after losing his seat of Melbourne at the 2025 federal election. Mehreen Faruqi was re-elected deputy leader after defeating Dorinda Cox nine votes to three.
The Greens hold an automatic leadership election following every federal election. The leadership is decided by consensus within the party room (or a party room vote if consensus cannot be reached), and all previous Greens leaders have been elected unopposed.
Background Following the federal election held on 3 May 2025, the Greens conceded defeat in Brisbane and Griffith, but were expected to retain Melbourne on the night of 3 May. Bandt also said he intended to remain Greens leader, "but obviously that's up to my colleagues".
On 7 May 2025, major media outlets projected that Bandt would lose Melbourne to Labor candidate Sarah Witty. He conceded defeat the following day. Tasmanian senator Nick McKim was appointed acting leader and stated that he would not contest the leadership election.
Candidates On 14 May 2025 (one day before the leadership vote), news.com.au reported that Faruqi, Hanson-Young and Waters could all three be declared as co-leaders.
Leader Declared Candidate Electorate Portfolio(s) Senator for Queensland Leader of the Greens in the Senate (2020–present) Co-Deputy Leader of the Greens (2015–2017; 2018–2022)
Declined Candidate Electorate Declined Portfolio(s) Senator for Tasmania 9 May 2025 Acting Leader of the Greens (2025) Senate Whip (2021–present) Co-Deputy Leader of the Greens (2020–2022) David Shoebridge Senator for New South Wales 11 May 2025
Speculated Candidate Electorate Portfolio(s) Senator for New South Wales Deputy Leader of the Greens (2022–present) Spokesperson for: Education – Tertiary Anti-Racism Animal Welfare International Aid and Global Justice Republic Climate Adaptation & Resilience Sarah Hanson-Young Senator for South AustraliaManager of Business in the Senate (2022–present) Spokesperson for: Environment and Water Arts and Communications Jordon Steele-John Senator for Western AustraliaSpokesperson for: Health Disability Rights and Services Foreign Affairs Peace and Nuclear Disarmament
Deputy leader Declared Candidate Electorate Portfolio(s) Senator for New South Wales Deputy Leader of the Greens (2022–present) Senator for Western Australia
Speculated Candidate Electorate Portfolio(s) David Shoebridge Senator for New South WalesSpokesperson for: Digital Rights and IT Justice Attorney-General's Department Drug law reform Defence and Veterans' Affairs Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Endorsements Bandt stated prior to the vote that he would not endorse any candidate. The Australian Young Greens formally opposed Hanson-Young becoming leader, but did not make an endorsement.
Mehreen Faruqi
Sarah Hanson-Young
See also 2025 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election 2025 National Party of Australia leadership spill
References