– Bob Brown has quit as Australian Greens leader after 16 years.- He will also resign from the Senate in June.
– Christine Milne has been elected as the new Greens leader and MP Adam Bandt is the new Deputy Leader.
– Bob Brown will continue in the Senate until June when he will be replaced.
– His replacement, from Tasmania, has not yet been decided.
– There will be no change to the Greens agreement with Labor to support the Gillard Minority Government.
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Farewell Earthian; loved and loathed in equal parts.
At 67, Bob Brown has the energy of a 40 year old. He still has a zest for politics, still loves a fight. It seemed he could lead the Greens forever. But today, he’s announced it’s time for “renewal” and he’s handed the reins to Deputy Christine Milne.
Terrible news times two: Australian Parliament will be a lot duller without Senator Brown; and Christine Milne – she of limited charisma – will be on our TV screens a lot more.
Bob Brown, with the rich chocolatey voice and the relentless smile will be a great loss to the character of Parliament House. He has an air of happy benevolence: a warm calmness that descends, as he walks toward you.