By MAX AITCHISON, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and AAP

Published: 05:45 BST, 15 May 2025 | Updated: 06:13 BST, 15 May 2025

Senator Larissa Waters has been announced as the new leader of the Greens.

Adam Bandt, who had led the minor party since 2020, lost his seat of Melbourne at the federal election, ending his 15-year career in federal parliament.

His colleagues met in the Victorian capital on Thursday to decide on a new leader. 

Queensland senator Larissa Waters triumphed over South Australian Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi from NSW.

Senator Waters, who has been in parliament since 2011, was considered by many to be a reluctant candidate.

The mother-of-two is the second-longest serving member of the Greens party room behind Senator Hanson-Young. 

She made history in 2017 when she became the first women to breastfeed her baby daughter in the Senate chamber.  

She now faces the task of picking up the pieces after the Greens lost three lower house seats and failed to pick up any extras at the election.

Bandt’s defeat was a particular humiliation, with the ousted leader blaming everyone but himself as he attributed his loss to the redistribution of his Melbourne seat, a voter backlash against Peter Dutton and preferences from One Nation and Liberal voters.

However, the Greens remain confident of wielding influence in the Senate, where the party holds the balance of power.

Queensland senator Larissa Waters (right) triumphed over South Australian Sarah Hanson-Young (middle) and Mehreen Faruqi (left) from NSW

Queensland senator Larissa Waters (right) triumphed over South Australian Sarah Hanson-Young (middle) and Mehreen Faruqi (left) from NSW 

Senator Waters, who has been in parliament since 2011, was considered by many to be a reluctant candidate

Senator Waters, who has been in parliament since 2011, was considered by many to be a reluctant candidate 

The Greens are left with the Queensland seat of Ryan and 11 senators following the election.

Labor has at least 28 seats in the Senate and with the support of the Greens has the numbers to get legislation through the upper house.

More to come.  

:
Revealed: The woman to lead the Greens after Adam Bandt’s humiliating loss devastated the party

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