Milne resigns, leaving Greens to pick replacement
UPDATE: Greens Senator Richard Di Natale has been elected after running unopposed for the leadership of the Australian Greens.
Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam have been elected as the co-deputy leaders.
ORIGINAL: Christine Milne has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens, with a ballot for her replacement to be held today.
In a statement on Facebook, Senator Milne said that with “a mix of optimism, pride, excitement and sadness” she is “resigning the leadership of the Australian Greens and leaving the Senate”.
“I have achieved what I set out to achieve when I took over the leadership,” she said in the statement.
“The Greens have gone from strength to strength with solid election results and a growing, engaged party membership.
“Life after parliament is not however, life after politics,” Senator Milne pledged.
“The fight for action on global warming will continue and I will take my passion, and all that I’ve learnt, to that fight standing shoulder to shoulder with the community here, and all over the world, for climate justice.”
A leadership ballot will reportedly be held at 11.30am on Wednesday to decide the new leader of the Australian Greens.
Senator Milne is booked to address the National Press Club on Thursday.