Bob Brown resigns as Greens leader and Senator

Bob Brown has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens. He will also resign from the Senate.

Senator Brown told reporters this afternoon that he was “very sad to go but very happy to make way for the depth of talent that there is in the (party)”, pointing out that he was 67 years old.

Senator Brown said the agreeement signed to form minority government with Labor would stand.

He said that “he will be a Green until the day I die, if not for a long time after that”.

“I’m well aware of the size of this decision,” he said, noting that he had been discussing his decision since returning from the Greens global conference in Africa earlier this month.

Greens deputy leader Christine Milne has been elected as the new leader. There will be a further Greens party meeting this afternoon to vote for a deputy leader to replace Senator Milne.

Senator Milne paid tribute to Senator Brown’s ”extraordinary leadership” saying she would carry through his ”values of looking after our country and our people, now and into the future”.

Read the rest in The Age here, includes video

• What Bob Brown said …

Bob Brown has resigned as Leader of the Australian Greens Parliamentary Party. He will also resign from the Senate, after 16 years’ service, when his Tasmanian replacement is available in June.

Senator Brown, who is 67, made the announcement to his Greens Party Room colleagues this morning at 10am.

“I am sad to leave but happy to go. It is good knowing that the Greens have such a depth of talent and experience lined up for leadership – I could only dream about that a decade ago”, Senator Brown said.

“It is prime time to hand over the reins. I offer a huge ‘thank you’ to the 1.7 million Australian voters who elected our Green team, and to my 9 colleagues: they have made each Green year in this parliament better than the year before – though the best is yet to come. For example, our policies for fairly taxing the resources boom and carbon polluters, uniquely enable the Greens to fund a national disabilities insurance scheme, the Gonski education reforms, Denticare, renewable energy businesses, as well as progress on High Speed Rail linking our major cities.

“I also thank my splendid staff, including my longtime friend, confidant, and fount of good political sense, Chief of Staff, Ben Oquist,” Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown has called the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Tasmanian Greens to inform them of his resignation.

“I look forward to fresh green pursuits including writing, photography, music, occasional talks, bushwalking, and getting out with Paul to see Miranda Gibson who has been perched for 120 days 60 metres high, in defence of a giant tree facing destruction in central Tasmania,” Senator Brown said.

• TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP

BOB BROWN HAILED AS GREAT GAY AUSTRALIAN
CHRISTINE MILNE LAUDED FOR DEDICATION TO EQUALITY

Tasmanian gay advocates have hailed outgoing Australian Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, as one of Australia’s great gay heroes, and have welcomed new Greens leader Christie Milne as a fearless and effective champion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender human rights.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that as the first publicly-acknowledged gay man in Tasmania and the first openly-gay politician in Australia Bob Brown was an immensely important role-model who endured abuse gracefully and inspired many with his vision of an inclusive society.

“Bob Brown’s charm, erudition, bravery and compassion, and most of all his pride in being gay in face of deep prejudice, have made him a beacon for three generations of gay and lesbian people in Tasmania and across the nation”, Mr Croome said.

“All of us owe Bob a debt of gratitude for the rights we have, for the acceptance we enjoy, and for the hope we have of a better future.”

Mr Croome welcomed the election of Senator Christine Milne as the new Australian Greens leader.

“In my long experience working with Christine Milne I have found her to be one of the nation’s most effective, fearless and dedicated advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.”

“It was Christine Milne whose legislation finally removed criminal laws against homosexuality in Tasmania, and I’m hopeful it will be under Christine Milne’s leadership that Australia will achieve marriage equality.”

• THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY MEDIA RELEASE April 13, 2012

Founding Wilderness Society Director Bob Brown an inspiration

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has been an inspiring leader for the Australian environment movement and a champion of wilderness protection for over 30 years, the Wilderness Society said after Senator Brown announced his resignation from the Australian Senate today.

“Bob Brown has made an enormous contribution to Australia, its precious wilderness areas, and to the Wilderness Society as its founding leader,” Wilderness Society Director Lyndon Schneiders said.

“Dr Brown has taken environmental activism from a fledging movement to a mainstream political force. He has been a giant of the environment movement who has stood up to many of the most powerful corporate and political interests in the defence of nature. He has been an inspiration to a generation of Australians who love our natural environment.

“He has shown extraordinary commitment to the protection of nature in Australia and social justice, has helped Australia to become a leader in the fight against global warming and helped save much of Australia’s ancient forests.

“In fighting to save the Franklin River, he showed heroic leadership and has continued that throughout his political career.

“He has inspired thousands of activists to protect nature and the Wilderness Society will continue his legacy to fight for the protection ancient forests, wilderness, rivers and the marine environment into the future.

“The Wilderness Society wishes Dr Brown well in the future, and Christine Milne well as the new leader of the Australian Greens.”

• BOB BROWN: AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

The Tasmanian Greens today paid tribute to the enormous legacy of Bob Brown, whose visionary leadership has seen the Greens emerge as a major force for positive change in Australian politics.

Greens Leader Nick McKim, who has ruled out nominating for the vacant position, also congratulated Senator Christine Milne on her appointment as Leader of the Australian Greens.

“It’s impossible to overstate the incredible legacy Bob Brown leaves on Australia’s political and cultural life,” Mr McKim said.

“Bob is a man of deep humility, conviction, courage and integrity whose contribution to public life in Australia will be felt for generations.”

“Bob has been a massive inspiration for me personally, and for all Australians who share the Greens’ vision of hope and optimism for a cleaner, kinder and healthier world.”

“His presence in the national parliament will be sorely missed, but anyone who knows Bob knows that he will never stop being an outspoken humanitarian and a passionate environmentalist.”

“All Tasmanians should be extraordinarily proud of the massive role Bob has played in not only in Australian political life, but on the global stage.”

“He embodies the Greens’ belief that that politics is about values and vision, and he’s never been afraid to take on vested interests that stand in the way of progressive change.”

“Bob has said that he’s sad to be leaving politics, but it’s certainly understandable that after 25 years in the public eye, he would want to spend more time pursuing other interests and spending time with loved ones.”

“Of course Bob will be sorely missed, but his departure opens up a new opportunity to build on his fantastic legacy through the emergence of a new generation of Greens leaders.”

“Bob leaves the leadership of the party in extremely capable hands belonging to Senator Christine Milne.”

“Nobody is better suited to take on the job of leader than Senator Christine Milne, a person of formidable intellect, courage and one of Australia’s leading futurists.”

• Bob Brown’s nature conservation achievements lauded

Environment Tasmania expressed deep thanks to Greens Senator Bob Brown for his tireless lifetime efforts to protect Tasmania’s wild places, upon the announcement of his retirement from politics yesterday. Tasmania’s peak environment body has also warmly welcomed the news that Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne, a long-time champion of nature conservation, will now lead the Australian Greens.

“Some of Tasmania’s most outstanding wild places and natural landscapes remain intact due to the dedication and perseverance of Bob Brown,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania, “Places like the Franklin River, the South-West Wilderness, Farmhouse Creek and Recherché Bay are global treasures that have been saved through Bob’s efforts and through his capacity to inspire others to act for the preservation of nature,”

“Bob has inspired a generation of conservationists in Tasmania and around the country, and his presence on the national stage will be sorely missed. We wish Bob and his partner Paul all the best for the future.”

“Senator Christine Milne has been a fierce, intelligent and uncompromising defender of nature in Tasmania, nationally and regionally. Senator Milne has a proven track record of delivery for nature conservation and environmental protection. Having Senator Milne lead the Greens nationally is great news for nature conservation, and we wish her good luck and success in her new role,” he concluded.

Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s conservation council, a peak body that represents 25 Tasmanian nature conservation organisations, with collective representation of over 5000 Tasmanians.