Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has confirmed she is campaigning to become the next leader of the Australian Greens. Her announcement follows the sudden resignation of Larissa Waters, which reportedly caught many party members by surprise. Hanson-Young, who holds the distinction of being the party's longest-serving federal MP, stated that she has begun discussions with her parliamentary colleagues to secure their support ahead of the leadership vote.

The leadership transition is set to take place during a two-day party retreat in Sydney. In a public statement released via social media, Hanson-Young emphasized her desire to challenge both the Labor Party and One Nation, framing her potential leadership as a move to provide voters with a stronger alternative. While the internal process is underway, the party is currently navigating the sudden vacancy left by Waters. The Guardian reports that the announcement was made while MPs were already preparing for the retreat, highlighting the rapid nature of the leadership shift within the party ranks.