Greens to Continue Gaza Campaign for a ‘Free Palestine’

New leader Larissa Waters also said climate change would be a priority, saying, ‘We’ve always been about the planet, we are the Greens.’

Greens Senator Larissa Waters and Leader Adam Bandt and hold a snap press conference in the Mural Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 15, 2021. Sam Mooy/Getty Images

New Greens leader Larissa Waters has revealed the party will continue their Gaza campaign to “free Palestine” while also pushing for action on climate change.

This comes after the Greens lost multiple seats in the House of Representatives, which many attributed to the party’s strong pro-Palestine stance and the attendance of many Greens MPs at multiple pro-Palestine rallies.

The Queensland Senator was chosen as leader of the Greens in a meeting on May 15, after being the only individual nominated for the position.

In a post to X following her victory, Waters said the Greens would “continue to work for a free Palestine.”

Further, in a press conference following the meeting, she told reporters in relation to Gaza, “We will always be there calling out atrocities, calling out a genocide and standing strong on social justice and human rights.”

Waters shed more light on her leadership style during an interview with the ABC on May 15, where she promised to offer her own distinct approach.

“I’m a different person to [former Greens leader Adam Bandt] but I am really proud of the work he did and his incredible team, and I am really proud of our broad policy platform,” she said on the ABC on May 15.

“But I am a different person, and I bring a different style. I really want to get outcomes. I really want to work with the current government to try and improve people’s lives and protect the planet.”

When questioned about the strategy of focusing on renters and dental during the election campaign, Waters said the Greens have always had a broad policy platform, and said they could “walk and chew gum at the same time.”

“We’ve always been about the planet, we are the Greens. We’ve always had a number of priorities, climate and nature are at our core,” she said.

“We have to make sure people have their needs met. We are a wealthy country. We shouldn’t have one in six kids living in poverty.”

Greens Reshuffle

Elizabeth Watson-Brown in the seat of Ryan is the only lower house Greens member who maintained her seat. However, the party managed to keep 11 Senate seats.

The Greens chose Senator Mehreen Faruqi for deputy leader and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young as the manager of business.

Faruqi also expressed support for continuing its pro-Palestine stance, calling the situation in Gaza a “genocide.”

“Migrant and multicultural communities in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne have backed us for speaking the truth and standing against the genocide in Gaza,” she said.

Liberals, Nationals Also Select Leaders

The Greens were not the only party selecting a new leader. On May 13, the Liberal Party elected Sussan Ley to become the first woman to lead the federal parliamentary team with a vote of 29 to 15.  Ted O'Brien was chosen as her deputy.

Ley said she would lead a Liberal Party that respects, reflects, and represents modern Australia.

“It is an enormous privilege to have been elected the Leader of the Liberal Party. I am humbled by the support of my colleagues and together we will work every single day to rebuild trust with the Australian people,” she said on Facebook. 

“Congratulations to Deputy Leader Ted O'Brien MP—federal member for Fairfax—together we will work hard with our entire party room to build a real alternative over the next three years.”

Ley sought to distance herself from former Liberal leader Peter Dutton.

“Peter Dutton and I have different styles, we’re different personalities, and I will bring a different approach to my leadership,” she said on the Today Show on May 16.

The Nationals reelected David Littleproud as leader following a challenge by Senator Matt Canavan. Kevin Hogan was chosen as the deputy leader.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese swore in a large new cabinet and then embarked on an overseas trip to Indonesia, Singapore, and the Vatican for the inauguration of the new pope.

“We'll continue working hard, day and night, for all Australians. We have the largest ALP Caucus in history since federation,” Albanese said.