Steph Hodgins-May has been elected deputy leader of the Australian Greens alongside new party leader David Shoebridge, following the resignation of Larissa Waters.
Hodgins-May, a Victorian senator and former environmental lawyer, entered federal parliament in 2024 after more than a decade campaigning for the Greens. She previously ran for federal seats in Ballarat and Melbourne’s inner south-east before replacing retiring senator Janet Rice.
Her political work has focused heavily on climate and environmental issues, including advocacy around fossil fuel projects and a proposed gas export tax. She has also worked on climate and food security issues with AusAid and at the United Nations.
The new leadership team was elected by the Greens’ 11-member federal party room. Shoebridge won the leadership ballot, while Hodgins-May defeated fellow senator Vanessa Bleyer for the deputy position.
Hodgins-May has said the new leadership team intends to work with urgency and pursue a more assertive approach in federal politics. Her election comes as the Greens seek to rebuild their national profile after the 2025 federal election and respond to changing political competition.
The leadership change follows Waters’ decision to step down from the leadership after disclosing that she needed to focus on her health. The Greens remain represented by 10 senators and one member in the House of Representatives.
