Greens Lose Melbourne, Multiple Queensland Seats in Election Setback

The Australian Greens suffered significant losses in the recent federal election, with leader Adam Bandt conceding his Melbourne seat and the party reduced to a single lower house MP, Elizabeth Watson-Brown. NSW Senator David Shoebridge emphasized the need for a new Greens leader, likely a woman, with Mehreen Faruqi, Sarah Hanson-Young, and Larissa Waters considered potential candidates. Faruqi, who was praised for her advocacy on Gaza and housing issues, defended the Greens' stance on housing policies, crediting their pressure for Labor's increased investment in community and social housing. The Greens now hold a stronger position in the Senate despite setbacks in the lower house, where the Labor Party gained a historic majority and the Coalition faced a severe defeat. Commentators attributed the Greens' losses partly to strategic preference deals between major parties and a negative campaign against them. The party faces internal discussions on revising its strategy to regain lower house seats in future elections.