New Greens leader David Shoebridge says party members will have input into the next federal leadership decision, as storms and flash flooding brought significant rainfall across much of Victoria.
Who Decides the Leadership
The Greens’ party room chooses the party’s federal leader. Shoebridge has pledged a conversation across party branches and membership before the next leadership decision, but he hasn’t committed to a specific model for member input.
In a social media video captioned “your say on Greens leadership,” Shoebridge said: “You absolutely should have a say in the leadership for the Greens”. He added: “The good news is Steph [Hodgins-May] and I are gonna make this happen.”
Shoebridge said the party would discuss how to proceed “right across the Greens. Every state and territory, hundreds and hundreds of branches, thousands and thousands of members, because members want to be engaged in this.” He said the change would happen “before we make the next decision on the federal leadership”.
Under Greens rules, the party makes that federal leadership decision after every federal election. So, the membership discussion and any change to the process would take place during this term of parliament, according to the update.
Mehreen Faruqi, who lost her leadership candidacy, also called for members to have input after the party-room vote. Earlier in the week, when announcing his leadership bid, Shoebridge said he supported members having a say.
The Greens’ arrangements differ from those of the Liberal and Nationals parties. Like the Greens, both choose their federal leaders through their party rooms. Labor uses a party-room vote and a membership vote.
Rainfall and Emergency Calls
Melbourne recorded 47.8mm of rain from 9am on Thursday at the Melbourne (Olympic Park) measuring station. Storms and flash flooding affected much of Victoria.
More than 200 calls for help went to the State Emergency Service, including six water rescues. The update reported the response figures but didn’t identify the people who made the calls or give details about the rescues.
David Crock, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology, said Melbourne’s rainfall total was its highest daily rainfall since April 2024. His comparison referred to the daily total at the city’s measuring station.
Rain was expected to continue on Friday and Saturday. A flood watch remained current for catchments across much of central and eastern Victoria, and Crock warned: “There is much more to come.”
Forecast for the Weekend
Conditions were expected to ease on Sunday as the low-pressure system moved offshore. Until then, Victoria’s forecast called for more rain, with the flood watch still current for the named catchments.
Two developments featured in the update: a promised discussion about member input into Greens leadership, and ongoing rainfall alongside emergency calls and water rescues in Victoria. The Greens haven’t set a specific model for the process. The forecast called for more rain before conditions were expected to ease.