ACT Greens members have voted for their new leader, choosing interim leader Jo Clay over returned MLA Rebecca Vassarotti. The vote also saw member for Yerrabi, Andrew Braddock, elected as deputy leader of the party.
Ms Clay replaces former ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, who resigned from politics in April after leading the party for 14 years. Party members had a choice between Ms Clay, the party's then-deputy, and returning MLA Rebecca Vassarotti, with voting closing on Sunday.
Ms Clay said she was honoured and grateful to be elected as the new leader by her party members, with 61 per cent of the vote. 'The Greens really value grassroots democracy, so it's important for us to have this open, transparent vote for all the members to get to participate,' she said.
Ms Clay added she was 'really happy' to have Ms Vassarotti back in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Ms Vassarotti was re-elected earlier this month in a countback by the Electoral Commission, filling the gap in the seat of Kurrajong left by Mr Rattenbury.
Ms Clay said her focus was now on what comes next 'because Canberrans deserve better than the status quo.' She said she did not believe the ACT government had 'heard' what the community was asking for, citing issues like unaffordable housing and climate change.
Along with selecting Ms Clay as party leader, members also elected Andrew Braddock as their new deputy leader. Mr Braddock said the ACT Greens were unique nationally in that members voted on who would lead the party, and he felt 'really confident' about the party's future.
