Larissa Waters calls for ‘politics with heart’ after being elected unanimously as new Greens leader

Minor party held leadership vote after Adam Bandt lost seat in federal election. Follow today’s news live

Larissa Waters stands up next.

She thanks everyone for “waiting out here in the cold” for the press conference and says she is “thrilled” to have the support of her colleagues to be Greens leader.

I’m the fifth leader of our wonderful party, and I pay tribute to all of our previous leaders. And I really want to thank my party room colleagues for their support today.

It’s never been more important to have a strong Greens team in parliament. The issues that people are facing are getting harder and are getting worse. We need strong action on the climate, on nature, on the housing crisis, on the cost-of-living crisis. And we need our parliament to work to actually meet the needs of the people that it’s been elected to represent.

She acknowledges her team, including the deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi.

I feel so strengthened by the sentiment of the room and by this amazing team. We’ve got a lot of work to do because people are really hurting and the planet is hurting, and we need a parliament that actually delivers for people and has the courage and the boldness and the heart to deliver some help to people. So I’m calling today for a progressive parliament and a politics with heart.

Cover photo:  Queensland senator Larissa Waters has been chosen to succeed Adam Bandt as Greens leader. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian