David Shoebridge, the new Greens leader, told reporters that the party’s goal is to "replace" Labor and that it will fight One Nation. His comments mark a clear break from the party’s previous, more cooperative stance with the Labor government.

In the 2022 federal election the Greens won four lower‑house seats and secured a 12.25 % primary vote nationwide. However, the 2025 election saw the party lose three of those seats, including the seat of former leader Adam Bandt, highlighting the fragility of its earlier gains.

The shift in strategy began after former leader Larissa Waters promised a "firm but constructive" relationship with Labor. Under Shoebridge, the Greens have moved from trying to negotiate concessions to adopting a confrontational approach aimed at pulling voters away from both Labor and the populist right.

Shoebridge’s turn mirrors recent left‑wing populist successes abroad. In the United Kingdom, Zack Polanski led the Green Party into an "eco‑populist" surge. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani used a populist message about rent, buses, childcare and groceries to win the mayoralty. In Germany, Die Linke doubled its vote by focusing on rent, wages and inequality. These examples show how economic frustration can be turned into electoral support for progressive parties.

By positioning themselves as a force that will both challenge Labor and confront One Nation, the Greens hope to capture the anger of voters who feel left behind by rising living costs. Whether this confrontational, populist path can translate into more seats remains the key question for the party’s future.