Membership group launches petition to force plebiscite as Richard Di Natale comes under internal pressure

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Greens MPs have cautiously welcomed a push for members to directly elect the federal parliamentary leader.

The Greens for Democratic Leadership group launched a petition on Wednesday calling for signatures to force a plebiscite on direct election of the leader, to take effect after the next election.

It was authorised by Greens Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sri, who told Guardian Australia the group was calling for a “straightforward commonsense reform” that would ensure the leader was accountable to the membership.

“The concern with the current process is … the federal parliamentary leader is a public-facing role,” he said. “They need to be good at inspiring and motivating voters, communicating our messages and values.”

Richard Di Natale accused of giving up leftwing ideals by Greens MPs Read more

Sri said primaries would create a “more direct contest of ideas” when leaders are chosen and prevent the “risk of disconnection” between elected representatives and members.

Since becoming federal leader in 2015, Richard Di Natale has come under pressure over his early suggestion the party would take a more centrist path, his public spat with New South Wales senator Lee Rhiannon and the party’s recent failure to win the Batman byelection.

Last week Di Natale attempted to chart a more populist leftwing economic path with a National Press Club speech calling for a people’s bank and universal basic income, but was still challenged internally by release of an alternative manifesto.

Sri said it was “naive to pretend that every single Greens member and MP agrees about the direction of the party”.

“Unfortunately at the moment those decisions don’t necessarily involve members – if you had a democratic process, prospective leaders would present their strategy and vision for the party and argue for it,” he said.

“It gives the democratically elected leader a much stronger mandate, the fact they’re voted in by the members gives the direction they are taking a lot more legitimacy.”

The Greens for Democratic Leadership group needs 10% of members to sign its petition. That will then trigger a plebiscite, which needs 20% of members to vote and two-thirds to vote in favour to succeed.

Greens for Democratic Leadership (@Greens4DL) To beat the old parties and their corporate donors, we need a grassroots army. This is how we get there.



It's time for democratic leadership elections— one member, one vote. Sign the petition: https://t.co/eSM6XMS8WC pic.twitter.com/WWEx7A4hXz

The petition proposes a “one member, one vote” system, to be in place by November for the next election.

Direct election of the leader has been a matter of internal debate within the Greens for years but was given fresh impetus when Di Natale told national conference in 2016 that the party should consider the reform.

The Tasmanian Greens senator Nick McKim said: “I support members having a say in the election of the parliamentary leader, which is why I supported Richard [Di Natale] calling for a discussion in 2016 about the best way to make this happen.”

Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt and treasury spokesperson Peter Whish-Wilson said they supported the principle of members having a say on the leader and the model would be up to members.

A spokesman for WA senator Jordon Steele-John said he was “supportive of this ongoing debate happening amongst the membership” and was “strongly supportive” of grassroots involvement.

Victorian senator Janet Rice declined to express a personal view, saying it was “up to the membership” whether direct election is adopted.

Rice said the Greens preselection and policy processes were already more democratic than Labor’s. She noted there was “stability in the way we [picked leaders] before” and the Democrats had struggled in part because their federal leaders were directly elected but at times not supported by the party room.

Rhiannon and Queensland senator Andrew Bartlett both support direct election of the leader. Rachel Siewert said she “supports the discussion being had”.

Di Natale noted he had called for the debate in 2016 and encouraged members “to have a say on issues important to the future of the party”.