Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched a scathing attack on former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather, calling him a hypocrite following his defeat in the federal election and criticism of parliamentary culture. Albanese accused Chandler-Mather of contributing to the toxicity he condemned and said the 33-year-old should “look in the mirror” to understand why he was rejected by voters.
Chandler-Mather, who lost his Brisbane seat after a single term, described parliament as “a sick place” marked by “yelling and screaming,” a statement that drew sharp rebuke from the prime minister. Albanese cited past clashes with Chandler-Mather and criticized his behavior during question time, noting that the former MP once stood before signs labeling him a Nazi at a CFMEU rally.
The Greens are now facing a major crisis, with leader Adam Bandt projected to lose his inner-Melbourne seat—held by the party since 2010—to Labor’s Sarah Witty. As of Wednesday, Witty led Bandt by more than 4,000 votes, with 70% of ballots counted and preferences appearing unlikely to reverse the result. If confirmed, the Greens would be reduced to a single lower house seat, a dramatic collapse from their 2022 gains.
While the Greens have not yet conceded, the loss would force the party to consider a new leader ahead of the 2028 election. Potential contenders include senators Mehreen Faruqi and Sarah Hanson-Young, though both have remained tight-lipped pending the final outcome.
The party’s strong stance on Gaza, which included labeling Israel’s actions as “genocide,” became a lightning rod during the campaign. Critics, including Nationals leader David Littleproud, accused the Greens of “politically weaponising” the conflict, while Albanese’s Labor capitalized on voter discontent.
As internal divisions loom and leadership questions swirl, the Greens face an uncertain path forward, with their influence in the lower house dramatically diminished.
Picture credit: commons.wikimedia.org
