Robert James “Bob” Brown the 67 year old Australian senator and Parliamentary leader of the Australia Greens has announced he will be stepping down from parliament in June (2012). Brown had led the Australian Greens from the party’s foundation in 1992 until now handing over the leadership to his deputy Christine Milne, a period in which polls grew to around 10% at state and 14%at Federal. Brown’s Greens party has championed the rights in Australia of asylum seekers and been an advocate for the self-determination of countries such as East Timor and West Papua. From 2002 to 2004 when minor parties held the balance of power in the Senate, Brown became a well-recognised politician. With a historic result in the 2010 election, the Green’s again hold the balance of power in the Senate, giving his party more than 1.6 million votes with nine senators elected. The scale of his win enabled him to seal a deal with Prime Minister Julia Gillard allowing her to form Government after the cliff hanger election. Brown intends spending his retirement bushwalking and writing, living in Hobart with his fellow activist partner and farmer Paul Thomas. Brown was the first openly gay member of the Australian Parliament and to lead an Australian political party.

 

Inspired Ben Eltham http://ow.ly/anzsR by image source Australian Greens http://ow.ly/anzRZ