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| Nick McKim to replace Christine Milne as Greens senator for Tasmania | Nick McKim to replace Christine Milne as Greens senator for Tasmania |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A former minister in the Labor-Greens coalition government in Tasmania, Nick McKim, has been pre-selected for the Senate vacancy left by former federal Greens leader Christine Milne. | A former minister in the Labor-Greens coalition government in Tasmania, Nick McKim, has been pre-selected for the Senate vacancy left by former federal Greens leader Christine Milne. |
| In a move that surprised many, Milne announced she was stepping down as leader of the federal party in May, and that she would not seek reelection for her Tasmanian Senate seat. | In a move that surprised many, Milne announced she was stepping down as leader of the federal party in May, and that she would not seek reelection for her Tasmanian Senate seat. |
| McKim was the frontrunner from a field of nine candidates. He said it was a “massive honour” to be selected. | |
| “I’m really excited and really looking forward to the challenge of filling Christine’s shoes,” McKim said, vowing to represent Tasmania’s interests at a federal level. | “I’m really excited and really looking forward to the challenge of filling Christine’s shoes,” McKim said, vowing to represent Tasmania’s interests at a federal level. |
| Milne congratulated her replacement during a media conference in Hobart on Thursday. “This is my last press conference as a senator,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier to see Nick because I know he is going to make a great contribution in this Senate.” | |
| Milne has now been appointed ambassador of the Global Greens, an honorary role with the group which brings together party members from around the world, which she said would continue her work protecting the planet. | |
| “I can imagine I will be spending a fair bit of time helping the development of Green politics around the world and addressing global warming,” Milne said of her future. | |
| Fellow Tasmania Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson welcomed McKim’s pre-selection, saying he was a “superb choice”. | Fellow Tasmania Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson welcomed McKim’s pre-selection, saying he was a “superb choice”. |
| “Nick is one of the most accomplished and experienced politicians to be pre-selected for a Senate position in our party’s history,” Whish-Wilson said. “Together, Nick and I will endeavour to be a formidable team in the Senate, fighting hard for the environment, social justice and a fair go for Tasmania.” | “Nick is one of the most accomplished and experienced politicians to be pre-selected for a Senate position in our party’s history,” Whish-Wilson said. “Together, Nick and I will endeavour to be a formidable team in the Senate, fighting hard for the environment, social justice and a fair go for Tasmania.” |
| Related: Labor swept from power in Tasmania after 16 years in government | Related: Labor swept from power in Tasmania after 16 years in government |
| McKim held a number of portfolios in the Lara Giddings-led government from 2010 to 2014, when the premier announced the power-sharing arrangement between Labor and the Greens was over. | McKim held a number of portfolios in the Lara Giddings-led government from 2010 to 2014, when the premier announced the power-sharing arrangement between Labor and the Greens was over. |
| Giddings and Labor were voted out in the 2014 state election. | Giddings and Labor were voted out in the 2014 state election. |
| A byelection will need to be held to fill the Tasmanian state seat left by McKim. | A byelection will need to be held to fill the Tasmanian state seat left by McKim. |
| The Greens currently hold 10 seats in the Senate, two of them from Tasmania. | The Greens currently hold 10 seats in the Senate, two of them from Tasmania. |