BIG SHOES TO FILL: Bob Brown with fellow Greens Lee Rhiannon and Jeremy Buckingham campaining in Orange during the 2010 election.
GREENS MP Jeremy Buckingham said he was shocked and saddened when he heard Greens leader Bob Brown was stepping down.
Mr Buckingham said he received a text message from a colleague informing him of Senator Brown's resignation hours before the leader went public with the news.
Christine Milne has since been unanimously voted in as the new Greens leader and Mr Buckingham said he is looking forward to working with her.
“Christine is passionate about regional and rural issues,” Mr Buckingham said.
“She is committed to mending the relationship between the Greens and the bush.”
Mr Buckingham said he and Senator Milne were committed to promoting the carbon farming initiative throughout the central west. The initiative rewards farmers who employ sustainable farming methods. He said Senator Milne will be just as dynamic and powerful as Senator Brown however he has left big shoes to fill.
While he is saddened by Senator Brown's retirement, he said he is grateful he had the privilege to work with such a dynamic leader.
“It really goes to his [Senator Bown's] character that he had so much power and he gave it all up for the betterment of his country,” he said.
“He [Mr Brown] was always a prominent and courageous leader.”
nicole.kuter@ruralpress.com