Party President at 25

The Dom Post reports:

Georgina Morrison, the younger challenger to become the Green Party’s new female co-convener, was bulging with a baby bump. She marched up on to the stage and stood behind the lectern to sell herself to the party.

Her rival for the position, Wendy Harper, preferred to roam about in front of the stage. She answered questions with wisecracks and swore like a trooper. She even dropped the f-bomb, without a care, in front of 200 people.

Ms Morrison, on the other hand, was all professionalism. She had speech notes, whereas Miss Harper winged it. Ms Morrison had swish, corporate clothes, whereas Miss Harper was sporting a sloppy green shirt and sparkly-framed glasses.

Ms Morrison, decades her rival’s junior, was the immediate past co-leader of the Young Greens, a point she emphasised in her pitch to the party. Miss Harper, on the other hand, proudly announced that her 18-year-old son was newly independent.

The choice for the party was clear – a sharp, professional young environmentalist or a hardened, potty-mouthed unionist.

They chose the 25-year-old Ms Morrison. This was the party confirming its shift to a new generation of leadership.

While not an exact match, the role of co-convenor is roughly that of party president. While my politics are very different, I am impressed that Georgina managed to get elected to such a senior role at just 25 years of age. Congrats to her.

None of the media reports have stated whether the remit on giving members an entrenched say in list ranking passed. Anyone able to report?