The 55-year-old senator is renowned for his sharp brain but he divides opinion and could face opposition from the party’s grassroots

New Greens leader David Shoebridge has said he is “up for a red hot fight” and hit out at One Nation’s “politics of hate”, signalling a more confrontational style of delivery under his leadership.

The NSW senator, elected as leader on Wednesday afternoon following Larissa Waters’ shock resignation, said the minor party would show people it understood their anger and mistrust with mainstream politicians, and “show them who their real enemy is” - the elite 1%.