Bob Brown began his political career in Tasmania's state parliament, serving as an MHA for 10 years before being elected to the Australian Senate in 1996. In his inaugural Senate speech, Bob highlighted the risks of climate change, a topic that initially drew laughter from his peers. It took a decade for the government and opposition to start recognising the seriousness of these warnings.
Throughout his tenure since 1996, Bob has consistently championed various critical issues, often standing alone on them. His advocacy work has spanned numerous causes, including addressing petrol sniffing in Central Australia, advocating for the self-determination of West Papua and Tibet, the conservation of Tasmania's ancient forests, opposing the Iraq War, seeking justice for David Hicks, fighting against the privatization of Snowy Hydro, and resisting the disposal of nuclear waste in Australia.
Bob was re-elected to the Senate in 2001 and 2007, each time receiving a substantial personal vote share in Tasmania. His leadership saw the Australian Greens achieve significant electoral success. In 2005, he became the parliamentary leader of the Greens, leading to the party's historic performance in 2010, securing the balance of power in the Senate. This position enabled the Greens to negotiate a carbon pricing mechanism with the ALP, pivotal in forming Julia Gillard's government.
Bob retired from the Senate in June 2012 after stepping down as the leader of the Australian Greens. He now travels from Tasmania for keynote speaking engagements and public appearances.