SA Greens veteran to leave parliament in 2026
Greens MLC Tammy Franks has announced she will not stand for re-election in 2026, opening up a coveted spot on the minor party’s Upper House ticket.
Franks, first elected in 2010, announced on social media today that she would not seek another eight-year term in the Upper House but would stay in parliament until her current term expires in March 2026.
Franks told InDaily she intends to “keep going pretty full speed” over her remaining 500-plus days as an MP.
“It is an exhausting job,” she said.
“I’m in my late 50s now and I certainly feel every grey hair that’s on my head is probably there more quickly because of being involved in politics.
“But it’s an exhilarating ride and I’ve enjoyed almost all of it.”
Franks entered parliament in 2010, joining Greens SA founding member Mark Parnell in the Upper House.
She lists the decriminalisation of abortion, legalisation of industrial hemp and the creation of the Coorong Environmental Trust as among her proudest achievements.
You might like
Her announcement coincides with the SA Greens opening preselection nominations today for its 2026 Upper House ticket.
Based on past voting patterns, the candidate preselected in the party’s number one spot will replace Franks and join Greens MLC Robert Simms in the Upper House.
Greens staffer and Adelaide Hills Council deputy mayor Melanie Selwood was the first to announce her candidacy today.
Selwood, who is Simms’ chief of staff, is the only Green to nominate so far, posting a nearly two-minute campaign video on her social media this morning.
“I’m running for preselection in the Legislative Council because I believe we need a candidate with a community focus, with fresh energy willing to do the work on the ground to win more seats in the next state election,” she said in the video.
“Winning is the only way we increase our power to deliver real outcomes on climate change, social justice and cost-of-living.”
Stay informed, daily
Selwood, who ran for the Greens in Kavel in 2022, also touted her council achievements on sustainability, the Amy Gillett Bikeway and moving council ceremonies away from January 26.
Former public servant Yesha Joshi was preselected number two on the Greens’ 2022 Upper House ticket but has since moved on to a climate action campaign group in Washington DC.
Former Dunstan candidate Katie McCusker, another senior Green, is currently running for the federal seat of Sturt.
One Greens candidate who has already ruled themselves out of the race is Adelaide City councillor Keiran Snape.
The South Ward councillor, who was promoted to Deputy Lord Mayor last year, said he thought it was important the Greens had a woman and a man in its two Upper House seats.
“I’ve been approached by folks in the party asking me to run and I’m humbled by their confidence in me,” Snape said in a statement.
“However, it is my firm belief that we need a balanced party room; and therefore, the lead LegCo candidate should be another talented woman.
“I look forward to supporting the successful nominee, in whatever role party members deem fit.”
Franks said the “depth of our party will be on display” during the preselection process.
“We have a great wealth of talent and many new fresh faces coming up. One of whom at least, if not two, will join Rob Simms on the red leather benches,” she said.
The Greens MLC also said she would keep pushing to decriminalise sex work during her remaining days in office.
The controversial reform has been rejected 13 times by the parliament, with Franks saying this includes four Bills she has been personally involved in.
“I am going to keep fighting for the parliament to recognise the workers’ rights of sex workers in this state and beyond the parliament if that is what it takes,” she said.
“The numbers don’t look great at the moment, and certainly last week’s debates on abortion, sex work and opposing the banning of conversion practices show me that we’ve actually gone backwards in all of those areas in the Upper House, which is pretty frightening.”
