In a political landscape often dominated by career politicians, the journey of Greens Senator David Shoebridge stands out as remarkably unconventional. His path from a corporate lawyer assisting wealthy clients with tax minimisation to one of parliament's most formidable crossbenchers began with a moment of clarity in a lift.
The Elevator Epiphany: A Life Altered
In the late 1990s, David Shoebridge was a successful lawyer specialising in structuring finances and trusts for affluent clients. However, a growing sense of discomfort began to gnaw at him. The pivotal moment arrived one morning during his elevator ride to work. "I remember going up in the lift one morning and realising I just couldn't do it any more," Shoebridge recalls. He walked directly into his senior partner's office and resigned, stating he could no longer participate in schemes designed to avoid tax.
That decision marked the start of a transformation that would lead him to the Australian Senate. Today, a senior federal Liberal MP describes him as "easily the most effective Green" in parliament, a testament to his impact despite his party's minority status.
From Labor Branch to Greens Mentor
Shoebridge's political awakening wasn't instantaneous. He initially joined the Australian Labor Party's Stanmore branch in Sydney's inner west during the mid-1990s while working as an associate to a family court judge. He found the members decent and their left politics aligned with his own, but grew frustrated. After about six months, he learned that the progressive resolutions they passed were consistently ignored. Told they were "keeping the flame alive," Shoebridge decided that wasn't his approach to politics and quit.
He built a career as a barrister in employment law. In the early 2000s, union clients sent him to state parliament to oppose Labor's proposed changes to workers' compensation. It was there he met hard-left Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, who became a significant mentor. According to Greens co-founder Bob Brown, Rhiannon instilled in him a determination to withstand being dismissed as a radical.
This resilience showed when Shoebridge and Rhiannon defended the existence of Left Renewal, an anti-capitalist faction within the NSW Greens, against condemnation from other party figures. "If, in doing that, people call me some kind of radical socialist, I will own the tag," Shoebridge states. "The place needs a shake-up."
Confrontation, Theatre, and Accusations of Disinformation
Shoebridge has cultivated a reputation for confrontation and strategic "theatre" to highlight overlooked issues. "I didn't get elected to parliament to join the club," he says from his Redfern office. "I got elected to make it relevant... If it's not interesting, it sure as hell isn't accessible."
This approach has drawn fierce criticism. In November 2023, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong accused him of being "utterly irresponsible" and spreading disinformation. The clash centred on Shoebridge's questioning about whether Australian-made components could end up in F-35 jets ordered by the Israel Defense Forces, later used in Gaza.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, without naming Shoebridge, later criticised those spreading misinformation for "self-publicity." These attacks struck a chord. "Having a series of senior government ministers basically call you a self-serving liar using a genocide for some personal vanity project is incredibly offensive and a downright lie," Shoebridge admits. The government's position has since shifted, now acknowledging exports but describing the parts as "non-lethal."
Praise from Unlikely Quarters and Cross-Party Deal-Making
Despite ideological chasms, Shoebridge's forensic skill in Senate estimates hearings has earned respect from political opponents. Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson notes, "David Shoebridge and I don't agree on much, but he's easily the most effective Green and one of the most impactful crossbenchers." Paterson praises his tenacity in the face of bureaucratic obfuscation, citing a hearing where Shoebridge grilled police over giving a birthday cake to a 14-year-old autistic boy they had decided to charge with terrorism offences.
His effectiveness isn't limited to confrontation. Former NSW Liberal minister Victor Dominello recalls a walk in mid-2016 where the two agreed to collaborate on complex third-party insurance reform, a policy dubbed a "political graveyard." "The fact he was prepared to work on the policy and not the politics showed extraordinary integrity and leadership," Dominello says, crediting Shoebridge with helping achieve groundbreaking reform.
For Shoebridge, such praise from Liberals isn't a concern. In the Greens, a party built on protest, it could be problematic, but he feels "incredibly comfortable" with his colleagues. "I find my values reflected in the debates we have inside the party room," he states. The man who once restructured trusts for the wealthy is now a dedicated warrior for the causes he believes in, that moment in the elevator nearly three decades ago now a distant memory.
