Andrew Bartlett won't re-contest Senate

Greens Senator Andrew Bartlett won't recontest his upper house spot, and will instead run in a Brisbane lower house seat.

Greens Senator Andrew Bartlett speaks to the media in Canberra.

Greens Senator Andrew Bartlett will run for a lower house Brisbane seat at the next election (File). (AAP)

Greens Senator Andrew Bartlett has withdrawn from a pre-selection battle to stay in the upper house seat, believing he can win a lower house seat at the next federal election.

Senator Bartlett plans to run for the seat of Brisbane, which has a groundswell of Greens support.

"We saw Greens do very well in the state election in Brisbane. It's really important to maintain that momentum," Mr Bartlett, a former leader of the now defunct Democrats, told AAP.

Michael Berkman made history at the November 25 state election when he won the inner-west seat of Maiwar to become the first Greens MP in Queensland.

Greens candidate Amy McMahon also pushed Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to the wire in the traditionally safe Labor seat of South Brisbane.

Mr Bartlett said he was not stepping aside to help "individuals" such as former senator Larissa Waters, who he replaced late last year when she lost her seat due to her Canadian citizenship.

"We've got a number of good quality choices," he said.

There are seven nominees including environmental activist Ben Pennings, who will challenge Ms Waters for the party's lead Senate spot.

Mr Bartlett maintained he still needs to be pre-selected by members to run in Brisbane, and winning the seat would be a "big shake-up".

"The main thing is we need to convince people we can win seats and we are showing that," he said.

The seat of Brisbane is currently held by the LNP's Trevor Evans.


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Source: AAP


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Andrew Bartlett won't re-contest Senate | SBS News