Robert James Brown, also known as Bob (born 27 December, 1944), is a former Australian Greens Senator and former Parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens. He was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia and the first openly gay leader of a political party in Australia. Prior to that, he served as a member for Denison in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1983 to 1993 and Leader of the Tasmanian Greens from their foundation in 1992 to 1993. On 13 April, 2012, Brown resigned as Greens leader and was succeeded by his deputy Christine Milne and indicated his intention to resign from the Senate in June. In May 2012 the replacement was selected and has been named as Peter Whish-Wilson who is an economist and winemaker who has previously stood fro the greens and assumed office on 21 June 2012 and Senator Brown resigned on 15 June 2012.