The Greens' win in the Western Australian state by-election for the seat of Fremantle has a direct warning for Canberra, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"The Greens' candidate Adele Carles has had a stunning victory over Labor which has held Fremantle since 1924. Even Labor's green banners at polling booths yesterday couldn't save them. And the North Port Quay development with 10,000 dwellings proposed to be built offshore at Fremantle must now be dead in the water."

"Adele will be a real asset in Parliament for Fremantle and for all Western Australians," Senator Brown said.

"The message to Kevin Rudd is clear: green-up the weak, polluter-friendly climate change bill now before Federal Parliament or suffer the consequences at next year's election. Labor must cease treating Australians as environmental mugs and Kevin Rudd should urgently review the 5% greenhouse gas reduction target for 2020 up to the 25-40% range advocate by the Greens."

"Fremantle also shows that Liberal as well as Labor voters will back the Greens when developers are set to overrun public concern about the environment. The North Port Quay development and the proposal to rail lead through Fremantle show how far the big parties had got out of touch," Senator Brown said.

"This result will lift the Greens campaign for Federal seats like Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle in next year's elections," Senator Brown said.

Greens Historical Win Fact File

• Adele Carles' win with a primary vote of 44% is the highest ever recorded by a Greens' candidate at a State or Federal election.
• Jo Valentine (Nuclear Disarmament Party then Greens WA) - was first elected in 1984 to the Senate.
• There are now 7 Greens State and Federal MPs in WA.
• Greens qualify for party status in WA Parliament.
• There are now 26 Greens MPs in parliaments in Australia, and more than 100 local councillors - highest representation in Party's history.
• There are Greens MPs in lower houses in Tasmania, ACT and WA.