Former Greens leader Christine Milne has predicted her minor party will form government before the year 2100 and become “the dominant political and social influence of this century”.

Ms Milne made the comment at the National Press Club on Monday, where she reflected on her three year term as Greens leader.

“First of all, the Greens will be most effective when we form government,” Senator Milne said.

• Milne resigns as Greens leader
• Was Christine Milne pushed or did she jump?
• Greens leader predicted spill

“That’s fairly obvious, and that will be at some point, at some point in this century.

“Until then, however, there is this tension when you are in balance of power.”

Senator Richard Di Natale, seen here listening to Milne’s speech, has been elected in her stead. Photo: AAP

Her federal party currently holds one seat in the lower house and 11 seats in the upper house.

It would need to gain 75 seats in the House of Representatives before the year 2100 in order to govern in its own right.

The Senator denied her party would follow in the footsteps of the recently deregistered Australian Democrats, which in years past achieved similar levels of political representation.

“The Democrats collapsed because of internal fighting and in part their direct election system was a contributor to that,” she said.

“We have a very strong commitment to consensus and collaboration. And that is what we strive for, and I can guarantee to the Australian community that is the case.”

The Senator resigned as leader on May 6 after choosing not to contest her seat at the next federal election.

“I decided I couldn’t face the Tasmanian people and tell them something which I knew in my heart of hearts wasn’t true, and that is I just don’t want to serve another six-year term,” Ms Milne explained to the National Press Club audience.

“I think it’s time for generational change, and I’m really confident that the Greens are set to fly.

“I feel like I’ve done what I needed to do, held the line for 30 years, held that line and now the other side is crumbling.”

Senator Milne was first elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1989, and became a federal Senator in 2004.