The Greens’ leader Larissa Waters has announced she is stepping down due to illness.
Waters, who took over leadership of the party in May 2025, shared on social media that she will vacate the role after quietly managing chronic kidney disease.
“For some time now I’ve been quietly managing chronic kidney disease alongside doing the work I love. But recently it’s taken a downturn and I need to be honest with myself about not being invincible,” she said.
The Queensland senator said her prognosis is good, but explained the “best path forward means a slower pace of life than leading a political party allows”.
A party room meeting will be convened this week to select a new leader.
Following a period of medical leave, Senator Waters intends to return to Parliament.
During her tenure as leader, Waters oversaw key negotiations on overhauling Australia’s environmental laws, including bringing native forest logging under national standards within 18 months.
Image: Hilary Wardhaugh / Getty Images
