Larissa Waters Resigns as Greens Leader Due to Ill Health 2026

Larissa Waters has announced she will step down as Greens leader due to ill health, throwing the party into a leadership contest. Waters revealed on Monday night that she has been managing a pre-existing kidney disease, but her health had "declined significantly over the course of recent months".

She said while her prognosis for recovery was positive, the pressure of the party's leadership, including additional travel demands, was detracting from a focus on her health. A party room meeting is scheduled for next week to choose her successor.

Why Larissa Waters Is Stepping Down

Waters explained that the demands of leadership were incompatible with managing her condition. "It has been a tremendous honour to be leader of the Greens, fighting for people and the planet," she said in a statement. "I'm really sad that illness means my time as leader has been cut short, but our movement needs a leader in good health to lead us to success at the next election."

She will take a period of medical leave before returning to parliament to represent Queensland in the Senate. Her decision comes after she replaced Adam Bandt as Greens leader following the 2025 election, in which Bandt lost his lower house seat in a shock result.

Pressure and Party Frustration

Some Greens members have expressed frustration with the party's position under Waters, including its cut-through with voters as the major parties haemorrhage support to One Nation. However, Waters' personal popularity remained high, and her departure leaves big shoes to fill.

What This Means for the Greens

The party room meeting next week will determine the next leader. Potential candidates include senior Greens MPs such as Sarah Hanson-Young, Nick McKim, and Mehreen Faruqi. The new leader will need to unite the party and sharpen its message ahead of the next federal election.

Waters' resignation also raises questions about the party's direction. Under her leadership, the Greens focused on climate action, social justice, and housing affordability. But with the major parties losing ground to One Nation, the Greens face a challenging political landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Larissa Waters is stepping down as Greens leader due to a pre-existing kidney disease that has worsened.
• A party room meeting next week will choose her successor.
• Waters will take medical leave before returning to the Senate to represent Queensland.
• Her resignation follows internal frustration over the party's voter cut-through.
• The new leader will need to unify the party and prepare for the next election.

Comparing Leadership Tenures

Waters' time as leader was relatively short, but it followed a tumultuous period for the Greens. Here's a look at recent Greens leaders and their tenures:

FAQ

The Greens will now enter a new chapter. The next leader will need to navigate a complex political environment and rebuild momentum as the party seeks to differentiate itself from both the major parties and One Nation.