Story perspectives

Larissa Waters Steps Down as Greens Leader

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 2:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Waters Steps Down

Senator Larissa Waters announced she will step down as Greens leader because kidney disease worsened.
Waters will remain a Queensland senator, take medical leave, continue advocating for Queensland, women, climate.
David Shoebridge is the frontrunner to replace Waters as Greens leader.
Waters praised the law overhaul that limited native forest logging and land clearing.
Waters noted the Greens blocked coal and gas approvals, passed gun-safety reforms after the Bondi attack.

Summary

Cox Defects to Labor

Greens' primary vote has stayed steady since the 2025 election despite losing lower-house seats.
Elizabeth Watson-Brown is the sole Greens lower-house MP for Ryan after May election.
Senator Dorinda Cox defected to Labor shortly after the election, reducing Greens' Senate numbers.
One Nation’s surge has drawn voters away, leaving the Greens with a solid support base.

History

Historical Context

In the 2010 federal election the Greens captured 13% of the Senate vote, won the Melbourne seat and held the balance of power, enabling Bob Brown to broker the 2011 carbon-price deal. Brown’s 2012 resignation and Christine Milne’s 2015 departure showed how leadership changes can preserve influence. The 2024 step-down of Larissa Waters and David Shoebridge’s pending leadership mirrors that pattern.

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Waters Steps Down

Senator Larissa Waters announced she will step down as Greens leader because kidney disease worsened.
Waters will remain a Queensland senator, take medical leave, continue advocating for Queensland, women, climate.
David Shoebridge is the frontrunner to replace Waters as Greens leader.
Waters praised the law overhaul that limited native forest logging and land clearing.
Waters noted the Greens blocked coal and gas approvals, passed gun-safety reforms after the Bondi attack.

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