When illness intersects with public duty, even the most committed leaders must reckon with the limits of the human body. Larissa Waters, who has guided the Australian Greens since 2022, stepped down Monday after her chronic kidney condition worsened beyond what the relentless demands of party leadership could accommodate — choosing, with quiet dignity, to remain in the Senate while releasing the heavier burden. The succession now unfolds at a Sydney retreat, where the Greens must find not only a new face but a steady hand capable of wielding the party's considerable leverage in the upper house
Greens leadership race opens as Shoebridge stays noncommittal; RBA rate decision looms
Larissa Waters stepping down due to chronic kidney disease that has declined significantly, requiring her to manage health while remaining in the Senate.
This is a human issue. I can also have compassion.
Mark
So Larissa Waters steps down because of her kidney disease. That's a health decision, clearly. But what does it actually mean for the government's ability to pass laws?
Mimi
The Greens hold real leverage in the Senate. Waters was part of those negotiations. Whoever takes over will inherit that role immediately—they'll be negotiating on legislation within days, probably.
Luke
Right, but we should be careful here. We know Waters has a chronic kidney condition that's declined. We don't know the specifics of her medical situation or what her doctors advised. Albanese's comments are warm and human, but they're also carefully political—he's managing the optics of a government that depends on the Greens.
Mark
Fair point. So the leadership race itself—how contested is this likely to be?
Mimi
It could be very contested, or it could be settled quietly. Shoebridge is the frontrunner, but Hanson-Young and Faruqi are serious candidates. The party could hold a ballot or negotiate consensus during the retreat.
Luke
And we don't actually know which outcome is more likely. The source says negotiations to avoid a ballot "could be considered," which is pretty vague. We're reporting on possibilities, not certainties.
Mark
What about the practical side—does it matter who wins, in terms of how the Greens operate in the Senate?
Mimi
It could. Different leaders have different relationships with the government, different priorities. Shoebridge comes from a defence background. Hanson-Young has been vocal on social issues. Faruqi is deputy leader, so she has institutional experience. Those differences could shape negotiations.
Luke
But again, we don't have reporting on how each candidate would actually govern differently. We're inferring from their portfolios. The real test will come when they're actually negotiating with Albanese's government.
El Pulso
- Waters' unexpected resignation has sent an immediate ripple through the Senate, removing a seasoned negotiator at a moment when the government relies on Greens support to pass key legislation.
- Three names — Shoebridge, Hanson-Young, and deputy leader Faruqi — are circling the vacancy, with every party room position formally spilled and open for contest.
- Shoebridge is considered the frontrunner but is carefully refusing to declare his hand, while Faruqi's camp signals she is still weighing the decision — leaving the outcome genuinely uncertain.
- A Sydney retreat beginning Wednesday could resolve the race through quiet consensus rather than a formal ballot, with a new leader potentially confirmed by week's end.
- Even Prime Minister Albanese, a political opponent, paused to acknowledge the human dimension of Waters' departure — a rare moment of cross-partisan compassion in a fractious political landscape.
When illness intersects with public duty, even the most committed leaders must reckon with the limits of the human body. Larissa Waters, who has guided the Australian Greens since 2022, stepped down Monday after her chronic kidney condition worsened beyond what the relentless demands of party leadership could accommodate — choosing, with quiet dignity, to remain in the Senate while releasing the heavier burden. The succession now unfolds at a Sydney retreat, where the Greens must find not only a new face but a steady hand capable of wielding the party's considerable leverage in the upper house at a moment when the government depends on cross-party goodwill to govern.
Larissa Waters announced Monday that she is stepping down as leader of the Australian Greens, citing a chronic kidney condition that has worsened to the point where the relentless demands of party leadership — the travel, the pressure, the schedule — are no longer compatible with protecting her health. She will remain in the Senate, but the role of leading the party passes to whoever emerges from what is now an open succession contest.
Three senators have surfaced as the most likely candidates: defence spokesperson David Shoebridge, widely seen as the frontrunner; Sarah Hanson-Young; and deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi. Shoebridge declined to declare his intentions, offering only that the party room would decide. Faruqi's office indicated she was still considering her options. With all party positions formally spilled, every leadership role is now on the table.
The vehicle for resolution is a two-day retreat already scheduled to begin Wednesday in Sydney. Rather than a formal ballot, the party may settle the question through behind-the-scenes negotiation, with a new leader potentially in place before the week is out.
Prime Minister Albanese, whose government has frequently clashed with the Greens over legislation, set aside political distance to speak warmly of Waters, saying he had spoken with her personally and that her situation was, above all, a human one deserving compassion. The moment underscored both the personal cost of Waters' decision and the practical stakes: whoever inherits the leadership will immediately shoulder responsibility for negotiating with the government on legislation that depends on the Greens' support to pass.
Larissa Waters, who has led the Australian Greens since 2022, announced her resignation on Monday, citing a chronic kidney condition that has deteriorated significantly. The decision came as a surprise to her colleagues and sets in motion an immediate succession race that will likely conclude within days. Waters intends to remain in the Senate but has determined that the demands of leading a political party—the travel, the pressure, the relentless schedule—are incompatible with managing her health going forward.
The party's two-day retreat, already scheduled to begin Wednesday in Sydney, will now serve as the venue for leadership negotiations. Three names have emerged as potential successors. David Shoebridge, the Greens' defence spokesperson, is widely considered the frontrunner. Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi, the party's deputy leader, are also in contention. When asked directly about his intentions, Shoebridge offered a carefully neutral response, saying he was not ruling anything in or out and that the party room would make the final decision. A spokesperson for Faruqi indicated that the NSW senator was still weighing her options.
All positions within the party room have been formally spilled, meaning every leadership role is now open for negotiation. The party could move toward a formal ballot, or members might reach consensus through behind-the-scenes discussions during the retreat, potentially avoiding a contested vote altogether. The timing suggests a new leader could be in place by the end of the week.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking publicly about Waters' departure, struck a notably personal tone despite the political distance between his government and the Greens. He said he had spoken with Waters and wished her well, noting that she was undergoing further health checks. Albanese acknowledged the human dimension of the situation, saying that while he and the Greens disagree on policy, "this is a human issue" and he has "compassion" for what Waters is facing. He also noted that he has worked constructively with her and values the relationship, even as the two sides have not always aligned on legislation.
Waters' departure removes a significant voice from the Senate at a moment when the government depends on cross-party support to pass legislation. The Greens' leverage in the upper house means that whoever emerges as the new leader will inherit both the symbolic weight of the role and immediate practical responsibility for negotiating with the government on key bills. The retreat this week will determine not only who that person is, but also how the party intends to position itself in the months ahead.
Citas Notables
I'm not here to rule anything in or anything out in terms of leadership. That will be a matter that the party room makes a decision on.— David Shoebridge, Greens defence spokesperson
This is a job, and a leadership position for a minor party means a lot of travel and a lot of pressure. She wasn't in a position to be able to do that job going forward.— Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on Larissa Waters' resignation
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