Larissa Waters has announced her shock exit as leader of the Greens due to a worsening health problem after only 16 months in the top job.

The Queensland senator released a surprise statement late on Tuesday (AEST) saying she would be stepping down due to chronic kidney disease.

Waters’ existing kidney problems were not publicly known. She said the condition had deteriorated.

“I’ve been managing kidney disease for some time but recently it’s taken a downturn,” Waters posted on X.

“My prognosis is good, but doctors are clear that recovery needs a slower pace than leading a party allows.

Waters said she was “really sad” that illness had cut short her time as leader.

“It’s a difficult decision to step back, but for the good of our movement I need to let someone else lead the Greens to success at the next election.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I’ll be back as soon as I can be as one of your two Senators for Queensland.”

Waters assumed the Greens’ leadership after former Melbourne MP Adam Bandt sensationally lost his seat at the May 2025 federal election.

In a statement, the Greens lauded her efforts to secure an overhaul of Australia’s environmental laws to reform native logging, land clearing and push back on fast-tracking coal and gas projects.

The party also helped Labor ram revamped gun laws through the Senate in the wake of the Bondi massacre, which include a planned national gun buyback.

More recently, Waters’ party has pushed back hard on reforms aimed at drastically cutting NDIS spending, delaying the bill’s passage for months in order to extend an inquiry into the sweeping changes.

The party will begin the process of selecting a new leader in the coming days.

The outgoing leader has been a senator since 2011, save for a 14-month period where she was forced to resign because she held Canadian citizenship.
She will go on medical leave but will not quit the Senate.

-with AAP