Greens leader Waters steps down due to kidney illness, triggering rapid leadership contest

Key points

• Waters announced her resignation on Monday evening, revealing a pre-existing kidney condition that has deteriorated significantly in recent months.
• She will take medical leave but plans to return to parliament to represent Queensland, with her term extending until 2031.
• The Greens are scheduling a party room meeting within the week to select a new leader, as no date has been finalized yet.
• Potential contenders include deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi, along with senators Sarah Hanson-Young, David Shoebridge, and Nick McKim.
• Waters credited her tenure with achieving environmental law reforms and gun safety measures following the Bondi Beach attack.

Background

Waters assumed leadership in May 2025 after Adam Bandt lost his lower house seat in a shock election result. She was elected unanimously, though Faruqi and Hanson-Young were also considered. The Greens have faced internal divisions, including a recent split over carbon credit legislation, and have struggled to convert Labor’s primary vote collapse into increased support, with some voters shifting to One Nation.

How outlets are covering it

POLITICO characterizes Waters as a 'reluctant leader' and compromise candidate who avoided centralizing power, noting internal criticism over the party’s stagnant polling. The Guardian highlights the physical toll of the role, including travel demands, and frames her departure as a necessary step for the party’s electoral future. ABC News emphasizes her legislative achievements, such as environmental law overhauls and gun safety amendments, while noting her status as the second-longest-serving Greens senator. The Australian was inaccessible due to a bot challenge, so no perspective could be extracted from that outlet.

Why it matters

The leadership change occurs at a critical juncture for the Greens, which holds balance-of-power influence in the Senate. A new leader must navigate internal divisions and capitalize on Labor’s declining support to position the party for the next election. Waters’ departure also highlights the strain of parliamentary leadership on personal health, potentially influencing future party structures.

What to watch

The Greens will hold a party room meeting this week to elect a new leader. Faruqi is considering running, while Hanson-Young and Shoebridge have not confirmed their intentions. Waters will focus on recovery before returning to the Senate, where she will continue advocating for climate and women’s safety issues.