In the aftermath of a disappointing federal election for the Australian Greens, Senator Larissa Waters has been chosen by consensus to lead the party in Canberra. The Greens lost three of their four lower-house seats, with former leader Adam Bandt unexpectedly defeated in Melbourne by Labor. Against this backdrop of reduced parliamentary representation, Waters’s elevation aims to inject renewed energy and clarity into the party’s direction. Her appointment was agreed upon by the party’s federal parliamentary members on Thursday, defeating bids from South Australia’s Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and New South Wales’s Senator Mehreen Faruqi.
Election Setback and Leadership Vacuum
The May 2025 ballot saw the Greens’ lower-house presence shrink from four MPs to just one—Adam Bandt in Melbourne. This result amplified questions about the party’s strategic positioning on climate policy, housing affordability and social justice. Bandt’s defeat created an abrupt vacancy in the leadership role, prompting internal discussions about renewal and renewal under Waters’s stewardship. With her consensus selection, the Greens have signaled a willingness to unite around a leader renowned for her environmental credentials and parliamentary experience.
1. A Former Environmental Lawyer
Before entering the Senate in 2011, Larissa Waters spent nine years practicing environmental law at Queensland’s Environmental Defenders Office (EDO). There, she represented community groups and conservation organisations in landmark cases challenging approvals for mining and development projects that threatened native habitats. In her maiden speech, Waters recounted growing “increasingly frustrated” at legal loopholes that allowed destructive extraction to proceed, even when ecological harm was evident. Her transition into politics was driven by the belief that legislative reform—rather than court battles alone—was vital to protecting Australia’s environment for future generations.
- Landmark Legal Actions
While at the EDO, Waters worked on cases targeting coal-seam gas projects and sand mining operations on Fraser Island. She helped secure court orders that halted destructive practices and set precedents for third-party standing in environmental law. - Influence on Policy
Her legal expertise informed early Greens campaigns for stronger native vegetation laws and greater transparency in environmental impact assessments. More than a decade later, these policy themes remain central to the party’s platform.
2. A Canadian Immigrant Who Made History
Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Larissa Waters migrated to Queensland with her family at just 11 months old. Although raised entirely in Australia, Waters was swept up in the 2017 parliamentary eligibility crisis when it emerged she held dual Australian-Canadian citizenship—contrary to Section 44 of the Constitution, which bars dual nationals from sitting in parliament.
- Constitutional Crisis and Resignation
In July 2017, Waters resigned her Senate seat after discovering her ineligibility. She described the moment as a “devastating personal setback,” but also emphasised her commitment to constitutional integrity. - Return to the Senate
Within 14 months, after renouncing her Canadian citizenship and following a recount of the 2016 election results, Waters reclaimed her Senate position in late 2018. Her swift return underscored both her popularity within the Greens and her determination to serve without legal encumbrances.
3. Champion of the Great Barrier Reef
From her earliest days in politics, Waters has made the protection of the Great Barrier Reef her signature cause. She has repeatedly warned that global heating and poor water quality present an existential threat to the reef’s survival.
- Parliamentary Battles and Advocacy
Waters introduced motions calling for a moratorium on new coal mines within the reef catchment and for Australia to adopt a net-zero emissions target aligned with the Paris Agreement. Her Senate speeches have often been interlaced with personal anecdotes of diving on the reef and witnessing mass bleaching events. - International Engagement
She has represented Australia at UNESCO forums, urging the World Heritage Committee to keep the reef on its “in danger” list until substantive climate action is taken. In 2024, she chaired a cross-party delegation to Tokyo to lobby Japanese investors to divest from coal projects in Queensland. - Electoral Significance
Despite the reef’s prominence in Greens messaging, the lack of substantial public debate on reef protection during the 2025 campaign has prompted criticism from environmental groups and sections of the media. Waters will need to reignite public concern for the reef’s fate if she hopes to drive the party’s recovery.
4. Seasoned Spokesperson on Women’s and Democratic Rights
Since her election, Waters has held multiple frontbench portfolios. Most recently, she served as the Greens’ women’s and democracy spokesperson, a role in which she championed reforms to parliamentary workplace culture and increased transparency in political funding.
- Workplace Culture Reforms
Waters was instrumental in shaping the Albanese government’s 2024 legislation to establish an independent parliamentary workplace complaints body. The reform addressed sexual harassment and bullying, extending protections to staff and visitors in parliamentary precincts. - Democratic Innovation
Under her banner, the Greens pushed for real-time disclosure of political donations and for reforms to preferential voting to ensure every vote counts equally. Although some proposals stalled in the Senate, Waters’s advocacy kept the issues in the national spotlight. - Deputy Leadership Roles
Between 2015 and 2022, she served as co-deputy Greens leader alongside Richard Di Natale and later Adam Bandt. These stints provided her with firsthand experience in party strategy, media engagement and coalition negotiations.
5. The First Person to Breastfeed in Australian Parliament
In 2017, Waters made international headlines by becoming the first federal MP to breastfeed her infant directly from the Senate floor. The act followed her successful push to amend standing orders that had restricted babies to the public gallery, preventing parents from casting votes if they needed to feed their child.
- Barrier-Breaking Moment
Clutching her three-month-old baby, Waters delivered a speech on childcare policy from the Senate chamber, pausing only to soothe her son when he needed a feed. Images of the moment circulated widely, sparking discussions on family-friendly workplaces and women’s representation. - Policy Implications
Waters co-authored a 2018 Greens bill proposing paid parental leave for all MPs and staff, arguing that parliamentary life should reflect the needs of modern families. While the bill did not pass, it prompted other political parties to examine their own parental support policies. - Legacy for Women in Politics
Her actions catalyzed similar moves in other Westminster parliaments, including the UK House of Commons and the Canadian Parliament, where sitting MPs later breastfed and brought children onto the chamber floor.
Vision and Challenges Ahead
As the new federal Greens leader, Waters inherits both opportunity and adversity. Her legal background, environmental advocacy and record on gender equity position her as a principled and articulate voice. Yet, she faces immediate tasks:
- Rebuilding Electoral Support
After the loss of three lower-house seats, the party must reconnect with voters on issues such as housing affordability, renewable energy roll-outs and cost-of-living pressures. Polls suggest the Greens struggle to break through beyond their core urban base. - Defining Policy Priorities
Waters has signaled that climate action will dominate the Greens’ agenda, but she must balance this with socio-economic policies that resonate more broadly. Early indications suggest a push for rental reforms, a universal basic income pilot and expanded public transport funding. - Parliamentary Influence
With only one lower-house seat, the Greens’ capacity to block or amend legislation rests heavily on their Senate numbers. Waters will need to leverage alliances with crossbenchers and leverage committee inquiries to shape policy outcomes. - Media and Public Profile
Known for her detailed policy knowledge and calm demeanor, Waters must now transition to the heightened visibility of party leadership—managing media scrutiny, fundraising and coalition negotiations. How she handles high-stakes negotiations, such as potential support for supply and budgets, will define her early tenure.
Reactions from Colleagues and Commentators
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who was also in the running for the leadership, praised Waters’s consensus selection. “Larissa brings gravitas, experience and a clear vision for what the Greens must stand for in this new parliamentary term,” she said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while acknowledging the electoral losses, extended a courtesy call to Waters in Parliament House. “The government looks forward to working constructively with Senator Waters on our shared priorities,” he commented.
Political analysts are divided. University of Melbourne political scientist Dr. Kathleen Owens observed, “Waters is a unifying figure within the Greens and has high personal approval ratings among core supporters. The challenge will be translating that into wider electoral appeal.”
Conclusion
Larissa Waters’s elevation to federal Greens leader marks a pivotal moment for a party at a crossroads. Her decades-long commitment to environmental law, her reformist zeal on democratic and gender issues, and her barrier-breaking presence in Parliament equip her well for leadership. Yet, the road ahead is steep: reconnecting with disenchanted voters, asserting influence from a diminished lower-house foothold, and redefining the Greens’ place in Australian politics. In the months to come, Waters’s strategies and public resonance will determine whether the Greens can rebound or continue to struggle on the parliamentary outskirts.
