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● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 21 sources tracked

Australian Greens Leader Larissa Waters quits amid health battle, sparking race to replace her

Senator David Shoebridge has won the leadership of the Australian Greens following the sudden resignation of Larissa Waters. Shoebridge emerged victorious from a party retreat in Sydney, defeating Senator Mehreen Faruqi in a ballot. He has stated his intention to make the Greens the primary party of the left, replacing Labor, and has declared war on One Nation. Meanwhile, Faruqi has stepped down as deputy leader and is calling for a change to internal election rules to allow grassroots members to vote rather than only elected representatives.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ Senator Larissa Waters resigned as leader of the Australian Greens due to a kidney disease that has declined significantly.
  • ✓ Senator David Shoebridge won the leadership ballot for the party during a retreat in Sydney.
  • ✓ Senator Mehreen Faruqi lost the leadership ballot to David Shoebridge.
  • ✓ Mehreen Faruqi has stepped down as the Greens deputy leader.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 21 independent reporting domains (95% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

David Shoebridge defeated Mehreen Faruqi to become the new Greens leader after a party retreat in Sydney.

Live updates

  1. David Shoebridge elected Australian Greens leader after Larissa Waters resignation

    Senator David Shoebridge has won the leadership of the Australian Greens following the sudden resignation of Larissa Waters. Shoebridge emerged victorious from a party retreat in Sydney, defeating Senator Mehreen Faruqi in a ballot. He has stated his intention to make the Greens the primary party of the left, replacing Labor, and has declared war on One Nation. Meanwhile, Faruqi has stepped down as deputy leader and is calling for a change to internal election rules to allow grassroots members to vote rather than only elected representatives.

    Why it matters

    Larissa Waters resigned her leadership on September 28, 2026, to manage a pre-existing kidney disease that had declined significantly. The vacancy triggered a leadership contest that highlighted factional tensions between the party's pragmatists and its far-left wing.

    What is confirmed

    • Senator Larissa Waters resigned as leader of the Australian Greens due to a kidney disease that has declined significantly.
    • Senator David Shoebridge won the leadership ballot for the party during a retreat in Sydney.
    • Senator Mehreen Faruqi lost the leadership ballot to David Shoebridge.
    • Mehreen Faruqi has stepped down as the Greens deputy leader.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Mehreen Faruqi is calling for a total shake-up of internal elections to include grassroots members in voting.
    • David Shoebridge intends for the Greens to replace Labor as the country's major party of the left.

    What to watch next

    • The party's response to Mehreen Faruqi's demand for grassroots voting rights in internal elections.
    Sources used for this update (25)
    1. politico.com — Australian Greens Leader Larissa Waters quits amid health battle, sparking race to replace her
    2. The Guardian — Larissa Waters steps down as Greens leader due to ill health
    3. ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Greens leader Larissa Waters steps down due to illness
    4. The Australian — Larissa Waters to step down as Greens leader due to health battle
    5. The Age — Larissa Waters quits as Greens leader due to illness
    6. Politico — Australian Greens next leader faces a choice: Populism or pragmatism
    7. theguardian.com — Sarah Hanson-Young announces Greens leadership tilt after MPs blindsided by Larissa Waters’ shock resignation
    8. SMH.com.au — Australia news LIVE: RBA hikes interest rates to 4.6 per cent in 15-year high; OpenAI apologises for Medicare data breach
    9. The Conversation — Larissa Waters steps down as Greens leader due to health reasons
    10. www.dailymail.com — Sour grapes? Mehreen Faruqi steps down as Greens deputy leader - as she launches furious attack on the direction of the party
    11. www.theguardian.com — Larissa Waters steps down as Greens leader due to ill health
    12. greens.org.au — Greens Leader to step down due to illness | Australian Greens
    confidence 95%
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