Larissa Waters has gone from a quiet environmental lawyer to one of Australia’s most prominent political figures, and in May 2025 she became the leader of the Australian Greens. Here is what to know about her biography, political career, family life, and the questions voters are asking.
Born: 8 February 1977 ·
Party: Australian Greens ·
Current Role: Leader of the Australian Greens (since 2025) ·
Constituency: Senator for Queensland ·
Former Role: Co-Deputy Leader (2018–2022)
Quick snapshot
- Australian citizen by descent, born 8 February 1977 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Senator for Queensland since 2011 (Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site))
- Leader of the Australian Greens as of 15 May 2025 (Australian Greens (official party site))
- Partner: John McLeod; two children (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Exact net worth – not publicly disclosed (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Religious beliefs – not publicly known (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Birthplace conflicting between Winnipeg, Canada (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)) and Brisbane, Australia (Australian Women’s Register (official biographical register))
- John McLeod’s professional background – not publicly documented (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- 1977: Born (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- 2010: Elected as first Greens senator for Queensland (Australian Greens (official party site))
- 2025: Elected federal leader (ABC News (national broadcaster))
- Lead Greens into next federal election (The Conversation (academic commentary))
- Push for climate action, reproductive rights, and social justice (Australian Greens (media release))
Nine key facts about Waters at a glance.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Larissa Joy Waters |
| Born | 8 February 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Winnipeg, Canada (or Brisbane – sources conflict) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political Party | Australian Greens |
| Current Office | Leader of the Australian Greens |
| Constituency | Senator for Queensland |
| Partner | John McLeod |
| Children | Two |
What nationality is Larissa Waters?
Waters holds Australian nationality by descent. She was born on 8 February 1977 in Winnipeg, Canada, to Australian parents (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)). The Australian Women’s Register (official biographical register) lists her birthplace as Brisbane, Queensland – a discrepancy that remains unresolved in the public record.
What is Larissa Waters’ age?
- Born 8 February 1977 – age 47 as of 2024, turning 48 in February 2025 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
At 48, Waters is among the younger leaders of a major Australian party, but her decade-plus in the Senate gives her the institutional memory that many first-term leaders lack.
What is Larissa Waters’ religion?
- Not publicly disclosed – no official statement or biographical entry mentions religious affiliation (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
What is Larissa Waters’ net worth?
- Not publicly disclosed – no official or reliable estimate exists in public records (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
The pattern: Waters maintains a deliberately private personal life. The gaps in public knowledge – religion, net worth, birth location discrepancies – suggest she prioritises policy exposure over biographical detail.
Who is Larissa Waters’ partner?
Waters is in a long-term relationship with John McLeod, who is not a public figure, and has two children from a previous marriage (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
Does Larissa Waters have children?
- Yes, two children from her previous marriage (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
Is Larissa Waters married?
- Not currently married. She is in a relationship with John McLeod (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
The implication: Waters’ family situation – a blended family, an unmarried partnership, and two children from a previous marriage – is increasingly typical for Australian politicians. It also reflects a broader social shift that her party’s policies on family and gender equality directly address.
Who is the current leader of the Green Party in Australia?
Larissa Waters became the federal leader of the Australian Greens on 15 May 2025, succeeding Adam Bandt. She is the second woman to hold the role nationally, after Christine Milne (The Conversation (academic commentary)).
What is Larissa Waters’ role in the Greens?
- Federal leader since 15 May 2025 (Australian Greens (media release))
- Previously served as Co-Deputy Leader (2018–2022) and Senate leader (ABC News (national broadcaster))
- Spokesperson on climate change, women, and First Nations issues (Australian Greens (official party site))
What is Larissa Waters’ electorate?
- She represents the state of Queensland as a senator (Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site)).
Where is Larissa Waters’ office?
- Brisbane, Queensland – contact details available on the Parliament of Australia website (Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site)).
How can I contact Larissa Waters?
- Official contact form: Australian Greens (official party site) provides a contact page.
- Electorate office phone and address available via the Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site).
The implication: Waters now holds the most senior position in her party at a critical moment – with the Greens holding the balance of power in the Senate and a federal election due by 2025. Her leadership will shape the party’s strategy on climate, housing, and equality.
Is the Green Party in Australia a left-wing or right-wing party?
The Australian Greens are a left-wing political party, often categorised as green-left or social democratic. Their platform combines environmentalism with progressive social and economic policies (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) — Australian Greens).
How many Greens senators are there in Australia?
- As of 2024, the Greens hold 12 seats in the 76-seat Senate (Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site)).
The catch: While the Greens are clearly left-wing, their influence depends on cross-bench negotiations. With 12 senators they can block or force amendments, but they cannot pass legislation alone. Waters must balance ideological purity with pragmatic deal-making.
What is Adam Bandt doing now?
Adam Bandt, who led the Greens from 2012 to 2025, remains the MP for Melbourne and serves as a Greens spokesperson on key issues (ABC News (national broadcaster)). He stepped down as leader to make way for Waters.
Who is Adam Bandt’s wife?
- He is married to Claudia Bandt (née Miron), and they have children (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) — Adam Bandt).
The pattern: Bandt’s transition to the backbench is a smooth handover, not a resignation. Waters inherits a united party room, but she will need to build her own public profile separate from Bandt’s lengthy tenure.
Waters now leads a party that is simultaneously the most left-wing it has ever been in terms of policy ambition and the most experienced in its parliamentary ranks. The trick will be turning Senate influence into House of Representatives seats.
Confirmed facts
- Australian by descent (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Born 8 Feb 1977 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Greens leader since 15 May 2025 (Australian Greens (media release))
- Senator for Queensland (Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site))
- Partner John McLeod, two children (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Environmental lawyer pre-politics (Australian Greens (official party site))
- Holds BSc, LLB from Griffith University (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- First Greens senator for Queensland (Australian Greens (official party site))
- Second woman to lead Greens federally (The Conversation (academic commentary))
- Co-Deputy Leader 2018–2022 (ABC News (national broadcaster))
What’s unclear
- Exact birth location (Winnipeg vs Brisbane) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) / Australian Women’s Register (official biographical register))
- Net worth (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Religious beliefs (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- John McLeod’s professional background (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
Timeline
- – Born 8 February (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- – Works as environmental lawyer in community sector (Australian Greens (official party site))
- – Elected Senator for Queensland, takes seat 1 July 2011 (Australian Women’s Register (official biographical register))
- – Appointed Co-Deputy Leader of the Greens (ABC News (national broadcaster))
- – Steps down as Co-Deputy Leader (ABC News (national broadcaster))
- – Elected federal leader (Australian Greens (media release))
The trajectory: Waters’ route from community legal work to party leadership has been deliberate, with each Senate term adding institutional weight before the 2025 promotion.
Quotes
“I want to bring progressive parliament politics to the heart of the Greens.”
– Larissa Waters, on becoming leader, Australian Greens (media release)
Waters built her career defending biodiversity and World Heritage-listed sites through community law.
– Australian Greens, official party profile
The read: Together, the quotes frame Waters’ leadership as a bridge between legal precision and progressive movement politics.
Summary
Eddie Mabo: The Man Behind the Landmark Mabo Decision and David Gulpilil: Cause of Death, Life, Language, and Legacy offer wider context on the legal and cultural history Waters’ work touches.
Larissa Waters has gone from courtroom environmental lawyer to leader of Australia’s third-largest political party in a career spanning just over a decade. Her ascension marks a generational shift for the Greens, but the real tests lie ahead: turning Senate opposition into policy wins, expanding the party’s House of Representatives footprint, and maintaining unity in a party room that spans from eco-socialists to pragmatic progressives. For voters in Queensland and beyond, the choice under Waters is clear: a more assertive, policy-focused Greens, or a return to the minor-party margins.
Frequently asked questions
What is Larissa Waters’ educational background?
She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Laws from Griffith University, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the New South Wales College of Law (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
Has Larissa Waters written any books?
Not that is publicly recorded. She has authored policy papers and submissions but no widely published book (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
What are Larissa Waters’ key policy positions?
Climate action, reproductive rights, women’s health (including menopause inquiry), First Nations justice, and progressive taxation (Australian Greens (official party site)).
How did Larissa Waters enter politics?
After eight years as an environmental lawyer, she was elected as the first Greens senator for Queensland in the 2010 federal election (Australian Greens (official party site)).
What is Larissa Waters’ stance on climate change?
She advocates for a rapid, just transition away from fossil fuels, with strong emissions reduction targets and investment in renewables (Australian Greens (official party site)).
Has Larissa Waters ever held a ministerial position?
No – the Greens are not part of government, so she has never been a minister. She has served as a committee chair and spokesperson (Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site)).
What is Larissa Waters’ official website?
Her official Greens profile is available from the Australian Greens (official party site), and her parliamentary page from Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site).
The takeaway: Most practical questions are answered by official party and parliamentary records; personal details such as net worth and religion remain private.
Sources
- Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) — Larissa Waters
- Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) — Adam Bandt
- Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) — Australian Greens
- Parliament of Australia (official parliamentary site)
- Australian Women’s Register (official biographical register)
- Australian Greens (official party site)
- Australian Greens (media release)
- ABC News (national broadcaster)
- The Conversation (academic commentary)
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.