This former lawyer and single mum wants the Greens to be a constructive force

New Greens leader Larissa Waters describes herself as a juggler. In the 15 years since entering parliament, she’s jumped between raising two daughters as a single mother at home in Brisbane, and representing Queenslanders from the Senate in Canberra.

But now she adds a third element to the mix, which is where real juggling begins.

Waters will steer the Greens party through the next term of parliament after it lost three MPs, including the shock defeat of leader Adam Bandt. She begins by promising to be constructive. The Greens will return to parliament in a stronger position despite their lower houses losses, because they hold the sole balance of power in the Senate.

Greens leader Larissa Waters is promising a constructive approach to the next parliament.Credit: Penny Stephens

Waters wants to use that power. The relationship between the government and Greens soured last term, as the minor party obstructed Labor’s housing policies and accused the government of being complicit in genocide in Gaza. Waters’ early stance suggests a new era of collaboration could be around the corner – if that’s what her party room wants.

“I think people want us to be constructive in parliament – firm but constructive – and that’s my inclination, that’s what I want to do,” Waters says. “I only have good things to say about Adam. I think he was incredible... [But] I am a different person, so there will be a different emphasis.

“I really value the strengths of all of our party members. I really value the expertise of people with lived experience, the stakeholders and experts, so I’m quite consultative ... and I really want to get outcomes.”

Waters says the 48th parliament has the potential to be Australia’s most progressive. Labor has a record number of lower house MPs and only needs the Greens to pass laws in the upper house. Waters says the government has no excuses.

“We are here saying ‘we want to get work done for you’,” she says.

Her goals for the Greens are to lead a team that is strong and unified, with increased community support and more numbers in parliament. “But most importantly, I want to get climate and nature laws that will protect this biosphere. And I want the parliament to actually address the real daily pressures that people face, not just tinker.”

Waters becomes leader as the party – which typically takes a consensus approach to policy positions – faces calls to reconsider its purpose. She blames the Trump effect for a downturn in the Greens’ support as voters cleaved to Labor. The crossbench party’s primary vote dipped 0.13 per cent in the lower house, and 1.03 per cent in the Senate. But some former Greens say the party overplayed its hand on Gaza and became too militant in its language, while drifting from core environmental issues.

Waters says the party will review the election, but disagrees it has lost focus. “We’ve always had a broad policy platform, and we continue to have that. I’m an environmental lawyer, so that’s the thing that I know the most about and feel the most passionate about, along with gender equality,” she says.

“But we still have policies that will help people in their daily lives ... Sometimes the media wants you to just have one focal point, but we can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Waters was the Greens’ first federal Queensland representative. She found her passion for environmental law after a stint in drama school, but after 10 years at the Environmental Defenders’ Office, she wanted a greater say. She entered politics on her third attempt, in 2010: the first year the Greens had the sole balance of power and a lower house MP in Bandt.

When Waters names her achievements over the 15 years, one is working with former independent Tony Windsor to add a water trigger to environment laws under the former Gillard government. Another is being the first woman to breastfeed in Australian parliament.

Senator Larissa Waters with her baby Alia, in 2017.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“That was something that people stopped me in the street and thanked me for ... Being able to empower women to exist in the spaces in the ways that they want to [is something] I feel really strongly about,” she says.

“I’ve always been a feminist ... I was raised by a single parent [who’s] just an incredible force in the world. I’m now a single parent myself so I know how strong women are.”

Waters joined parliament with a two-year-old at home. “Then I had a second partnership that resulted in beautiful number two. Unfortunately, I’m no longer with that person either – you can’t get everything right – but I’m really lucky to have great support from my family, and I’ve got two beautiful children who are the light of my life.”

After becoming leader on Thursday, Waters did media rounds on Friday morning and then flew back to her daughters, now aged eight and 16. “I’ve got to get home to do double pickup of the girls from school and then probably clean out the chicken coops and make the dinner,” she says.

“The perspective that I bring is just a busy working mum. I understand that juggle that people are doing ... being an ordinary person, I think, helps you represent other ordinary people in parliament.”

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