Richard Di Natale is stepping down as both as parliamentary leader of the Greens and as Senator from Victoria to spend more time with his family.

"It's a tough and demanding job, but it takes not just a personal toll, but on your family," Mr. Di Natale said.  He has served in the Senate since 2010 and as leader of the Greens since 2015.

He said he's proudest of leading campaigns for marriage equality, and calling for royal commissions into the banking, finance and disability sector.  Di Natale also won Senate support for an anti-corruption watchdog, championed medicinal cannabis and drug-law reform, and struck a deal for carbon pricing with the Gillard government.

"I remain filled with confidence that our country can take major action on the climate crisis," he said.  "We can reduce emissions and take real climate action, if we work together."

Before Parliament, Di Natale was a general practitioner and public health specialist working in Aboriginal health in the Northern Territory, on HIV prevention in India, and in the drug and alcohol sector.

Once outside government, "I will continue to fight for action on the climate crisis, tackling inequality, justice with First Nations people," he said.