AS THE first Queensland Green ever to win a seat in Federal Parliament, Larissa Waters has made a minimal impression on the national consciousness in the 10 months since she was elected to the Senate.

When environmental issues such as the carbon tax and coal-seam gas mining have been making headlines, the 34-year-old lawyer has deliberately laid low.

"My heart's in the right place" ... Larissa Waters, the first Queensland Green in Federal Parliament. Credit:Michelle Smith

Conscious her life is about to be taken over by the demands of politics, Ms Waters opted instead to spend time with her journalist partner, Brendan O'Malley, and their two-year-old daughter, Lana, recharging her batteries before she takes her seat in the Senate next month.

''I was beating myself up about not being Wonder Woman,'' she said. ''But in three weeks' time I'm going to be super-busy and I've got six years to do a lot of good work.''