She will be replaced by the recently preselected Huong Truong, who will become the first Vietnamese Australian woman to sit in an Australian Parliament.

Ms Hartland, 58, a former Maribyrnong councillor, has represented the Western Metropolitan Region in the state's upper house since 2006, when she joined Sue Pennicuik and Greg Barber as Victoria's first Greens MPs.

In June last year, Mr Barber and Ms Hartland - who at the time were the Greens' leader and deputy leader - announced that they would not be standing in November's state election, though Mr Barber resigned three months later, saying he would ??????have a little rest and do some fishing''.

Ms Hartland said serving her community has been an ??????incredible honour'' but she is stepping down due to exhaustion and the job's toll on her health.

??????It's something I have deliberated for some time. Making this decision was something I have thought about over the last year,'' she said.

??????I'm someone who gives everything 100 per cent and I have just got to that stage where the exhaustion means I can only give 90 per cent.''

Ms Hartland said recent legislative breakthroughs stand as some the highlights of her time in Parliament, including the decriminilisation of abortion, a safe injecting room trial for Richmond and the legalisation of euthanasia.

??????There are lots of little things that are often behind the scenes as well,'' she said.

A joint sitting of both houses of Parliament will be required before Sunshine resident Huong Truong can step into the role.

This is likely to take place in the February 20 sitting week.

Ms Truong, 33, a mother of two, who grew up in Maidstone and Sunshine, is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and has vowed to raise the voice of the unheard in Victoria's Parliament.

Ms Hartland's retirement follows the announced retirement of inner-west Labor MPs Marsha Thomson in Footscray and Wade Noonan in Williamstown at the November election.

Star Weekly