Samantha Ratnam

Leader of the Victorian Greens, MLC for Northern Metro

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I am the MLC for Northern Metropolitan and the leader of the Victorian Greens. 

In 2017, I entered the Victorian Parliament representing the Northern Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council. In the 2018 state election, I was re-elected to this position.

As an MP and the Leader of the Victorian Greens, I am a strong advocate for our environment and social justice. I have actively campaigned to save public housing, reduce gambling harm and for stronger action on climate change.

Samantha with community members marching in a rally

Prior to entering the Victorian Parliament, I was a social worker for over 15 years in the fields of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, international development, family services and in settlement services for newly arrived migrants from refugee backgrounds.

Alongside my social work career, I also spent five years as a Councillor at the City of Moreland, where I was elected the first Greens Mayor of Moreland in 2015. On council, I worked with my fellow Councillors to secure the largest funding commitment to environmental action in order to reduce Moreland’s community carbon emissions to zero. I was also integral in increasing the council’s cycling infrastructure budget by 75% in the first year, fought to protect residents’ appeal rights in planning matters and voted against more poker machines in the city.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours and a PhD in Youth Sociology.

I believe in putting people first and I'm proud to be part of a party that has never taken money from corporations trying to buy influence - governments should always act in the public good, not in the interests of their corporate mates. 

I want our state to be all it can be by investing in world-class public transport, powering Victoria with 100% clean renewable energy, providing homes for everyone, protecting our forests from logging companies and returning essential services like electricity to public hands. 

Together, my team and I will represent your needs in parliament and build a future for all of us - not just the wealthy few. 

Portfolios

First Nations Justice
Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism
Public and Affordable Housing
Women, Gender Equality and Family Violence
Sustainable Cities and Planning 
Child Protection 
Veterans

Take Action

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Black Lives Matter

Our justice system should treat every single Victorian equally and fairly, regardless of your race or how much money you have. 

News

Greens say Harry Potter event must be moved to protect threatened species in wildlife sanctuary

7 February, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have urged the Victorian Labor Government to step in and prevent a nightly Harry Potter-themed event from going ahead in...

Greens say Victoria should follow NSW's lead by banning offshore gas drilling

7 February, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to follow the lead of New South Wales and urgently ban offshore gas drilli...

Greens urge Victorian Labor to sever ties with Israel defence ministry, weapons manufacturer

7 February, 2024 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a motion calling on the Victorian Labor Government to end its secretive relationship with the Israe...

Greens say WorkCover bill should be scrapped, after Labor and the Liberals teamed up to save it

6 February, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to scrap their harmful WorkCover bill and go back to the drawing board, ra...

Joint push for pill testing in Victoria gains steam as Parliament returns

5 February, 2024 - The push for pill testing in Victoria will gain steam this week as three cross-bench parties prepare to challenge the new Premier to take act...

Greens issue warning to new Premier regarding potentially lethal 'Red Bull' pills detected interstate

30 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have warned the new Premier of the risks posed by untested substances to the lives of young people, following reports of...

Labor's 'spineless' decision will send thousands of waterbirds to slaughter

29 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government are cowards if reports are true they plan to green-light yet another duck shoot...

Greens back class action against public housing demolition

25 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports of a class action being launched against the Victorian Labor Government’s plan to demolish 44 publ...

Greens call on Victorian Government to fund pharmacotherapy prescribers

23 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have called for state-funded pharmacotherapy prescribers, following reports a clinic in Frankston is about to close. ...

Greens MPs join community members in a mass paddle-out to oppose siesmic blasting

23 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have joined hundreds of community members in a paddle-out off Warrnambool to oppose seismic blasting and fossil fuel ext...

Victoria spends less on social housing per person than any other state

23 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government is making the housing crisis worse, following the release of the latest Product...

Opposition's decision to drop support for Treaty shows how irrelevant they are

22 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Liberals’ and Nationals’ decision to drop their support for Treaty shows they don’t matter in Victoria any...

Pill testing helps prevent festival deaths, yet new Premier refuses to listen

16 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government is looking more desperate by the day as the Premier continues to ignore the mou...

Labor playing Russian roulette with young Victorian lives by refusing to adopt pill testing

13 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government needs to stop ignoring expert health advice and introduce pill testing as a mat...

Victorian heatwaves should be named after Premiers

12 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have supported calls for Australia to name its heatwaves, and say those in Victoria should be named after Premiers to hi...