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

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News

Greens candidate for Warrandyte by-election ready to tackle climate and housing

7 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens’ candidate for the upcoming Warrandyte by-election has said he’s ready to fight for stronger action on the climate crisis an...

Greens hit back at Premier's comments, push for public and affordable homes in planning reforms

6 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have hit back at comments made by the Premier in which he claimed the Greens were in the “cheap seats” calling for the gover...

Deputy Mayor announced as Greens candidate for Warrandyte by-election

28 June, 2023 - Deputy Mayor of Manningham City Council, Tomas Lightbody, has been pre-selected as the Victorian Greens’ candidate for the seat of Warrandyte in...

Potential racial profiling by Victoria Police must be monitored: Greens

27 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government must stop ignoring the clear problems within Victoria Police’s ranks and develop a...

Greens push for spending caps to make state elections fairer

26 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have renewed their call on the Victorian Labor Government to introduce spending caps for state elections, in a bid to make ...

Myki fare rise will make cost-of-living worse for already struggling Victorians

23 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government’s decision to raise Myki fares above inflation will make the cost-of-living crisis...

Bill to set end date for coal in Victoria knocked down by Labor

21 June, 2023 - The Victorian Labor Government has stifled debate on a bill to end coal in Victoria by 2030, despite the urgent climate crisis we currently face...

Greens secure commitment from Labor on renter safeguards, will support tax reforms

20 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have secured a commitment from the Victorian Labor Government on renter safeguards, and are now in a position to support th...

State and local Greens push Victorian Government to invest in public housing

20 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have ramped up their pressure on the Victorian Labor Government to build more public and affordable housing, with the Membe...

Greens move to redirect Future Fund towards public housing, convert COVID Debt Levy into an 'Ending Poverty' Levy

19 June, 2023 - The state government’s COVID Debt Levy and Victorian Future Fund would be used to tackle poverty and increase public housing under a Victorian G...

Planning reforms must ensure half of all new homes are public or affordable

16 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to ensure any reform to the state’s planning laws will require half of all ne...

Cost of demolishing public housing estate and privatising land revealed, as Greens urge rethink

15 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have condemned the Victorian Labor Government for its plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars demolishing public hous...

Government indicates it may ban gambling ads at Commonwealth Games

14 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed an indication by the Victorian Labor Government that it may ban gambling advertising at the Commonwealth Game...

Greens demand stronger commitment to renter safeguards to ensure support for tax reforms

13 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said that in order to secure their support for tax reforms that are currently before Parliament, the Victorian Labor G...

Public housing residents face 'ruthless' intimidation by Labor, in a bid to scare them away

9 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have condemned the Victorian Labor Government for resorting to “ruthless” intimidation tactics in an effort to drive out the...