Samantha Ratnam

Leader of the Victorian Greens, MLC for Northern Metro

</div> " class="video-embed-field-lazy">

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

Get involved with Samantha Ratnam's current campaigns.

Create an anti-racist Victoria

Join us to combat racism and white supremacy.

End Extinction In Victoria

Sign up to help protect native species and end extinction in Victoria.

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

Inquiry recommendation to ban duck shooting a 'watershed moment'

31 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called an inquiry’s recommendation to ban duck shooting across the state a ‘watershed moment’ for the community grou...

Victorian Government must regulate short-stays, not force councils to take things into their own hands

30 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed the City of Melbourne’s decision to regulate short-stay accommodation, but say councils shouldn’t be forced...

Anti-trans hate report must compel Victoria to act on anti-vilification

29 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government must act now to expand the state’s anti-vilification laws, or risk trans and gen...

Greens introduce bill to ensure developers build fair share of public and affordable homes

29 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a bill to the Upper House that would amend the state’s planning laws to mandate a minimum of 30 per ...

Stamp duty reform has been in the 'too hard' basket for too long

29 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have renewed their pressure on the Victorian Labor Government to abolish stamp duty and replace it with a broad-based lan...

Greens launch bold housing statement to provide benchmark for Premier's upcoming reforms

28 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have launched a bold, comprehensive housing statement they say will form the basis of their upcoming negotiations with th...

Rental crisis inquiry must be wake-up call for Victorian Labor to stand up to property industry

22 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have warned that until the Victorian Labor Government stands up to the property industry and implements urgent rent contr...

Loy Yang A closure date to lock in twelve more years of burning coal, transition must happen sooner

21 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said closing Loy Yang A in 2035 will mean twelve more years of burning coal, and have urged the Victorian Labor Gove...

Victorian Labor's decision to take strong rent controls off the table a 'kick in the guts' to thousands of renters

18 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government’s decision to take rent controls off the table will have dire consequences for r...

Greens' bill to give IBAC more teeth passes Upper House

16 August, 2023 - A Victorian Greens’ bill to expand IBAC’s jurisdiction to investigate corruption has passed the Upper House, after all non-government members ...

Real test of bail reform will be reduction in unsentenced prisoners, deaths in custody

15 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports the Victorian Labor Government’s proposed bail reforms, if passed, would come into effect in six mo...

Premier's own motives should be questioned, after deflecting on group voting reform

11 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Premier’s attempts to yet again kick group voting reform down the road calls into question his own motives ...

Damning report shows VicForests broke the law again, Greens say they must be shut down

10 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to abolish VicForests, following the release of a damning report by the Vic...

Group voting tickets must be scrapped before 2026, not after

10 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed an indication from the Victorian Labor Government that it supports the abolition of the state’s undemocrati...

Rental crisis inquiry paints dire picture for renters in Victoria

8 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to stop ignoring the growing number of renters struggling to keep a roof ove...