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

Reforms to cancer scheme for firefighters fall short, Greens to move amendments

9 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said proposed reforms to the state’s presumptive cancer scheme for firefighters “fall short” of what the science demand...

New report reveals Victorian Government has spent $80m on PwC, Greens renew call to freeze contracts

8 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have renewed their call on the Victorian Labor Government to freeze any future contracts with PwC, following the release of ...

Victorian Government must ban bribes from predatory gas companies

8 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have urged the Victorian Labor Government to urgently ban gas companies using predatory behaviour and bribes to lock Victori...

Victorian Labor walks back housing commitment on Fitzroy Gasworks site

8 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called a Victorian Labor Government decision to walk back a commitment to build affordable housing on a site in Fitzroy...

Firefighter cancer scheme would be expanded under Greens' bill

7 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have today released a draft Bill to expand the number of cancers covered by the state’s firefighters presumptive cancer sche...

Victoria continues to have 'world's worst' EV policy: Greens

7 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called the Victorian Labor Government’s decision to prematurely end its electric vehicle rebate scheme “a backwards ste...

Premier must freeze any future contracts with PwC, Greens say

2 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have urged the Victorian Labor Government to freeze any future contracts with PwC, saying that fundamental conflicts of inte...

Child protection reforms an important step, but gaps remain: Greens

1 June, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed the passage of a bill this afternoon to strengthen Victoria’s child protection system, but say that while gaps...

Greens call out Labor's hypocrisy over Maroondah Hospital name change

31 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have today introduced a motion into the Upper House calling out the hypocrisy of the Victorian Labor Government over its “di...

Greens introduce bill to put coal ban in Victorian constitution

31 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a bill that would legislate an end date for coal mining and burning in Victoria of 2030. If successful,...

Greens join public housing residents in Port Melbourne for rally to fight Labor's privatisation

27 May, 2023 - The Greens will today join public housing residents in Port Melbourne for a rally to fight an ‘appalling and cruel’ Victorian Labor Government de...

Greens to demand safeguards for renters as part of tax bill negotiations

25 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said they are prepared to meet with the Victorian Labor Government to discuss the budget’s tax measures, but that safeg...

Rental crisis inquiry to go ahead, despite Labor's attempts to block it

24 May, 2023 - The Victorian Parliament will launch an investigation into the state’s worsening rental crisis, despite attempts from the Victorian Labor Governm...

Labor's state budget fails struggling Victorians: Greens

23 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said everyday Victorians who are already struggling will be worse off under the state budget. Despite the cost-of-li...

Win for environmental activists as Labor finally pressured to end native forest logging

23 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports today that the Victorian Labor Government intends to bring forward the state’s transition out of nativ...