ACT Election 2020: ‘History in the making’ as ACT Greens win four seats, final count still to be finalised

2020-10-18

On behalf of the ACT Greens, leader Shane Rattenbury has today outlined the party’s initial reflections on the history-making Greens swing in this year’s Territory election.

With 78% of the vote counted, the ACT Greens have won four seats in this year’s Territory election - with more still to be counted.

“The Canberra community has entrusted us to take the bold and ambitious vision that we took to the election campaign into the Assembly, to make sure it is implemented,” ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said today.

“The Greens are a major force in ACT politics, and it is clear that the Greens are now the third major party in this place.

“This is a time when we need new ideas and aspirations, real conviction, and courageous decisions. We need to tackle some of our larger-scale challenges with the same boldness and decisiveness that we have the COVID crisis.

“We’ve talked during this campaign about this not being the time to ‘snap back’ to the old ways. Now we need to make sure we heed the lessons of 2020 -  that we get serious about tackling the climate crisis, and about tackling growing inequality in our community.

“We’re really pleased to have new members join our team. We’ve seen a growth in the Greens vote right across Canberra. From the south of Tuggeranong, from the northern tip of Gungahlin, to the western edge of Belconnen, right across the city, the Greens have secured more votes to ensure that we’re bringing more community voices into the Assembly, and representing even more of Canberra.

“We had a quiet optimism right from the start of the campaign. What’s clear is that this has been a vote for climate action. The start of this year really drove home for Canberrans and our region that climate change is our new lived reality, and that there is no time to waste. 

“The Greens are a grassroots movement, and we will be listening to and engaging our party membership in the first instance to canvass their views. The party will spend the next few days reflecting on how to best implement this vision for Canberra in the 10th term of the Legislative Assembly, while the count is being finalised.”

We are fortunate to have plenty of experience to work from, in that the Greens have spent considerable time both within Government and Cabinet, and on the crossbench. This result is a reflection of these years of experience and decades of Greens standing up for our community and our environment. 

“I would like to thank the people in the Canberra community who trusted us with their vote. We are so pleased to see so many people in our community vote for a better normal, a vision for Canberra that is sustainable and fair,” Mr Rattenbury added.

This is a history-making moment for the party - the first time a Greens Party anywhere in the world has been returned for a fourth term as balance of power holders. 

Statement ends

Media contact: 

Clancy Barnard (ACT Greens Campaign Manager)
Mobile: 0438 869 332

Email: clancy.barnard@act.greens.org.au