Samantha Ratnam

Leader of the Victorian Greens, MLC for Northern Metro

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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Black Lives Matter

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News

Maryvale closure must prompt state government to end native forest logging

15 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said with the imminent closure of the Maryvale mill, it’s time the Victorian Labor Government announced an immedia...

Victoria should tax profiteering big banks to help lower the cost-of-living

15 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have responded to today’s reports of banks profiteering from interest rates rises by calling for the state government t...

Greens renew call for road safety inquiry following cyclist death near Warrnambool

14 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have renewed their calls for a parliamentary inquiry into road safety, following the recent death of a cyclist near War...

Greens call for ban on privatisation in Victoria until inquiry takes place

13 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have introduced a motion to the Victorian Parliament calling for a moratorium on privatisation until Parliament can inv...

Greens introduce motion for Maribyrnong flood inquiry, release terms of reference

8 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a motion calling for the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into last year’s Maribyrnong Rive...

Greens reintroduce 'bail bill', issue challenge to the Premier

7 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today reintroduce a bill that would reform the state’s broken bail laws in a bid to reduce the over-incarceration o...

Victorian Greens call for ban on junk food advertising

7 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to ban unhealthy food and drink advertising across Victoria’s public trans...

Victorian Government must establish inquiry into road safety for cyclists

3 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently establish a parliamentary inquiry into road safety for cyclist...

Veronica Nelson inquest findings are a damning call to action on bail reform

30 January, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government must reform the state’s bail laws as soon as Parliament returns, to reduce the ...

Bail reform mustn't tinker around the edges, or be delayed: Greens

25 January, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed the Attorney-General’s commitment to reforming the state’s bail laws later this year, but warn the Governm...

Melbourne Water flood review lets Labor Government off the hook, Greens propose separate inquiry

20 January, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will push for a parliamentary inquiry into last year’s Maribyrnong River floods when Parliament returns, to close the ga...

Greens return to Parliament with bill to raise the age

20 December, 2022 - The Victorian Greens will begin the 60th Victorian Parliament focused on First Nations justice, by introducing a bill to raise the age of cr...

Ratnam, Sandell re-elected to Victorian Greens leadership team

16 December, 2022 - The Victorian Greens will enter the 60th Victorian Parliament with Samantha Ratnam as Leader, and Ellen Sandell as Deputy Leader. The exp...

Greens achieve historic state election result, with a doubled party room

14 December, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have achieved their strongest state election result on record, and will enter the 60th Victorian Parliament with a doub...

Victorian Government must confront spread of COVID to suppress this wave: Greens

2 December, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have urged the Victorian Government to help reduce the spread of COVID in a bid to protect our hospitals from buckling u...