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

Our justice system should treat every single Victorian equally and fairly, regardless of your race or how much money you have. 

News

Victorian Government considering penalties for consultants like PwC who misuse information

24 November, 2023 - The Victorian Government has revealed for the first time that it is considering penalties for consultants who engage in dodgy behaviour, aft...

Victorian Government still has no plan for survival of 1,500 threatened species

21 November, 2023 - Victoria’s environment department has revealed that 1,500 threatened species are still waiting on action plans being developed, after the de...

Rural kids being left behind in dental health deserts

16 November, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently address the dental health care deserts across regional Victor...

Greens MP suspended from Parliament over pro-climate selfie

15 November, 2023 - Both Labor and the Liberals have today voted to suspend Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri from the chamber for refusing to apologise for taking ...

Labor forced to come clean on plan to demolish public housing towers

15 November, 2023 - The Victorian Labor Government has been asked to come clean on its plan to demolish 44 public housing towers and privatise the majority of t...

Labor must take up offer for free pill testing trial in Victoria this summer

15 November, 2023 - The Greens have urged the Victorian Labor Government to take up an offer being made by public health experts to establish a free pill testin...

Petition triggers special parliament debate on Labor's disastrous coal-to-hydrogen project

15 November, 2023 - A community petition against Labor’s new coal-to-hydrogen project will trigger a debate in Parliament this afternoon, forcing the Labor stat...

Renters take to street to demand greater protection from rent hikes

11 November, 2023 - Victorian renters fed up with Labor turning their backs on their rights will gather today at a rally organised by the Greens, the Renters an...

Greens to stand up for workers against Labor's harsh WorkCover changes

10 November, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will vote against Labor’s WorkCover changes that will see injured workers denied support or kicked off the scheme. V...

Greens join union, workers at rally outside Coles AGM to stop supermarket price gouging

3 November, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will join the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) and Coles workers for a rally outside the supermarket giant’s ...

This year's Melbourne Cup must be the last: Greens

3 November, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said this year’s Melbourne Cup must be the last, and have called on Labor to spend less money propping up the racin...

Labor isn't taking housing crisis seriously: Greens costing reveals ten times more rentals could be released

2 November, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said part of their plan to solve the state’s housing crisis could see more than 10,000 homes freed up as rentals, a...

Vacancy tax bill delayed, following Greens pressure for strong housing reform

2 November, 2023 - The Victorian Labor Government has moved to delay a vote on its own state taxation bill, after the Greens said they would need a commitment t...

Woolworths and Coles taking Victorians for a ride, Greens push for inquiry into food affordability

2 November, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said pressure is mounting on the Victorian Labor Government to take on the supermarket duopoly, after Choice crowne...

Minister diaries should be made public, advisers accountable in wake of Daintree report

31 October, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said if Labor is serious about curtailing ‘grey level’ corruption in state politics, they must open Ministerial dia...