Samantha Ratnam

Leader of the Victorian Greens and Member for Northern Metro

Samantha Ratnam

Samantha has dedicated her life to fighting for social and economic justice; for climate and housing justice, equality and peace.

Samantha has represented her community for over a decade.

She was first elected to Local Government in 2012, and elected Mayor of Moreland (now Merri-Bek) in 2016, doubling her vote in her re-election and helping double the number of Greens elected to Council.

In 2017, she became the first woman to lead the Victorian Greens and has led the party through the pandemic and multiple elections, doubling the party room at the 2022 election. Sam is proud to have been leading our State parliamentary team for nearly 7 years – a team that is highly talented, united and poised for historic success.

Under her leadership, the Greens have secured the balance of power in the Victorian parliament, and have pushed Labor further and faster on climate, housing and integrity reform, freed up thousands of homes for renters, helped  end native forest logging and secured the first inquiry into the threat of far right extremism.

Samantha and the Greens team are fighting for a future where everyone has a quality affordable home, where we power our state with 100% renewable energy, not coal and gas, and where we tax big corporations and fund the things everyone needs.

Samantha learned very early in life that the decisions politicians make can shape our lives.

She moved to Australia with her family when she was a child, because of the civil war that broke out in Sri Lanka. They came to Australia seeking peace and safety with nothing more than the suitcases they carried between them.

Samantha has worked hard to give back to the community that has given her so much and is a deeply committed and connected local.

Prior to entering politics, Samantha spent 15 years as a social worker, supporting people experiencing drug and alcohol issues and in settlement services for newly arrived migrants. She spent years working with Migrant Resource Centres and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, assisting people to rebuild their lives after fleeing war.

Samantha holds Bachelors degrees in Arts and Social Work, from the University of Melbourne and a PhD that investigated young people’s experiences of belonging, participation and global citizenship.

She has loved calling Brunswick home for over 15 years with her husband, Colin, and 3 year old daughter, Malala. She can often be found on a squash court at Fitzy’s that she credits with keeping her energised!

Samantha Ratnam sitting at a table smiling
In a wealthy country like ours, no one should be left behind. The Greens have a bold plan for a future where we tackle the climate crisis and make sure no one is left to struggle. Change is possible, if enough of us fight for it.
– Samantha Ratnam

Take Action

Get involved with Samantha Ratnam's current campaigns.

Make Renting Fair

Fixing the system so Victorian renters have affordable, secure and sustainable homes.

Protect Public Homes

We should be building more public housing, not demolishing what we have.

All women deserve to access safety from abuse

Tell the government Victoria needs a culturally specific women’s refuge

Samantha's 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

Contact

Office of Samantha Ratnam
Suite G01, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053

(03) 9348 2622

Samantha.Ratnam@parliament.vic.gov.au

News

Latest from the Victorian Greens

Victoria needs revenue including a 'Big Bank Levy' to avoid an austerity budget

3 April, 2023 - The Victorians Greens are calling on the Victorian Labor Government to introduce a state-based ‘Big Bank Levy’ along with other revenue measures...

Victorian Greens condemn Anti-Trans and Nazi rally

25 March, 2023 - Background On March 18 2023, British campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull ("Posie Parker") held an anti-trans rally in Melbourne. Speeches by...

Halving spend on consultancies would save $1.5 billion over the next ten years

23 March, 2023 - With reports overnight that the Victorian Labor Government’s spending on consultancies has rocketed 200 per cent since Daniel Andrews was first...

Greens and Legalise Cannabis secure key integrity reform recommended by former IBAC commissioner

21 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens and the Legalise Cannabis Party have secured a significant reform to Victoria’s integrity system that integrity bodies and...

Greens introduce motion to demand answers on brown-coal-to-hydrogen project

21 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a motion to the Victorian Parliament that, if passed, would require the state government to produce a...

Victoria's anti-vilification laws must be expanded to protect LGBTIQA+ community

21 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently expand the state’s anti-vilification laws to protect LGBTIQA+ co...

Greens secure improvements to Health Information Sharing Bill

8 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have secured improvements to the Health Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023 following constructive negoti...

Gas terminal must be rejected if Victorian Labor is serious about reaching emissions targets

7 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to reject a Viva Energy application to construct a gas terminal in Corio Bay,...

Government must establish more safe injecting rooms to take pressure off North Richmond

7 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed today’s announcement that the Victorian Labor Government will make the medically supervised injecting room in...

Attorney-General must ensure bail reform is meaningful and doesn't 'tinker around the edges': Greens

6 March, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports that the Victorian Labor Government intends to move on bail reform in the coming months, but warn any...

'Spineless' Government must stand up to lobby and ban duck shooting once and for all

24 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government needs to grow a spine and stand up to the shooting lobby, following reports th...

Greens to Labor: Stop keeping workers' wages low

22 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to scrap its public sector wages cap. At a time when Victorians are st...

Greens' motion calling for review of group voting passes Upper House

22 February, 2023 - A Greens’ motion calling on the Victorian Labor Government to establish an independent review of the state’s group voting system has passed ...

Northcote MP must come clean on funding, Greens say

22 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on Northcote MP Kat Theophanous to come clean on the sources of the funding for both her 2018 and 2022 stat...

Native forest logging in Victoria would end from June, under Greens bill

21 February, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a bill to Parliament that would legislate an end to native forest logging in June this year. ...