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

Labor's 'spineless' decision will send thousands of waterbirds to slaughter

29 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government are cowards if reports are true they plan to green-light yet another duck shoot...

Greens back class action against public housing demolition

25 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports of a class action being launched against the Victorian Labor Government’s plan to demolish 44 publ...

Greens call on Victorian Government to fund pharmacotherapy prescribers

23 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have called for state-funded pharmacotherapy prescribers, following reports a clinic in Frankston is about to close. ...

Greens MPs join community members in a mass paddle-out to oppose siesmic blasting

23 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have joined hundreds of community members in a paddle-out off Warrnambool to oppose seismic blasting and fossil fuel ext...

Victoria spends less on social housing per person than any other state

23 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government is making the housing crisis worse, following the release of the latest Product...

Opposition's decision to drop support for Treaty shows how irrelevant they are

22 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Liberals’ and Nationals’ decision to drop their support for Treaty shows they don’t matter in Victoria any...

Pill testing helps prevent festival deaths, yet new Premier refuses to listen

16 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government is looking more desperate by the day as the Premier continues to ignore the mou...

Labor playing Russian roulette with young Victorian lives by refusing to adopt pill testing

13 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government needs to stop ignoring expert health advice and introduce pill testing as a mat...

Victorian heatwaves should be named after Premiers

12 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have supported calls for Australia to name its heatwaves, and say those in Victoria should be named after Premiers to hi...

Premier Allan's comments on pill testing 'cowardly', and a kick in the guts to young Victorians

10 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have called Premier Allan’s comments on pill testing cowardly, and say without it young people will continue to be at gr...

Victorian Labor Government has power to stop supermarket price gouging, but refuses to act

10 January, 2024 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports of a federal review into supermarket prices, saying the Woolworths and Coles duopoly need to stop ...

Rave overdoses build urgent case for pill testing in Victoria

8 January, 2024 - Three progressive cross-bench parties have renewed their calls on the Victorian Labor Government to establish pill testing across the state, f...

Gas Substitution Roadmap will be undermined while Labor supports new coal and gas

14 December, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said any attempts by the Victorian Labor Government to reduce gas usage will be undermined while they continue to ...

'No more excuses': Greens say Victoria needs independent police oversight

12 December, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently establish an independent police ombudsman, in response to an ...

Survey shows waterbird populations in long-term decline, Greens renew call on Labor to ban duck shooting

12 December, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government must ban duck shooting as a matter of urgency, following the release of the la...