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

Take Action

Get involved with Samantha Ratnam's current campaigns.

Create an anti-racist Victoria

Join us to combat racism and white supremacy.

End Extinction In Victoria

Sign up to help protect native species and end extinction in Victoria.

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

Greens call for closure of two Victorian prisons

5 November, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have launched an election pitch to close two state prisons so that more money can be directed towards services proven to...

Greens back $1.2 million plan for bees and urban biodiversity in Melbourne’s south

3 November, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have today thrown their support behind the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor, an exciting vision for a connected corridor of...

Greens renew call to end native forest logging in Victoria in response to carbon report

3 November, 2022 - An eye-opening Victorian Carbon Report was released today by the Victorian Forest Alliance. The report has found that in 2021 native fores...

Greens launch plan for pokies-free Victoria

2 November, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have unveiled an ambitious plan ahead of the upcoming election to phase out pokies across the state in a bid to reduce g...

Greens pledge $7 million for Gertrude Contemporary to secure permanent home in Northcote

2 November, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have pledged to provide up to $7 million dollars to Victoria’s oldest contemporary arts organisation – Gertrude Contempo...

30% of voters fed up with the major parties, looking to a Greener future

1 November, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have said the upcoming state election could be a turning point for our political system with more and more voters moving...

Victoria should lead the nation in four-day working week trial: Greens

31 October, 2022 - Victorian Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam and candidate Gabrielle de Vietri will today launch the Greens’ proposal for a Victorian four-day wor...

Greens push to double gambling tax and prevent racing industry from making a cent

29 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have launched a plan to double the state’s online gambling tax and prevent the racing industry from getting a cent of it...

Greens to call for new SES funding in face of climate disasters

28 October, 2022 - As Victorian communities continue to face devastating floods, the Victorian Greens have today called for urgent funding for Victoria’s overst...

Greens to double the number of accessible tram stops

28 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have announced their plan to upgrade tram stops and train stations to make public transport accessible to all including ...

Greens support the Green Line

26 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have announced their support for the Green Line Proposal.  The Green Line is a community-developed proposal for ...

Greens plan for quality, genuinely free public schools

24 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens will today launch their plan to ensure all Victorians have access to a high quality, genuinely free local public school....

Workers would get 'reproductive leave' under plan to address gender inequality

22 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have unveiled a ground-breaking plan to introduce five days of ‘reproductive health and wellbeing’ leave for public sect...

Greens propose bike superhighways for Victoria

19 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have proposed a funding package for bike riding and walking that would see bike superhighways across Melbourne and regio...

Greens slam Liberals on LGBTIQA+ rights

19 October, 2022 - The Victorian Greens have slammed the Victorian Liberals on LGBTIQA+ rights and have urged Victorian voters to vote Greens in November to ens...