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

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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

Premier's own motives should be questioned, after deflecting on group voting reform

11 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Premier’s attempts to yet again kick group voting reform down the road calls into question his own motives ...

Damning report shows VicForests broke the law again, Greens say they must be shut down

10 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to abolish VicForests, following the release of a damning report by the Vic...

Group voting tickets must be scrapped before 2026, not after

10 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed an indication from the Victorian Labor Government that it supports the abolition of the state’s undemocrati...

Rental crisis inquiry paints dire picture for renters in Victoria

8 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to stop ignoring the growing number of renters struggling to keep a roof ove...

Greens' bill to end homelessness in Victoria by 2030 to be tabled in Parliament

7 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will reintroduce their Ending Homelessness Bill when Parliament returns next week, in a bid to pressure the Victorian Labo...

Damning report must push Victorian Government to act on Murray-Darling Basin

3 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to take the urgent action needed to protect the Murray-Darling Basin and ens...

Greens list Victorian Parliament for rent, increase pressure on Premier for a rent freeze

3 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have listed the Victorian Parliament for rent in a tongue-in-cheek bid to increase pressure on the Premier to establish an...

Greens introduce bill to expand presumptive cancer scheme for Victorian firefighters

2 August, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a bill to expand the number of cancers covered by the state’s firefighters presumptive cancer scheme....

Anti-corruption watchdog given more teeth under Greens' bill

31 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will tomorrow introduce a bill that would expand IBAC’s jurisdiction to investigate corruption, bringing it in line with ot...

Victoria needs meaningful bail reform now, not in twelve months

31 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government must implement meaningful bail reform now and not in twelve months’ time, as repor...

Victorian gas connection ban important, but risks being undermined by other coal and gas projects

28 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed today’s announcement from the Victorian Labor Government that gas connections will be banned in new homes acr...

Cosy relationships with property lobbyists must end following release of Operation Sandon report

27 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have blasted the Victorian Labor Government’s decade-long failure to implement basic anti-corruption measures and curb the ...

Overdue inquiry report shows Victorian Government must act faster on gas and transport

27 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed the Victorian Labor Government’s overdue response to a parliamentary inquiry into renewable energy, originall...

Rent controls on the cards in Victoria following Greens pressure

23 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports the Victorian Labor Government is considering limiting landlords to one rent increase every two years...

Labor's decision to evict 68-year-old from public housing estate 'devastating and unnecessary': Greens

20 July, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called a decision by Homes Victoria and the Victorian Labor Government to evict Margaret Kelly from her home of 25 yea...