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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News

Greens to demand safeguards for renters as part of tax bill negotiations

25 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said they are prepared to meet with the Victorian Labor Government to discuss the budget’s tax measures, but that safeg...

Rental crisis inquiry to go ahead, despite Labor's attempts to block it

24 May, 2023 - The Victorian Parliament will launch an investigation into the state’s worsening rental crisis, despite attempts from the Victorian Labor Governm...

Labor's state budget fails struggling Victorians: Greens

23 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said everyday Victorians who are already struggling will be worse off under the state budget. Despite the cost-of-li...

Win for environmental activists as Labor finally pressured to end native forest logging

23 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have welcomed reports today that the Victorian Labor Government intends to bring forward the state’s transition out of nativ...

Short-stays would be regulated to alleviate rental crisis, under Greens bill

21 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have announced their plan to introduce a bill that would regulate the state’s short-stay industry, in a bid to alleviate the...

Greens MPs risk arrest in Wombat State Forest to protest new laws

20 May, 2023 - A number of Victorian Greens MPs have risked arrest today by joining local citizen scientists at the Wombat State Forest for a protest against ne...

Labor blocks inquiry into rental crisis, shows contempt for renters

17 May, 2023 - The Victorian Labor Government has voted down a Greens’ motion to hold a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s worsening rental crisis, showing ...

Victorian Labor Government attempts to stifle debate on anti-vilification reform

16 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called the Victorian Labor Government “cowards” for attempting to delay overdue anti-vilification reform. Earlier to...

'The time to act is now': Greens to introduce anti-vilification bill

15 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will introduce a bill to Parliament this week that would expand the state’s anti-vilification laws, in a bid to better prote...

Government shouldn't deflect to avoid scrutiny in local government inquiry

5 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called the Victorian Labor Government ‘disingenuous’ following the recent passage of a Liberal Party motion to establish...

Anti-vilification reform needed now to protect LGBTIQA+ community from hate

4 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently expand the state’s anti-vilification laws, following the cancellati...

Premier urged to advocate for lifting income support payments ahead of Federal Budget

4 May, 2023 - Ahead of Monday’s Federal Budget, the Victorian Greens are urging the Premier to advocate to the Federal Government to lift income support payment...

Victorian Government spends more on prisons than public housing

4 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said the Victorian Labor Government’s decision to spend $1.1 billion dollars on an empty prison is a sad indictment on t...

Police ombudsman would help clean up Victoria Police and ensure independent oversight

3 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently establish a police ombudsman in response to a scathing IBAC review ...

Greens push for urgent inquiry into Victoria's rental crisis

2 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will today introduce a motion that would establish a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s worsening rental crisis. Right...