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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End Extinction In Victoria

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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 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...

Victoria can't afford 'slash and burn' State Budget

2 May, 2023 - The Victorians Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to make the big banks, property developers, gambling industry and profiteering...

Greens push to improve government bill so more safe injecting rooms can be set up where they're needed

1 May, 2023 - The Victorian Greens will move to make it easier to establish more medically supervised injecting rooms where they are needed in Victoria, when Pa...

Victoria shouldn't delay raising the age to 14 any longer

25 April, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said there is absolutely no reason the age of criminal responsibility can’t be raised to 14 during the current term o...

Victorian Greens Strengthens Code of Conduct

21 April, 2023 - Statement on behalf of the Victorian Greens On the 20th April 2023, the State Council of the Australian Greens Victoria resolved to strength...

Victorian Labor ignores First Nations voices with timid, politicised decision to raise the age to 12

21 April, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have urged the Victorian Labor Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, following reports to...

Statement from Samantha Ratnam on Anthony Close leaving the PBO

20 April, 2023 - Quotes attributable to Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC: "I want to thank Anthony Close for his service to Victoria as th...

Greens say Ministerial diaries must be open, following release of Operation Daintree report

19 April, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said IBAC’s Operation Daintree report has reinforced the urgent need to open ministerial diaries to the public in Vic...

Government has a choice this Budget: cut vital health services or make big banks and corporations pay

17 April, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have said foreshadowed cuts to preventive health services and rail projects are not inevitable if the Victorian Labor Gove...

Victoria needs two-year rent freeze to protect tenants: Greens

6 April, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to implement a two-year rent freeze across the state to protect renters from ...

Greens push to protect breastfeeding in public places, including courts

4 April, 2023 - The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Government to amend the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent discrimination against breastfeeding ...

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...