Skip navigation

MY TRACK RECORD

With your support, my Greens colleagues and I have pushed the government to go further and faster on the issues that matter to our community.

Below are some of the highlights since I was elected:

2022

I introduced legislation to ban offshore oil and gas drilling. This is in response to the Labor Government expanding gas drilling, including next to our iconic 12 Apostles.

2022

I introduced a bill to end homelessness by 2030 by requiring the government to provide permanent housing for Victorians facing homelessness, and invest in a big build of public housing. Because housing is a human right.

2022

Established a Parliamentary Inquiry into the growing threat of far-right extremism

2021

We led the charge against the Victorian Labor Government’s Electric Vehicle Tax, and our campaigning helped push Labor to announce a support package for the Electric Vehicle industry. 

2021

I introduced a bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria from 10 to 14. Because we need to treat children as children, not criminals.

2021

I introduced a bill to reform our bail laws, which see First Nations people, women, children and disadvantaged Victorians being unfairly locked up an growing rates.

2021

I brought a debate to the Upper House to reform our undemocratic group voting ticket system, so that Victorians can decide where their vote goes, not backroom deals. I was the only MP to vote for reform.

2021

After years of campaigning by First Nations families and activists, supported by the Greens in Parliament, Victoria finally decriminalised public drunkenness.

2021

Joining a long campaign by LGBTQ+ survivors and advocates, the Greens pushed for and voted to pass historic legislation to ban conversion practices in Victoria.

2020-21

The Greens provided crucial support during the pandemic. We ensured there was parliamentary oversight of the government’s COVID measures, and campaigned for support for all those hit hardest by the pandemic. We secured a ban on evictions and rent increases for tenants; secured COVID bonus to nurses, paramedics, and hospital staff providing critical care; secured fairer fines for Victorians on low incomes; and used our voting power to create more transparent and fairer pandemic laws for the whole Victorian community.

2020

In July 2020 I welcomed my daughter Malala into the world.

2020

Following years of strong pressure from the community and the Greens, the 2020 budget promised $5.3bn of funding to build 12,000 new social housing homes in Victoria.

2020

After years of campaigning by the community and the Greens, the 2020 budget included a huge $1.6 billion investment in new renewable energy projects for Victoria. This includes many of the initiatives the Greens took to the 2018 state election and called for as part of our Green New Deal Renewable Energy plan for Victoria. 

2020

As a result of the Greens-initiated waste inquiry, the Victorian government committed to a cash-for-cans scheme and separate household glass recycling bins to increase and improve Victoria’s recycling.

2019

Alongside First Nations people, local communities and activist groups, the Greens campaigned for and won a parliamentary inquiry into the extinction crisis in Victoria. The inquiry investigated the extent of native species extinction in Victoria and how we can better protect our biodiversity.

2019

Following constant pressure on the government, the Greens achieved an increase of public housing at three sites due to be redeveloped across Melbourne. Of course, we still need a lot more affordable housing across Victoria and this remains a priority for us.

2019

Thanks to relentless pressure from the community, frontline activists and the Greens in parliament, the government finally agreed to end native forest logging in Victoria in 2030. This is a welcome acknowledgement that native forest logging has no future, but 10 years is far too long. We’ll keep fighting to end native forest logging immediately.

2019

We passed legislation to ban single-use plastic bags after the government finally caved into pressure from the community and the Greens, including an imminent vote on the Greens’ plastic bag ban legislation in parliament.

2018

I voted through laws to improve renter's rights, something the Greens had championed for many years, including introducing legislation three times into parliament. The commitment to this law reform was secured in the lead up to the 2017 Northcote by-election, which the Greens won.

2018

I opposed the government’s unacceptable 20 year extension of gambling operator licenses and developed a plan for Victoria to eradicate pokies in our community within 10 years

2017

I worked with Greens MP and First Nations women Lidia Thorpe to improve and pass treaty legislation in Victoria.

2017

I fought for better regulation of Victoria’s gambling industry with a motion to review and reform the gambling regulator (VCGLR).

2017

One of my first votes as an MP was to pass the Dying with Dignity laws to give Victorians choice at the end of life. The Greens led the campaign for this reform for over a decade.

2017

I entered the Victorian Parliament representing the Northern Metropolitan Region and was appointed Leader of the Victorian Greens.
SHARE:

WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR


In Parliament

PARLIAMENT

Members statement: Behrouz Boochani

In this Member Statement, Samantha Ratnam acknowledges the advocacy of Kurdish journalist and writer Behrouz Boochani. 

PARLIAMENT

2nd Reading: Raise the Age Bill

In the first week of Parliament for 2023, I second read the Greens' bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.  

PARLIAMENT

Motion: Group voting tickets

That this house: (1) acknowledges that Victoria continues to be the only jurisdiction in Australia that uses the undemocratic group voting system to elect members to this place; (2) notes that after the 2021 Western Australian state election, where a representative from the Daylight Saving Party was elected with 98...

PARLIAMENT

Members statement: Climate Action

As we begin the work of the 60th Parliament I hope that the issues that impact our community the most are given the space and time to be aired and hopefully solved in this place. We owe it to all those who chose us to be their representatives, and we owe...