Samantha Ratnam Greens MLC for Northern Metro
What matters to you
As our local MP, I’m fighting for our community. Please tell me what matters to you most, so I can be your voice in state Parliament.
Don’t see your issues here? Tell me what else matters to you.
Samantha Ratnam Greens MLC for Northern Metro
What matters to you
As our local MP, I’m fighting for our community. Please tell me what matters to you most, so I can be your voice in state Parliament.
Don’t see your issues here? Tell me what else matters to you.
Hi, I’m Samantha. A Melbourne local, here to represent you in the Victorian Parliament.
A HOME FOR ALL
A CLIMATE-SAFE FUTURE
JUSTICE FOR FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
AN ANTI-RACIST VICTORIA
EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AND LGBTQI+ PEOPLE
RENT FREEZE NOW
STOP SUPERMARKET PRICE GOUGING
A FAIR AND JUST ECONOMY
INTEGRITY IN OUR DEMOCRACY
HOMES, NOT HOTELS
SAVE LIVE MUSIC
REUSE AND RECYCLING REVOLUTION
PROTECT PRESTON MARKET
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
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.
- Samantha Ratnam
ABOUT ME
I am the Greens' Upper House MP for the Northern Metropolitan Region
Together, my Greens colleagues and I want to take on the big corporations who are destroying our planet, make sure everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home and empower our kids to grow up knowing that they belong.
Latest News
Follow Samantha
People with a HECS debt should not be held ransom until after the next election.
This is a welcome move that has been long fought for, but 80% of a lifetime of debt is still a lifetime of debt.
Wipe it now.
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Better yet, make University and TAFE free.
If the PM went to uni for free, then you should too.
While Labor are busy looking after their fossil fuel donors and billionaire mates, the Greens are fighting for you.
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It’s clearer than ever before that Labor are worried about people voting Greens.
Pressure works, and this is our collective power.
So let’s keep the pressure up for a rent freeze, cheaper groceries and ending the tax handouts to wealthy property investors.
THIS FRIDAY! RSVP in bio 🔗
If you are feeling worried about the state of politics, you are not alone!
Whether it’s the massive cost of living and housing crisis, or the genocide in Palestine and Lebanon, runaway climate change and a political class who are completely captured by big corporations - it’s hard to know where to start.
But change is possible when you are fuelled by hope and hard work.
Join us for a conversation about how winning the seat of Wills could fundamentally transform Australian politics for the better.
RSVP via the link in my bio
It was straight from finishing 7 years in Vic Parliament to the doors this weekend!
The sun was shining and the conversations were flowing in Fawkner.
The first person I door-knocked looked at our flyer and pointed to one line and said - this is the reason I will vote for the Greens. And it was a sentence about Gaza.
So many people have told me that Labor’s grave moral failure to do what is within their power to stand up for the Palestinians facing a genocide means that they don’t feel like they can trust the major parties anymore on any issue.
We also met lots of young people for whom this will be their first federal election and it was inspiring to see how seriously they took this responsibility and wished to learn about the issues facing our community and the candidates vying for their support.
We also managed to fit in a big Wills new volunteers night, a farewell party on Spring Street, and our campaign office warming shindig 🎉
And to think, we are just getting started 🤩
Wills here we come!
Happy Diwali!
This is such a special time of the year for all those celebrating and reminds us about the power of hope and triumph.
One of the best parts of multiculturalism is that we get to share in each other’s celebrations and special moments.
Enjoy the lights and this joyous time ✨
If you’re putting off mental healthcare because you can’t afford it, you’re not alone.
Labor have halved mental healthcare in Medicare, but our Greens plan will make mental healthcare free and unlimited for everyone that needs it.
Nobody should be forced to go without the critical mental health support they need due to unnecessary barriers like cost.
Find out more at greens.org.au/mental-healthcare
This is not normal.
No more coal and gas is the only way out of the climate crisis.
It’s my last day in Victorian Parliament and Gaza is on my mind.
Every single sitting day without fail since Israel began its invasion of Gaza, the Greens have put up motions documenting the humanitarian catastrophe and genocide that’s unfolding while parliaments like this do nothing to sanction Israel and end contracts with weapons manufacturers.
The team will keep going.
Palestine, always in our hearts ❤️
It’s my last week in Victorian Parliament and the fight to stop Labor’s demolition and privatisation of public housing keeps going!
#SavePublicHousing ✊🏾🏡
If you are feeling worried about the state of politics, you are not alone!
Whether it’s the massive cost of living and housing crisis, or the genocide in Palestine and Lebanon, runaway climate change and a political class who are completely captured by big corporations - it’s hard to know where to start.
But change is possible when you are fuelled by hope and hard work.
Join us for a conversation about how winning the seat of Wills could fundamentally transform Australian politics for the better.
RSVP via the link in my bio
Our words matter, our policies matter. Our politics matters.
After 12 years of a race to the bottom by Labor and the Liberals wanting to look ‘tough on borders’ by othering, demonising and stereotyping all refugees and asylum seekers, is it any wonder that racists like the neo-nazis feel embolden to attack some of the vulnerable members of our community?
Until the dogwhistling stops about refugees, until governments do more to counter the rise of far right extremists, these hateful groups will continue to show up on our streets and stoke fear and violence.
Good luck to all the year 12s starting their final exams today!
It’s a nerve-wracking time, but be rest assured it will be done soon and you will have a lot to celebrate 💚💚💚
I was honoured to speak at my old high school Mullauna College last week at their valedictory dinner and here is a little excerpt of what I shared.
“I’d like to tell you this from the future…I could have never dreamed it possible when I was a nervous 17-year-old, about to sit my final exams, that one day I would get elected to a parliament, things are going to happen in your life that you also never dreamed possible.
I know you are hearing a lot of people trying to convince you that that number you get at the end of your school journey – doesn’t define you.
It’s true. It’s not the result that is actually defining, but the how you make sense of it that shapes the success of your result.
While I never thought it was possible to actually be a politician or get involved, I took with me the love and learning from Mullauna and especially Mr K [my politics teachers in year 11 and 12 who passed on their contagious love of politics], into studying politics at university and social work.
…
So savour every moment of the coming months especially. There will be a lot of pressure, expectation and hope. But if there is one thing that I can leave with you tonight as a messenger from the future, is that the numbers vanish into the distance, but the memories and meaning will stay with you forever.”
Happy Dashain and Tihar!
Thank you Bhutanese Community in Australia and Hamro Parampara foundation for a wonderful evening of celebration in Hume last night.
Our best wishes to the community at this very special time!
Line up just dropped for our campaign office party next Friday~
DJ sets from: general_vibes_, @krishan.meepe @boydj.cool
Art on display from: @blakpearlstudiofitzroy @sadiemarytattoos @charley.le.fin @rat_case
Have you got your free ticket? RSVP on the link in my bio 🔗
Happy birthday Pascoe Vale South Primary School!
It was a joy to join with the school community to celebrate this milestone and see the Arts Carnevale.
Our northern metro team has been advocating alongside this school community for the funding needed for the administration building upgrade and new Covered Outdoor Learning Area.
We will continue this work for more funding for our public schools and look forward to supporting the school community as they continue to grow and strengthen.
Thanks for a very special evening and for allowing Malala to help cut the cake!🎂
Will you help warm our brand new Wills office open on Sydney Rd in Coburg?
Where: the 104 Sydney Rd Coburg
When: Friday 1 November @ 6pm
RSVP: via the link in my bio
We’re celebrating the end of my 7 years in Victorian Parliament as I go all in on the campaign to turn Wills green! We’re also celebrating our Merri-bek and Hume Council candidates and the incredible volunteer team who led this historic campaign.
Join us for some free drinks, tasty snacks, and tunes from local DJs. More to be announced!
I spoke to the media today about how the neo-nazi’s who attacked last night’s peaceful refugee encampment are emboldened by Labor and Liberal’s racist refugee and asylum seeker policies.
We need to do everything we can to keep the focus on the brave asylum seekers who have been left in limbo for 12 years, in need of permanent protection.
If Labor was serious about social cohesion they would implement the recommendations from the parliamentary inquiry into far-right extremism and take action to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.
Labor likes to talk about social cohesion but won’t take the actions necessary to support us.
There is a parliamentary inquiry report full of recommendations and actions governments could take right now if they cared about the experiences of people of colour who are the targets of far-right extremists like we saw last night.
So much suffering is happening in this country right now because some politicians have lost all courage and compassion to do the things that matter.
For 100 days, the community has kept vigil outside Home Affairs as a last resort because thousands of refugees have been left in limbo and denied a permanent home by Labor.
No one should be made to suffer like this.
We should be welcoming people not torturing them.
Have you posted your local government ballot yet?
Local Council election ballots are due this week - please vote Greens and send your ballots in by Thursday 5pm📮
Authorised by M Shield, Victorian Greens, Melbourne
Qahar
There is no English to the Arabic equivalent Qahar. The dictionary says ‘anger’ but it’s not. It is when you take anger, place it on a low fire, add injustice, oppression, racism and dehumanisation to it, and leave it to cook slowly for a century. And then try to say it but no one hears you. So it sits in your heart and settles in your cells. And it becomes your genetic imprint. And then moves through generations. And one day, you find yourself unable to breathe. It washes over you and demands to break out of you. You weep. And the cycle continues.
Khadija Dajani
We thank @para.foundation for bringing the community together for a vigil to commemorate and reflect on the loss and suffering endured by the Palestinian people one year on.
When you have a moment, you can to listen to Hiba’s rendition of Rise Up towards the end that captures the resilience of every Palestinian.
📷 Matt Hrkac
