Adam Bandt, the leader of the Greens party, has officially acknowledged his loss in the Melbourne constituency after a commendable 15-year tenure. In a recent statement, he reached out to Labour candidate Sarah Witty to congratulate her on her victory and extend his best wishes as she steps into her new role representing Melbourne.
Despite the Greens securing the highest vote in the electorate, Bandt noted that Labour would benefit from preferences pushed forward by One Nation and the Liberals, ultimately tipping the scales in their favour. He described the challenge the Greens faced as an “Everest,” particularly due to recent boundary alterations that shifted the electoral landscape. The changes saw the loss of left-leaning voters to the Wills seat while incorporating more traditional Labour voters from South Yarra and Prahran.
Bandt has been the face of the Greens in Melbourne since 2010, becoming the first member to secure this seat for the party. He expressed gratitude towards the electors for their support over the years, particularly during significant national discussions such as the marriage equality plebiscite and the Voice referendum, in which Melbourne recorded strong backing for these issues.
Throughout his time in office, Bandt was consistently re-elected, most recently in 2022, where he held a margin of 6.5 per cent. His defeat marks a significant transition for the Australian Greens, leaving the party without a leader for the immediate future. In the wake of his loss, a meeting has been scheduled for next week to elect a new leader, with Greens senator Nick McKim stepping in as interim caretaker.
While Bandt bows out of his position, he leaves a legacy marked by advocacy and an unwavering commitment to progressive causes in his community, thanking voters for their support throughout his remarkable political journey.