Australian Greens Boss Defeated in Melbourne Seat

Thursday 08 May 2025 - 15:40

By: Zahouani Ilham

Australian Greens Boss Defeated in Melbourne Seat

Adam Bandt, leader of the Australian Greens, has lost his seat in Melbourne after holding it for 15 years. Following the defeat, Bandt explained that many voters shifted their support to the Labor Party in a strategic move to prevent opposition leader Peter Dutton from gaining power.

“Like me, many voters wanted Dutton kept far from government,” Bandt told reporters. He suggested that although the overall shift in votes was not dramatic, it was significant enough to cost him the seat.

Bandt, 53, called his Labor opponent Sarah Witty to offer congratulations and wish her success after her win in the Melbourne electorate.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his center-left Labor Party secured a sweeping victory in the national election, projected to win at least 92 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives. The Greens, who previously held four seats, have not yet secured any, with one race still undecided. However, they may secure up to 13 percent of the Senate vote, potentially granting them a key role in the upper house.

Bandt reaffirmed his commitment to environmental advocacy, stating that climate action was the main reason he entered politics. He warned that if the new government fails to reduce emissions and address inequality, voters could respond strongly in future elections.

Dutton, the conservative Liberal-National coalition leader, also lost his seat and led his party to a major defeat.

Albanese has heavily invested in renewable energy, aiming for it to supply 82 percent of the country’s electricity by 2030. However, the government continues to approve new fossil fuel projects. Bandt criticized this contradiction, stating that the government had long benefited politically by contrasting itself with Dutton, whom he called a "climate denialist."

As debate intensifies between renewable and nuclear energy, Bandt urged Australians not to overlook the dozens of new coal and gas projects being approved. He called on the public to hold the government accountable for meaningful climate action.

Bandt, who became Greens leader in 2020, is married and has two daughters. Before politics, he worked as an industrial lawyer defending workers, including coal miners in privatized power plants.