Dr Samantha Ratnam
Meet Samantha
Before entering Parliament, Samantha was a social worker in the fields of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, international development and settlement services. She was also an elected councillor for the City of Moreland and the first Greens Mayor of Moreland. 
Samantha says the threat of climate change and the need for governments to address it urgently made her want to get involved in politics. This is what prompted her to run for local government and then Parliament. 
The priorities Samantha has for her community are to ensure that we act on climate change and address social inequality. She wants to ensure that her constituents’ voices are being heard and represented in the parliament.  
Samantha’s vision for Victoria’s future is that our people and environment are cared for and protected. She believes that we can achieve this with ending our dependence on coal and gas, 100% clean renewable energy, affordable housing for all, investment in public transport and protecting our native forests from logging. 
The areas of public policy that she is most passionate about are addressing climate change, affordable housing and working towards justice for First Nations. In addition, Samantha is committed to reforming our urban planning system so that everyone has access to housing and the environment is nurtured and protected. 
Positions
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Spokesperson for First Nations Justice since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Women, Gender Equality and Family Violence since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Sustainable Cities and Planning since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Child Protection since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Veterans since February 2023
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Spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs October 2017 - December 2017
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Spokesperson for Employment and Industrial Relations October 2017 - December 2017
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Spokesperson for Industry and Trade October 2017 - December 2017
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Spokesperson for Agriculture October 2017 - December 2018
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Spokesperson for Regional Development October 2017 - December 2018
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Spokesperson for Planning October 2017 - December 2018
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Spokesperson for Housing October 2017 - December 2018
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Spokesperson for Disability October 2017 - December 2018
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Spokesperson for Veterans October 2017 - December 2018
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Leader of The Victorian Greens October 2017 - April 2024
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Spokesperson for Housing and Planning December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Community Services December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Women December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Multiculturalism December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Local Government December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Industrial Relations December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Animals December 2018 - February 2023
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Spokesperson for Gambling October 2017 - February 2023
Committee membership
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Member, Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee since February 2023
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Participating, Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee June 2019 - November 2022
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Member, Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee February 2019 - November 2022
Electorate
Northern Metropolitan
Leaflet map showing the electorate of Northern Metropolitan.
Other members for this area
Each region is made up of 11 districts, which have one member each.
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Kathleen Matthews-Ward | Broadmeadows | Australian Labor Party
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Anthony Cianflone | Pascoe Vale | Australian Labor Party
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Nathan Lambert | Preston | Australian Labor Party
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Bronwyn Halfpenny | Thomastown | Australian Labor Party
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Kat Theophanous | Northcote | Australian Labor Party
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Iwan Walters | Greenvale | Australian Labor Party
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Tim Read | Brunswick | The Australian Greens - Victoria
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Ros Spence | Kalkallo | Australian Labor Party
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Gabrielle de Vietri | Richmond | The Australian Greens - Victoria
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Danny Pearson | Essendon | Australian Labor Party
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Ellen Sandell | Melbourne | The Australian Greens - Victoria
Allowances and Budget Reports
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2023–2024
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2022–2023
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2021–2022
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2020–2021
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2019–2020
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
Historical information
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12 October 2017 -
2017 - Current
Electorate history
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Northern Metropolitan since 12 October 2017
Party history
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The Australian Greens - Victoria since 26 November 2022
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Victorian Greens 12 October 2017 - 25 November 2022
Positions held
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Spokesperson for First Nations Justice since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Women, Gender Equality and Family Violence since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Sustainable Cities and Planning since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Child Protection since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Veterans since 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Housing and Planning 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Community Services 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Women 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Multiculturalism 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Local Government 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Industrial Relations 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Spokesperson for Animals 1 December 2018 - 2 February 2023
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Leader of The Victorian Greens 12 October 2017 - 23 April 2024
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Spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2017
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Spokesperson for Employment and Industrial Relations 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2017
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Spokesperson for Industry and Trade 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2017
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Spokesperson for Agriculture 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
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Spokesperson for Regional Development 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
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Spokesperson for Planning 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
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Spokesperson for Housing 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
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Spokesperson for Disability 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
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Spokesperson for Veterans 1 October 2017 - 31 December 2018
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Spokesperson for Gambling 1 October 2017 - 2 February 2023
Committee membership history
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Member, Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee since 22 February 2023
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Participating, Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee 20 June 2019 - 1 November 2022
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Member, Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee 4 February 2019 - 1 November 2022
Electorate office
Contact the electorate office for matters about your community.