Latest Development: Adam Bandt Fails to Secure Lead in Vote Count, Significant Shift Towards Labor Threatens His Parliamentary Seat Once More
Lowdown on Adam Bandt's Fate in Melbourne's Federal Election
The Green's leader, Adam Bandt, is staring down the barrel after slipping behind in the vote tally following the recent federal poll. Bandt has been holding onto the seat of Melbourne for over a decade, but it seems Labor's Sarah Witty is set to snatch it away, leaving the Greens without their head honcho in Parliament.
This grim scenario might just be the nail in the coffin for the party, with two other high-profile Greens MPs, Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather, already admitting defeat.
As of 9pm AEST Sunday night, Witty enjoys a comfortable lead of 52% against Bandt's 48%, and approximately two-thirds of ballots have been counted. This represents an astonishing 8.6% swing to Labor since the last election in 2022.
ThePreferences in postal votes are trending an alarming 75.9% to Labor, and a mere 24.1% towards the Greens.
With Bates' and Chandler-Mather's departures and the remaining seats prospects far from certain, the Greens are facing the daunting prospect of having no representation in the lower house.
The party appears to be fairing somewhat better in the Senate, where it seems likely they'll snag 11 seats.
Bandt issued a statement, boasting the Greens' record-breaking general vote as a triumph late on election night, even with the prospective rout in the lower house. 'We have secured the biggest national vote in our history. And together we have kicked Dutton out,' he declared.
Despite Chandler-Mather's defeat in the Griffith seat following a massive 16% swing to Labor candidate Renee Coffey, the Greens hold onto hope for seats like Ryan, Wills, and Richmond. Bandt was buoyant, asserting, 'While our national vote has increased, the collapse in the Liberal vote means that Labor will win the seats of Griffith with Liberal preferences, and Brisbane too.'
Chandler-Mather, who was once tagged as Anthony Albanese's tormentor for his repeated clashes with Albanese over housing policy, even went so far as to say, 'If we praise the Labour party for offering crumbs, that's all we'll get.'
Chandler-Mather's revolutionary stances on renters' rights and housing crisis drew him from the ranks of Labor's left during his time at the University of Queensland. Both parents were Labour members, and it seems they played a prominent role in encouraging him to join.
Bandt cut a jubilant figure at an election reception at Hightail Bar in Melbourne on Saturday night. Following his concession speech, Bandt paid tribute to Chandler-Mather, stating, 'There's never been a first-term MP who had the impact of Max Chandler-Mather.'
Brisbane Green's MP Stephen Bates also threw in the towel to Labor's Madonna Jarrett, ending up in third place behind the major parties.
Despite the minor party's primary vote holding steady, Bates and Chandler-Mather can only be described as one-term wonders.
Bandt underscored Bates' contribution saying, 'Stephen Bates has been an incredible voice for Brisbane.'
'He has delivered 20,000 meals, and held more than 200 events in his community,' he added.
Bandt gloated about keeping former Opposition leader Peter Dutton out of Parliament. The end of Dutton's political career seems imminent after his defeat in the seat of Dickson to Labor's Ali France.
'Congratulations to Prime Minister Albanese and Labor on their campaign to keep Dutton out,' Bandt beamed. 'The Greens are set to be a powerful force in the next Parliament, as part of a strong progressive crossbench and holding the balance of power in the Senate, pushing for more action on climate, housing, and cost of living crises.'
- The Green's leader, Adam Bandt, remarked on the party's record-breaking general vote, stating, 'We have secured the biggest national vote in our history.'
- The policy and legislation surrounding war-and-conflicts and migration have been key areas of focus for the Greens, with Max Chandler-Mather, a long-time advocate, emphasizing, 'If we praise the Labour party for offering crumbs, that's all we'll get.'
- The general news surrounding politics in Melbourne's federal election has been dominated by the struggle of the Greens, with the party potentially losing its head honcho, Adam Bandt, in Parliament and facing a daunting prospect of having no representation in the lower house.
