In a dramatic turn of events, Adam Bandt, the leader of Australia’s Greens party, conceded his seat in Melbourne on Thursday, May 8, 2025, after a protracted electoral vote count. Bandt, who had held the seat since 2010, acknowledged Labor candidate Sarah Witty’s victory, marking a significant shift in the political landscape following Saturday's federal election.
The election saw Australia’s center-left Labor party achieving a landslide victory, decisively defeating the conservative Liberal-National Coalition and significantly diminishing the Greens’ presence in Parliament. Despite securing the highest vote in Melbourne, Bandt attributed the loss to the preference votes that flowed to Labor from the Liberal party and the far-right One Nation party, which played a crucial role in the outcome.
Australia employs a preferential voting system, where candidates are ranked in order of preference. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote in the initial tally, votes from the least popular candidates are redistributed until a majority is secured. Bandt explained, "To win in Melbourne we needed to overcome Liberal, Labor and One Nation combined, and it's an Everest we've climbed a few times now, but this time we fell just short. We came very close, but we couldn't quite get there."
In his concession speech, Bandt highlighted the so-called Trump effect as a pivotal factor in the election. He noted that comparisons drawn between the Coalition’s prime ministerial candidate, Peter Dutton, and former U.S. President Donald Trump had a significant impact on voter behavior. Bandt remarked, "The riptide from Liberal to Labor had an effect on us as well," indicating that many voters viewed Labor as the best option to prevent Dutton from gaining power.
"People in Melbourne hate Peter Dutton, and with very good reason. They've seen his brand of toxic racism for many years... and like me, many wanted him as far away from power as possible," Bandt stated. He suggested that a portion of the votes that typically would have gone to the Greens were instead directed towards Labor as a strategic move to counter Dutton’s influence.
Following his concession, Bandt expressed gratitude towards the Melbourne community for their support over the past 15 years, stating, "Thank you for the last 15 years and the chance to do some amazing things together." He highlighted the Greens' achievements during his leadership, including their involvement in the marriage equality plebiscite and the First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum. He also emphasized the need for urgent action on climate change, urging the media to treat the climate crisis as a national emergency. "I really want the media to stop reporting on climate as a political issue, and start thinking of it as if our country were being invaded," he urged.
In related political developments, Ed Husic, the industry and science minister, is set to be removed from the federal cabinet following a factional deal within the Labor party's right faction. This decision was confirmed on the same day that Bandt conceded his seat. Husic's supporters attempted to appeal to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for intervention, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Mark Dreyfus, the attorney-general, is also expected to be ousted from the cabinet, with the Victorian right faction advocating for the inclusion of backbencher Sam Rae and economics committee chairman Daniel Mulino in the ministry. The reshuffle reflects ongoing tensions within the Labor party, particularly regarding representation from different factions.
Meanwhile, ousted opposition leader Peter Dutton has publicly blamed the Greens for their poor election results, claiming their "appalling treatment" of the Jewish community played a significant role in their defeat. Dutton stated on social media, "No spin by Adam Bandt can change the reality that he, and other Green members, lost their seats because of their appalling treatment of the Jewish community. Australians were rightly disgusted at their behavior." This statement came shortly after Bandt acknowledged that public sentiment towards Dutton influenced the election outcome.
As the Greens faced significant losses, they also conceded the seat of Wills to Labor’s Peter Khalil, with candidate Samantha Ratnam expressing her gratitude for community support despite the defeat. Ratnam noted, "Unfortunately, we couldn’t get over the line this time. But we got very, very close." With nearly all votes counted, Khalil led Ratnam with 52.16% to 47.84%.
In a separate incident, a man has been charged with armed robbery 14 years after allegedly threatening a service station employee with a sawn-off rifle in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The 36-year-old was arrested in Brisbane and subsequently extradited to New South Wales, where he faces serious charges related to the incident that occurred in April 2011.
As the political landscape shifts, the Greens are set to elect a new leader following Bandt’s resignation. The leadership decision will be made during a party room meeting next week, with Senator Nick McKim expected to serve as the interim caretaker. Bandt has been a prominent figure in Australian politics since becoming the first Greens MP to win a lower house seat in 2010 and has led the party since 2020.
In summary, the recent elections have reshaped Australia’s political dynamics, with significant implications for the Greens and the Labor party. The loss of key seats and the shifting alliances within the Labor party highlight the ongoing challenges faced by political leaders in navigating a complex electoral landscape.
