Labor topples Greens leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne after 15 years

The Australian Labor Party has won a historic victory in Melbourne, toppling Greens leader Adam Bandt after a gripping and closely monitored federal election tally. Bandt, who held the seat since 2010 and led the Greens since 2020, conceded to Labor's Sarah Witty, putting an end to a 15-year parliamentary term and a politically seismic shift in the city. 

Key Highlights

Adam Bandt, who was the first Greens MP to hold a lower house seat at a federal election, lost Melbourne to Labor's Sarah Witty, even though the Greens secured their greatest primary vote within the electorate.

The outcome depended on Australia's preferential voting system. Although the Greens had the most first-preference votes, preference flows from Liberal and One Nation parties ultimately cost the seat to Labor.

Bandt credited his loss partly to what he referred to as the Trump effect-a "riptide" of swing votes fueled by a powerful desire among Melbourne voters to thwart conservative leader Peter Dutton from entering office. Voters, Bandt implied, viewed Labor as the most effective way to make this happen.

The defeat is part of a wider loss for the Greens, who have been all but eliminated from the House of Representatives, holding on to just the Brisbane electorate of Ryan. The party still has a strong hand in the Senate, holding the balance of power and continuing to be essential for Labor's legislative agenda.

Bandt looked back at his accomplishments, citing the Greens' work toward moving marriage equality forward, the First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum, world-class climate laws, and dental health for kids on Medicare.

He highlighted the task of taking Melbourne, observing that the Greens needed to overcome the joint opposition of the two big parties and the far-right-achieve that they did in past elections but narrowly missed doing this time.

The Greens' leadership will be decided next week, with Senator Nick McKim serving as caretaker leader temporarily.

Bandt's valedictory message was a warning that there was not a moment to lose on climate action, and calling on the public and media to consider the climate crisis a national emergency. He also thanked the multicultural communities of Melbourne and his supporters for their support and co-operation over the years.

As Labor enjoys its expanded caucus and sets itself up for a cabinet reshuffle, the Greens are plunged into a season of reflection and rebirth, promising to pursue progressive causes anew from a changed perspective in the Senate.

Sources: BBC News, The Conversation, ABC News Australia, The Greens (Australia), Illawarra Mercury