Adam Bandt concedes battle for Melbourne, steps down as Greens party leader
Adam Bandt has officially conceded the seat of Melbourne, attributing his loss to an electorate redistribution and a One Nation and Liberal preferencing deal that urged voters to put Labor above the minor party,
While the seat was called in favour of Labor's Sarah Witty on Wednesday, the party continued to hold out hope with about 15,000 ballots still unaccounted for.
Mr Bandt, who is the second party leader to be ousted after Saturday's federal election, confirmed his defeat on Thursday.
'A short time ago I called the Labor candidate for Melbourne, Sarah Witty, to concede, congratulate her and wish her all the best as the next member for Melbourne,' he told reporters in Melbourne.
He attributed his loss to a redistribution, which pulled in more Labor voters, and said many voters 'shifted their votes to Labor to keep Dutton out'.
However, he said Liberal and One Nation preferences flowing to Labor was 'by far the biggest factor'.
'The Greens got the highest vote in Melbourne, but One Nation and Liberal preferences will get Labor over the line,' he said.
'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.'
Mr Bandt also thanked his constituents and party room colleagues and commended the party for its action on same-sex marriage, climate legislation and getting dental into Medicare for children.
He also called on Labor to be bolder on environmental action and tackling inequality.
'The government now can't blame any independent senator for not making reforms – the only thing stopping getting dental into Medicare, stopping new coal and gas mines or rebalancing housing tax breaks is the government itself,' Mr Bandt said.
'If the government doesn't use its big majority to start actually cutting climate pollution and tackling Australia's massive inequality crisis, watch for a big swing at the next election and see those purple seats go Green.'
Mr Bandt was first elected in 2010, became deputy leader of the Greens two years later and had led the party since 2020.
In this campaign he has posed with giant toothbrushes and hosted DJ-ing events with influencer and former reality TV star Abbie Chatfield.
Following Mr Bandt's concession, the Greens' presence in the House of Representatives has been reduced to the single seat of Ryan held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown despite the party securing its biggest national vote in history.
Mr Bandt had previously set expectations sky high ahead of Saturday's poll, with claims the minor party could both retain their four seats and pick up another five – two in Melbourne, one in regional NSW, one in Western Australia and one in South Australia.
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