Greens leader Adam Bandt concedes defeat in seat of Melbourne
Greens leader Adam Bandt has conceded defeat in his electorate of Melbourne, saying he had 'fell just short' of winning back his seat.
'A short time ago I called the Labor candidate for Melbourne, Sarah Witty, to concede, to congratulate her and to wish her all the best as the next member for Melbourne,' Bandt said in a statement.
'The Greens got the highest vote in Melbourne, but One Nation and Liberal preferences will get Labor over the line. 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.'
As of Thursday afternoon, the Australian Electoral Commission's official online results put Labor's Sarah Witty ahead with 52.8% of the two party vote, compared to 47.2% for Bandt, with 63% of ballots counted. Witty leads Bandt by more than 2,700 votes, an 8.3% swing against the sitting member.
While several media outlets and polling experts had called the seat for Labor on Wednesday afternoon, including the ABC's Antony Green, the Greens had not conceded defeat. As late as Thursday morning, deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi said the party was still waiting for absentee ballots and others to be counted.
Bandt's statement continued with thanks to his community, saying the Greens would meet next week to discuss the new party leadership.
'I want to thank the Melbourne community for regularly giving me the highest vote, including this election, and to thank you for the last 15 years and the chance to do some amazing things together,' he said.
Bandt's statement said there were now 'a large number of 'purple MPs' across the country: seats where the Labor MP is only elected on Liberal preferences and the Greens are the opposition.'
While speculation has swirled about who would be named party leader if Bandt was unsuccessful in his re-election bid, Faruqi said she hoped he would manage to hold his seat.
'I am hoping that he [Bandt] gets back in and we can continue with that leadership team,' Faruqi told ABC Radio National.
The Greens have conceded defeat in two other seats, Brisbane and Griffith, while Ryan MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown looks likely to hang on to her Queensland seat. Despite their numbers in the lower house being slashed, the party has pointed to their share of the national vote holding up against previous elections, and Senate results shifting that will likely deliver the Greens the sole balance of power in the upper house.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, prime minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the Greens' spin, claiming 'it's pretty hard to see that they have a reason for any joy arising out of this election'.
'The Greens political party, I think, lost their way during the last term. They held up important legislation,' he said.
'How do you hold up legislation to have more public housing, to have emergency accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence? That was held up for month after month after month. How do you hold up environmental protections as well?'
Bandt had held the seat of Melbourne since 2010, winning four consecutive federal elections. He had achieved a high-water mark primary vote at the 2022 federal election on 49.6%, increasing his popularity from 2019 by 0.3 percentage points.
Staffers and party members remained hopeful even when the tables turned on the Greens leader's margin as postal and declaration votes were counted.
A Greens spokesperson said the the party would not concede Melbourne while counting was still under way. Bandt supporters were hopeful on Wednesday that thousands of yet-to-be counted absentee and declaration votes will flow their way despite the historic trend favouring Liberal candidates.
'While there are many, many thousands of votes to be counted we are not conceding Melbourne. While we are ahead on primary votes, there is a chance that One Nation and Liberal preferences will elect the Labor candidate. The count needs to proceed,' the spokesperson said.
Greens MPs and senators have been reluctant to talk about a future leader in the event Bandt lost his seat.
However Faruqi and South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young are considered potential frontrunners as the next Greens party leader.
More details soon …
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