Greens Leader Adam Bandt Loses Melbourne Seat, Attributes Loss to 'Trump Effect'

Adam Bandt, who has represented Melbourne since 2010 and led the Greens since 2020, has conceded defeat in the recent federal election. He attributes his loss to a combination of preference votes for rival parties and a shifting political landscape influenced by the 'Trump effect.'

Adam Bandt, the leader of Australia’s Greens party and long-time representative of Melbourne, has lost his parliamentary seat after a closely contested federal election. This marks a significant shift for the third-largest political party in Australia, which Bandt has led since 2020.

The election concluded with the center-left Labor party achieving a resounding victory, severely impacting both the Liberal-National Coalition and the Greens. Despite receiving a solid vote percentage in Melbourne, Bandt highlighted that preference votes from the Liberal party and far-right One Nation played a crucial role in his electoral loss.

Australia's electoral system operates on a preferential voting basis, requiring candidates to secure a majority through redistributed votes if no one attains over 50% in the first count. Bandt commented, “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.”

In assessing the election dynamics, Bandt pointed to the 'Trump effect,' which he described as a significant force influencing voter behavior. He indicated that comparisons drawn between Liberal PM candidate Peter Dutton and former U.S. President Donald Trump might have swayed votes away from the Greens, as constituents sought to prevent the latter from coming to power. “The riptide from Liberal to Labor had an effect on us as well,” he acknowledged.

Bandt praised the Melbourne community for their support over the years while listing key accomplishments like marriage equality advocacy and substantial climate legislation. He expressed gratitude to his wife, Claudia, and emphasized the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. “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. We should treat the climate crisis as if there was a war on,” he urged.

In a notable parallel, Dutton also faced electoral defeat alongside Bandt, signifying changing tides in Australian politics under the leadership of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. As Bandt exits, he leaves the Greens with increased parliamentary representation, despite this electoral setback.