Greens leader Adam Bandt is at risk of losing his seat after again falling behind in the vote count following Saturday’s federal election.
Bandt has held the seat of Melbourne for more than a decade, but it could be taken by Labor’s Sarah Witty, leaving the Greens without their leader in Parliament.
It would be a devastating blow for the party with two other high-profile Greens MPs, Stephen Bates and housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather, having both conceded defeat last night.
Ms Witty was ahead of Bandt with 52 per cent of votes compared to 48 per cent as of 9pm AEST Sunday night, with about two-thirds of ballots counted.
This represents an 8.6 per cent swing to Labor since the last election in 2022.
Preferences in postal votes are flowing 75.9 per cent to Labor and 24.1 per cent to the Greens in particularly worrying sign for Bandt.
The Greens are facing the prospect of having no MPs in the lower house after Bates’ and Chandler-Mather’s departures and the remaining seats they have a shot at far from assured.
The party is faring better in the Senate with it looking likely to claim 11 spots.
Adam Bandt has fallen behind in the vote count to Labor’s candidate for Melbourne
Labor’s Sarah Witty is ahead of Bandt with about 64 per cent of votes counted
Bandt released a statement pointing to the Greens’ highest ever general vote as a victory late on Election night, despite the potential wipe out in the lower house.
‘We have secured the biggest national vote in our history. And together we have kicked Dutton out.’
He said at that point he was confident of retaining his own seat and of picking up three more.
‘We’ll retain all our Senators, Melbourne and we’re looking good in Ryan, Wills and Richmond – we’ll know more soon.
‘While our national vote has increased, the collapse in the Liberal vote means that Labor will win the seats of Griffith with Liberal preferences, and Brisbane too.’
Firebrand Griffith MP Chandler-Mather lost following a huge 16 per cent swing to Labor candidate Renee Coffey.
Chandler-Mather had been called Anthony Albanese’s nemesis after butting heads with him about Labor’s housing policy, claiming the Labor government was abandoning renters behind during the cost of living crisis.
He previously said in Parliament he would have to drag Labor ‘kicking and screaming to taking meaningful action’ on the the rental crisis.
‘If we praise the Labor party for offering crumbs, that’s all we’ll get.’
