Greens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat of Melbourne, ending 15 years in parliamentBy political reporter Maani TruuTopic:Elections1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:43amAdam Bandt has officially conceded defeat in Melbourne, clearing the way for the Greens to appoint a new leader. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)In short: Greens leader Adam Bandt has officially conceded defeat in the seat of Melbourne, a day after the ABC projected Labor's Sarah Witty would win.The shock loss ends Mr Bandt's 15-year career in federal parliament.What's next?The Greens partyroom will now be forced to appoint a new leader, with senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi potential successors. abc.net.au/news/adam-bandt-concedes-seat-of-melbourne/105268636Link copiedShareShare articleGreens leader Adam Bandt has officially conceded defeat in his long-held seat of Melbourne, clearing the way for the minor party to appoint a new federal captain.He is the second federal party leader to lose his seat at this election, which also saw Coalition leader Peter Dutton ousted in Dickson as Labor swept to a landslide victory.After days of counting, the ABC projected on Wednesday that Mr Bandt would lose the inner-city seat he has held for 15 years to Labor's Sarah Witty, but the Greens were adamant it was still too close to call.Federal politics live updates: Get the latest on the post-election election landscapeLive results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continues"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 on Thursday."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."The long-standing MP's loss has come as a shock to the party, with Mr Bandt telling supporters on election night that he would retain the seat, with the results initially looking favourable.But instead, Ms Witty — a foster parent and chief executive of The Nappy Collective, which provides nappies to families in need — is set to return the seat to Labor hands for the first time in 15 years.Labor's Sarah Witty said she was "excited and humbled" to have been elected as the representative for Melbourne. (Facebook: Sarah Witty)The incoming MP thanked Mr Bandt in a statement posted to social media and said she was "excited and humbled" to have been elected."After all our hard work, voters have given us their trust and support to get things done and build our future together," the statement read."There's a lot to do including to strengthen Medicare, slash HECS, and build more renewable energy, and I can't wait to be part of a Labor team that delivers for our community."The minor party is projected to lose at least three of its four lower house seats, with the collapse of Liberal votes allowing Labor to claw back Brisbane and Griffith from first-term Greens MPs Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather.Ryan, held by Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown, is still too close to call.The party will now be forced to appoint a new leader, with Sarah Hanson-Young, manager of Greens business in the Senate, and deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi potential successors.Election fallout and analysis:How Peter Dutton's campaign flew off a cliffWhat happened to the Greens vote in Victoria?ANALYSIS: The Coalition is split on nuclear after election lossWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenBandt blames Liberal, One Nation preferences for lossConceding defeat, Mr Bandt said the Greens had received the highest primary vote in Melbourne and blamed One Nation and Liberal preferences for putting Labor ahead."We know about the Greens, the teals, and now there's the purples — mix red and blue together and you get purple," he said."There are now a swathe of seats where Labor MPs owe their political life to the Liberals' preferences, and the Greens are the real opposition to the two-party system."How the Greens rebrandedPhoto shows a male politician wearing a shirt saying 'fighting for renters' at a press conferenceFounded on Australia's environmental movement, the Greens have shifted focus to rental affordability. Some say it's an "incredibly smart" strategy. He said he was proud of what the party had achieved, listing off additional funding for public and community housing, the right to disconnect, and stronger climate laws."When you're taking on the combined might of both major parties, big corporations, the coal and gas lobby, and challenging a system that puts their profit before people, there will be obstacles," he said."But I know we are on the right path and we won't stop now."Mr Bandt, a former lawyer, first won the seat of Melbourne on Liberal Party preferences in 2010 after a previous unsuccessful tilt, becoming the first Greens candidate to win a lower house seat at a federal election.He was elected on a vow to push for a price on carbon — a key condition for his support of a Labor minority government, that forced Julia Gillard to break her promise not to introduce a carbon price.After rising through the ranks, he was made party leader in 2020.Mr Bandt's main focus over his time in parliament has been climate change and the renewables transition, but he has also led the party to campaign on getting dental services into Medicare, housing, the war in Gaza and other social and economic issues beyond the environment.In the past term, the Greens became a target of the government's ire in negotiations on its $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, as well as a number of environment bills.The hard negotiating approach the Greens took on those bills was used by Labor to campaign in Greens-held seats on the party "delaying" the legislation.Loading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:43am, updated 38m ago38 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 5:53amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upLIVEPhoto shows Mark Dreyfus standing at the dispatch box in the federal parliament.Two men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicidePhoto shows Cassius Turvey Forever 15Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtNurse tells court Erin Patterson 'didn't look unwell' like other lunch guestsTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A close up photo of Erin Patterson looking over her shoulder wearing glases.Related storiesGreens leaderless as Adam Bandt projected to lose in MelbourneTopic:Australian GreensPhoto shows Bandt sits with his hand on his chin.'Tough results' for Greens, as leader Adam Bandt fights close contest for his seatTopic:Australian GreensPhoto shows Adam Bandt faces several microphones while holding a giant novelty red toothbrush.'Offensive': PM unleashes on ousted Greens MPTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows A composite image of two men wearing suits sitting in the House of Representatives.Related topicsAustraliaAustralian Federal ElectionsElectionsFederal GovernmentGovernment and PoliticsTop StoriesMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upTopic:Government and PoliticsTwo men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicideErin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialTopic:Law, Crime and JusticeNurse tells court Erin Patterson 'didn't look unwell' like other lunch guestsTopic:CourtsJust InGovernment shouldn't tell parents how to discipline kids, Crisafulli saysTopic:Parenting8m ago8 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:24amJail term doubled for 'muppets' involved in 100kg cocaine import attemptTopic:Cocaine19m ago19 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:12amMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett Worthington21m ago21 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:11amSoviet spacecraft will crash back to Earth within 48 hours, data suggestsTopic:Explainer21m ago21 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:10amMore Just InBack to top