Greens Leader Trails by 5.8% as Labor Surges in Melbourne

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A political earthquake has hit Melbourne as Greens Leader Adam Bandt trails Labor challenger Sarah Witty 47.1% to 52.9%.

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The 9.4% swing against Bandt could end his 15-year career in Parliament and leave the Greens without their founding MP.

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With 80% of votes counted, Bandt's primary vote has fallen 4.4 points to 40.3%, while Witty has surged 5.8 points to 31.5%.

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Liberal and One Nation voters appear to be directing preferences to Labor over Greens, proving decisive in this tight contest.

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The 2024 boundary changes removed Greens-friendly Brunswick and added Liberal-leaning South Yarra, reshaping Melbourne's political landscape.

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For ordinary Melburnians facing $400 weekly rents and $2,100 monthly mortgages, the election occurs amid growing housing pressures.

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The Greens face a potential wipeout in the House of Representatives, losing 3 of their 4 seats despite maintaining 11.8% national support.

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What happens if Bandt loses? Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi emerge as potential leadership successors.

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We can't declare a position until every last vote is counted," insists Deputy Greens Leader Mehreen Faruqi, pointing to 15,000 uncounted ballots.

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The contrast between House and Senate couldn't be starker - Greens may hold balance of power in the upper house while facing decimation below.

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This potential reshaping of progressive politics has profound implications for Australia's climate action, housing policy, and social services.

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Melbourne's electoral shift mirrors broader political realignments occurring in urban centers across Australia and globally.

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[{"selector":"#anim-e94dcc90-4efd-46b9-a0f9-d27b2d8aa721","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77d4c184-d58d-49d9-8e54-667f7136bd1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c44bfe8-b74b-4477-96a4-158483f4ac11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57f2e04a-a5d3-4ee5-8186-328d0f976ebe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92d8b6d4-40c0-4f44-884d-f06826f2f046","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Green Parties from 11 Nations Call for Stein to Support Harris Amid Slim Margins: 1-2% Could Swing Key States Learn more