Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP says with the largest Greens vote in history, the Greens will continue to push for stronger action on the housing, cost of living and climate crisis, thanking supporters and voters.
At current count the Greens have increased their vote nationally and seen swings towards them of nearly 10% in target seats across the country, but with the Liberal vote crashing to historic lows, Labor will win the seat of Griffith off the back of Liberal preferences, and Brisbane too.
Mr Bandt expects the count to elect him in Melbourne, and with the party well positioned in Ryan, Wills and Richmond - the Greens are in a position to win between one and four seats despite a national surge to the government.
The Greens will also retain the balance of power in the Senate, and the Greens will push the government to act to put dental into Medicare, end native forest logging, stop new coal and gas, make childcare free, and end tax handouts for wealthy property investors.
As stated by Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens:
"Tonight, millions of people across the country have voted for the Greens - more than ever before in history.
"More people than ever before backed the Greens' big solutions for the housing, cost of living, and climate crisis - demanding more than the band-aid solutions offered by Labor and Liberal.
"This support across the country has pushed the Greens to our highest vote ever, returning all our senators, and putting us in position to win between one and four seats, even during an overwhelming swing to the government.
"We faced enormous David vs Goliath campaigns by both major parties, funded by big corporations and the fossil fuel lobby.
"The Greens worked to keep Dutton out, and he's been kicked out. While Dutton's far-right mask began to slip in the final weeks of the campaign, voters have rejected Dutton's Trump-style politics.
"Congratulations to the Prime Minister on his victory.
"The historic collapse in the Liberal vote has meant that Labor will win the seats of Griffith with Liberal preferences, and Brisbane too, even as our vote held firm.
"There's never been a first term MP who has had the impact Max Chandler-Mather has, putting the rental crisis in the spotlight, winning $3.5 billion for social housing, and feeding thousands out of his own pocket. This is not the last we've seen of him.
"Stephen has been an incredible voice for Brisbane, and the millions of young people left behind by Labor and Liberal. Going from retail worker to the halls of Parliament, he held big corporations accountable for three years, delivered 20,000 meals, and brought his city together through floods, storms, and a cost of living crisis. He has great things to come.
"To the tens of thousands of volunteers who have run an incredible campaign - thank you. To every single person who has worked their guts out to fight for a brighter, fairer future for all of us, thank you.
"The Greens are set to be a powerful force in the next Parliament, as part of a strong progressive crossbench and holding the balance of power in the Senate, pushing for more action on the climate, housing & the cost of living crisis."
