Victorian election: kingmaker Greens set to make royal requests

The Greens could be in a position to negotiate on a long list of issues should they be in the role of kingmaker after the election.

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam speaks to media during a press conference in Fitzroy, Melbourne yesterday. Picture: AAP

A 100 per cent renewable energy target, a blanket ban on privatisation, boosting public housing, banning logging, creating a new national park and a multi-billion-dollar investment in public transport would be a “starting point” should the Greens be in the position of kingmaker after the Nov­ember 24 Victorian election, according to state party leader Samantha Ratnam.

Although Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out doing a deal to form government with the Greens, it is possible he may find himself with few other options — and the Greens have repeatedly indicated they want to go into a power-­sharing agreement with Labor.

Labor currently holds a one-seat majority in the Victorian parliament, meaning that if they lose any seats to the Coalition or Greens, they may have to rely on the minor party to govern.

The Greens hold the three lower house seats of Melbourne, Northcote and Prahran, and are fighting to win Brunswick and Richmond from Labor.

In an interview with The Australian, upper house member Ms Ratnam listed “moving Victoria to a 100 per cent renewable energy future and transitioning out of coal”, ending logging and creating the Great Forest National Park in Victoria’s central highlands, drastically bolstering public transport, building 80,000 public housing units over 12 years, banning the privatisation of public assets and increasing integrity measures as the key issues she would prioritise in any negotiations.

“I think we’ll likely have something more specific to say closer to the election in terms of that, but a negotiation is give and take, so we will go in good faith with all those issues on the table,” Ms Ratnam said.

“That’s our starting point, and we hope other parties enter in similarly good faith as well.”

She said the Greens were also hopeful of winning a regional upper house seat for the first time, talking up candidates in Western and Northern Victoria.

“We’re putting our best foot forward and doing everything we can to break through,” Ms Ratnam said.