Two Greens candidates in Brisbane have made history by winning seats. An absolutely fkn mega win for progressive politics in Aus.
Greens candidate for the seat of Griffith in Queensland Max Chandler-Mather has claimed the Greens’ first ever win in the electorate. And Elizabeth Watson-Brown just toppled Julian Simmonds‘ safe Liberal seat of Ryan.
Chandler-Mather and Watson-Brown have become just the third and second Greens MPs in federal parliament. Maybe you have to have a double barrelled surname to make it?
That’s right! pic.twitter.com/MBbYed02ny
— Max Chandler-Mather (@MChandlerMather) May 20, 2022
They’ll now sit alongside party leader Adam Bandt, who reps the seat of Melbourne. Bandt also maintained his seat in the election.
Chandler-Mather nabbed his seat from Labor’s Terri Butler. It’s been held by the Labor Party pretty consistently since 1998, so once again is a big old electoral upset.
In fact, it’s ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd‘s former seat.
The seat of Griffith is seen as one of the most progressive in Australia with a large youth demographic.
In contrast, the seat of Ryan has been held by the Liberals since 1972. 1972!!! Literal decades!!!
What can I say? Thank you so much to everyone who turned Ryan Green. This was the moment the @abcnews called Ryan for the @Greens, but it’s just the beginning. I’m so proud of the campaign and everything we stood for. 💚 pic.twitter.com/8z0CROCBvH
— Elizabeth Watson-Brown (@EWatsonBrown) May 21, 2022
Elizabeth Watson-Brown managed to score a 9.5 per cent swing from the LNP. That’s fkn music to my ears.
BUT WAIT. Just because election night is over doesn’t mean the fallout is done.
The teal independents experienced a massive swing last night. You can read our quick explainer on who exactly they are right here.
For a big ol’ recap of the entire night’s events, you can read back through our live blog here.
For Anthony Albanese’s celebration speech, suss this link.
For all our election coverage in one place including other reaction collections, crack open this badboy.