Adam Bandt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Bandt
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Official portrait, 2021
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| Leader of the Australian Greens | |
| In office 4 February 2020 – 8 May 2025 |
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| Deputy | Mehreen Faruqi Larissa Waters Nick McKim |
| Preceded by | Richard Di Natale |
| Succeeded by | Larissa Waters |
| Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens | |
| In office 21 July 2017 – 4 February 2020 Serving with Larissa Waters
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| Leader | Richard Di Natale |
| Preceded by | Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters |
| Succeeded by | Nick McKim and Larissa Waters |
| In office 13 April 2012 – 6 May 2015 |
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| Leader | Christine Milne |
| Preceded by | Christine Milne |
| Succeeded by | Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Melbourne |
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| In office 21 August 2010 – 3 May 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Lindsay Tanner |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Witty |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Adam Paul Bandt
11 March 1972 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Political party | Greens (since 2004) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labor (1987–1989) Left Alliance (1990s) |
| Spouse |
Claudia Perkins
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Flemington, Victoria |
| Education | Hollywood Senior High School |
| Alma mater | Murdoch University (BA Hons) Monash University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Industrial lawyer (Slater & Gordon) |
| Profession |
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Adam Paul Bandt (born 11 March 1972) is an Australian politician and former leader of the Australian Greens political party. He was the leader from 2020 until May 2025. He also served as a member of parliament (MP) for the area of Melbourne in Victoria from 2010 to 2025. Before becoming leader, he was a co-deputy leader of the Greens at different times.
Bandt made history in the 2010 federal election by becoming the first Green party member to win a seat in the House of Representatives at a general election. He kept his seat in Melbourne through several elections until 2025. In February 2020, he was chosen as the leader of the Greens. However, in the 2025 Australian federal election, Bandt lost his seat in Melbourne and then resigned as the party leader.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Childhood and School Years
Adam Bandt was born in Adelaide, Australia, on 11 March 1972. His mother was a teacher, and his father worked in social services. When he was about 10 years old, his family moved to Perth, where he attended Hollywood Senior High School.
He later went to Murdoch University, graduating in 1996 with degrees in Arts and Law. He received a special award for his strong academic performance and leadership.
Early Political Interests
Even as a teenager, Bandt was interested in politics. He joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) for a few years in his mid-teens. He later left the party because he disagreed with changes that made university education more expensive.
At Murdoch University, Bandt was very active in student politics. He led campaigns for students to receive more financial support and for education to be free. He believed that supporting the Greens party could be an effective way to make political changes.
Before Becoming a Politician
After university, Bandt worked as a lawyer, focusing on industrial and public interest cases. He became a partner at a law firm called Slater & Gordon, often representing workers' unions. He joined the Greens party in 2004.
He wrote about how anti-terror laws might affect workers' rights and helped people in the textile industry. He also represented firefighters and coal workers dealing with changes due to privatization. In 2008, he earned a PhD from Monash University. His research explored how global changes and government actions can sometimes reduce people's basic rights.
Member of Parliament (2010–2025)
First Election Campaigns
Bandt first ran for the federal seat of Melbourne in the 2007 Australian federal election. He did well for a minor party candidate, showing strong support for the Greens in that area.
Winning a Seat in 2010
The seat of Melbourne became a close contest between the Labor Party and the Greens. In the 2010 Australian federal election, Bandt ran again and won! This was a big moment because he became the first Green candidate to win a seat in the Australian House of Representatives at a general election. He won with strong support, especially after voters from other parties chose him as their second preference.
As a Member of Parliament, his main goals were to push for action on climate change, improve rights for asylum seekers, and support same-sex marriage.
Deputy Leader Role
In 2012, Bandt was chosen as the deputy leader of the Greens. He was re-elected to his Melbourne seat in the 2013 Australian federal election, even though the Greens' overall vote decreased slightly.
He served as deputy leader until 2015. He became co-deputy leader again in 2017 after the previous co-deputies were found to be ineligible to sit in Parliament.
Bandt was re-elected for a third time in the 2016 Australian federal election. He continued to gain more support in Melbourne. In the 2019 Australian federal election, he won his seat again with an even higher percentage of votes, showing strong local support for the Greens.
Leader of the Greens (2020–2025)
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In February 2020, the previous Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, resigned. Adam Bandt then became the new leader of the Australian Greens. He was the first Greens leader to come from the party's more left-leaning side.
As leader, Bandt focused on a plan called the "Australian Green New Deal." This plan aimed to address climate change by creating new jobs and industries, and ensuring everyone had access to important services. He also worked to build better relationships between the Greens and regional communities, including farmers and mining towns. He supported expanding the lithium industry for a zero-carbon economy.
In the 2022 Australian federal election, Bandt kept his seat in Melbourne with strong support. The Greens also gained more seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, increasing their overall vote.
In June 2022, Bandt caused discussion when he had the Australian flag removed from behind him at a press conference. He explained that for some Australians, the flag represented "lingering pain." This action received mixed reactions.
In September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Bandt stated that Australia should move forward to become a republic and establish a Treaty with Indigenous Australians.
Bandt led the Greens into the 2025 Australian federal election. However, the Greens lost many of their seats in the Australian House of Representatives. Bandt himself lost his seat in Melbourne to the Labor Party candidate Sarah Witty. Following these election results, Bandt resigned as the Leader of the Green Party.
Political Views
Adam Bandt is known for his political views, which are considered to be on the left side of the Australian Greens party. He believes in "public ownership" and community-led solutions to issues like climate change and capitalism. For example, when an airline faced financial trouble, he suggested the government should buy it.
Bandt strongly supports Australia becoming a republic, meaning it would no longer have the British monarch as its head of state. He also supports important reforms like the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, a federal treaty with Indigenous Australians, and stopping the use of fossil fuels.
Personal Life
Adam Bandt is married to Claudia Perkins, and they have two daughters. The family lives in Flemington, in Victoria.
See also
In Spanish: Adam Bandt para niños
