The Victorian Greens are setting their sights on a bold new strategy to combat the rising tide of right-wing populism in the state. Inspired by progressive politicians overseas, the party is rolling out a series of innovative policies aimed at winning over voters disillusioned with the major parties.
At the heart of their plan is a new land tax bracket targeting investment properties worth more than $5 million. The revenue generated from this tax will be used to double public housing and eliminate stamp duty for first-home buyers. This proposal is part of a broader effort to present a genuinely progressive and hopeful alternative to the political status quo.
The Influence of International Progressives
The Victorian Greens have been drawing inspiration from a new wave of progressive leaders around the world. Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, recently made headlines with his plan to tax the rich through a levy on second properties. This idea resonated with Ellen Sandell, the leader of the Victorian Greens, who saw it as a model for her own party’s strategy.
Last month, Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, addressed the Victorian Greens’ campaign conference. He urged the party to directly challenge right-wing parties like One Nation, much like he has done with Reform in the UK. Sandell believes that by following the example set by these international progressives, the Greens can offer voters a compelling alternative to the major parties.
The Changing Political Landscape
Victoria has long been a stronghold for the Greens, but the party’s fortunes have seen a shift in recent years. In 2026, the Greens lost the seat of Prahran to the Liberals in a February byelection. Three months later, federal leader Adam Bandt was ousted from Melbourne, a seat he had held since 2010.
Despite these setbacks, Sandell argues that the political mood in Victoria has changed significantly in the past year. “People are genuinely fed up with Labor,” she says, “but they know the Liberals will be worse, and One Nation will be disastrous.” However, not everyone is convinced that dissatisfied voters will turn to the Greens.
Damon Alexander, a senior lecturer in politics and public policy at Swinburne University, suggests that while minor party support may rise, it won’t necessarily benefit progressives. He expects much of the protest vote to flow toward right-wing populist parties, particularly in outer suburban areas where the Greens are less popular.
Grassroots Momentum and Bold Policies
The Greens are placing a strong emphasis on grassroots activity to convert support into seats. More than 700 people have signed up to volunteer in the past three weeks, and the party has been actively engaging with voters in key seats. Internal figures show that the Greens have knocked on 4,575 doors and held 1,379 conversations with voters between 8 and 22 June—well above Labor’s efforts.
The party’s ultra wealth tax on residential land holdings worth more than $5 million is a cornerstone of their campaign. Under this plan, affected properties would face a base charge of $100,000 plus a 5.3% rate on land value above the threshold. The policy, costed by the Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office, is projected to raise about $1.46 billion by 2028/29 or $6.4 billion over a decade.
Sandell predicts that commentators will be “surprised” by the Greens’ performance in the upcoming election, despite the lack of big corporate donors and media attention. “What we do have is hundreds of people door knocking every single weekend, right across the state,” she says. Whether this grassroots momentum will be enough to counter the rise of right-wing populism remains to be seen.
