Australian Greens Launch Victorian Campaign to Replace Labor

The Australian Greens launched their Victorian election campaign on October 9, 2026, at a community church in Melbourne. Federal leader David Shoebridge and Victorian leader Ellen Sandell announced an ambitious bid to replace the Labor Party by targeting six Labor-held seats and reclaiming Prahran from the Liberals.

A central pillar of the campaign is a $350 million proposal to trial 10 publicly owned supermarkets across Victoria. The party claims these stores would sell essential goods for 30% less than major retailers Coles and Woolworths. This follows a broader policy proposal to force the sale of 200 supermarkets from those two companies to be replaced by government stores.

Additional campaign promises include the implementation of rent controls, free public transport, free dental care, and the creation of publicly owned renewable energy. The party intends to fund these initiatives through increased taxes on gambling companies and banks.

Following the appointment of Shoebridge, the party reported a surge in membership, adding 884 members nationwide and 230 in Victoria within a single week. Shoebridge stated that the party has "rekindled hope in politics," while Sandell asserted that the party is "here to make history."