In a surprising turn of events during the May 2025 federal election, Labor's Sarah Witty defeated long-serving Greens leader Adam Bandt in the Melbourne seat, marking a significant loss for the Greens.

Following the election, Bandt officially conceded to Witty on May 8, 2025, expressing his congratulations and well wishes for her future as the new member for Melbourne.

Despite the Greens achieving their largest national vote in history, Bandt's loss reduced the party's representation in the House of Representatives to just one seat, held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown.

The electoral count revealed a swing of 8.6% in favor of Labor, with Witty leading Bandt by more than 3,800 votes, reflecting a 4.6% decline in Bandt's primary vote.

Analysts attributed Bandt's defeat to several factors, including a shift in electoral boundaries, unfavorable preference flows, and a campaign run against the Greens by the right-wing group Advance.

Although the Greens secured the highest primary vote in Melbourne, Bandt noted that preferences from Liberal and One Nation voters ultimately decided the election in favor of Labor.

Bandt highlighted that the redistribution of the electorate introduced more Labor voters, while many constituents shifted their votes to Labor primarily to block the Liberal candidate, Peter Dutton.

In his concession speech, Bandt expressed gratitude to his community and supporters over his 15 years in office, while also defending the Greens' commitment to issues like climate change and social justice.

The Greens are set to meet next week to discuss leadership, with potential candidates including deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi and senator Sarah Hanson-Young, although no one has officially declared their intentions yet.

Witty's campaign was launched by prominent Labor figure Penny Wong, and she is recognized for her advocacy work, including her role with the Nappy Collective, which supports families in crisis.

Witty's personal experiences as a foster carer, stemming from her own struggles with infertility, have shaped her perspective on social issues and her commitment to advocacy.