Vic Greens leader may run in lower house

The Victorian Greens leader hasn't ruled out a run for the lower house despite announcing he would not contest his upper house seat at the election in 2018.

Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber

Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber has announced he will step down at the 2018 state election. (AAP)

Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber will step down from his upper house seat at the next election but has not ruled out running for a seat in the lower house.

The Greens hold the balance of power in the upper house and the party is bidding to hold it in the lower house too as a tight 2018 election looms.

Mr Barber, a Northern Metropolitan MP, and Western Metro MP Colleen Hartland announced on Tuesday they will not stand for re-election in those seats in November 2018.

But Mr Barber made no announcement about the leadership of the Greens and would not rule out making a run at a lower house seat.

The Greens have five MPs in the upper house, where it holds the balance of power, and two MPs in the lower house .

"At the next state election in 2018, we can win balance of power in the lower house, in fact we are only a few thousand votes short of that aim," Mr Barber said on Tuesday.

Mr Barber lives in Brunswick, a seat that has been trending Green over the past few state and federal elections.

Sitting Labor MP Jane Garrett was controversially forced to resign from cabinet over the CFA pay deal, and then battled breast cancer before returning to parliament and the back bench.

Local Moreland mayor Samantha Ratnam missed out on winning the federal seat of Wills for the Greens in 2016 by 4.88 per cent.

Mr Barber also could run in nearby Northcote, another seat where the Greens are polling well.

Former federal Greens leader Bob Brown congratulated the pair for their service to the party.

"Greg Barber is in the prime of life and has a lot more to contribute to Victoria, Australia and the Greens," Mr Brown said.

Ms Hartland said she intended to remain involved with the Greens and their community campaigns.

"I'm looking forward to supporting the next Greens candidate, so that we can ensure Greens representation in Melbourne's west for years to come," she said.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said he would miss Mr Barber's "quirky character".

"He is unique, intelligent, interesting. He is great for a conversation and I think the parliament will be poorer without him," Mr Guy said.

Mr Barber and Ms Hartland were elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 2006, with Mr Barber becoming Greens leader in 2010.


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Source: AAP



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