Bendigo West — Victoria 2026: who holds it, who is announced, where they stand

Sitting member

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting member

Announced candidates · 5

Brenton BaldwinLabor · candidate
David HutchingsNationals · candidate
Ellen MorganOne Nation · candidate
Tayne ShalevskiOther / minor party · candidate
Liza ShawGreens · candidate

A sitting member is shown here whether or not they are recontesting: this page records who holds the seat and who has been announced, not the ballot. Candidates are listed alphabetically, not in ballot order.

Key dates · Victoria 2026 · from the Victorian Electoral Commission

Tue 3 Nov, 8 pmEnrolment closesYou need to be correctly enrolled by 8 pm on Tuesday 3 November to vote.2026 state election ↗
Wed 4 Nov, 9 am – Mon 9 Nov, 12 noonCandidate nominationsNominations open at 9 am on Wednesday 4 November and close at 12 noon on Monday 9 November.2026 state election ↗
Wed 4 Nov – Wed 25 Nov, 6 pmPostal vote applicationsAnyone can apply to vote by post. Applications open on Wednesday 4 November and close at 6 pm on Wednesday 25 November.Voting options ↗
Tue 17 Nov, 10 am to 4 pmLow-sensory votingA quieter voting session in each district, for neurodivergent voters and voters with sensory needs.Voting options ↗
Wed 18 Nov – Fri 27 NovEarly voting9 am to 6 pm every day except Sunday 22 November. You don't need a reason to vote early.Voting options ↗
Sat 28 NovElection dayVote at any voting centre in Victoria.Voting options ↗

The candidates on this site are those announced so far. The commission confirms the ballot after nominations close.

How to vote here · from the Victorian Electoral Commission

When you go to vote, you'll be given ballot papers for the district and region you're enrolled in. 2026 state election ↗
On the smaller lower house ballot paper, number every box in the order of your choice. How to fill out state ballot papers ↗

Last election · 2022 State election

Elected: EDWARDS, Maree (Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch).

First preferences
Candidate	Party	Votes	%
EDWARDS, Maree	Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch	18,704	46.47%
PRICE, Ken	Liberal	10,057	24.99%
SEARLE, James	Australian Greens	4,634	11.51%
TAYLOR, Wayne	Legalise Cannabis Victoria	2,175	5.40%
SERPELL, Steve	Family First Victoria	1,704	4.23%
MAXWELL, Victoria	Animal Justice Party	1,040	2.58%
BANSEMER, Matt	—	979	2.43%
WOOLLEY, Richard James	Freedom Party of Victoria	606	1.51%
NUSKE, Marilyn	—	349	0.87%

After the distribution of preferences
Candidate	Party	Votes	%
EDWARDS, Maree	Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch	20,396	50.68%
PRICE, Ken	Liberal	13,233	32.88%
SEARLE, James	Australian Greens	6,619	16.45%

Enrolment 47,808 · formal 40,248 · informal 2,401 · total 42,649

As the Victorian Electoral Commission published it (VEC results ↗). Parties are those the candidates stood for then; a member may have changed party since. The 2021 redivision of Victoria's State electoral boundaries came into effect on 1 November 2022 and will remain in place until the writ for the 2030 State election is issued, unless triggered sooner. Electoral Boundaries Commission ↗

Where they stand, issue by issue

Each entry is that person's own stated view, with its sources. The badge says what kind of source backs it — official record, own statement, news report or encyclopedia — which describes the evidence, not how much we believe it. Nothing is totalled or ranked; recorded votes are counted only to point to the member's record, where each is listed. See methodology.

Foreign policy & aid

Liza ShawGreens own statement

Liza Shaw says "the Greens will never stop standing in solidarity with Palestine" and "We must fight for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation."

Liza Shaw on Instagram, 22 September 2026

No sourced position on record: Maree Edwards, Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Workplace & industrial relations

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

8 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Liza ShawGreens own statement

Liza Shaw says "The Greens and I absolutely believe allied health staff need to be paid well" and that they are "highly supportive of proposals to increase pay for allied health workers".

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Voluntary assisted dying

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting news report

Voted on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 in the Victorian Legislative Assembly (conscience vote; the bill passed the Assembly 47-37 on 20 October 2017). Maree Edwards voted YES (in favour).

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Gender & LGBTQ+ policy

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

1 recorded vote on this issue on their record

Liza ShawGreens own statement

As Greens candidate for Bendigo West, Shaw lists fighting for LGBTQIA+ equality as a campaign priority, stating she will "fight for First Nations justice and LGBTQIA+ equality".

Liza Shaw (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Drugs & law and order

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

20 recorded votes on this issue on their record

David HutchingsNationals own statement

David Hutchings says “I'm proud to be advocating for tougher laws and greater powers that will make our police and first responders safer on the job.”

David Hutchings on Instagram, 29 September 2026

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Native forest logging

Liza ShawGreens own statement

Liza Shaw says State Forest zones of the Wombat Forest with greater gliders should be upgraded "to Regional Parks to ensure their critical habitat isn't destroyed by future exploitation", and that the Greens "will keep fighting for full funding and total protection for the entire Wombat Forest".

Liza Shaw on Instagram, 6 September 2026

No sourced position on record: Maree Edwards, Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

First Nations & treaty

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Liza ShawGreens own statement

States she stands to 'fight for First Nations justice' as part of her campaign platform.

Liza Shaw — Greens candidate for Bendigo West (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Integrity & anti-corruption

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

8 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Tayne ShalevskiOther / minor party own statement

On his Victorian Socialists candidate page, Shalevski says "I believe in a future where society is organised for the working class, by the working class."

Tayne Shalevski, Victorian Socialists candidate for Bendigo West

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Liza Shaw.

Housing & planning

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

9 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Tayne ShalevskiOther / minor party own statement

His Victorian Socialists candidate page frames cost-of-living and housing stress — "many struggle just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table" — and names "major developers and property investors, big banks, and the supermarket giants" as driving inequality.

Tayne Shalevski, Victorian Socialists candidate for Bendigo West

Liza ShawGreens own statement

Lists expanding affordable housing as a campaign priority for Bendigo West.

Liza Shaw — Greens candidate for Bendigo West (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan.

Education

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

1 recorded vote on this issue on their record

Liza ShawGreens own statement

On Maiden Gully's growth, Liza Shaw says she supports "growth-linked funding for expanded kindergarten and school places".

Liza Shaw on Instagram, 21 October 2026

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Transport & infrastructure

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

3 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Liza ShawGreens own statement

Liza Shaw says "A station for Harcourt is a top priority" and that, as MP for Bendigo West, she "will fight hard to change that and deliver the reliable transport connectivity Harcourt deserves".

Liza Shaw on Instagram, 10 October 2026

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Environment & water

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Liza ShawGreens own statement

Describes herself as a climate advocate and says running her Muckleford fruit farm has given her 'firsthand insight into how climate pressures and rising living costs are affecting regional families'.

Liza Shaw — Greens candidate for Bendigo West (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski.

Economic nationalism

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

1 recorded vote on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Economy & tax

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

13 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Religious freedom

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Freedom of speech

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

4 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Gambling & gaming reform

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

4 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Hunting (duck & native birds)

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Health

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

3 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

Energy

Maree EdwardsLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

11 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Brenton Baldwin, David Hutchings, Ellen Morgan, Tayne Shalevski, Liza Shaw.

No one here has a sourced position on record on: welfare & social services, abortion & reproductive policy, sex work decriminalisation, nuclear & uranium, animal welfare.

Open Bendigo West in the interactive database · All electorates