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

Sitting member

Vicki WardLabor · sitting memberMinister for Public Transport · Minister for Creative Industries

Announced candidates · 5

Rachel BusbridgeGreens · candidate
Paul ByrnesLiberal · candidate
Steven MaraseaOther / minor party · candidate
Maeve RichesOther / minor party · candidate
Jessie WeatherleyOne Nation · 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: WARD, Vicki (Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch).

First preferences
Candidate	Party	Votes	%
WARD, Vicki	Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch	19,509	44.50%
McCLINTOCK, Jason	Liberal	15,615	35.61%
GRIMES, Alex	Australian Greens	5,897	13.45%
STUBLEY, Hugh	Family First Victoria	1,118	2.55%
MARSHALL, Catriona	Animal Justice Party	995	2.27%
KARIMI, Leila	Labour DLP	710	1.62%

After the distribution of preferences
Candidate	Party	Votes	%
WARD, Vicki	Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch	25,870	59.00%
McCLINTOCK, Jason	Liberal	17,974	41.00%

Enrolment 48,931 · formal 43,844 · informal 1,507 · total 45,351

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.

Voluntary assisted dying

Vicki WardLabor · 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). Vicki Ward voted YES (in favour).

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Gender & LGBTQ+ policy

Vicki WardLabor · sitting encyclopedia

Labor MP. In the December 2024 ministerial reshuffle she became Victoria's Minister for Equality (the portfolio passing to her from Harriet Shing), a role that leads the government's work to remove discrimination from Victorian laws and services and to promote inclusion of LGBTIQA+ communities, working with the Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities.

Minister for Equality (Victoria)

1 recorded vote on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Drugs & law and order

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

20 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Paul ByrnesLiberal own statement

Paul Byrnes writes that the Liberals and Nationals "will make coercive control a criminal offence in Victoria" and, in their first 100 days, "introduce Clare's Law, giving Victorian's the right to ask police if their partner has a history of domestic abuse."

Paul Byrnes on Instagram, 4 August 2026

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Integrity & anti-corruption

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

8 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Paul ByrnesLiberal own statement

Paul Byrnes says the Premier's apology "was nothing more than an attempt to downplay her accountability. It's not good enough. Royal Commission now."

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Health

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

3 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Rachel BusbridgeGreens own statement

Advocates for proper investment in healthcare as part of her campaign platform.

Rachel Busbridge (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Education

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

1 recorded vote on this issue on their record

Rachel BusbridgeGreens own statement

Advocates for proper investment in schools as part of her campaign platform.

Rachel Busbridge (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Transport & infrastructure

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

3 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Rachel BusbridgeGreens own statement

Advocates for "proper investment in public transport ... and active transport".

Rachel Busbridge (archived copy)

Paul ByrnesLiberal own statement

Paul Byrnes says "Getting a pedestrian crossing over the train tracks off Coolabah Reserve in Eltham North" is one of the "little changes" that make the biggest difference.

Paul Byrnes on Instagram, 20 June 2026

No sourced position on record: Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Energy

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

11 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Rachel BusbridgeGreens own statement

Rachel Busbridge says "We know how to avert the worst-case scenario of climate change: stop burning fossil fuels", and that she is running because "the major parties are not taking climate change seriously".

Maeve RichesOther / minor party own statement

Opposes fossil fuel subsidies, contrasting 'billions are being funneled into fossil fuel subsidies' with neglected public services.

Maeve Riches - Victorian Socialists candidate

No sourced position on record: Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Jessie Weatherley.

Environment & water

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

Rachel BusbridgeGreens own statement

Pledges to "fight for strong, practical climate action", including protecting tree canopy and biodiversity and preparing the community for bushfire risk.

Rachel Busbridge (archived copy)

No sourced position on record: Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Economic nationalism

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

1 recorded vote on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Economy & tax

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

13 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Workplace & industrial relations

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

8 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Religious freedom

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Freedom of speech

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

4 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Gambling & gaming reform

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

4 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Hunting (duck & native birds)

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

First Nations & treaty

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

2 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

Housing & planning

Vicki WardLabor · sitting

No statement on file.

9 recorded votes on this issue on their record

No sourced position on record: Rachel Busbridge, Paul Byrnes, Steven Marasea, Maeve Riches, Jessie Weatherley.

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

Open Eltham in the interactive database · All electorates