Who are the candidates in this year's federal election across Melbourne's eastern suburbs?
Our guide to when the next federal election may be held, who you can vote for and what they hope to achieve if they are elected into power.
Matthew Sims
January 08, 2025
Table of Contents
With both major parties and independents set to start spruiking their election promises ahead of this year’s federal election, we thought now would be a good chance to get in early and highlight the major players across the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
We’ll endeavour to continue to update this as new candidates announce their campaigns.
Otherwise, please reach out to us at [email protected] to tell us about the issues that will be swaying your vote this year, or what you want us to ask your local MPs.
When will the next federal election be held?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has now called for the election to be held on Saturday May 3.
To make sure you are enrolled to vote, visit www.aec.gov.au
Who can I vote for?
Deakin
Including Ringwood North, Ringwood, Croydon Hills, Croydon North, Vermont, Forest Hill, Blackburn and Mitcham, Liberal MP Michael Sukkar has held the seat of Deakin since 2013.
Michael Sukkar (Liberal)
According to his website, Mr Sukkar’s priorities include supporting young sportspeople and veterans, standing up for families, investing in new and upgraded local sporting facilities and advocating for elderly people.
Matt Gregg (Labor)
Mr Gregg announced his intention to stand as Labor’s candidate for Deakin last November via a series of social media posts.
“As a lawyer, teacher, and long-time local, I’m ready to fight for a fairer, more prosperous future,” he said on a Facebook post.
From tackling the housing crisis and making childcare affordable to implementing common-sense energy policy and raising living standards, I’ll work hard to deliver for our community.
“I want to push back against divisive, negative politicians that attempt to drag us backwards, instead of fighting for a better future.”
Jess Ness (Independent)
Endorsed by Voices for Deakin, Ms Ness said her main priorities would be encouraging climate action and resilience, improving trust and democracy and creating more affordable and accessible housing options.
“Climate action as a nation is essential, and the government must acknowledge that communities are already feeling the wrath of its effects,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.
“Government can do more to empower communities to better prepare for and recover from extreme weather events. Insurance costs are a growing burden, with many families unable to afford premiums that continue to rise, exacerbated by events like the recent LA fires.
“I know that together, we can create a sustainable and equitable future for all residents of Deakin.”
Ms Ness said recent “teal waves” spurred her on to nominate as an independent candidate.
“The political landscape in Australia currently entrenches power in the hands of major parties, fosters polarization, and discourages innovation in governance,” she said.
“Independent representatives, however, can restore true democracy by representing local community interests, encouraging accountability, breaking partisan deadlocks, and promoting policy diversity.
”I have been inspired by the successes of independents who have challenged the dominance of major parties, empowered voters and ensured Parliament better reflects the diverse views and needs of Australians.”
Amy Mills (Greens)
On her website, Ms Mills said her experiences as a dietitian, disability support worker, and renter living with a disability in the area drove her to run for the seat of Deakin.
“With lived experience of housing insecurity, living below the poverty line, and navigating life with a disability, I bring empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of the struggles our community faces,” she said.
“I believe in evidence-based policies that prioritize people and the planet.
“From rent caps and affordable housing to tackling supermarket price gouging and ensuring free, accessible healthcare, I’m committed to creating a fairer future.”
Milton Wilde (Trumpet of Patriots)
Born in Brighton and raised in Burwood, Wilde’s professional journey began as a Federal Police Officer, where he developed a strong commitment to justice and community service.
Will Vandermeer (Libertarians)
Vandemeer’s platform included reducing wasteful government spending, cutting unnecessary red tape and regulations to our businesses and defending freedom of speech.
Richard Griffith-Jones (Family First)
Griffith-Jones has lived in Croydon since returning to Australia in 2020 after nearly 30 years abroad. Socially conservative with liberal economic values, he supports small government, responsible spending, and assistance for those in genuine need.
Anne Cooke (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
More information on this candidate will be available soon.
Aston
Including Bayswater, Boronia, The Basin, Wantirna, Scoresby, Rowville and Lysterfield, Labor MP Mary Doyle has only held the seat of Aston for a brief period after being successful in a by-election last April, following the resignation of Alan Tudge.
Mary Doyle (Labor)
Ms Doyle was the first woman to be elected to the seat of Aston in the electorate’s history and the second-ever Labor representative in the seat. In her maiden speech to Parliament, she said she did not think of herself as a politician, but aimed to work for families like her own.
“Families doing it tough in Aston, families like mine growing up, don't need a pat on the head and a pitying look,” Ms Doyle said.
“What we need is good policy and to be taken seriously.
“We are not a political football to be kicked around at election time.”
Manny Cicchiello (Liberal)
Mr Cicchiello is the deputy principal at a large independent Prep-Year 12 school, where he has worked as a teacher for the last 25 years.
He has also served as mayor of Knox Council in 2004.
“I want to be an advocate for our community in Canberra, by helping to reduce the cost of living, and fixing local issues,” Mr Cicchiello said.
“Families in Aston deserve a Member of Parliament who will fight to bring back the road funding axed by the Labor government.
“You deserve to be able to spend more time at home, and less time stuck in traffic.”
Reuben Steen (Greens)
A local university student and factory worker, Mr Steen said he was keen to help the Greens fight for low rate mortgages, a rent freeze, cheaper groceries, and more public and affordable housing.
“Nothing changes if nothing changes,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties in Aston and expecting a different result.”
Andrew Williams (Independent)
Mr Williams’ platform includes advocating for the extension of the Burwood Highway tramline to reach Knox City and advocate for a $30 million fund over three years to support volunteer-led projects.
Craig Manners (Family First)
Mr Manners’ platform includes fostering opportunity and social responsibility, and bringing extensive experience in governance, investment, and Christian mission work.
Currently CEO of Temcare, a Christian community care organization, he also co-founded Orbus Ministries, a charity providing education for underprivileged children in Malawi.
David Fawcett (Libertarians)
Fawcett’s platform includes targeting petrol taxes, red tape, high crime and Labor’s gas ban.
Mark Grondman (Independent)
Grondman said his core values include integrity, transparency and accountability, community over corporations and more policies and less politics.
John de Wacht (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
De Wacht’s platform includes cutting red tape, supporting local businesses, securing Australia’s borders and bringing government spending under control.
“I’m running to make sure my kids and grandkids grow up in an Australia where they have a real future,” he said.
“It’s time to get back to basics and support the people who keep this country running.”
Steve Desveaux (Trumpet of Patriots)
Desveaux’s platform includes economic stability, practical policies and protecting national values.
“We need common sense solutions—not career politicians who have lost touch with the people,” he said.
“We need real people not professional politicians.
“We need Trump-like policies in Australia.”
Menzies
Including Templestowe, Bulleen, Doncaster, Box Hill, Blackburn, Surrey Hills and Warrandyte, Liberal MP Keith Wolahan has held the seat of Menzies since the last federal election in 2022.
Keith Wolahan (Liberal)
In his maiden speech to Parliament in 2022, Mr Wolahan said his main aims as an MP included moving towards democratising prosperity and democratising power, and fighting against the division of society into identity affiliations.
“Moved by gratitude, I have not come to tear down institutions, but to nourish them,” he said.
“Moved by duty, I have not come to act in my interest, but the national interest.
“We will be tested and we will make decisions.”
Gabriel Ng (Labor)
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Albanese announced Mr Ng’s candidacy, saying he would advocate for tax cuts, cheaper child care, and more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Stella Yee (Independent)
Formerly the 2019 Labor candidate for Menzies, Stella Yee has been dedicated to supporting the Menzies communit through Rotary, St Vincent de Paul, and Manningham Life, an initiative I started to keep locals informed after the local newspaper was shut down.
“With a strong track record of advocacy, community service, and standing up for what’s right, I’m committed to making a difference,” she said.
Bill Pheasant (Greens)
Mr Pheasant ran in 2022 for Menzies, securing 14.1 per cent of the primary vote. A Warrandyte resident of 25 years, an environmentalist and former business journalist, he said one of his main goals would be to ensure his and his parties’ views were not swayed by political donations.
“I’m proud to be part of a party that seeks an end to new coal and gas, and backs publicly owned renewable energy, cheaper groceries, and a rent freeze,” he said.
“We want to make big corporations pay their fair share of tax and fund things we all need, like putting dental and mental health into Medicare and creating government-built homes to rent and buy.”
Josh Utoyo (Libertarian Party)
Mr Utoyo’s platform aimed to advocate for removing government interference from the lives of everyday Australians.
As a former member of the Australian Defence Force, he has said he is committed to ensuring a more free and fair future for young people trying to afford mortgages and energy bills.
Amanda Paliouras (Trumpet of Patriots)
As a homeowner and long-time resident of Menzies since her teenage years, Paliouras hopes to bring her experience a public health student researcher and her background as a former student nurse to Parliament.
“We have the power as people to vote out career politicians and then bring back commonsense policies and common decency back into our politics,” she said.
Ann Seeley (Family First)
Seeley aims to bring her philosophy across four key pillars - family, fitness, fun and fellowship - to Parliament. She hopes to create policies which strengthen families, promote healthy lifestyles, encourage joyful living, and foster strong community bonds.
Jhett Edwards-Scott (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
For more information on Edwards-Scott, click here.
Casey
Including Lysterfield, Lilydale, Kilsyth and Belgrave, as well as a wide area further east, Liberal MP Aaron Violi has held the seat of Casey since the last federal election in 2022.
Aaron Violi (Liberal)
Mr Violi told the Eastern Melburnian he was hopeful to continue to work towards supporting the Casey electorate if he was re-elected.
“I’ve spent my time in Parliament advocating for action on cost of living, better local roads, improved telecommunications, supporting small businesses, access to healthcare, affordable housing and have also supported many local groups with grants,” he said.
“I want to continue working for better local outcomes – from cost of living to roads, healthcare, telecommunications and housing.
“Locally, I’m looking forward to continuing my work on the various challenges our community faces.”
Naomi Oakley (Labor)
After vying for the seat of Menzies for Labor in 2022 and securing a third of the first preference votes and 49.3 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, Naomi Oakley is throwing her hat in the ring for Casey.
Having served Victoria Police for 13 years, she is now a front line safety worker within hospitals.
“I have decided to stand for the federal seat of Casey because I believe my experience in the community uniquely prepares me to understand and deal with the complex issues that impact Casey,” Oakley said.
She said the electorate’s needs were always diverse and evolving, including climate change, health and access to services.
“My priority will be to improve access to hospitals, health care, improved educational resources, improved access to technology for bringing down power costs and access to better quality mobile signals and WiFi,” Oakley said.
Merran Blair (Greens)
On her website, Ms Blair said she was keen to help Casey join the fight to repair the damage caused by the climate emergency.
“Major weather events are wreaking havoc in our communities and homes, and we’re beginning to feel that no season is safe from the climate emergency,” she said.
“Voters here know that no new coal and gas is the way to a safer future.”
Ms Blair also said she hoped to target cost of living in the area.
“The financial stress felt by people in Casey cannot be overstated,” she said.
“Almost half of our community are mortgage holders, with soaring repayments making it harder to put food on the table.”
Claire Ferres Miles (Independent)
On her website, Ms Miles said she believed she is a “strong and credible alternative to the major parties”.
“We pay a small fortune for our groceries, we don’t have emergency health care in the valley, we are a childcare desert, our roads are full of potholes and mobile blackspots and power outages are an everyday part of life,” she said.
“As an Independent, I am free to speak up for what our community needs, not just toe the party line.”
Her proposed policies included targeting price gouging carried out by large corporations, championing climate change solutions and solving the housing crisis in Casey.
“With cost of living, people are struggling to pay the bills, stretching their family budget to breaking point with price-gouging at the supermarkets, high energy bills and skyrocketing insurance premiums,” Miles told the Eastern Melburnian.
“People in Casey are facing a significant risk of under insurance or no insurance at all.”
Dan Nebauer (Family First)
With a 25-year career in the Royal Australian Air Force, Nebauer aims to stand for family values, community well-being, and policies that put people first.
Chloe Bond (Animal Justice Party)
Bond supports the AJP’s “Veticare” proposal, which aims to provide affordable vet care to low-income earners as well as transform wildlife care for the better. She is also passionate about enforcing tougher penalties for animal cruelty.
Ambere Livori (Pauline Hanson’s One Party)
Livori’s platform includes supporting cost of living, opposing the Great Forest National Park and promoting free speech.
Phillip Courtis (Trumpet of Patriots)
Courtis said he was committed to advocating for policies that reflect the everyday needs of Australians, such as affordability, opportunity, and a return to common sense in government.
“Australia is ready for real change,” he said.
“People are tired of being ignored by politicians who’ve never had to live with the consequences of their own policies.
“I want to bring practical solutions and a real-world perspective to Parliament.”
Chisholm
Including Burwood, Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Wheelers Hill, Burwood and Chadstone, Labor MP Dr Carina Garland has held the seat of Chisholm since the last federal election in 2022.
Dr Carina Garland (Labor)
In her maiden speech to Parliament in 2022, Dr Garland said she aimed to work towards better healthcare, education, jobs, climate action, and a strong economy in Canberra.
“One of the reasons I was so motivated to be here is so that I can do my best to ensure that everyone can forge a life for themselves and their families built on security, opportunity and ambition,” she said.
“Until we rid our society of the scourge of unnecessary insecure work, too many people will be left behind, unable to live the lives they want to live, and should be able to live, in a country like Australia.”
Dr Katie Allen (Liberal)
Ms Allen held the seat of Higgins from 2019 to 2022.
For more 25 years, she has served as a doctor of paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“If I’m elected, I will be focused on lowering the cost of living, improving access to health and aged care, and lifting the quality of education in Australian schools,” Dr Allen said.
Tim Randall (Greens)
An architect specialising in accessible design for people with disabilities, and having lived in Chisholm for nearly a decade, Randall said he was passionate about creating a fairer, kinder world by tackling the housing crisis, supporting and celebrating our multicultural communities and driving strong climate action.
He is also a member of the Ashburton Baptist Church, an avid cyclist and a lover of live music.
Kath Davies (Independent)
Endorsed by Voices for Chisholm, Ms Davies said her aims included tackling climate change, advocating for stronger environmental policies while maximising economic and social opportunities, and helping to deliver economic and tax reform to create a more equitable society for current and future generations.
"I feel excited and privileged to stand on behalf of the Chisholm community as our first independent candidate,” she said.
“I’m committed to listening and learning, and reflecting community concerns.
“With my background in science and engineering, I look forward to using facts and evidence to inform decisions.
“I am so grateful for the community’s support, and will give my full effort and best self to help drive a fairer future for all.”
Independent candidate for Chisholm Kath Davies.
Gary Ong (Family First)
A primary specialist teacher at an independent school and a former IT professional, Ong aims to stand for serving with integrity, standing up for strong family values and ensuring that the voices of local residents are heard in government.
Christine McShane (Trumpet of Patriots)
McShane said she was dedicated to policies of Trumpet of Patriots.
“Trump-like policies work. We must focus on strong borders, economic freedom and ensuring Australians have the opportunities and security they deserve,” she said.
“My resolve to Make Australia Great Again comes from stronger leadership that puts Australians first and delivers real results.”
Guy Livori (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
More information will be available on this candidate soon.
Hotham
Including Mulgrave, Oakleigh, Notting Hill and Clayton, Labor MP Clare O’Neil has held the seat of Hotham since 2013.
Clare O’Neil (Labor)
Formerly the mayor of Greater Dandenong in 2004, Ms O’Neil has held a number of cabinet roles, including as the Minister for Housing, the Minister for Homelessness and the Minister for Home Affairs.
In 2010, she spent nine months living in East Arnhem Land, working on business development with a local Aboriginal community.
She has a special interest in economics, Indigenous Australia and – as a mother and a former foster parent – the welfare of Australian children.
Harmick Singh Matharu (Liberal)
The former spokesperson for the Victorian Sikh Gurduara Council, Harmick Singh Matharu aims to restore economic stability, address cost of living concerns and reducing government debt.
Martin Barry (Greens)
Barry’s platform included supporting the building of affordable homes to rent and buy by establishing a Public Builder for 200,000 quality new homes, lowering grocery bills by capping prices on essentials and making price-gouging illegal and expanding Medicare by covering dental and mental healthcare and increasing GP bulk-billing rates.
A proud Mauritian-Australian, he said he understood the struggle of the multicultural Australians being left behind by the major parties in this country, including the Greens.
Richard Warner (Family First)
Mr Warner’s platform includes education system reform, youth welfare and traditional family values.
Tony Vainoras (Australian Citizens Party)
Mr Vainoras’ platform includes targeting homelessness and poverty in our country and combating corporate elites and foreign powers.
For more information about how to vote in this year’s election, visit the AEC website.
Stuart Fogarty (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
More information will be available on this candidate soon.
Photo Credit: Michael/Unsplash