Adam Carr's Election Archive

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Victorian state election, 28 November 2026
Monbulk District

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Location: Belgrave, Monbulk, Upwey
Legislative Council: Eastern Victoria Region

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Enrolment 2022 election: 48,547
Enrolment June 2026: 49,589 (up 02.1%)

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Relevant demographics (2021 census)

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High income: 28.2% (Aust average 22.6%)
Renting: 10.5% (Aust average 30.6%)
Paying a mortgage: 51.0% (Aust average 35.0%)
Couples with children: 64.0% (Aust average 43.7%)
Born overseas: 17.0% (Aust average 27.7%)
No religion: 57.0% (Aust average 38.9%)
University graduate: 26.6% (Aust average 26.3%)
Professional / managerial: 38.6% (Aust average 37.7%)

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Sitting member: Daniela De Martino (Labor): Elected 2022

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2018 Labor majority over Liberal: 08.6%
2021 redistricting: Labor majority over Liberal 07.1%
2022 Labor majority over Liberal: 07.5%

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Status: Marginal Labor

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Monbulk was created in 1967, covering the Dandenong Ranges towns east of Melbourne, previously in the Scoresby seat. Its boundaries have not changed much since. It is an affluent area with a stable, mostly home-owning population, including many Melbourne people who have moved to the picturesque hill towns for lifestyle reasons. Its largest centres are Belgrave, Tecoma and Upwey, which vote heavily Labor, and suburban Montrose and Mooroolbark East, which are more marginal.

Monbulk has usually elected a government member. Its first member was Bill Borthwick, a minister in the Bolte, Hamer and Thompson governments. He was defeated in 1982 by Labor's Neil Pope, a minister in the Cain and Kirner governments. In 1992 the Liberal Steve McArthur defeated Pope, and he in turn was defeated in 2002 by Labor's James Merlino, an official with the Shop Assistants (SDA) union before his election. He was a minister in the Bracks and Brumby governments, and Deputy Premier and Minister for Education in the Andrews government. He retired in 2022.

Recent members: Neil Pope (Labor) 1982-92, Stephen McArthur (Liberal) 1992-2002, James Merlino (Labor) 2002-22, and Daniela De Martino (Labor) since 2022.

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2022 results

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Boundaries following 2021 redistricting

See full-size map

Candidates:

Merran Blair Australian Greens	Daniela De Martino Australian Labor Party	Clare Fitzmaurice Liberal Party	Alyssa Wormald Animal Justice Party

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