Legislative Assembly · District of Bass
Chris Buckingham
Last verified 26 Aug 2026
Seat context — Bass›
Bass covers a mix of outer-suburban and rural/coastal areas southeast of Melbourne, including Clyde, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Grantville, Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Cape Paterson and Phillip Island. Created in 2002 from traditionally conservative territory, the seat was held by the Liberals until Jordan Crugnale (Labor) became the first Labor member ever to win it in 2018. At the 2022 election Labor's Crugnale retained Bass by just 202 votes (50.24% to 49.76% two-candidate-preferred), making it the most marginal seat in Victoria. Crugnale announced on 2 October 2025 that she would not recontest the seat in 2026, so none of the current declared candidates is the sitting member.
Background
Chief Executive Officer of The Fair Co. (a social-procurement and workforce-diversity advisory consultancy, formerly branded Jobsbank), since March 2025. VVerified — FAIRCOThe Fair Co., "Welcome our new CEO, Chris Buckingham" (2025-03)View source
Previously Chief Executive Officer of the Latrobe Valley Authority, a Victorian Government regional-development body since folded into Regional Development Victoria, from December 2021. VVerified — LVELatrobe Valley Express, "New Latrobe Valley Authority CEO appointed" (13 Dec 2021)View source
Before that, Chief Executive Officer of the former Casey Cardinia Libraries. VVerified — LVE, SN-CRANLatrobe Valley Express, "New Latrobe Valley Authority CEO appointed" (13 Dec 2021)View sourceStar News Group (Cranbourne Star News), "Labor select former library CEO for Bass" (5 Nov 2025)View source
A long-time Warragul resident (Warragul is in Gippsland but outside the Bass electorate boundary) who has holidayed in Inverloch, within Bass, for 35 years; reported to be relocating to Inverloch full-time in July 2026 to concentrate on campaigning. RReported — BCPBass Coast Post, "Buckingham back for round two" (10 Nov 2025)View source
Victorian Labor describes him as "a proud local, a dad, and an active member of his community" who has "raised his family in the region." SSelf-stated — VL-FBVictorian Labor, "Introducing Labor's candidate for Bass, Chris Buckingham"View source
Described in his own employer's bio as a long-time Gippsland resident. SSelf-stated — FAIRCOThe Fair Co., "Welcome our new CEO, Chris Buckingham" (2025-03)View source
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Accessible healthcare, new and better schools, and more support for working families.
"Strong community services aren't a luxury — and only a Labor government can deliver to make sure no one is left behind."
"I am determined to retain the seat of Bass and will advocate on behalf of the electorate to ensure our community continues to prosper and grow" and "Fairness goes to the very heart of how I work. No one should be held back, and no one should be left behind."
What Victorians say matters most
5 poll-led issuesCost of living and crime have ranked 1st or 2nd in every Victorian poll since mid‑2025, with debt and housing close behind — see schema §3 for the polling this grouping is based on (DemosAU, Ipsos Issues Monitor, Roy Morgan). The 0-10 'priorityScore' on each candidate's issue entries is NOT a measure of true importance or an independent ranking of what a candidate actually cares about. It reflects how much detail and specificity exists in what that candidate has actually said publicly on that issue -- a named policy mechanism and a verified voting record score higher than a one-line stated priority, regardless of the issue's real-world weight. Render this distinction in the UI wherever the score appears; do not label it just 'Priority' without the qualifier.
Cost of living
No candidate-specific statement found. Victorian Labor's statewide platform commits to continuing half-price public transport fares through 2027 and free kindergarten for three- and four-year-olds — party platform, not a candidate-specific position.
Crime and community safety
No candidate-specific statement found. Victorian Labor's statewide platform includes "Adult Time for Violent Crime" sentencing reform, a new Violence Prevention Unit, and 50 additional Protective Services Officers plus 200 reservists — party platform, not candidate-specific.
Housing affordability and supply
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
State government debt and fiscal management
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
No candidate-specific statement found. Victorian Labor's statewide platform commits to removing 110 level crossings and other road and rail upgrades — party platform, not candidate-specific.
Also on the record
6 substance issuesThese don't top “biggest issue” polling, but carry real 2026 policy weight and genuine differences between parties.
Education and training
"New and better schools" is one of his three named campaign priorities, with no specific named school or project attached.
Victorian Labor's statewide platform commits to opening more than 100 new schools — party platform, not candidate-specific.
Health and healthcare access
"Accessible healthcare" is one of his three named campaign priorities, with no further specificity.
Victorian Labor's statewide platform commits to 12 new hospitals and expanded pharmacist access to common treatments — party platform, not candidate-specific.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Regional and rural Victoria
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Local & party context
2 fieldsNot scored the way the eleven issues above are — these are fixed facts about the seat and the party, not positions with more or less emphasis behind them.
Track record & prior candidacies
Labor's candidate for the federal seat of McMillan at the 2016 federal election, running against sitting Liberal MP Russell Broadbent. VVerified — WP-MCM, SGSTWikipedia, "Electoral results for the Division of McMillan"View sourceSouth Gippsland Sentinel-Times, "Labor names Chris Buckingham as its candidate for Bass" (5 Nov 2025)View source
Finished second on a two-candidate-preferred basis, 43.97% to Broadbent's 56.03% — a 5.8-point swing to Labor from the 2013 result, not enough to win the seat. VVerified — WP-MCM, BCPWikipedia, "Electoral results for the Division of McMillan"View sourceBass Coast Post, "Buckingham back for round two" (10 Nov 2025)View source
Has described returning to run again with self-deprecating humour, comparing it to "being a new parent who's forgotten the sleep deprivation of the first child." SSelf-stated — BCPBass Coast Post, "Buckingham back for round two" (10 Nov 2025)View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Outgoing Labor member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale (retiring, not recontesting), publicly endorsed him on his selection: "I am so pleased that Chris Buckingham has been endorsed as our Labor candidate for Bass." RReported — SGST, SN-CRANSouth Gippsland Sentinel-Times, "Labor names Chris Buckingham as its candidate for Bass" (5 Nov 2025)View sourceStar News Group (Cranbourne Star News), "Labor select former library CEO for Bass" (5 Nov 2025)View source
Describing him as "grounded, a great listener, smart" and someone who brings "an insurmountable amount of energy and drive to work with and for community to bring about positive change for the better." RReported — SGST, SN-CRANSouth Gippsland Sentinel-Times, "Labor names Chris Buckingham as its candidate for Bass" (5 Nov 2025)View sourceStar News Group (Cranbourne Star News), "Labor select former library CEO for Bass" (5 Nov 2025)View source
Eligible if he receives at least 4% of first-preference votes, or is elected.
Funding is then calculated at the current indexed rate of $7.70 per first-preference vote for Legislative Assembly candidates, against his audited campaign-expenditure statement, up to legislated maximums (per the Victorian Electoral Commission's own funding and indexation guidance, accessed 2026-08-26).