Legislative Assembly · District of Benambra
Graham Parton
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Benambra›
Benambra covers about 10,037 sq km of north-eastern Victoria centred on Wodonga, taking in towns such as Beechworth, Corryong, Rutherglen and Tallangatta. The seat has been held continuously by conservative parties since its creation in 1877, most recently by Liberal MP Bill Tilley since 2006, who won it narrowly at the 2022 election with 50.9% to an independent's 49.1% two-candidate-preferred (a margin of 777 votes). Tilley announced in 2024 that he will retire at the 2026 election, following a cancer diagnosis. Steve Martin — a separate person from Tilley, previously mentored by him in an unsuccessful 2019 federal Indi campaign — is the Liberal Party's new candidate to succeed him.
Background
Says he has a career in human resources and environmental management across a number of sectors, and now works as a tour guide at the Old Beechworth Gaol and writes local biographical works. SSelf-stated — GREENS-PARTONAustralian Greens Victoria, "Graham Parton, Candidate for Benambra"View source
The Border Mail adds that he worked for the NSW government in Sydney and, as an environmental manager, dealt with kangaroo populations, weeds and threatened species on defence bases in Wodonga and Wagga. RReported — BM-PARTONThe Border Mail, "Greens candidate Graham Parton on hospital plan and potholes"View source
Stood for the Greens at the 2024 Indigo Shire Council election, receiving 445 first preferences in preliminary results, and was not elected. VVerified — BM-INDIGO-2024The Border Mail, "Indigo Shire Council preliminary election results update"View source
No elected or party office was found.
A Beechworth retiree originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, who moved to Australia in 1990 and to the Beechworth district in 2010. RReported — BM-PARTONThe Border Mail, "Greens candidate Graham Parton on hospital plan and potholes"View source
Says he chose to dedicate his retirement to his community; his tours and books document local residents' stories. SSelf-stated — GREENS-PARTONAustralian Greens Victoria, "Graham Parton, Candidate for Benambra"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.
"Climate change is already affecting our farmers, communities, and environment, and we need leadership that takes these challenges seriously."
Putting people before corporate interests, strengthening healthcare, protecting biodiversity and building resilient regional communities.
His concerns span climate change, social inequality and a new Border hospital.
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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make public transport permanently free and freeze rents for two years; nothing is attributed to Parton personally.
Crime and community safety
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14; nothing is attributed to Parton personally.
Housing affordability and supply
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would build 88,000 public homes with $4 billion initial investment; nothing is attributed to Parton personally.
State government debt and fiscal management
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise land tax to 5.3% for investors with $5 million or more of residential property; nothing is attributed to Parton personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Downplays potholes, saying "we have to live with potholes because there will always be some", while urging that they be reported and fixed.
Supports a greenfield Albury-Wodonga hospital, criticising the current plan for inadequate beds and parking and for dropping a helipad.
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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding; nothing is attributed to Parton personally.
Health and healthcare access
Names strengthening healthcare as a priority.
Supports a greenfield hospital for the Border, saying the proposed one lacks adequate beds and car parking and has been stripped of a planned helipad.
Urban planning and housing density
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes 88,000 public homes; nothing on planning is attributed to Parton personally.
Climate and energy transition
Says climate change is already affecting farmers, communities and the environment.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban all new coal and gas projects.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would back the Statewide Treaty Bill without amendment; nothing is attributed to Parton personally.
Regional and rural Victoria
Names building resilient regional communities and protecting biodiversity as priorities.
His environmental-management career covered land and species management on defence bases in Wodonga and Wagga.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would prohibit commercial logging on private land.
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.
A new greenfield Albury-Wodonga hospital, with adequate beds, parking and a helipad. RReported — BM-PARTONThe Border Mail, "Greens candidate Graham Parton on hospital plan and potholes"View source
Local road potholes, which he says should be reported and fixed without being treated as proof of government failure. RReported — BM-PARTONThe Border Mail, "Greens candidate Graham Parton on hospital plan and potholes"View source
Parton's priorities (climate, healthcare, biodiversity, people before corporate interests) sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-PARTON, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Graham Parton, Candidate for Benambra"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found. His distinctive content is local: the hospital plan and a measured stance on potholes.
Track record & prior candidacies
Stood for the Greens at the 2024 Indigo Shire Council election and won 445 first preferences in preliminary results, level for eighth with an incumbent; not elected. VVerified — BM-INDIGO-2024The Border Mail, "Indigo Shire Council preliminary election results update"View source
He is not among the candidates in earlier Benambra state elections; the Greens' 2022 candidate was Luke Brady (3.9%), so this is his first state contest. VVerified — WIKI-BENAMBRA-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Benambra"View source
His Victorian Greens profile mentions no previous campaign.
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Per the Victorian Electoral Commission's funding guidance (vec.vic.gov.au, accessed 2026-09-29 via search snippets of its independent-candidate and registered-party funding pages), a candidate is eligible for public election funding if they receive at least 4% of first-preference votes in their contest, or are elected. Funding is reimbursed against an audited statement of campaign expenditure, and advance funding must be repaid in full if the threshold is missed.
Parton has not previously contested a state election. The Greens' 2022 Benambra candidate polled 3.9%, just under the 4% mark.