Legislative Assembly · District of Benambra
Tim Quilty
Last verified 15 Oct 2026 · Nomination: Rumoured
Seat context — Benambra›
Benambra covers about 10,000 sq km of Victoria's north-east along the Murray River, centred on Wodonga and including Beechworth, Corryong and Rutherglen. Conservative parties have held it since 1877, the Liberals' Bill Tilley since 2006; in 2022 he beat independent Jacqui Hawkins 50.9% to 49.1% two-candidate-preferred. Tilley is retiring and Hawkins is not running again; the ABC rates the seat very safe Liberal at 13.3% against Labor. Up to eight candidates are listed, led by the Liberals' Steve Martin.
Background
The ABC's 2026 guide describes him as an accountant. RReported — ABC-BENA26ABC News, "Benambra — VIC Election 2026 guide"View source
Wikipedia says he was a farmer and an accountant before entering politics. RReported — WIKI-QUILTYWikipedia, "Tim Quilty"View source
Was a Liberal Democrats member of the Legislative Council for Northern Victoria from 24 November 2018 to 25 November 2022. VVerified — PARL-QUILTYParliament of Victoria, "Tim Quilty — former Member"View source
Sat on the Electoral Matters Committee and the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, and participated in two other Legislative Council committees. VVerified — PARL-QUILTYParliament of Victoria, "Tim Quilty — former Member"View source
Wikipedia says he was a City of Wodonga councillor from October 2016 to December 2018. RReported — WIKI-QUILTYWikipedia, "Tim Quilty"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.
Libertarians Victoria says every one of its candidates takes a public pledge to never vote for an increase in taxes or a reduction in liberty.
Wikipedia reports his 2019 inaugural speech advocated a "Rexit" (regional exit), with rural areas separating from urban-dominated governments to form a new state.
Wikipedia reports he opposed extensions of lockdown powers in 2021, saying "I don't trust you with these powers".
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.
Cost of living
Libertarians Victoria says its candidates pledge never to vote for a tax increase; this is the party's pledge, not a costed Quilty policy.
Crime and community safety
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Housing affordability and supply
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
State government debt and fiscal management
The party's candidate pledge never to vote for an increase in taxes is the only fiscal position found; no debt or budget statement by Quilty since 2022 was found.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Health and healthcare access
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Urban planning and housing density
N/A — no urban planning statement from Quilty was found.
Climate and energy transition
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Wikipedia reports he voted against the Treaty Authority and Other Treaty Elements Bill 2022, one of only three MPs to do so.
Regional and rural Victoria
Wikipedia reports his 2019 "Rexit" proposal and 2021 maps of a regional "super state" combining regional Victoria, New South Wales and possibly Queensland.
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.
Wikipedia says he identifies with the Libertarian Party, the rebranded Liberal Democrats, and advocates non-compliance with certain government policies. RReported — WIKI-QUILTYWikipedia, "Tim Quilty"View source
No point of divergence from the party's small-government line was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
Wikipedia lists earlier candidacies for Eden-Monaro (2004 for the Outdoor Recreation Party, and 2007), Riverina (2010) and Indi (2016, for the Liberal Democrats). RReported — WIKI-QUILTYWikipedia, "Tim Quilty"View source
He lost his Legislative Council seat at the 2022 state election. RReported — WIKI-QUILTYWikipedia, "Tim Quilty"View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Per the Victorian Electoral Commission's funding guidance (vec.vic.gov.au), 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.
Quilty was elected to the Legislative Council in 2018 but not re-elected in 2022, so no public funding entitlement from that contest is recorded here.