Legislative Assembly · District of Bulleen
Tomas Lightbody
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Bulleen›
Bulleen covers about 39 km² in Melbourne's north-east, including the suburbs of Bulleen, Doncaster, Templestowe Lower and part of Templestowe, within the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region. Created in 1985, it has been held by the Liberal Party at every election since its inception. At the 2022 election Matthew Guy (Liberal) retained the seat with 55.9% of the two-candidate-preferred vote against Labor — a 5.9% margin. Guy, a former state Liberal leader, moved from the Legislative Council to win Bulleen in 2014.
Background
Describes himself as a transport and land use planner, community advocate and former Deputy Mayor of Manningham, per his Victorian Greens profile. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LIGHTBODYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Tomas Lightbody — Candidate for Bulleen"View source
Says he started as a gymnastics coach and lifeguard before moving into urban planning, which he has also taught at the University of Melbourne. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LIGHTBODYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Tomas Lightbody — Candidate for Bulleen"View source
Eastern Melburnian records him as a Manningham councillor from November 2020 to late 2024 and Deputy Mayor from November 2022 to 2023. RReported — EM-VIC26The Eastern Melburnian, "Victorian Election 2026: Eastern Melbourne Candidates"View source
The Greens' 2023 announcement says he represented Manna Ward and was elected in 2020 to represent young, diverse and queer communities. RReported — GREENS-WARRANDYTE-2023Australian Greens Victoria, "Deputy Mayor announced as Greens candidate for Warrandyte by-election"View source
Says he secured a community net-zero target of 2035, more tree-planting funding and stronger tree protection on public land at council. SSelf-stated — GREENS-WARRANDYTE-2023Australian Greens Victoria, "Deputy Mayor announced as Greens candidate for Warrandyte by-election"View source
The Greens' 2023 announcement says he completed a master's degree around the time he was elected Deputy Mayor; no institution or course is named. RReported — GREENS-WARRANDYTE-2023Australian Greens Victoria, "Deputy Mayor announced as Greens candidate for Warrandyte by-election"View source
Says he has taught urban planning at the University of Melbourne. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LIGHTBODYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Tomas Lightbody — Candidate for Bulleen"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.
To "address public transport, climate change and cost of living".
Better public infrastructure, protecting parks and open spaces, and planning for a sustainable future.
Advocates the Doncaster Rail project.
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
Names cost of living as a lead priority.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make public transport permanently free and freeze rents for two years.
Crime and community safety
In 2023 he backed better pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety; the Greens' platform would raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14.
Housing affordability and supply
In 2023 he backed public and affordable housing with rent controls, saying he would push Labor to go "further and faster on climate change and housing affordability".
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would build 88,000 public homes with $4 billion initial investment.
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 Lightbody personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Names public transport and better public infrastructure as priorities, and advocates Doncaster Rail; his profession is transport planning.
In 2023 he called for better bus links and said he advocated improved public transport at council.
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 Lightbody personally, though he has taught at university.
Health and healthcare access
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would fund 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists; nothing is attributed to Lightbody personally.
Urban planning and housing density
Is a land use planner who has taught urban planning, and names "planning for a sustainable future" and protecting parks and open spaces as priorities.
In 2023 he backed more tree planting and protection, which he says he advanced at council.
Climate and energy transition
Names climate change as a lead priority.
In 2023 he backed stopping new fossil fuel projects, including the coal-to-hydrogen project, and a 2035 local net-zero target.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
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 Lightbody personally.
Regional and rural Victoria
In 2023 he backed bushfire mitigation funding for state forests near Warrandyte, a semi-rural area.
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.
Doncaster Rail, a rail link for Bulleen's Doncaster area. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LIGHTBODYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Tomas Lightbody — Candidate for Bulleen"View source
Protecting parks and open spaces across the Manningham suburbs in Bulleen. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LIGHTBODYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Tomas Lightbody — Candidate for Bulleen"View source
Lightbody's priorities (public transport, climate, cost of living, sustainable planning) sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LIGHTBODY, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Tomas Lightbody — Candidate for Bulleen"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found. His distinctive content is his council record and planning expertise.
Track record & prior candidacies
Stood as the Greens' candidate at the 26 August 2023 Warrandyte by-election, receiving 7,130 first-preference votes (18.6%), second behind Liberal Nicole Werner on 57.3%; not elected. VVerified — WIKI-WARRANDYTE-BYELWikipedia, "2023 Warrandyte state by-election"View source
He is not among the candidates in the 2022 Bulleen state election, where the Greens' candidate was Kellie Stafford (10.7%). VVerified — WIKI-BULLEEN-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Bulleen"View source
His 2026 Victorian Greens profile does not mention the by-election.
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.
His 2023 Warrandyte by-election result of 18.6% cleared the 4% mark, so that campaign qualified for public funding; no entitlement carries over to Bulleen. The Greens' 2022 Bulleen candidate polled 10.7%.