Legislative Assembly · District of Bundoora
Nina Laitala
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Bundoora›
Bundoora is a Legislative Assembly district of 35.32 km² in Melbourne's north-east, covering the suburbs of Bundoora, Kingsbury, Watsonia and Watsonia North plus parts of Greensborough, Macleod, Mill Park and Yallambie, and includes La Trobe University's main campus. It has been a safe Labor seat since its creation in 1976. At the 2022 election Colin Brooks was re-elected with a comfortable margin consistent with the seat's history.
Background
Works nationally in governance and leadership training, supporting boards and volunteers to make better, fairer decisions, per her Victorian Greens profile. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LAITALAAustralian Greens Victoria, "Nina Laitala, Candidate for Bundoora"View source
Was CEO of the Victorian Student Representative Council for seven years. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LAITALAAustralian Greens Victoria, "Nina Laitala, Candidate for Bundoora"View source
Describes herself as a long-time community leader, with governance work for nonprofits and government agencies. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LAITALAAustralian Greens Victoria, "Nina Laitala, Candidate for Bundoora"View source
Says she has been involved in community-based creative projects and has a long-standing connection to music and the arts. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LAITALAAustralian Greens Victoria, "Nina Laitala, Candidate for Bundoora"View source
Her CEO role and governance work were not independently confirmed.
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
"Listen first, act with integrity and focus on practical solutions that make life more affordable and our community stronger."
Strong public education.
Access to arts and culture, which she says strengthens communities, particularly for young people.
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
Wants practical solutions that make life more affordable.
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
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 Laitala 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 Laitala 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 Laitala personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make trains, trams and buses permanently free; nothing is attributed to Laitala personally.
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
Names strong public education as a core priority, and led the peak body for Victorian student representative councils for seven years.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding and phase out school charges.
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 Laitala personally.
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 Laitala personally.
Climate and energy transition
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; nothing is attributed to Laitala personally.
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 Laitala personally.
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.
Laitala's priorities (affordability, public education, arts) sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LAITALA, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Nina Laitala, Candidate for Bundoora"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found. Her distinctive content is her student-representation and governance background.
Track record & prior candidacies
Her candidate profile mentions no prior campaign. SSelf-stated — GREENS-LAITALAAustralian Greens Victoria, "Nina Laitala, Candidate for Bundoora"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Bundoora results; the Greens' 2022 candidate was Julie O'Brien (13.2%). VVerified — WIKI-BUNDOORA-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Bundoora"View source
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.
Laitala has not previously contested an election, so she has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Greens' 2022 Bundoora candidate polled 13.2%, well above the 4% mark.