Legislative Assembly · District of Gippsland East
Ash Munro
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Gippsland East›
Gippsland East is Victoria's third-largest electorate by area (about 27,544 sq km), covering all of East Gippsland Shire and the northern part of Wellington Shire, including Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Omeo, Maffra, Heyfield, Bruthen, Buchan, Cann River and Mallacoota. It sits in the Eastern Victoria Legislative Council region. The Country/National Party held it from 1920 to 1999, independent Craig Ingram from 1999 to 2010, and the Nationals' Tim Bull from 2010; in 2022 Bull won 63.3% of first preferences and 74.6% to 25.4% two-party-preferred over Labor. Bull announced in May 2026 that he will not recontest, so the seat is open. The 2026 field is five candidates: the Nationals' Gemma Rendell, Labor's Sonny Stephens, the Greens' Ash Munro, One Nation's Steve Goodman and the Victorian Socialists' Amy Espeseth. The Tally Room says One Nation will be hoping to win the seat.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Rising costs and housing stress, climate impacts and improved regional service delivery.
Wants "fairness, community wellbeing, and a future where our kids can grow up safe, supported, and connected to Country".
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 rising costs as a 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
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 Munro personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Names housing stress as a priority.
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 Munro 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 Munro 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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding; nothing is attributed to Munro personally.
Health and healthcare access
Works in health roles and wants improved regional service delivery.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would fund 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names responding to climate impacts as a priority.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban new coal and gas projects.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Works in community cultural safety and speaks of kids growing up "connected to Country" and of representing "mob people".
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would back the Statewide Treaty Bill without amendment.
Regional and rural Victoria
Wants improved regional service delivery and says she represents "workers, carers, families, farmers, creatives and mob people".
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.
Her priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GRN-MUNRO-PAGE, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Ash Munro — candidate for Gippsland East"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
Her profile mentions no prior candidacy. SSelf-stated — GRN-MUNRO-PAGEAustralian Greens Victoria, "Ash Munro — candidate for Gippsland East"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Gippsland East results; the Greens' candidates were Deb Foskey (6.2%) in 2018 and Nissa Ling (6.4%) in 2022. VVerified — WIKI-GE-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Gippsland East"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.
Munro has not previously contested an election. The Greens' 2022 Gippsland East candidate polled 6.4%, above the 4% mark.