Legislative Assembly · District of Hawthorn
Paul Pribilovics
Last verified 11 Oct 2026
Seat context — Hawthorn›
Hawthorn covers Hawthorn, Hawthorn East and Camberwell, plus parts of Canterbury, Glen Iris and Surrey Hills (~21.01 km²). Traditionally one of the safest Liberal seats in Victoria — it has produced past premiers including Sir William McPherson and Ted Baillieu — though Labor's John Kennedy won it in an upset in 2018 before Liberal leader John Pesutto reclaimed it in 2022. Exact 2022 margin not confirmed in sources reviewed.
Background
Describes himself as having 31 years of frontline policing experience with Victoria Police, across operational, specialist and leadership roles. The profile does not state his current rank or whether he has retired. SSelf-stated — ON-PRIBILOVICSOne Nation Victoria, "Paul Priblovics for Hawthorn"View source
A LinkedIn profile under the name Paul Pribilovics, listed under Victoria Police, shows a start as a police recruit in 1995 and acting sergeant roles between 2010 and 2016. This was seen only via a search-result summary and is not confirmed as the same person. SSelf-stated — LI-PPLinkedIn, "Paul Pribilovics - Victoria Police"View source
Born and raised in Melbourne and lives locally within the Hawthorn electorate. SSelf-stated — ON-PRIBILOVICSOne Nation Victoria, "Paul Priblovics for Hawthorn"View source
His father served 55 years with Fire Rescue Victoria, which he says shaped his commitment to public service. SSelf-stated — ON-PRIBILOVICSOne Nation Victoria, "Paul Priblovics for Hawthorn"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.
Says he is standing to restore confidence in government through responsible spending, stronger accountability and safer communities.
Names rising crime and soaring costs as the challenges facing local communities, and says taxpayers' money should be treated with care and frontline services supported.
Says local voices should be heard when decisions are made.
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
His profile cites "soaring costs" as a community concern but gives no candidate-specific measures.
One Nation Victoria's platform (not his own statements) pledges to wind back Labor's land tax increases on rental and small properties, lift the payroll tax threshold, and abolish the 10 per cent stamp duty on home, contents and car insurance.
Crime and community safety
Cites rising crime as a key local concern and draws on 31 years of frontline policing; no candidate-specific policy statements found.
The party platform pledges to make Victoria the toughest state on crime, including mandatory minimum sentences for assaults on police and emergency workers, a presumption against bail for repeat offenders, mandatory supervised bail for serious offences, a 24/7 Bail Court, and returning the age of criminal responsibility to 10.
It also commits to cutting police paperwork, sign-on bonuses for veteran officers, an ADF-veteran recruitment pathway, Western Australian-style pursuit rules, and three new Magistrates' Courts at Melton, Epping and Pakenham.
Housing affordability and supply
Party platform: review fees and charges that add to new-home costs, release under-used government land, put legal clocks on planning approvals, free up granny flats and spare-room rentals, require consultation before high-rise in established suburbs, and raise the foreign purchaser duty. Not a candidate-specific statement.
State government debt and fiscal management
Says he favours responsible spending and treating taxpayers' money with care; no specifics.
The party platform describes Victoria as carrying the highest debt in the country, and pledges to cut executive-level public-service growth, introduce Texas-style agency sunset reviews, a two-out-one-in red-tape rule, and a YourMoney.vic.gov.au spending portal.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Party platform: cancel the Suburban Rail Loop and redirect funding, complete the Airport Rail Link, electrify the Melton line, and establish a Royal Commission into the Big Build. Not a candidate-specific statement.
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
Party platform: knowledge-rich curriculum with systematic phonics and explicit instruction, school behaviour protocols, expanded trade schools, and school vouchers so funding follows the student. Not a candidate-specific statement.
Health and healthcare access
Party platform: statewide interoperable electronic medical records, a real-time waiting-list view, a regional healthcare guarantee including 24/7 emergency departments, and nurse-led discharge and prescribing. Not a candidate-specific statement.
Urban planning and housing density
Party platform: require genuine community consultation before high-rise development is imposed on established suburbs, and put legal clocks on planning approvals. Not a candidate-specific statement.
Climate and energy transition
Party platform: scrap net-zero targets and subsidies, cancel VNI West and other large transmission projects, back coal-power upgrades and domestic gas priority, and repeal Victoria's nuclear ban. Not a candidate-specific statement.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Party platform: scrap the Statewide Treaty entirely, abolish Gellung Warl and end its legislated funding. Not a candidate-specific statement.
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.
Track record & prior candidacies
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Per the VEC's own funding guidance (accessed 2026-10-11), a candidate is eligible for public funding if they receive at least 4% of first-preference votes in their contest or are elected.
The amount paid is based on the audited statement of expenditure, the number of first-preference votes and maximum legislated amounts, which differ for Assembly and Council candidates and are indexed annually to the CPI. Funding must be applied for within 20 weeks after the election.