Legislative Assembly · District of Monbulk
Daniela De Martino
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Monbulk›
Monbulk is a Labor-held seat in Melbourne's outer-east Dandenong Ranges (Belgrave, Emerald, Olinda and surrounds), held by Labor since 2002. Daniela De Martino won it in 2022, succeeding retiring MP James Merlino, with 36.1% of first preferences and 57.6% to 42.4% two-party-preferred against the Liberals' Gareth Ward, and is recontesting. The 2026 field is five candidates: De Martino, the Liberals' Clare Fitzmaurice, the Greens' Dr Merran Blair, the Animal Justice Party's Alyssa Wormald and Family First's Craig Manners. The Tally Room says the seat could be vulnerable to either the Liberals or One Nation.
Background
Describes herself as a lifelong resident of Melbourne's outer east, connected to the natural beauty, heritage and community spirit of the Dandenong Ranges. SSelf-stated — DEMARTINO-SITEDaniela De Martino MP, "danielademartino.com.au"View source
Is the daughter and granddaughter of Italian immigrants, per Wikipedia. RReported — WIKI-DEMARTINOWikipedia, "Daniela De Martino"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.
Education, the environment, healthcare and supporting small businesses to create quality employment opportunities.
Says she is "honoured to serve this diverse and beautiful electorate" and represent "the people who call our hills home".
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
Labor's 2026 platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes a vehicle registration rebate of up to $186, half-price public transport fares from June to December 2026 and free midday electricity from October 2026; nothing is attributed to De Martino personally.
Crime and community safety
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes the 2025 bail law changes; nothing is attributed to De Martino personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, is built around the Big Housing Build; nothing is attributed to De Martino personally.
State government debt and fiscal management
Names supporting small businesses to create quality employment as a priority, and ran an organic grocery store.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes $1.04 billion for roads; nothing is attributed to De Martino 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 education as a priority and is a former secondary teacher.
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes $5.5 billion of new education investment in 2026-27 and the Free TAFE guarantee.
Health and healthcare access
Names healthcare as a priority.
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes $3.9 billion of new health investment in 2026-27.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names the environment as a priority.
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, targets 65% renewables by 2030 and 95% by 2035.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, cites implementation of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025; nothing is attributed to De Martino personally.
Regional and rural Victoria
Says she represents the diverse hills region, with more than 35 towns from Ferntree Gully to Gembrook.
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 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.
As the sitting member, De Martino met the "elected" limb of the test at the 2022 election, so her Monbulk campaign qualified for public funding.