Legislative Assembly · District of Northcote
Kat Theophanous
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Northcote›
Northcote is Victoria's most marginal Labor seat. Labor's Kat Theophanous won it in 2018 from the Greens, who had won a 2017 by-election after the death of Labor MP Fiona Richardson. At the 2022 election she won 40.6% of first preferences and beat the Greens' Campbell Gome 50.2% to 49.8% after preferences, a margin of 184 votes. Both are recontesting. The 2026 field is five candidates: Theophanous, Gome, the Liberals' Lynda Awad, the Victorian Socialists' Kath Larkin (also a 2022 candidate) and the Libertarian Party's Jim Penman. The Tally Room says the Greens would hope a slumping Labor vote lets them win.
Background
Before parliament she worked with Fiona Richardson on Victoria's first Gender Equality Strategy, with a working life in media and government. VVerified — PARL-THEOParliament of Victoria, "Kat Theophanous - Member profile"View source
Wikipedia adds a government relations role at SBS. RReported — WIKI-THEOWikipedia, "Kat Theophanous"View source
Has lived in the inner north for over 35 years and is raising two daughters there; her electorate office is at 404 High Street, Northcote. VVerified — PARL-THEOParliament of Victoria, "Kat Theophanous - Member profile"View source
Was born and raised in Alphington to Greek Cypriot migrant parents; her father is former Labor minister Theo Theophanous. RReported — WIKI-THEOWikipedia, "Kat Theophanous"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.
Healthcare and modern education facilities, job security, affordable housing and community infrastructure, the renewable energy transition, women's healthcare and a fairer rental system.
"Northcote is a creative, clever, and compassionate community... I will always fight for us."
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 tackling inequality and cost-of-living pressures as priorities and cites half-price public transport fares.
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 Theophanous 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 Theophanous personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Names affordable housing and rental system fairness as priorities, and cites the Portable Rental Bond Scheme ending the "double bond" burden.
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, is built around the Big Housing Build.
State government debt and fiscal management
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, projects operating surpluses of $700 million in 2025-26 and $1 billion in 2026-27; nothing is attributed to Theophanous personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Cites tap-and-go public transport expansion.
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 modern education facilities as a priority and cites the Smile Squad program for school children.
Health and healthcare access
Names healthcare improvement and women's healthcare access as priorities, and cites the Northcote Early Parenting Centre and the Smile Squad dental program.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names the renewable energy transition and climate action as priorities.
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 Theophanous 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.
Wikipedia lists her in the Labor Right. RReported — WIKI-THEOWikipedia, "Kat Theophanous"View source
Her positions follow Labor's platform; no divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
Parliamentary Secretary for Women's Health and for Renters, per her site. SSelf-stated — KTSITEKat Theophanous campaign, "Kat Theophanous - campaign/MP website"View source
Wikipedia dates the Women's Health appointment to 2022. RReported — WIKI-THEOWikipedia, "Kat Theophanous"View source
Won Northcote in 2018 with 41.71% of first preferences and 51.71% to 48.29% against the Greens' Lidia Thorpe after preferences. VVerified — WIKI-NC-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Northcote"View source
Won again in 2022 with 40.6% of first preferences and 50.2% to 49.8% against the Greens' Campbell Gome. VVerified — WIKI-NC-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Northcote"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.
As the sitting member, Theophanous met the "elected" limb of the test at the 2022 election, so her Northcote campaign qualified for public funding.