Legislative Assembly · District of Richmond
Charles Aponso
Last verified 15 Oct 2026 · Nomination: Expected
Seat context — Richmond›
Richmond covers Richmond, Cremorne, Burnley, Abbotsford, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Clifton Hill in Melbourne's inner north-east, and has the most public housing residents of any Victorian seat. The Greens' Gabrielle de Vietri won it in 2022 with 34.7% of first preferences and 57.3% after preferences against Labor, ending Labor's long hold; the ABC rates it safe Greens at 7.3%. The Tally Room notes the margin depends on Liberal preferences. Six candidates are expected, including the Liberals' Charles Aponso.
Background
Says he works in hospitality while completing his university studies, per his Liberal Victoria profile. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CHARLES-APONSOLiberal Victoria, "Charles Aponso — Liberal candidate profile"View source
The ABC's 2026 guide describes him as a university student who works in hospitality. RReported — ABC-RICH26ABC News, "Richmond — VIC Election 2026 guide"View source
His employer and course are not named, and neither was independently confirmed.
Lives in Melbourne's south-east suburbs, not in Richmond, per his Liberal Victoria profile. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CHARLES-APONSOLiberal Victoria, "Charles Aponso — Liberal candidate profile"View source
The ABC's guide likewise says he lives in the south-eastern suburbs. RReported — ABC-RICH26ABC News, "Richmond — VIC Election 2026 guide"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.
Wants Melbourne to be a safe and prosperous place for young Victorians to build their lives and careers.
Backs the Liberals' plan to put 3000 more police on the beat and introduce tougher consequences for violent offenders.
Backs the Liberals' "More Homes, More Choice" plan to build more homes around the CBD so young Victorians can live closer to it.
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.
Cost of living
Says the Liberal team will deliver "lower costs", without setting out a specific measure.
Crime and community safety
Says the Liberal plan will put 3000 more police on the beat and introduce tougher consequences for violent offenders, making the inner suburbs safer.
Party policy, per AAP: the Coalition promised in April to recruit 3000 more police officers and reopen more than 40 closed or reduced-hours stations.
Party policy, per the ABC: the Coalition's bail and sentencing policy would automatically deny bail to reoffenders under a one-strike rule.
Housing affordability and supply
Says he will fight to deliver the Liberals' "More Homes, More Choice" plan, making it easier for young Victorians to live closer to the CBD.
Party policy, per the ABC: Jess Wilson's February 2026 plan would expand the Capital City Zone into the inner city and fast-track growth-area homes; nothing more is attributed to Aponso.
State government debt and fiscal management
Party policy, per AAP: Jess Wilson's budget reply proposed a 10-year freeze on hiring back-office public servants, cutting 7,184 full-time roles by attrition and saving about $22 billion over a decade; nothing is attributed to Aponso personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Health and healthcare access
Party policy, per AAP: Jess Wilson pledged a $99 million fund for up to 10 new or expanded hospital patient transit lounges to cut emergency waits; nothing is attributed to Aponso personally.
Urban planning and housing density
Wants more homes built around Melbourne's current CBD, per his Liberal Victoria profile.
Party policy, per the ABC: the Liberals would scrap Labor's activity centres plan and return planning decision-making power to local councils; nothing more is attributed to Aponso.
Climate and energy transition
Party policy, per the ABC: the Coalition would scrap the VNI West transmission line, pause the Western Renewables Link and auction new "firm" generation, which it expects gas to provide mostly.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Party policy, per the ABC: the Liberals would legislate to repeal Victoria's Treaty within 100 days of taking office; Jess Wilson confirmed she supports repeal, the National Indigenous Times reports.
Regional and rural Victoria
N/A — Richmond is an inner-metropolitan seat; no regional or rural statement from Aponso was found.
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.
Frames inner-suburban Richmond around safety and letting young Victorians live closer to the CBD, with no Richmond-specific project named. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CHARLES-APONSOLiberal Victoria, "Charles Aponso — Liberal candidate profile"View source
No Richmond-specific policy, forum appearance or local-media coverage of Aponso was found beyond party, ABC and Tally Room listings.
His profile is written in the party's campaign frame ("Jess Wilson's New Liberal Team", "Fresh Start for Victoria"), and every position found is the Liberals' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CHARLES-APONSOLiberal Victoria, "Charles Aponso — Liberal candidate profile"View source
No point of divergence was found; the profile is brief.
Track record & prior candidacies
He is not among the candidates in the 2022 Richmond result, where the Liberals' candidate was Lucas Moon (18.8%). RReported — ABC-RICH26ABC News, "Richmond — VIC Election 2026 guide"View source
No earlier campaign was found, so this appears to be his first.
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Per the Victorian Electoral Commission's funding guidance (vec.vic.gov.au), 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.
Aponso has not previously contested an election, so has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Liberals' 2022 Richmond candidate polled 18.8%, above the 4% mark.