Legislative Assembly · District of Albert Park
Andrew Cook
Last verified 11 Oct 2026
Seat context — Albert Park›
Albert Park covers Albert Park, Middle Park, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Southbank, South Wharf and parts of St Kilda in inner Melbourne (about 21 km², 48,949 electors in 2018). Labor has held it without interruption since 1950; Nina Taylor won in 2022 by 61.2% to 38.8% over the Liberals, with the Greens third on 20.9% of first preferences, and is running again. Fishermans Bend's planned $2 billion tech hub is a local issue.
Background
A Tally Room commenter describes him as a 71-year-old property developer who lives in Nepean, citing a local news report of his selection; the commenter's source could not be located. RReported — TALLY-APARK26The Tally Room, "Albert Park – Victoria 2026"View source
Describes himself as a businessman with more than 50 years' experience. SSelf-stated — LIBV-ANDREW-COOKLiberal Victoria, "Andrew Cook — Liberal candidate profile" (16 Sept 2026)View source
The same commenter says he lives in Nepean, outside the Albert Park electorate. RReported — TALLY-APARK26The Tally Room, "Albert Park – Victoria 2026"View source
Says his connection to the Albert Park community is woven into his family history and childhood. SSelf-stated — LIBV-ANDREW-COOKLiberal Victoria, "Andrew Cook — Liberal candidate profile" (16 Sept 2026)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.
Backs the Liberal plan for 3,000 more police, Break Bail Face Jail, and Adult Crime Adult Time.
Says he will bring his business experience to grow the economy and ease cost-of-living pressures.
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
The Coalition's plan promises no new taxes or charges, scrapping the emergency services tax, the schools tax on non-government schools and the GP tax, and lifting the payroll tax threshold to $1.2 million. Party platform, not a Cook-specific statement.
Crime and community safety
The Coalition's bail and sentencing policy, per the ABC, would automatically deny bail to reoffenders under a one-strike rule and treat burglary, serious assault and attempted murder as adult offences.
His profile backs the party's plan for 3,000 more police, tougher consequences through Break Bail, Face Jail and Adult Crime, Adult Time — the party's own policy rather than a personal position.
Housing affordability and supply
The Coalition would lift the first-home buyer threshold to remove stamp duty on homes up to $1 million, per a housing-policy comparison; nothing is attributed to Cook personally.
State government debt and fiscal management
The plan commits to a budget cash surplus by 2032 through a 10-year plan, including a back-office hiring freeze it says would save $22 billion. Party platform, not a Cook-specific statement.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
The plan would allocate $5 billion to repair and rebuild roads and pause the Suburban Rail Loop for an independent review. Party platform, not a Cook-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
The plan sets a goal of 90% of students proficient in NAPLAN literacy and numeracy and would scrap the schools tax on non-government schools. Party platform, not a Cook-specific statement.
Health and healthcare access
The plan would upgrade regional hospitals, abolish the GP tax and fund free meningococcal B vaccines for children and teenagers. Party platform, not a Cook-specific statement.
Urban planning and housing density
The ABC reports the Coalition's February 2026 housing plan would scrap Labor's activity centre plan, which allows high-rise in some middle-ring suburbs, and return planning decision-making power to local councils.
Climate and energy transition
The plan would scrap Labor's gas ban, introduce an Energy Security Requirement as Yallourn closes, enforce 2 km wind-turbine buffers and stop VNI West and the Western Renewables Link. Party platform, not a Cook-specific statement.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
The plan promises to repeal Labor's Treaty within the first 100 days and to establish First Nations Victoria as a standalone service-delivery agency. Party platform, not a Cook-specific statement.
Regional and rural Victoria
N/A — Albert Park is an inner-metro seat.
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.
No Albert Park-specific issue is attributed to Cook in any source found.
The Beacon Cove candidates' forum (22 October 2026) lists him as the invited Liberal candidate. RReported — BEACON-FORUMBeacon Cove Neighbourhood Association, "Candidates' Forum for State Election 2026"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
He is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Albert Park results; the Liberals' 2022 candidate was Lauren Sherson (29.8%). VVerified — WIKI-APARK-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Albert Park"View source
No earlier campaign was found, but the thinness of the record means this is unconfirmed.
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.
Cook has no earlier contest on record, so he has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Liberals' 2022 Albert Park candidate polled 29.8%.