Legislative Assembly · District of Ashwood
Theo Zographos
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — Ashwood›
Ashwood is a Legislative Assembly district in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, created in the 2021 electoral redistribution and first contested at the 2022 state election; it covers Ashburton, Ashwood, Chadstone, Glen Iris and Mount Waverley plus parts of Burwood, Burwood East and Camberwell. It combines territory from the abolished districts of Burwood and Mount Waverley. At its first contest in 2022, sitting Mount Waverley MP Matt Fregon (Labor) won the new seat with 56.15% of the two-candidate-preferred vote against the Liberal candidate, a margin of roughly 6.2 points.
Background
Says he works in the private sector for a major Australian financial services company, with prior experience in both private and public sectors. SSelf-stated — ZOG-ABOUTTheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View source
The company is not named and his employment was not independently confirmed.
Says he was elected in 2012, 2016 and 2020 to represent Oakleigh Ward on Monash City Council. SSelf-stated — ZOG-SITE, ZOG-ABOUTTheo Zographos, "Theo Zographos — Liberal candidate for Ashwood"View sourceTheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View source
The Tally Room's 2024 Monash guide records that he was not running for re-election, ending about twelve years on council. VVerified — TALLY-MONASH24The Tally Room, "Monash council election, 2024"View source
Lists service on the CEO's Performance Review Committee, the Community Grants Program Evaluation Panel, the Monash Awards Committee and the Oakleigh Activity Centre Steering Committee. SSelf-stated — ZOG-ABOUTTheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View source
Greek Herald reports he was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Chisholm in 2023 and then replaced by former MP Katie Allen in September 2024. RReported — GREEKHERALD-DROPPEDThe Greek Herald, "Dropped Liberal Chisholm candidate Theo Zographos slams decision to replace him"View source
After the replacement he said he had given "20 years distinguished service to the Liberal Party". SSelf-stated — GREEKHERALD-DROPPEDThe Greek Herald, "Dropped Liberal Chisholm candidate Theo Zographos slams decision to replace him"View source
Represented Oakleigh Ward on Monash Council for twelve years, and says his advocacy centres on the Ashwood and Oakleigh areas. SSelf-stated — ZOG-ABOUT, ZOG-SITETheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View sourceTheo Zographos, "Theo Zographos — Liberal candidate for Ashwood"View source
Labor MP Steve Dimopoulos described him in Parliament in October 2024 as "a homegrown boy" who had earned his preselection through party work. VVerified — HANSARD-DIMOPOULOS-241017Parliament of Victoria, "Hansard: Theo Zographos — members' statement, 17 October 2024"View source
Says he was born and raised in the area. SSelf-stated — LIBV-THEO-ZOGRAPHOSLiberal Victoria, "Theo Zographos — Liberal candidate profile" (3 June 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.
"Sound economic management, safer roads and footpaths, convenient parking", plus support for Monash Medical Centre, Monash University and the Australian Synchrotron.
Eastern Melburnian reports his aims as convenient parking and investment in local infrastructure, including Monash Medical Centre, Monash University and the Synchrotron in Clayton.
Names safer streets, lower costs and better government as priorities.
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
Cites "sound economic management" as a priority, without a specific cost-of-living measure.
A search summary of Liberal Leader Jess Wilson's announcements says the Coalition plans to cut the ESVF levy; the source page could not be retrieved, so nothing here is attributed to Zographos.
Crime and community safety
Says he implemented "a clampdown on hoons in the Monash area" while on council.
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.
It would also strengthen breach of bail as an offence and remove the youth exemption.
Housing affordability and supply
Zographos has made no personal housing statement.
The Coalition would lift the first-home buyer threshold to remove stamp duty on homes up to $1 million, per a housing-policy comparison.
State government debt and fiscal management
Names "sound economic management" as a priority and works in financial services, but states no debt or budget position.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Says he secured grade separation for the Murrumbeena train level crossing and safer roads and footpaths.
Names convenient parking and investment in Monash Medical Centre, Monash University and the Australian Synchrotron as priorities.
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
Named support for Monash University among his priorities, with no schools or TAFE position found.
Health and healthcare access
Says he facilitated the new Children's Hospital at Monash Medical Centre, and lists investment in Monash Medical Centre as a priority.
Urban planning and housing density
His campaign site cites his advocacy for preserving Oakleigh Golf Course, which faced potential redevelopment by Monash City Council.
Says he secured funding for a multicultural festival drawing over 25,000 attendees.
Climate and energy transition
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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.
Parking and local roads: convenient parking and safer roads and footpaths. SSelf-stated — ZOG-ABOUTTheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View source
Preserving Oakleigh Golf Course, from his council record. SSelf-stated — ZOG-SITETheo Zographos, "Theo Zographos — Liberal candidate for Ashwood"View source
Institutions he names, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University and the Synchrotron, are in Clayton, adjoining the Ashwood district. RReported — EM-VIC26The Eastern Melburnian, "Victorian Election 2026: Eastern Melbourne Candidates"View source
Zographos appeared with Shadow Minister Evan Mulholland to announce the Coalition's $800,000 Hellenic Festival Fund for Greek Orthodox parish festivals, so he is campaigning on the Coalition's announcements. RReported — NK-HELLENICNeos Kosmos, "Coalition promises $800,000 Hellenic Festival Fund for Victoria's Greek parishes"View source
Liberal leader Jess Wilson also campaigned with him in Ashwood, per a social media post. RReported — EM-VIC26The Eastern Melburnian, "Victorian Election 2026: Eastern Melbourne Candidates"View source
No point of divergence from the party was found. He has made few personal policy statements beyond his council record.
Detailed Coalition costings on energy, health and education could not be retrieved in this pass, so those issues are left empty rather than filled with unattributed figures.
Track record & prior candidacies
Three terms as Oakleigh Ward councillor on Monash City Council (2012, 2016, 2020 elections), through to 2024. SSelf-stated — ZOG-SITE, ZOG-ABOUTTheo Zographos, "Theo Zographos — Liberal candidate for Ashwood"View sourceTheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View source
Did not stand for re-election in 2024. VVerified — TALLY-MONASH24The Tally Room, "Monash council election, 2024"View source
Says his council record includes a clampdown on hooning, the Murrumbeena level crossing grade separation and funding for a 25,000-attendee multicultural festival. SSelf-stated — ZOG-ABOUTTheo Zographos, "About Theo Zographos"View source
Was endorsed as Liberal candidate for Chisholm in 2023 but replaced by Katie Allen in 2024; he criticised the decision publicly and Labor MP Steve Dimopoulos called it "appalling behaviour" in Parliament. RReported — GREEKHERALD-DROPPED, HANSARD-DIMOPOULOS-241017The Greek Herald, "Dropped Liberal Chisholm candidate Theo Zographos slams decision to replace him"View sourceParliament of Victoria, "Hansard: Theo Zographos — members' statement, 17 October 2024"View source
Not among the candidates in the 2022 Ashwood election; the Liberal candidate was Asher Judah, who won 37.2% of first preferences. VVerified — WIKI-ASHWOOD-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Ashwood"View source
Won three council elections in Oakleigh Ward (2012, 2016, 2020). SSelf-stated — ZOG-SITETheo Zographos, "Theo Zographos — Liberal candidate for Ashwood"View source
The federal Chisholm endorsement was withdrawn before an election, so this appears to be his first state or federal election contest.
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Labor MP Steve Dimopoulos publicly criticised his removal as the Chisholm candidate in 2024, which is sympathy across party lines rather than an endorsement for Ashwood. RReported — HANSARD-DIMOPOULOS-241017Parliament of Victoria, "Hansard: Theo Zographos — members' statement, 17 October 2024"View source
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has campaigned with him in Ashwood. RReported — EM-VIC26The Eastern Melburnian, "Victorian Election 2026: Eastern Melbourne Candidates"View source
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.
Zographos has not previously contested a state or federal election, so he has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest.