Legislative Assembly · District of Bellarine
Callum Whitehead
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — Bellarine›
The Legislative Assembly district of Bellarine stretches from the Bellarine Peninsula to the outer eastern suburbs of Geelong, covering Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale, Portarlington, Queenscliff and the Geelong suburb of Leopold. It has traditionally been a marginal seat that has changed hands between Labor and Liberal since being recreated in 1985. Labor's Alison Marchant won the seat at the 2022 election, defeating the Liberal candidate on a two-candidate-preferred vote of 58.46% to 41.54% — a margin of roughly 17 points.
Background
Surf Coast Times describes him as an experienced media and communications professional who has worked across the public sector. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEADSurf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View source
It reports he previously worked as a media adviser for the Liberals, the Nationals and Derryn Hinch's Justice Party. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEADSurf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View source
Says he has a background in community engagement and communications across regional and metropolitan Australia. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CALLUM-WHITEHEADLiberal Victoria, "Callum Whitehead — Liberal candidate profile" (27 July 2026)View source
Was appointed president of the Leopold Cricket Club for the 2026-27 season, in the week of the article. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEADSurf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View source
Says he supports the Leopold Football Club's Under 18 program and volunteers with the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CALLUM-WHITEHEADLiberal Victoria, "Callum Whitehead — Liberal candidate profile" (27 July 2026)View source
Is a Leopold resident with a young family, and is involved with Leopold's football, cricket and fishing clubs. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEADSurf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View source
His father was a police officer. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEADSurf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View source
Says he was raised in Shepparton and has made Leopold home. SSelf-stated — LIBV-CALLUM-WHITEHEADLiberal Victoria, "Callum Whitehead — Liberal candidate profile" (27 July 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.
Reducing crime is one of his key priorities, citing break-ins affecting family members and community safety in a tourist destination.
Says Bellarine residents "have just had enough" and are not being heard in Spring Street, and wants to be "a strong local voice".
Presents himself as "just an average person" and "a normal person running for parliament, not someone who's going to sit in an office".
Names safer communities, better local infrastructure and greater opportunity 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
Whitehead has made no cost-of-living statement in the sources found.
Crime and community safety
Named reducing crime as a key priority, citing personal experience of break-ins in his family and his father's career as a police officer.
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
Whitehead 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
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
The Coalition proposes lifting the speed limit to 110km/h on the Princes Freeway and Highway between Laverton and Colac, saving about five minutes on a one-way trip between Geelong and Melbourne; the local report attributes no quotes to Whitehead.
The report notes a Monash University projection of one additional fatality and five serious injuries every four years at the higher limit.
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
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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.
Crime and break-ins on the Bellarine Peninsula, including in tourist areas. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEADSurf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View source
The Coalition's 110km/h Princes Freeway proposal affects Geelong-Melbourne commuters from the peninsula. RReported — BELLARINETIMES-110Bellarine Times, "Liberals defend safety of 110kmh freeway plan"View source
Whitehead's crime focus aligns with the Coalition's bail and sentencing commitments, and he has appeared with Coalition figures on the 110km/h freeway announcement. RReported — SCT-WHITEHEAD, ABC-BAIL-2026, BELLARINETIMES-110Surf Coast Times, "New Liberal challenger takes aim at Bellarine"View sourceABC News, "Victorian opposition announces bail, sentencing policy including 'one strike' bail rule"View sourceBellarine Times, "Liberals defend safety of 110kmh freeway plan"View source
No point of divergence was found. 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
He is not among the candidates in the 2022 Bellarine state election; the Liberal candidate was Donnie Grigau (33.12%). VVerified — WIKI-BELL-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Bellarine"View source
No earlier campaign was mentioned in local reporting, so this appears to be his first state contest.
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.
Whitehead has not previously contested an election, so he has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Liberals' 2022 Bellarine candidate cleared 4% with 33.12%.