Legislative Assembly · District of Bendigo West
Ellen Morgan
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — Bendigo West›
Bendigo West covers about 1,524 km² centred on the city of Bendigo, including Castlemaine, Maldon, Eaglehawk, Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat. It has been a safe Labor seat almost continuously since 1924, apart from a single Liberal term from 1992 to 1996. At the 2022 election, sitting Labor MP Maree Edwards won re-election with a two-party-preferred margin of 14.6% (64.6% to 35.4%) over the Liberal candidate. Edwards announced on 27–28 August 2026 that she will not recontest the seat in 2026, and Labor announced health policy professional Brenton Baldwin as its replacement candidate on 18 September 2026.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Proportionate, rehabilitation-focused youth justice, stronger community supports and healthcare reform, better aged care access, fair regional development, cost-of-living relief and regional jobs, free speech and orderly immigration.
"Her work... has given her firsthand insight into how gaps in policy, access to services and regional investment affect everyday lives."
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 cost-of-living relief.
The One Nation Victoria platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would remove insurance duty on premiums and end renewable subsidies.
Crime and community safety
Wants youth justice that is proportionate and focused on rehabilitation.
Housing affordability and supply
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would ban foreign ownership of residential property.
State government debt and fiscal management
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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
Wants sustainable education and youth services.
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would establish elected school boards with a parent majority.
Health and healthcare access
Wants stronger community supports, healthcare reform and improved aged care access.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, opposes Net Zero by 2050.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would oppose and repeal Victoria's Statewide Treaty framework.
Regional and rural Victoria
Wants fair regional economic development and regional employment opportunities.
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.
Their themes sit within One Nation's statewide platform. SSelf-stated — ON-EM, ET-ON-POLICYOne Nation Victoria, "Ellen Morgan for Bendigo West"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "One Nation policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
Wikipedia's 2026 candidates table lists them as One Nation's candidate for this seat. RReported — WIKI-2026CANDSWikipedia, "Candidates of the 2026 Victorian state election"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
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.
Ellen Morgan has not previously contested a state election on the profile's account, and One Nation's earlier Victorian results in this seat were not retrieved.