Legislative Assembly · District of Bentleigh
Nick Staikos
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Bentleigh›
The district of Bentleigh covers about 25 square kilometres of southern Melbourne, taking in the suburbs of Bentleigh, Hampton East, McKinnon and Moorabbin, plus parts of Cheltenham, Bentleigh East, Brighton East and Ormond. It is held by Labor's Nick Staikos, who won 58.04% of the two-party-preferred vote against the Liberal candidate at the 2022 election, a margin of roughly 16 points. Bentleigh has a long-standing reputation as a bellwether seat, having elected a member of the governing party in all but two elections in its history.
Background
Worked for ANZ Bank while studying at Monash University, and worked for state and federal members of parliament. VVerified — PARL-STAIKOSParliament of Victoria, "Nick Staikos - Member profile"View source
Wikipedia says he graduated from Monash University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
Served as a Glen Eira City councillor. VVerified — PARL-STAIKOSParliament of Victoria, "Nick Staikos - Member profile"View source
Wikipedia says he was elected to Glen Eira Council in 2005 at 19, its youngest-ever councillor, and resigned in 2009 when legislation barred parliamentary staff from holding council seats. RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
His website lists him as President of Godfrey Street Community House and an honorary life member of the East Bentleigh Senior Citizens Club. SSelf-stated — STAIKOS-SITENick Staikos MP, "About Nick"View source
His profile calls him a lifelong resident of the Bentleigh electorate; his electorate office is at 723 Centre Road, Bentleigh East. VVerified — PARL-STAIKOSParliament of Victoria, "Nick Staikos - Member profile"View source
Born at Moorabbin Hospital in 1986 and of Greek descent. RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"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.
Names education, teacher support and school resourcing as his primary area of passion.
Now leads the government's housing and homelessness agenda as Minister for Housing, Building and Precincts and Minister for Homelessness.
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
Labor's 2026 platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes a vehicle registration rebate of up to $186, half-price public transport fares from June to December 2026 and free midday electricity from October 2026; nothing is attributed to Staikos personally.
As Minister for Consumer Affairs from December 2024 to April 2026 he held the consumer protection portfolio.
Crime and community safety
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes the 2025 bail law changes; nothing is attributed to Staikos personally.
Housing affordability and supply
With the Premier he announced a $24.8 million plan to end rough sleeping: coordinated by-name lists, assertive outreach workers in every area of the state, and Housing First tenancy supports for an extra 1,000 people at risk.
The 2026-27 Budget includes $47 million to tackle homelessness, $26 million of it for rough-sleeping outreach.
Announced that Madden House would share in $15 million of 2026-27 Budget funding with four other supportive-housing sites in Melbourne, Seddon, Shepparton and Mildura.
Is described as Victoria's first Minister for Homelessness.
State government debt and fiscal management
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, projects operating surpluses of $700 million in 2025-26 and $1 billion in 2026-27; nothing is attributed to Staikos personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
His website credits him with level-crossing removals at Centre, North and McKinnon Roads, construction of Southland Station and enhanced bus services.
Was Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop from April to August 2026.
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
Says education is his primary passion, with emphasis on teacher support and school resourcing.
His website cites more than $250 million of local school upgrades and a Holmesglen TAFE student hub in Moorabbin.
Health and healthcare access
His website cites Moorabbin Hospital cancer diagnostics and outpatient facilities and funding for the East Bentleigh Ambulance Branch.
Urban planning and housing density
As Minister for Housing, Building and Precincts he holds the precincts portfolio, added to his title in the August 2026 ministry.
Climate and energy transition
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, targets 65% renewables by 2030 and 95% by 2035; nothing is attributed to Staikos personally.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, cites implementation of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025; nothing is attributed to Staikos personally.
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.
As a Cabinet minister, Staikos's housing and homelessness announcements are the government's own policy, so his positions and Labor's coincide.
Wikipedia reports that he moved from Labor Right to Labor Left shortly after the 2022 election, with six colleagues. RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (2020), to the Premier (2022-2026) and for Multicultural Affairs (2023); Deputy Government Whip from 2018. RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Local Government (December 2024-April 2026); Minister for Housing and Building and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop (April-August 2026). RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
Minister for Housing, Building and Precincts, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Seniors from 4 August 2026. VVerified — PARL-STAIKOSParliament of Victoria, "Nick Staikos - Member profile"View source
Announced the $24.8 million rough-sleeping plan with the Premier in September 2026. SSelf-stated — PREMIER-HOMELESSPremier of Victoria, "Comprehensive New Plan To Rebuild Lives And End Rough Sleeping"View source
Reported to have been a Secretary of the State Parliamentary Labor Party. RReported — WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
Won Bentleigh in 2014 (by 0.8%), then in 2018 with 50.2% of first preferences and 61.9% two-party-preferred against the Liberals' Asher Judah. VVerified — WIKI-BENT-RES, WIKI-STAIKOSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Bentleigh"View sourceWikipedia, "Nick Staikos"View source
Won again in 2022 with 45.8% of first preferences and 58.0% two-party-preferred against the Liberals' Debbie Taylor-Haynes. VVerified — WIKI-BENT-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Bentleigh"View source
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.
As the sitting member, Staikos met the "elected" limb of the test at the 2022 election, so his Bentleigh campaign qualified for public funding.