Legislative Assembly · District of Brunswick
Adam Pulford
Last verified 23 Sept 2026
Seat context — Brunswick›
Brunswick is a compact (14 km²) inner-north Melbourne seat covering Brunswick, Brunswick East, Carlton North, Fitzroy North, Princes Hill and part of Brunswick West. It was held by the Australian Greens' Tim Read, who increased his margin to 13.5% at the 2022 election, reportedly the safest Greens-held seat at any level of Australian government. Read announced in January 2026 that he would not recontest after a metastatic cancer diagnosis, and died on 19 September 2026, aged 64, while still the sitting MP — the seat has been vacant since. Merri-bek councillor Adam Pulford won a three-way Greens preselection contest in March 2026 to become the party's candidate for the November 2026 general election.
Background
Describes having "over a decade of experience working across climate, human rights and First Nations non-profits." SSelf-stated — PULFORD-STORYAdam Pulford for Brunswick, "My Story"View source
As of the March 2026 preselection announcement, his day job was reported as press secretary for the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
Alongside that role, has served as an elected Merri-bek City councillor (Warrk-Warrk Ward) since first elected in 2020, re-elected 2024. VVerified — MERRIBEK-PULFORDMerri-bek City Council, "Mayor and Councillors (Cr Adam Pulford profile)"View source
Prior to this candidacy worked as an adviser to former federal Greens leaders Adam Bandt and Richard Di Natale. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
First elected to then-Moreland City Council's North-East Ward in October 2020. VVerified — VEC-MORELAND2020Victorian Electoral Commission, "2020 Council Election Results — Moreland City Council (North-East Ward)" (2020)View source
Re-elected in October 2024 to the newly created, single-member Warrk-Warrk Ward following Merri-bek's council restructure. VVerified — VEC-MERRIBEK2024PULFORDVictorian Electoral Commission, "2024 Council Election Results — Merri-bek City Council (Warrk-Warrk Ward)" (2024)View source
Served as Mayor of Merri-bek City Council from 15 November 2023 to 20 November 2024, elected 7–3 over then-Deputy Mayor Helen Davidson. VVerified — WP-MERRIBEKMAYORS, BV-MAYORELECTEDWikipedia, "List of mayors of Merri-bek"View sourceBrunswick Voice, "Greens hold sway as Pulford is elected Mayor" (15 Nov 2023)View source
As Mayor, prioritised pedestrian and cyclist road safety and public transport, citing post-COVID shifts in travel patterns and rising local density. RReported — BV-MAYORELECTEDBrunswick Voice, "Greens hold sway as Pulford is elected Mayor" (15 Nov 2023)View source
Currently holds council portfolio responsibility for Climate and Nature, Economic Development, and Transport and Getting Around, and sits on the CEO Employment and Remuneration Matters Committee, the Friends of Aileu Community Committee, and the LGBTIQA+ Reference Group, as well as representing Merri-bek on the Municipal Association of Victoria. VVerified — MERRIBEK-PULFORDMerri-bek City Council, "Mayor and Councillors (Cr Adam Pulford profile)"View source
In December 2025 served a 14-day council suspension after an independent arbiter found he breached the councillor code of conduct over a speech accusing a fellow councillor of reneging on a rainbow-crossings pledge — detailed further in Track Record. RReported — STAROBS-SUSPENSION, BV-SUSPENSIONStar Observer, "Gay Melb Councillor Suspended After Speech Calling Out Broken Promises To LGBTQ+ Community" (4 Dec 2025)View sourceBrunswick Voice, "Pulford suspended over 'robust debate'" (5 Dec 2025)View source
Won the March 2026 Greens preselection for Brunswick in a three-way contest against fellow Merri-bek councillors Ella Svensson and Jay Iwasaki. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
Originally from Darwin, via Adelaide. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
Had lived in Merri-bek for most of the 15 years prior to the March 2026 preselection announcement. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
Describes himself as "a renter living in Brunswick East with my husband Niccolò" and their dog Frankie. SSelf-stated — PULFORD-STORYAdam Pulford for Brunswick, "My Story"View source
His campaign site credits his council tenure with "standing up for Palestine and queer rights," alongside advocacy for more bike lanes, parks and greenery, and arts support. SSelf-stated — PULFORD-STORYAdam Pulford for Brunswick, "My Story"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.
Affordable rents and housing, fully-funded public schools, hospitals and health services, and representatives who actually work for people, not corporate profits.
We can act on climate by getting off coal and gas and ensuring Victoria is powered by renewables, while making the big polluters pay for the climate damage.
Brunswick deserves a progressive voice who will take on the fight for them on the cost of living, housing and climate action.
"Under Labor and the Liberals, 1 in 3 big corporations pay no tax. We'll tax them, end corporate price gouging and fund the things everyone needs."
Says it would be a privilege to fight for the community as the next MP for Brunswick, continuing Tim Read's legacy in State Parliament.
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
"Life has become unaffordable. Housing, healthcare, groceries and bills – we're all paying more and getting less."
"Under Labor and the Liberals, 1 in 3 big corporations pay no tax. We'll tax them, end corporate price gouging and fund the things everyone needs."
Crime and community safety
Says that rather than standing up to "the likes of One Nation," the major parties "pander to their fearmongering by locking up kids and cracking down on our right to protest" — an implicit position against youth incarceration and anti-protest crackdowns, though no explicit bail-law policy is stated.
Housing affordability and supply
Names affordable rents and housing as a core campaign pillar, citing the Greens' parliamentary record of "renting reforms including banning no-grounds evictions and rental bidding" and a strengthened empty-homes tax.
As a self-described renter in Brunswick East, frames housing affordability partly through personal experience.
State government debt and fiscal management
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Currently holds the Transport and Getting Around portfolio on Merri-bek City Council, alongside Climate and Nature and Economic Development.
Says he has helped deliver "more bike lanes, parks and greenery" as a Merri-bek councillor and Mayor since 2020.
Cites the Greens' statewide parliamentary record of "$150 million for bike lanes and pedestrian safety" as part of the party's track record on his own campaign site.
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
Names "fully-funded public schools" among his priorities, bundled with health, without further school-specific detail.
Health and healthcare access
Names fully-funded "hospitals and health services" among his priorities, without GP-access or ambulance-ramping-specific detail.
Urban planning and housing density
Says he has helped deliver "more bike lanes, parks and greenery" and increased support for the arts as a Merri-bek councillor and Mayor; his current council portfolios don't include a dedicated planning responsibility, and no specific zoning, density or heritage statement was found.
Climate and energy transition
"We can act on climate by getting off coal and gas and ensuring Victoria is powered by renewables, while making the big polluters pay for the climate damage."
Currently holds the Climate and Nature portfolio on Merri-bek City Council.
Cites over a decade of professional experience working across climate, human rights and First Nations non-profits.
Cites the Greens' statewide parliamentary record of "$60 million to protect nature and get homes and businesses off gas."
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Cites the Greens having "proudly supported the first Treaty in Australia" as part of the party's parliamentary record on his own campaign site; no candidate-specific statement on the Gellung Warl body or future local treaties was found.
Cites professional experience working across First Nations non-profits as part of his background.
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.
His public platform tracks closely to the Victorian Greens' statewide messaging — on cost-of-living, housing affordability, the coal/gas phase-out and corporate tax fairness — echoing standard party talking points used across other Greens candidate sites. SSelf-stated — PULFORD-HOME, PULFORD-STORYAdam Pulford for Brunswick, "Homepage"View sourceAdam Pulford for Brunswick, "My Story"View source
His most distinctive, personally-verifiable material is his Merri-bek council record — councillor and Mayor since 2020, with current portfolios in Climate and Nature, Economic Development, and Transport and Getting Around — giving him direct standing on climate and transport beyond generic party lines; no equivalent personal specificity was found on housing or planning despite that being a natural fit for an inner-north councillor. VVerified — MERRIBEK-PULFORD, PULFORD-STORYMerri-bek City Council, "Mayor and Councillors (Cr Adam Pulford profile)"View sourceAdam Pulford for Brunswick, "My Story"View source
His campaign site's "Greens track record" section lists party/parliamentary achievements (renting reforms, the empty-homes tax, bike-lane funding, Treaty support) rather than his own actions — he currently leans on the party's record more than a personal one in campaign material.
Track record & prior candidacies
Elected to Moreland City Council's North-East Ward (a four-member proportional ward) at the October 2020 local government election, with 5,618 first-preference votes (16.54%), elected 2nd of 4 councillors. VVerified — VEC-MORELAND2020Victorian Electoral Commission, "2020 Council Election Results — Moreland City Council (North-East Ward)" (2020)View source
Moreland City Council was renamed Merri-bek in 2022; for the October 2024 election the council restructured from multi-member wards to 11 single-member wards. VVerified — WP-MERRIBEKMAYORSWikipedia, "List of mayors of Merri-bek"View source
Re-elected in October 2024 to the new single-member Warrk-Warrk Ward (covering Brunswick East, where he had relocated), with 4,427 first-preference votes (57.09%) against two other candidates — elected outright on primaries. VVerified — VEC-MERRIBEK2024PULFORDVictorian Electoral Commission, "2024 Council Election Results — Merri-bek City Council (Warrk-Warrk Ward)" (2024)View source
As of September 2026 remains the sitting Merri-bek councillor for Warrk-Warrk Ward — running for state Parliament while still holding council office. VVerified — MERRIBEK-PULFORDMerri-bek City Council, "Mayor and Councillors (Cr Adam Pulford profile)"View source
No record found of any prior state or federal parliamentary term — only local government office; he did contest a federal seat previously without winning (see Previous Candidacies).
Served as Mayor of Merri-bek City Council from 15 November 2023 to 20 November 2024 (a one-year term), while representing North-East Ward. VVerified — WP-MERRIBEKMAYORSWikipedia, "List of mayors of Merri-bek"View source
Current council-assigned portfolio areas: Climate and Nature; Economic Development; Transport and Getting Around. VVerified — MERRIBEK-PULFORDMerri-bek City Council, "Mayor and Councillors (Cr Adam Pulford profile)"View source
Committee and representative roles: the CEO Employment and Remuneration Matters Committee, the Friends of Aileu Community Committee, Merri-bek's representative to the Municipal Association of Victoria, and the LGBTIQA+ Reference Group. VVerified — MERRIBEK-PULFORDMerri-bek City Council, "Mayor and Councillors (Cr Adam Pulford profile)"View source
No Victorian Greens statewide party leadership or organisational office (e.g. state convenor) found. He has worked professionally as an adviser to former Greens federal leaders Adam Bandt and Richard Di Natale, and as press secretary for the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria — employment, not elected party office.
At an April 2025 council meeting, spoke in favour of a motion to spend $45,000 installing rainbow crossings; it passed with every councillor voting yes except one. RReported — STAROBS-SUSPENSIONStar Observer, "Gay Melb Councillor Suspended After Speech Calling Out Broken Promises To LGBTQ+ Community" (4 Dec 2025)View source
In that speech, publicly accused the dissenting councillor of signing a pre-election pledge supporting rainbow crossings then voting against them, saying the councillor was "stirring up division and anger over queer issues." RReported — STAROBS-SUSPENSIONStar Observer, "Gay Melb Councillor Suspended After Speech Calling Out Broken Promises To LGBTQ+ Community" (4 Dec 2025)View source
Following a complaint, a state-appointed independent arbiter ruled on 21 November 2025 that he had breached three sections of the Model Councillor Code of Conduct over that speech, and he was suspended from council for 14 days from early December 2025. RReported — STAROBS-SUSPENSION, BV-SUSPENSIONStar Observer, "Gay Melb Councillor Suspended After Speech Calling Out Broken Promises To LGBTQ+ Community" (4 Dec 2025)View sourceBrunswick Voice, "Pulford suspended over 'robust debate'" (5 Dec 2025)View source
The Victorian Greens publicly called for a review of the councillor code-of-conduct arbitration process in response, arguing it lets the state government politicise local councils. RReported — STAROBS-SUSPENSIONStar Observer, "Gay Melb Councillor Suspended After Speech Calling Out Broken Promises To LGBTQ+ Community" (4 Dec 2025)View source
As the party's most senior candidate (sitting Mayor at the time), headed the Victorian Greens' 8-candidate ticket for the Brunswick-area wards at the October 2024 Merri-bek election, as the party campaigned for outright council control. RReported — BV-COUNCILTICKETBrunswick Voice, "Greens aim for control of council" (31 May 2024)View source
Ran as the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Wills (covering Brunswick/Coburg) at the 2019 Australian federal election; did not win — the seat was retained by Labor's Peter Khalil. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
His first council win was Moreland's North-East Ward in October 2020 — his only other prior electoral history is this same council career; no other ward, council, or Legislative Council run found. VVerified — VEC-MORELAND2020Victorian Electoral Commission, "2020 Council Election Results — Moreland City Council (North-East Ward)" (2020)View source
Won the Victorian Greens' internal preselection for Brunswick (announced 13 March 2026) in a three-way contest against fellow sitting Merri-bek councillors Ella Svensson and Jay Iwasaki. RReported — BV-PRESELECTIONBrunswick Voice, "Greens opt for Pulford to contest state election" (13 Mar 2026)View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Adam Pulford would be eligible for Victorian state election public campaign funding if he receives at least 4% of first-preference votes in Brunswick, or is elected. Funding is then calculated as the lesser of his audited campaign-expenditure statement or the statutory per-vote maximum, currently $7.70 per first-preference vote for Legislative Assembly candidates, indexed annually on 1 July per the Consumer Price Index.
The Victorian Greens are a long-established, properly VEC-registered party, so his candidacy carries no registration risk to this eligibility. Separately, the 1 July 2026 indexation round set the political-donation disclosure threshold at $1,290 and the general donation cap at $5,190, rising to $7,740 from 29 November 2026 (after the election), following the Electoral Further Amendment Act 2026 — donations to and by his campaign are subject to these caps and disclosure rules regardless of his public-funding eligibility (per the VEC's own funding guidance, accessed 2026-09-23).