Legislative Assembly · District of Croydon
Lini Fernando
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Croydon›
Croydon is a 41.99 km² Legislative Assembly district in Melbourne's outer east, part of the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region. Created in the 2014 redistribution, it has been held by the Liberal Party continuously since then, currently by David Hodgett. At the 2022 election Hodgett retained Croydon on a 51.4%-48.6% two-party-preferred margin over Labor. Hodgett is retiring at the 2026 election; the Liberal Party has preselected Grant Hutchinson to replace him, so none of the candidates is the sitting member.
Background
Describes Croydon as home and herself as a local mother raising a young family. SSelf-stated — GREENS-FERNANDOAustralian Greens Victoria, "Lini Fernando, Candidate for Croydon"View source
Born in Sri Lanka, she migrated to Australia at the age of two because of the escalating civil war. RReported — SM-FERNLilydale Star Mail, "From volunteering to the ballot: Lini Fernando announces candidacy for Croydon"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 housing, lower living costs, strong public services and real climate action.
Says "social justice and environmental justice go hand in hand" and wants to be "a warm, engaged representative who brings people together".
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 lower living costs as a priority.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make public transport permanently free and freeze rents for two years.
Crime and community safety
Says that as a lawyer she has seen that "tough on crime" policy does not work and that rehabilitation is key.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14.
Housing affordability and supply
Names affordable housing as a priority.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would build 88,000 public homes with $4 billion initial investment.
State government debt and fiscal management
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise land tax to 5.3% for investors with $5 million or more of residential property; nothing is attributed to Fernando personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make trains, trams and buses permanently free; nothing is attributed to Fernando personally.
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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding; nothing is attributed to Fernando personally.
Health and healthcare access
Names strong public services as a priority.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would fund 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names real climate action as a priority, and her legal background includes environmental law.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban new coal and gas projects.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would back the Statewide Treaty Bill without amendment; nothing is attributed to Fernando 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.
Her four priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-FERNANDO, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Lini Fernando, Candidate for Croydon"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
Her profile mentions no prior candidacy. SSelf-stated — GREENS-FERNANDOAustralian Greens Victoria, "Lini Fernando, Candidate for Croydon"View source
A roundup of the Croydon field says none of the five candidates has prior electoral experience. RReported — EM-CROYThe Eastern Melburnian, "Victorian Election 2026: Eastern Melbourne Candidates"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Croydon results; the Greens' candidates were Caleb O'Flynn (9.2%) in 2018 and Brendan Powell (10.8%) in 2022. VVerified — WIKI-CROY-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Croydon (Victoria)"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.
Fernando has not previously contested an election, so she has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Greens' 2022 Croydon candidate polled 10.8%, above the 4% mark.