Legislative Assembly · District of Dandenong
Catherine D'Arcy
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Dandenong›
The district of Dandenong covers Dandenong, Doveton and Eumemmerring plus parts of Dandenong North, Dandenong South, Endeavour Hills, Noble Park, Noble Park North and Rowville in Melbourne's south-east, within the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region. It is a highly multicultural area and has been a safe Labor seat since the 1970s, first proclaimed in 1904.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Homelessness, housing stress, poverty, racism and economic neglect.
"Protect public housing and advocate for better affordable healthcare."
Wants to be "a strong and compassionate voice" for a multicultural community, with attention to youth, families and diverse populations.
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 poverty and economic neglect as priorities.
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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14; nothing is attributed to D'Arcy personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Names homelessness and housing stress as priorities and pledges to protect public housing.
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 D'Arcy 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 D'Arcy 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 D'Arcy personally.
Health and healthcare access
Advocates better affordable healthcare, and works as a mental health worker.
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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban new coal and gas projects; nothing is attributed to D'Arcy personally.
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 D'Arcy 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 priorities (public housing, affordable healthcare, anti-racism) sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-CD, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Catherine D'Arcy — Candidate for Dandenong"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-CDAustralian Greens Victoria, "Catherine D'Arcy — Candidate for Dandenong"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Dandenong results; the Greens' candidates were Rhonda Garad (7.4%) in 2018 and Matthew Kirwan (8.1%) in 2022. VVerified — WIKI-DAND-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Dandenong"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.
D'Arcy has not previously contested an election, so she has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Greens' 2022 Dandenong candidate polled 8.1%, above the 4% mark.