Legislative Assembly · District of Frankston
Katie Goulas
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Frankston›
Frankston is a Labor-held but historically volatile seat on Melbourne's south-eastern/Mornington Peninsula fringe, having swung between Liberal, Labor and an independent (Geoff Shaw) multiple times since the 1960s. Paul Edbrooke has held it for Labor since 2014 and won a roughly 8.7-point two-candidate-preferred margin in 2022. He was promoted to cabinet in an April 2026 reshuffle (Minister for Consumer Affairs, Cost of Living, Renters, and the state's first-ever Minister for Men and Boys), then reassigned in a second reshuffle in early August 2026 — after Jacinta Allan resigned as Premier on 28 July 2026 and Ben Carroll succeeded her — to Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Crime Prevention, and Minister for Multicultural Affairs; the Men and Boys portfolio was abolished in that reshuffle. His continued cabinet role through two reshuffles is a strong signal he intends to recontest. Update (2026-09-23): Liberal candidate Bree Ambry and Greens candidate Katie Goulas have both since been confirmed for Frankston, alongside independent Chrysten Abraham and Animal Justice's Julie Harman, giving 2026 a six-candidate field matching or exceeding the 2022 contest.
Background
Describes herself as a justice advocate, retail worker and Frankston local studying a Master of Justice and Criminology, per her Victorian Greens profile. SSelf-stated — GREENS-GOULASAustralian Greens Victoria, "Katie Goulas, Candidate for Frankston"View source
Her employer and university are not named, and her work was not independently confirmed.
Says she volunteers with children in the juvenile detention system. SSelf-stated — GREENS-GOULASAustralian Greens Victoria, "Katie Goulas, Candidate for Frankston"View source
Her profile mentions no council term, union role or party office.
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
"I am advocating for affordable housing, health services, safer communities and strong climate action."
Told Bayside News: "When services like healthcare, education and affordable housing are limited, the repercussions are vast."
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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make public transport permanently free and freeze rents for two years; nothing is attributed to Goulas personally.
Crime and community safety
Names safer communities as a priority and volunteers with children in juvenile detention; she is studying justice and criminology.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 and favour community corrections and restorative justice over incarceration.
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 and freeze rents for two years.
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 Goulas 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 Goulas 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
Names education among the services that, when limited, have wide repercussions.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding.
Health and healthcare access
Names accessible health 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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes 88,000 public homes; nothing on planning is attributed to Goulas personally.
Climate and energy transition
Names strong climate action as a priority, and values the local beach and nature.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban all 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 Goulas 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.
Goulas's priorities (housing, health, safer communities, climate) sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-GOULAS, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Katie Goulas, Candidate for Frankston"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found. Her distinctive content is her youth-justice volunteering and criminology study.
Track record & prior candidacies
Her candidate profile mentions no prior campaign. SSelf-stated — GREENS-GOULASAustralian Greens Victoria, "Katie Goulas, Candidate for Frankston"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2022 Frankston result; the Greens' 2022 candidate was Emily Green (12.7%). VVerified — WIKI-FRANKSTON-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Frankston"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.
Goulas has not previously contested an election, so she has no funding entitlement from an earlier contest. The Greens' 2022 Frankston candidate polled 12.7%, well above the 4% mark.