Legislative Assembly · District of Frankston
Paul Edbrooke
Last verified 24 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
Before entering Parliament, spent about fourteen years as a career firefighter with the Country Fire Authority, based at Frankston Fire Station from 2001. VVerified — UFU-BIOUnited Firefighters Union of Australia, Victoria Branch, "Paul Edbrooke MP: From Firefighter to Emergency Services Minister"View source
Also worked earlier as a teacher, mostly in Special Developmental Schools. SSelf-stated — EDBROOKE-SITEPaul Edbrooke MP, "pauledbrooke.com"View source
Current occupation: Member for Frankston since 29 November 2014; currently Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Crime Prevention and Minister for Multicultural Affairs (since an early-August 2026 reshuffle). VVerified — PARLVIC-EDBROOKE, PREMIER-EDBROOKEParliament of Victoria, "Paul Edbrooke — Member page"View sourcePremier of Victoria, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
A United Firefighters Union member during his firefighting career. VVerified — UFU-BIOUnited Firefighters Union of Australia, Victoria Branch, "Paul Edbrooke MP: From Firefighter to Emergency Services Minister"View source
Reported to have served as a UFU shop steward until his 2014 election, though this specific title is not independently confirmed beyond his general union membership. RReported — WP-EDBROOKEWikipedia, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
Chairs the $63 million Frankston Transit Precinct Taskforce's implementation governance board, alongside the CEOs of South East Water, Peninsula Health, Chisholm TAFE and Monash University. VVerified — PREMIER-FRANKSTON-TASKFORCEPremier of Victoria, "Board To Lead Frankston Station Precinct Transformation"View source
Born in Traralgon and raised in the Latrobe Valley, where his parents worked in the coal mines; his family was active in the Salvation Army, with his father a Corps Sergeant Major. RReported — WP-EDBROOKEWikipedia, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
Moved to Frankston in 2001 when posted to Frankston Fire Station and now lives in nearby Mount Eliza. SSelf-stated — EDBROOKE-SITEPaul Edbrooke MP, "pauledbrooke.com"View source
Reported to have attended Monash University. RReported — WP-EDBROOKEWikipedia, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
His own campaign site states he holds degrees in Education and Arts, majoring in History, Politics and Sociology. SSelf-stated — EDBROOKE-SITEPaul Edbrooke MP, "pauledbrooke.com"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.
As the newly appointed Minister for Crime Prevention, has prioritised early intervention with young people, citing Victoria's Violence Reduction Unit and declining youth-offending rates: "Early intervention can change a young person's path and make our communities safer."
Continues to chair the Frankston Station Precinct transformation's implementation board as the seat's local MP.
Delivered the $1.1 billion Peninsula University Hospital (formerly Frankston Hospital) redevelopment, which opened in January 2026.
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
As Minister for Cost of Living from April to August 2026 (a newly created portfolio), delivered a statewide package including 20% off vehicle registration (up to $186 back) and moves toward free and half-price public transport.
The package also included free kindergarten, free TAFE, and free dental checks for children.
Crime and community safety
As the current Minister for Crime Prevention (since August 2026), has emphasised early intervention with young people, pointing to Victoria's Violence Reduction Unit (established late 2025) and declining youth-offending rates.
"Early intervention can change a young person's path and make our communities safer."
Cited $23 million in early-intervention funding, per one outlet's report on the policy.
Also announced measures targeting repeat serious offenders in his capacity as minister.
Housing affordability and supply
As Minister for Renters from April to August 2026, delivered the Portable Rental Bonds Scheme, letting renters transfer an existing bond to a new tenancy instead of paying a second bond up front.
State government debt and fiscal management
As Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer during 2023, spoke in a budget take-note debate acknowledging "hard decisions" made amid post-pandemic fiscal pressure.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Chairs the implementation governance board for the $63 million Frankston Station Precinct transformation, alongside the CEOs of South East Water, Peninsula Health, Chisholm TAFE and Monash University.
Has championed removing the Frankston line's level crossing.
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
Has secured a series of Frankston-area school and TAFE investments as local MP, including upgrades under the "Building the Education State" program and a Chisholm TAFE investment in Frankston.
Health and healthcare access
Delivered the $1.1 billion Peninsula University Hospital (formerly Frankston Hospital) redevelopment as local MP, which opened in January 2026 with 130 additional beds and a new 12-level tower.
The redevelopment also added a rooftop helipad and 15 new operating theatres, with capacity for 35,000 more patients a year.
Urban planning and housing density
As local MP, has promoted revitalisation of the Frankston CBD, including safety-focused measures for the town centre.
Climate and energy transition
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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.
The Frankston Station Precinct transformation ($63m), which he chairs the implementation board for. VVerified — PREMIER-FRANKSTON-TASKFORCEPremier of Victoria, "Board To Lead Frankston Station Precinct Transformation"View source
Delivery of the $1.1 billion Peninsula University Hospital redevelopment. VVerified — PREMIER-HOSPITALPremier of Victoria, "New Hospital For Frankston: Delivered"View source
Removal of the Frankston line's level crossing. VVerified — PREMIER-LEVELCROSSINGPremier of Victoria, "Making The Frankston Line Level Crossing Free"View source
A series of local school and TAFE upgrades across Frankston. VVerified — PREMIER-EDU-FRANKSTON, PREMIER-TAFE-FRANKSTONPremier of Victoria, "Building The Education State In Frankston And Carrum"View sourcePremier of Victoria, "Investment To Transform TAFE In Frankston"View source
Runs on Labor's statewide platform; the one distinctive, personally-associated policy area was his April–August 2026 tenure as Victoria's first-ever Minister for Men and Boys. VVerified — THEDAILYAUS-MENBOYSThe Daily Aus, "VIC govt announced first Minister for Boys and Men" (16 Apr 2026)View source
That newly created portfolio focused on boys' and men's mental health, emotional development and respectful relationships. VVerified — THEDAILYAUS-MENBOYSThe Daily Aus, "VIC govt announced first Minister for Boys and Men" (16 Apr 2026)View source
It was abolished in the August 2026 reshuffle that moved him to Police, Emergency Services, Crime Prevention and Multicultural Affairs. VVerified — RESHUFFLE-AUGBanksia Strategic Partners, "Premier Carroll's New Ministry" (4 Aug 2026)View source
Track record & prior candidacies
First elected 29 November 2014, defeating Liberal candidate Michael Lamb; held Frankston again at the 2018 and 2022 elections. VVerified — PARLVIC-EDBROOKEParliament of Victoria, "Paul Edbrooke — Member page"View source
2014 result: 35.0% primary vote, 50.5% two-candidate-preferred, a Labor gain from Liberal. 2018 result: 45.85% primary, 59.74% TPP. 2022 result: 41.6% primary, 58.7% TPP — figures from Wikipedia's electoral-results page, not independently cross-checked against the VEC's own historical results this pass. RReported — WP-FRANKSTON-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Frankston"View source
Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services, appointed 3 December 2018. VVerified — BAYSIDE-PARLSECBayside News, "Edbrooke promoted to police gig" (3 Dec 2018)View source
Later served as Parliamentary Secretary for Bushfire Recovery and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer during the Andrews Government's third term (2022–2023). RReported — WP-3RDANDREWSWikipedia, "Third Andrews ministry"View source
Exact start/end dates for each of those two roles were not independently confirmed against a primary parliamentary record this pass. RReported — WP-3RDANDREWSWikipedia, "Third Andrews ministry"View source
First appointed to cabinet on 15 April 2026, as Minister for Cost of Living (a newly created portfolio), Minister for Renters (Victoria's first), Minister for Consumer Affairs, and the state's first-ever Minister for Men and Boys. VVerified — ABC-RESHUFFLEABC News, "Victoria names inaugural minister for cost of living, renters in reshuffle" (15 Apr 2026)View source
Reassigned in an early-August 2026 reshuffle — after Ben Carroll succeeded Jacinta Allan as Premier on 28 July 2026 — to his current portfolio: Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Crime Prevention and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. VVerified — ABC-CARROLL, RESHUFFLE-AUG, PARLVIC-EDBROOKE, PREMIER-EDBROOKEABC News, "Ben Carroll elected Victorian Premier as Jacinta Allan resigns" (28 July 2026)View sourceBanksia Strategic Partners, "Premier Carroll's New Ministry" (4 Aug 2026)View sourceParliament of Victoria, "Paul Edbrooke — Member page"View sourcePremier of Victoria, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
He took over the police and emergency services responsibilities from Anthony Carbines; the Men and Boys portfolio was abolished in this reshuffle. VVerified — RESHUFFLE-AUGBanksia Strategic Partners, "Premier Carroll's New Ministry" (4 Aug 2026)View source
Also chairs the (non-parliamentary) Frankston Transit Precinct Taskforce; no record found of him chairing any parliamentary standing or select committee. RReported — PREMIER-FRANKSTON-TASKFORCEPremier of Victoria, "Board To Lead Frankston Station Precinct Transformation"View source
Spoke in the Legislative Assembly on the Firefighters' Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2019 (5 June 2019), drawing on his own 14-year CFA firefighting career. VVerified — HANSARD-PRESUMPTIVEParliament of Victoria, "Firefighters' Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2019 — second reading debate, 5 June 2019" (5 June 2019)View source
Addressed CFA volunteers' concerns about the bill directly and affirmed their continued right to fundraise. VVerified — HANSARD-PRESUMPTIVEParliament of Victoria, "Firefighters' Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2019 — second reading debate, 5 June 2019" (5 June 2019)View source
Publicly reported to have personally saved lives outside Parliament: a 2009 Chief Officer's Commendation for a house-fire rescue and resuscitation during his firefighting career, and using CPR to save a drowning seven-year-old in January 2022. RReported — WP-EDBROOKEWikipedia, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
Also reported to have survived a light-plane incident and separately resuscitated a man, both within one week in 2023. These accounts come from aggregated secondary reporting and were not individually re-verified against contemporaneous news coverage this pass. RReported — WP-EDBROOKEWikipedia, "Paul Edbrooke"View source
No record found of Edbrooke contesting any election — state, federal or local council — before winning Frankston in 2014; his 2014 opponent was Liberal candidate Michael Lamb, a serving police officer, following independent MP Geoff Shaw's earlier hold on the seat. RReported — WP-FRANKSTON-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Frankston"View source
This is treated as an unconfirmed absence rather than a hard negative, since no single biographical source explicitly confirms he never previously stood for office. RReported — WP-FRANKSTON-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Frankston"View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
The United Firefighters Union Victoria — the union representing his own former profession — published a piece on his rise to Emergency Services Minister that reads as scrutiny rather than endorsement. RReported — UFU-BIOUnited Firefighters Union of Australia, Victoria Branch, "Paul Edbrooke MP: From Firefighter to Emergency Services Minister"View source
It says the union "continues to raise serious concerns about the state of Victoria's fire services — including the availability and reliability of fire trucks, resources and firefighter pay." RReported — UFU-BIOUnited Firefighters Union of Australia, Victoria Branch, "Paul Edbrooke MP: From Firefighter to Emergency Services Minister"View source
It also questions whether he "will stand up for the people and the service he once represented." RReported — UFU-BIOUnited Firefighters Union of Australia, Victoria Branch, "Paul Edbrooke MP: From Firefighter to Emergency Services Minister"View source
Eligible for public election funding if elected, or if he receives at least 4% of first-preference votes in Frankston — the same 4% threshold that also governs nomination-deposit refunds. Funding is calculated as the lowest of the audited campaign-expenditure statement and an amount based on first-preference votes received, using the VEC's current indexed rate of $7.70 per first-preference vote for Legislative Assembly candidates (effective 1 July 2026, up from $7.46 the previous year).
As a major-party candidate, any funding attributable to his result would be paid to the Labor Party's registered agent, not to him personally (per the VEC's own funding and indexation guidance, accessed 2026-09-24).