Legislative Assembly · District of Glen Waverley
John Mullahy
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Glen Waverley›
Glen Waverley is a marginal seat in Melbourne's east, recreated at the 2021 redistribution, with a diverse, multicultural population that includes a significant Chinese-Australian community. Labor's John Mullahy won it in 2022 with 40.6% of first preferences and 53.3% to 46.7% two-party-preferred against sitting Liberal MP Neil Angus, a notional Labor gain. Mullahy is recontesting. The 2026 field is four candidates: Mullahy, the Liberals' Jacky Sun, the Greens' Toyo White and the Victorian Socialists' Nicholas Siow (whom Wikipedia's candidates table labels independent). An earlier pass recorded that Sun drew scrutiny in August 2026 over a campaign-recruitment program aimed at international students, but the underlying report could not be retrieved for this pass.
Background
Was born and raised in regional Victoria and started a successful small business in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. VVerified — PARLVIC-MULLAHYParliament of Victoria, "John Mullahy — Member page"View source
Wikipedia says he founded an IT and telecommunications company and was its CFO until 2018, after working in his father's construction business, and was electorate officer for Matt Fregon from 2019 to 2022. RReported — WIKI-MULLAHYWikipedia, "John Mullahy"View source
Was campaign manager for Matt Fregon's 2018 state election campaign. RReported — WIKI-MULLAHYWikipedia, "John Mullahy"View source
Is a member of the Legislative Assembly's Economy and Infrastructure Committee. RReported — WIKI-MULLAHYWikipedia, "John Mullahy"View source
Is the son of migrants, has a young daughter, and his electorate office is at 2 Brentford Square, Forest Hill. VVerified — PARLVIC-MULLAHYParliament of Victoria, "John Mullahy — Member page"View source
Lives in Glen Waverley and was born in Geelong in 1982. RReported — WIKI-MULLAHYWikipedia, "John Mullahy"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.
Free Kinder and schools and TAFE, real climate action, the Suburban Rail Loop, community safety, and cost-of-living and energy-bill reform.
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
His site cites banning unfair energy bill fees for Victorian households and household savings initiatives.
Labor's 2026 platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes a vehicle registration rebate of up to $186, half-price public transport fares from June to December 2026 and free midday electricity from October 2026; nothing is attributed to Mullahy personally.
Crime and community safety
His site names enhanced policing, bail law reform and law enforcement resources under community safety.
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes the 2025 bail law changes.
Housing affordability and supply
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, is built around the Big Housing Build; nothing is attributed to Mullahy personally.
State government debt and fiscal management
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, projects operating surpluses of $700 million in 2025-26 and $1 billion in 2026-27; nothing is attributed to Mullahy personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Highlights the Suburban Rail Loop, with tunnelling beginning from Burwood to Glen Waverley.
Has advocated for major investment in the Glen Waverley district including schools, open space and the Suburban Rail Loop.
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 Free Kinder and investment in schools and TAFE as priorities.
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, includes $5.5 billion of new education investment in 2026-27 and the Free TAFE guarantee.
Health and healthcare access
Supports funding for a public surgical centre in Blackburn and expanded primary care clinics.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names "real climate action" as a priority.
His inaugural speech linked his progressive views to his Irish heritage and supported climate action.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Labor's platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, cites implementation of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025; nothing is attributed to Mullahy 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.
Wikipedia lists him in the Labor Left. RReported — WIKI-MULLAHYWikipedia, "John Mullahy"View source
As a government backbencher, Mullahy's positions follow Labor's platform; no divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
His parliamentary profile lists no portfolio or parliamentary secretary role. VVerified — PARLVIC-MULLAHYParliament of Victoria, "John Mullahy — Member page"View source
Is a member of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. RReported — WIKI-MULLAHYWikipedia, "John Mullahy"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.
As the sitting member, Mullahy met the "elected" limb of the test at the 2022 election, so his Glen Waverley campaign qualified for public funding.