Legislative Assembly · District of Kalkallo
Payal Tiwari
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Kalkallo›
Kalkallo is a safe Labor seat in Melbourne's outer-north growth corridor, covering Craigieburn, Mickleham, Kalkallo, Yuroke, Beveridge and Wallan. It was created in the 2021 redistribution and first contested in 2022, when Ros Spence, previously member for the predecessor seat of Yuroke, won it with 53.9% of first preferences and 66.5% two-party-preferred against the Liberals' Bikram Singh. She is recontesting, and since 4 August 2026 is Minister for Youth Justice, Corrections, Victim Support and Community Sport. The 2026 field found is four candidates: Spence, the Greens' Payal Tiwari, One Nation's Troy Steans and the Victorian Socialists' Courtney Millett. No Liberal candidate has been found, although Wikipedia's 2026 candidates table lists Steans under the Liberals, which conflicts with the party's own page.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
A Beveridge train station and better public transport, road infrastructure and maintenance, hospital services, footpaths and support for people in hardship.
"Kalkallo is one of the most diverse electorates in Victoria and it deserves a member who doesn't need it explained to her."
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
Wants community support during hardship.
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 Tiwari personally.
Housing affordability and supply
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would build 88,000 public homes with $4 billion initial investment; nothing is attributed to Tiwari personally.
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 Tiwari personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Advocates for a Beveridge train station, better public transport, and road infrastructure and maintenance.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make trains, trams and buses permanently free.
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 Tiwari personally.
Health and healthcare access
Names hospital 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
Names footpath development and infrastructure for the growing area as priorities.
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 Tiwari 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 Tiwari 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 stated priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-PT, ET-GREENS-POLICYVictorian Greens, "Payal Tiwari"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-PTVictorian Greens, "Payal Tiwari"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2022 Kalkallo results; the Greens' candidate was Muhammad Nisar Ul Murtaza (5.3%). VVerified — WIKI-KAL-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Kalkallo"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.
Tiwari has not previously contested an election. The Greens' 2022 Kalkallo candidate polled 5.3%, above the 4% mark.