Legislative Assembly · District of Lowan
Emma Kealy
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Lowan›
Lowan is the state's largest electorate by area (about 41,858 square kilometres) in Victoria's west, covering Horsham, Hamilton, Casterton, Dimboola, Nhill, Kaniva, Coleraine, Dartmoor, Jeparit and Rainbow, with 51,182 registered electors at the 2022 election. It is one of the safest Nationals-held seats in the state: sitting MP Emma Kealy won 59.0% of first preferences and 71.6% two-party-preferred against Labor in 2022. As of late September 2026 The Tally Room lists only Kealy and Family First's Lee Ann Elms, while the Greens' Jeff Moran has a party candidate page. A former Horsham councillor, Claudia Haenel, was reported in July 2026 as likely to be Labor's candidate but was not confirmed, and no Liberal candidate has been identified.
Background
Before parliament she worked in the health sector, including at Western District Health Service in Hamilton, and was Chief Executive of the Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital. VVerified — PARL-KEALYParliament of Victoria, "Emma Kealy — Member profile"View source
Wikipedia says she lived in the Northern Territory, Melbourne and Hamilton before returning to Edenhope for the hospital role. RReported — WIKI-KEALYWikipedia, "Emma Kealy"View source
Grew up in Edenhope in a farming family and says she understands the challenges and opportunities of rural living. SSelf-stated — KEALY-SITEEmma Kealy MP, "Emma Kealy MP — Member for Lowan (homepage + contact/biography pages)"View source
Born in Edenhope in 1977 into a farming family with six generations in the region. RReported — WIKI-KEALYWikipedia, "Emma Kealy"View source
Her electorate offices are in Horsham and Hamilton. VVerified — PARL-KEALYParliament of Victoria, "Emma Kealy — Member profile"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.
Opposing the emergency services levy, road safety, CFA volunteers and the Melbourne Royal Show.
Holds the Agriculture and Mental Health shadow portfolios.
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
Opposes "Labor's emergency services tax grab", and offers a Liberal-Nationals alternative approach to funding emergency services.
As Shadow Minister she says Labor will cut emergency-services budgets despite introducing a levy it promised would fund them, per a search summary of Nationals material.
Crime and community safety
The Coalition's bail and sentencing policy, per the ABC, would automatically deny bail to reoffenders under a one-strike rule; nothing is attributed to Kealy personally.
Housing affordability and supply
The Coalition would lift the first-home buyer threshold to remove stamp duty on homes up to $1 million, per a housing-policy comparison; nothing is attributed to Kealy personally.
State government debt and fiscal management
Says Labor's budget papers show funding cuts to emergency agencies despite the new levy.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Emphasises road safety as a local priority, with a tool for constituents to report hazards.
Nationals material cites an RACV report backing the party's plan to rebuild roads.
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
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Health and healthcare access
Is Shadow Minister for Mental Health and worked as a hospital chief executive and in regional health services.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Wikipedia says she advocates climate action and has publicly disagreed with federal Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce's cautious stance.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Regional and rural Victoria
Is Shadow Minister for Agriculture.
Supports Country Fire Authority volunteers and backs the future of the Melbourne Royal Show.
Has made statements on fuel supply for farmers and pest management.
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 reports she supported legislation on euthanasia, same-sex adoption and restricting protests near abortion clinics. RReported — WIKI-KEALYWikipedia, "Emma Kealy"View source
Her site's current priorities (emergency levy, roads, agriculture) align with the Coalition's line.
Track record & prior candidacies
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Shadow Minister for Mental Health. VVerified — PARL-KEALYParliament of Victoria, "Emma Kealy — Member profile"View source
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Nationals since 11 July 2022, succeeding Steph Ryan. RReported — WIKI-KEALYWikipedia, "Emma Kealy"View source
In 2018 then Deputy Premier James Merlino referred her to the Ombudsman over allegations she requested falsified invoices for taxpayer-funded advertising during the caretaker period; no disciplinary action resulted. RReported — WIKI-KEALYWikipedia, "Emma Kealy"View source
In October 2019 she was criticised for not joining local women leaders in condemning sexist language used by a shire mayor. RReported — WIKI-KEALYWikipedia, "Emma Kealy"View source
Won Lowan in 2018 with 67.0% of first preferences and 73.5% two-party-preferred against Labor's Maurice Billi. VVerified — WIKI-LOWAN-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Lowan"View source
Won again in 2022 with 59.0% of first preferences and 71.6% two-party-preferred against Labor's Mick Monaghan. VVerified — WIKI-LOWAN-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Lowan"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, Kealy met the "elected" limb of the test at the 2022 election, so her Lowan campaign qualified for public funding.