Legislative Assembly · District of Macedon
Kate Kendall
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — Macedon›
Macedon covers Gisborne, Kyneton, Woodend, Riddells Creek and the wider Macedon Ranges, and has been Labor-held since it was created in 2002 to replace Gisborne. Mary-Anne Thomas, member since 2014 and a senior minister, won it in 2022 with 41.4% of first preferences and 59.5% two-party-preferred against the Liberals' Dominic Bonanno, and has announced she will not recontest. The 2026 contest is open, and pits two former Macedon Ranges Shire mayors against each other: Labor's Annette Death and the Liberals' Kate Kendall. The other candidates found are the Greens' Marley McRae McLeod, the Victorian Socialists' Catherine Wilson and the Animal Justice Party's Natalie Korinfsky. No One Nation candidate had been named at the time of the latest local coverage.
Background
Founded three companies, including a startup accelerator for women founders, and was recently president of a local business and tourism association. RReported — MIDLAND-KENDALLMidland Express, "Macedon Ranges mayor Kate Kendall has been announced the Victorian Liberal candidate for the seat of Macedon" (21 July 2026)View source
Says she founded several businesses and was President of Business Kyneton. SSelf-stated — LIBV-KATE-KENDALLLiberal Victoria, "Kate Kendall — Liberal candidate profile" (3 Aug 2026)View source
Was elected to Macedon Ranges Shire Council in 2024, became deputy mayor and was appointed mayor in 2025. RReported — MIDLAND-KENDALLMidland Express, "Macedon Ranges mayor Kate Kendall has been announced the Victorian Liberal candidate for the seat of Macedon" (21 July 2026)View source
Resigned as mayor effective 25 July 2026 to contest the seat, and remains a councillor. RReported — MIDLAND-KENDALL, STARWEEKLY-KENDALL-RESIGNMidland Express, "Macedon Ranges mayor Kate Kendall has been announced the Victorian Liberal candidate for the seat of Macedon" (21 July 2026)View sourceStar Weekly, "Kate Kendall resigns as Macedon Ranges mayor" (19 July 2026)View source
Moved to the Macedon Ranges in 2018 and lives in Kyneton with her husband and three children. RReported — MIDLAND-KENDALLMidland Express, "Macedon Ranges mayor Kate Kendall has been announced the Victorian Liberal candidate for the seat of Macedon" (21 July 2026)View source
Says she lives with her family on a farm in Kyneton. SSelf-stated — LIBV-KATE-KENDALLLiberal Victoria, "Kate Kendall — Liberal candidate profile" (3 Aug 2026)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.
Roads and transport connectivity, local business, restoring community voice, infrastructure keeping pace with growth, protecting regional character, lower taxes and rebuilding trust in government.
"People are just really looking for change at this time, and I love listening, I love caring."
Says she will work to reduce crime, lower costs and improve local roads.
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
Names supporting local businesses and lowering taxes as priorities.
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.
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.
State government debt and fiscal management
Names lowering taxes and rebuilding trust and integrity in government as priorities.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Names improving roads and transport connectivity, and infrastructure keeping pace with growth, as priorities.
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
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Urban planning and housing density
Names protecting the region's character alongside growth as a priority.
Climate and energy transition
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Regional and rural Victoria
Names protecting regional character and restoring community voice in decision-making as priorities.
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.
Track record & prior candidacies
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.
Kendall has not previously contested a state election. The Liberals' 2022 Macedon candidate polled 30.0%, well above the 4% mark.