Legislative Assembly · District of Melbourne
Matthew Collins
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — Melbourne›
Melbourne covers the CBD and surrounding inner areas including Kensington, Carlton and Docklands (~25 km², ~54,500 voters as of 2022). Labor held the seat until 2014, when Ellen Sandell won it for the Greens; Sandell has held it at every election since, most recently defeating Labor 60.19% to 39.81% on a two-candidate-preferred basis in 2022, against Labor's then-candidate Rebecca Thistleton.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Restoring community safety, easing cost-of-living pressure on families and small businesses, demanding government accountability, and restoring Melbourne's former prosperity and security.
"Matthew is ready to work, ready to listen, and ready to represent Melbourne with his signature passion and resolve."
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 cost-of-living pressure eased for families and small businesses.
The One Nation Victoria platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would remove insurance duty on premiums and end renewable subsidies.
Crime and community safety
Names restoring community safety as a priority.
Housing affordability and supply
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would ban foreign ownership of residential property.
State government debt and fiscal management
Demands government accountability after state mismanagement.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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 party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would establish elected school boards with a parent majority.
Health and healthcare access
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, opposes Net Zero by 2050.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
The party platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would oppose and repeal Victoria's Statewide Treaty framework.
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.
Their themes sit within One Nation's statewide platform. SSelf-stated — ON-MC, ET-ON-POLICYOne Nation Victoria, "Matthew Collins for Melbourne"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "One Nation policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
Wikipedia's 2026 candidates table lists them as One Nation's candidate for this seat. RReported — WIKI-2026CANDSWikipedia, "Candidates of the 2026 Victorian state election"View source
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.
Matthew Collins has not previously contested a state election on the profile's account, and One Nation's earlier Victorian results in this seat were not retrieved.