Legislative Assembly · District of Monbulk
Dr Merran Blair
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Monbulk›
Monbulk is a Labor-held seat in Melbourne's outer-east Dandenong Ranges (Belgrave, Emerald, Olinda and surrounds), held by Labor since 2002. Daniela De Martino won it in 2022, succeeding retiring MP James Merlino, with 36.1% of first preferences and 57.6% to 42.4% two-party-preferred against the Liberals' Gareth Ward, and is recontesting. The 2026 field is five candidates: De Martino, the Liberals' Clare Fitzmaurice, the Greens' Dr Merran Blair, the Animal Justice Party's Alyssa Wormald and Family First's Craig Manners. The Tally Room says the seat could be vulnerable to either the Liberals or One Nation.
Background
Her Victorian Greens profile describes her as a health professional and university lecturer. SSelf-stated — GREENS-BLAIRAustralian Greens Victoria, "Dr Merran Blair"View source
Local coverage describes her as a dietitian and Monash University lecturer, as recorded in the earlier pass; the article returned a 403 in this pass. RReported — STARMAIL-BLAIRStar Mail, "Dr Merran Blair is the Greens candidate for Monbulk" (19 May 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.
Affordable housing, climate action, and political reform built on "empathy and action" and accountability.
Says she will advocate for the community without corporate influence.
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
Criticises support for "corporations and billionaires".
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make public transport permanently free and freeze rents for two years; nothing is attributed to Blair personally.
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 Blair personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Names affordable housing as a priority.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would build 88,000 public homes with $4 billion initial investment.
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 Blair personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make trains, trams and buses permanently free; nothing is attributed to Blair personally.
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 Blair personally.
Health and healthcare access
Works as a health professional.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would fund 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names climate action as an urgent priority, noting that climate change has already affected the region.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and ban new coal and gas projects.
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 Blair 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 priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-BLAIR, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Dr Merran Blair"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
She was the Greens' candidate for the federal seat of Casey in 2025, receiving 12,107 votes (10.95%) as the Liberals' Aaron Violi held the seat. VVerified — WIKI-CASEYWikipedia, "Electoral results for the Division of Casey"View source
Her Victorian Greens profile as retrieved says nothing about the 2025 campaign.
She is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Monbulk results; the Greens' candidates were Liz Hicks (15.34%) in 2018 and Michael Ormsby (15.0%) in 2022. VVerified — WIKI-MB-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Monbulk"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.
Blair's 2025 Casey result (10.95%) was a federal contest under AEC rules. The Greens' 2022 Monbulk candidate polled 15.0%, above the 4% mark.