Legislative Assembly · District of Mulgrave
Ian Cook
Last verified 11 Oct 2026
Seat context — Mulgrave›
Mulgrave, formerly held by Premier Daniel Andrews (51.0% of first preferences and 60.8% two-party-preferred in 2022), has been held by Labor's Eden Foster since she won the 18 November 2023 by-election with 40.18% of first preferences and 56.49% to 43.51% two-candidate-preferred against independent Ian Cook. Foster, the seat's first female representative, is recontesting. The 2026 field is four candidates: Foster, the Liberals' Charles Tran, the Greens' Paul Schofield and the Victorian Socialists' Connor Buchanan. The Tally Room says Labor's hold is likely solid.
Background
Describes himself as the former owner of I Cook Foods, a family-run Dandenong business that employed 41 local Victorians, which he says he spent more than 30 years building. SSelf-stated — IAN-ABOUTIan Cook, "About Ian Cook"View source
Told the Dandenong Star in September 2024 that he is "in the food industry and self-employed" with "no current business interests" since I Cook Foods was closed, and that he sold his factory to pay legal bills and honour commitments to former staff. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2024-YARRAMANDandenong Star Journal, "Meet the Greater Dandenong Council election candidates - Yarraman Ward" (22 Sept 2024)View source
In the 2023 by-election candidate profile he gave his occupation as "Former businessman". SSelf-stated — DSJ-2023-QADandenong Star Journal, "Meet the candidates: Mulgrave" (6 Nov 2023)View source
Independent coverage describes I Cook Foods as a Dandenong-area caterer supplying hospitals, aged care and Meals on Wheels, shut after a 2019 listeria investigation; it laid off all 41 staff. RReported — ABC-2023-RULINGABC News, "'Bittersweet' court victory for I Cook Foods owners in 'slug gate' listeria outbreak saga" (13 Nov 2023)View source
No elected office or party role found. He told the Dandenong Star in 2024 that he has never been a member of any political party. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2024-YARRAMANDandenong Star Journal, "Meet the Greater Dandenong Council election candidates - Yarraman Ward" (22 Sept 2024)View source
In 2022 he said that, having grown up in a Labor-supporting family, he had never before been interested in politics. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2022-LAUNCHDandenong Star Journal, "I Cook boss takes on Premier" (29 Aug 2022)View source
2022: said his mother grew up in Brandon Park, his father worked in the Mulgrave seat and his children were born in the electorate; at the time he lived one street outside it. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2022-LAUNCHDandenong Star Journal, "I Cook boss takes on Premier" (29 Aug 2022)View source
2022: said he rents in Adelaide Street, Dandenong, having previously owned a home in the middle of the electorate. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2022-QADandenong Star Journal, "Meet your State election candidates: Mulgrave" (15 Nov 2022)View source
2023 profile gave his home suburb as Dandenong North, "almost 20 years". SSelf-stated — DSJ-2023-QADandenong Star Journal, "Meet the candidates: Mulgrave" (6 Nov 2023)View source
2024 profile said he has lived in Greater Dandenong for 10 years, owns a modest home in Adelaide Street, and has owned factories and worked in the area for over 30 years. These residency statements differ between profiles. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2024-YARRAMANDandenong Star Journal, "Meet the Greater Dandenong Council election candidates - Yarraman Ward" (22 Sept 2024)View source
Says he employed locals, actively helped people with disabilities into work, and worked closely with Wallara and Emerson School. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2024-YARRAMANDandenong Star Journal, "Meet the Greater Dandenong Council election candidates - Yarraman Ward" (22 Sept 2024)View source
His 2026 campaign material is authorised from an address in Blackburn North. SSelf-stated — IAN-HOMEIan Cook, "Vote #1 Ian Cook — Independent for Mulgrave 2026 (home page)"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.
Anti-corruption and accountability is the core of his campaign: he says he is standing because he is "sick of corruption" and wants to give Mulgrave an independent voice.
Campaigns on two named scandals: SlugGate (the 2019 closure of I Cook Foods) and the "Bike Boy" case involving former Premier Daniel Andrews.
Stated local priorities: a safer community, better roads and local infrastructure, better health and education facilities, and restoring Springvale police station to 24-hour opening.
Tax relief on housing: cut stamp duty by 50% and remove land tax on properties entering the rental market.
In 2022 his campaign was described as an independent bid on a platform of integrity, running against the sitting Premier.
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
2026: "Groceries, fuel, rent and energy bills keep rising. I will work to reduce state taxes and charges that add to your everyday costs." No specific tax or charge is named beyond the housing tax pledges.
2023: said he would ease cost-of-living pressure by "stopping government waste", because "every dollar the government wastes is a dollar not spent on you and your family".
2022: said reversing recent land tax increases was his first support for small business, since land tax "drives up the cost of living".
Crime and community safety
2026: backs "tougher bail conditions and early intervention to steer young people away from crime", and calls Victoria's situation a "crime crisis".
Wants more police on the beat and Springvale Police Station open 24 hours.
Statewide, supports stronger penalties for politicians and police who commit, assist or cover up serious criminal wrongdoing.
Also pledges to work with the community to identify and quickly remove graffiti.
Housing affordability and supply
2026: cut stamp duty by 50% and remove land tax for properties going into the rental market, to increase supply and put downward pressure on rent.
2023: said his first initiative would be a private member's bill opposing any increase in land tax, arguing property taxes are passed on to renters.
2022: argued Dandenong's housing shortage should be tackled statewide, by increasing housing in other areas to bring prices down.
State government debt and fiscal management
No position on state debt itself found. His fiscal themes are cutting government waste (2023) and, in his 2024 council campaign, curbing unnecessary spending to allow lower rates.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
2026: promises "immediate repairs and maintenance for all roads in the electorate" and action on known trouble spots, without naming specific roads.
Says he will work with councils, community groups and agencies to identify projects needing more state support. No stated position on major projects, public transport or cost overruns found.
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
2026: FAQ lists "supporting better health and education facilities" among his aims; no detail given.
2022: said he was concerned the role of parents is being "deliberately undermined" through school programs and legal restrictions, and would oppose that.
Health and healthcare access
2026: says people struggling with mental health, homelessness and addiction need "practical help and compassion", and he would bring residents, traders and health services together to push for better treatment, housing and support.
No position found on hospital funding, ambulance ramping or GP access.
Urban planning and housing density
2026: wants sporting clubs, community facilities and green spaces to keep pace with growing communities, but gives no zoning or density position.
2022: on the proposed 7,000-home Sandown racecourse rezoning he declined to take a position until he had heard advocates and opponents.
Climate and energy transition
2026: "Victoria has natural resources — gas and oil, minerals and coal. I will support policy that uses our natural resources to bring us affordable energy." No stated position on renewable targets, offshore wind or the SEC.
Treaty and First Nations affairs
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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.
Springvale Police Station: wants it open 24 hours. SSelf-stated — IAN-ISSUESIan Cook, "Local and state issues that matter"View source
Road repairs and "trouble spots" across Mulgrave, Wheelers Hill, Springvale, Noble Park, Noble Park North and Dandenong North. SSelf-stated — IAN-ISSUESIan Cook, "Local and state issues that matter"View source
"Bike Boy" scandal: backs Kel Glare's call to formally investigate Daniel Andrews over alleged perjury, conspiracy and attempting to pervert the course of justice relating to a 2013 crash that critically injured cyclist Ryan Meuleman. His own site notes the Andrewses maintain Catherine Andrews was driving and the boy rode into their vehicle. These are Cook's allegations, not findings. SSelf-stated — IAN-ISSUES, IAN-ABOUTIan Cook, "Local and state issues that matter"View sourceIan Cook, "About Ian Cook"View source
2022: unresolved on the Sandown racecourse rezoning for a 7,000-dwelling estate. SSelf-stated — DSJ-2022-QADandenong Star Journal, "Meet your State election candidates: Mulgrave" (15 Nov 2022)View source
N/A — independent candidate with no party platform.
States he is not a member of a political party and "not controlled by a political party or party room". SSelf-stated — IAN-FAQIan Cook, "Frequently Asked Questions"View source
Says Victoria needs a change of government: centrist parties will be preferenced first and Labor, the Greens and the Socialists last. SSelf-stated — IAN-FAQIan Cook, "Frequently Asked Questions"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
November 2023: Justice Michael McDonald of the Victorian Supreme Court found the Chief Health Officer's 2019 closure order against I Cook Foods invalid because the company was given no opportunity to be heard. RReported — ABC-2023-RULINGABC News, "'Bittersweet' court victory for I Cook Foods owners in 'slug gate' listeria outbreak saga" (13 Nov 2023)View source
The judge rejected that the officer was recklessly indifferent to the invalidity, and denied the company's bid for damages (it had sued for $50 million). Cook called it a "bittersweet victory". RReported — ABC-2023-RULING, ABC-2023-BYELECABC News, "'Bittersweet' court victory for I Cook Foods owners in 'slug gate' listeria outbreak saga" (13 Nov 2023)View sourceABC News, "With Daniel Andrews off stage, the Mulgrave by-election will show who's still paying attention" (12 Nov 2023)View source
Greater Dandenong Council withdrew all 96 food-safety charges laid against Cook and the company; Cook alleges a council inspector planted a slug in the factory. A parliamentary committee criticised the council but made no finding that the slug was a set-up, and Victoria Police closed a criminal probe without charges. RReported — DSJ-2022-LAUNCH, ABC-2023-RULINGDandenong Star Journal, "I Cook boss takes on Premier" (29 Aug 2022)View sourceABC News, "'Bittersweet' court victory for I Cook Foods owners in 'slug gate' listeria outbreak saga" (13 Nov 2023)View source
12 September 2025: Justice Keogh summarily dismissed Cook's and I Cook Foods' malicious-prosecution and misfeasance suit against the council and two officers as an abuse of process, ordering them to pay costs. The council says it has always denied wrongdoing and that no finding of fault has been made against it or its officers. RReported — BSN-2025, GD-2025Berwick Star News, "Slug-gate case dismissed" (14 Sept 2025)View sourceCity of Greater Dandenong, "Ian Cook's litigation summarily dismissed as an abuse of process" (12 Sept 2025)View source
Cook said he would appeal: "I will not give up my fight for justice." No appeal outcome was found. SSelf-stated — BSN-2025Berwick Star News, "Slug-gate case dismissed" (14 Sept 2025)View source
November 2022: claimed the VEC misallocated some of his first-preference votes to Daniel Andrews; the VEC said there was no valid reason for a recount and declined. RReported — 3AW-RECOUNT3AW, "VEC knocks back Ian Cook's request for vote re-count in Mulgrave" (28 Nov 2022)View source
2022 Victorian state election, Mulgrave (independent): 6,838 first-preference votes, 18.0%, second on primaries behind Daniel Andrews (Labor, 51.0%) and ahead of the Liberal candidate (17.2%). Lost. VVerified — TALLY-MULGRAVEThe Tally Room, "Mulgrave – Victoria 2026"View source
2023 Mulgrave by-election (independent): 6,780 votes, 18.81%, third on primaries behind Eden Foster (Labor, 40.18%) and Courtney Mann (Liberal, 21.69%). He overtook the Liberals on preferences and lost to Foster 43.51% to 56.49% (15,681 to 20,363). VVerified — WIKI-BYELEC, DSJ-2023-RESULTWikipedia, "2023 Mulgrave state by-election"View sourceDandenong Star Journal, "Cook overtakes Libs in Mulgrave" (28 Nov 2023)View source
2024 Greater Dandenong City Council election, Yarraman Ward (independent): 2,600 first-preference votes, 41.34%, against sitting councillor Phillip Danh, 3,690 votes (58.66%). Lost. VVerified — VEC-GD2024Victorian Electoral Commission, "2024 Greater Dandenong City Council election results"View source
2026: running again for Mulgrave, with campaign slogan "Never Give Up. Third Time's a Charm." SSelf-stated — IAN-HOMEIan Cook, "Vote #1 Ian Cook — Independent for Mulgrave 2026 (home page)"View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
As an independent candidate he is eligible for VEC public funding if he receives at least 4% of first-preference votes in Mulgrave or is elected. The amount is the lesser of his audited statement of expenditure and a legislated maximum based on votes received, and it must be claimed within 20 weeks of the election (per the VEC's 'Funding for independent candidates' guidance, accessed 2026-10-11, which the VEC says is under review following the Electoral Further Amendment Act 2026).
His campaign website says he receives no party funding and is funded by supporters, with donations of $1,290 or more subject to VEC disclosure. No disclosure return for him was located.