Legislative Assembly · District of Mulgrave
Paul Schofield
Last verified 29 Sept 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
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Community sports and fitness programs, public education and health (especially dental), transport infrastructure, and the arts.
Says he is independent of corporate donors and wealthy interests, and supports a progressive alliance with Labor in a hung parliament.
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
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 Schofield 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 Schofield personally.
Housing affordability and supply
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would build 88,000 public homes with $4 billion initial investment; nothing is attributed to Schofield personally.
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 Schofield personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Supports transportation infrastructure.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make trains, trams and buses permanently free.
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
Backs public education, particularly adult migration services and technical and tertiary training.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding.
Health and healthcare access
Backs public health initiatives, especially dental services.
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
Describes himself as "a lifelong social democrat and environmentalist".
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 Schofield 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.
His priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform, and he explicitly backs working with Labor in a hung parliament. SSelf-stated — GREENS-SCHOFIELD, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Paul Schofield"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
No point of divergence was found.
Track record & prior candidacies
His profile mentions no prior candidacy.
He is not among the candidates in the 2022 general election or 2023 by-election results; the Greens' candidates were Robert Lim (5.1%) in 2022 and Rhonda Garad (5.97%) at the by-election. VVerified — WIKI-MUL-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Mulgrave"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.
Schofield has not previously contested an election. The Greens' 2022 Mulgrave candidate polled 5.1%, above the 4% mark.