Legislative Assembly · District of Murray Plains
Zoe Cook
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — Murray Plains›
Murray Plains is the Nationals' safest seat in Victoria, running along the Murray River in the state's north-west. The Tally Room lists Echuca, Kerang, Cohuna, Kyabram and Rochester among its towns, and the Loddon Herald adds the northern Loddon communities of Boort, Pyramid Hill and Mitiamo. Peter Walsh, a former Victorian Farmers Federation president, won it in 2022 with 61.8% of first preferences and 72.9% two-party-preferred against Labor's Damien Hurrell, and is retiring after 24 years in parliament. The Nationals preselected Brett Hosking, the outgoing VFF president, on 22 April 2026. Observers cited by The Tally Room describe the seat as a top priority for One Nation, whose candidate is Gannawarra mayor Garner Smith. The 2026 field found is three candidates: Hosking, the Greens' Zoe Cook and Smith. No Labor, Liberal or Victorian Socialists candidate has been found.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Greater public transport, affordable housing and climate action, plus accessible infrastructure, fully funded public services and secure public housing.
"Sports and arts are crucial to bringing our community together."
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
Addresses cost-of-living struggles and wants fully funded public services.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would make public transport permanently free and freeze rents for two years.
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 Cook personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Wants affordable housing and secure public housing.
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 Cook personally.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Wants greater public transport and accessible 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
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would reinstate $2.4 billion in delayed public-school funding; nothing is attributed to Cook personally.
Health and healthcare access
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would fund 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists; nothing is attributed to Cook personally.
Urban planning and housing density
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Climate and energy transition
Names climate action as a priority.
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 Cook 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 stated priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GREENS-COOK-PAGE, ET-GREENS-POLICY, GREENS-COOKVictorian Greens, "Zoe Cook"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View sourceAustralian Greens Victoria, "Zoe Cook"View source
No point of divergence was found.
The Tally Room lists her as the Greens' Murray Plains candidate. RReported — TALLYROOM-MPThe Tally Room, "Murray Plains — Victoria 2026"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
Her profile mentions no prior state candidacy. SSelf-stated — GREENS-COOK-PAGEVictorian Greens, "Zoe Cook"View source
She is not among the candidates in the 2022 Murray Plains results; the Greens' candidate was John Brownstein (3.88%). VVerified — WIKI-MP-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Murray Plains"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.
Cook has not previously contested a state election. The Greens' 2022 Murray Plains candidate polled 3.88%, just under the 4% mark.