Legislative Assembly · District of Pakenham
Alessandra Soliven
Last verified 23 Aug 2026
Seat context — Pakenham›
Pakenham becomes an open contest in 2026: sitting Labor MP Emma Vulin, who won the seat on the tightest margin in Victoria at the 2022 election, announced in September 2025 that she will not recontest, citing her 2024 motor neurone disease diagnosis. Labor has preselected Alessandra Soliven, who would become Victoria's youngest-ever MP if elected at 24. The field also includes the Greens' Nasser Yawari, Liberal's Radmila Dyson (selected 19 August 2026 after a contested preselection), Victorian Socialists' Stephanie Grigg, One Nation state leader Warren Pickering, and two independents, Raymond French and Mary-Kate Louis.
Background
Served as Women's Officer of the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) in 2023, elected on the "Stand Up!" ticket. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
Worked as a staff member in the electorate office of Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
Richards publicly thanked her for that electorate-office role in a speech to the Legislative Assembly. VVerified — HANSARD-RICHARDS-2023Parliament of Victoria, "Governor's Speech (Address-in-Reply) — contribution of Pauline Richards, MP for Cranbourne" (21 Mar 2023)View source
No formal Young Labor leadership or branch office-bearer role was found in any source reviewed, despite her clear ALP branch involvement in Pakenham. RReported — LABOR-SOLIVEN, STAR-SOLIVEN, POLLBLUDGER-SOLIVENVictorian Labor, "Alessandra Soliven"View sourcePakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View sourceThe Poll Bludger, "Freshwater Strategy: Labor 23, Coalition 27, One Nation 25 in Victoria" (8 June 2026)View source
Her family migrated to Australia from the Philippines and settled in Melbourne's outer south-eastern suburbs, where she grew up. SSelf-stated — LABOR-SOLIVENVictorian Labor, "Alessandra Soliven"View source
Attended Alkira Secondary College. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
Describes herself on her official Victorian Labor candidate biography as "a proud Pakenham local." SSelf-stated — LABOR-SOLIVENVictorian Labor, "Alessandra Soliven"View source
Local reporting states she was named valedictorian at Alkira Secondary College. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
Began studying at the University of Melbourne in 2023. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)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.
Ensuring accessible, high-quality healthcare for local families.
Supporting better schools in the Pakenham area.
Advocating for more secure jobs so local families have opportunities to advance.
Campaign material shared on her candidate account promotes catching up transport capacity in the growth corridor, citing "400 extra train services" and the Metro rollout.
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
Her campaign account promoted a 20% discount on vehicle registration as cost-of-living relief.
No candidate-specific detail beyond this was found.
More broadly, Victorian Labor describes itself as "investing in the things that matter – cost of living relief, opening more than 100 new schools and 12 new hospitals, and hiring more nurses and police," a statewide framing rather than a Pakenham-specific one.
Crime and community safety
Her campaign account promoted recruiting an additional 150 Protective Services Officers.
Her campaign account promoted closing legal loopholes on suppression orders in cases involving rapists.
No further candidate-specific detail was found.
Statewide, Victorian Labor's platform includes "Adult Time for Violent Crime" for young offenders committing serious offences, stronger bail laws, expanded stop-and-search powers, more frontline police, and a new Violence Reduction Unit placing Early Prevention Officers in schools.
Housing affordability and supply
No candidate-specific statement was found.
Statewide, Victorian Labor's platform states its "planning reforms aim to reduce red tape and unlock additional housing in communities where Victorians want to live," and points to the Suburban Rail Loop as "supporting tens of thousands of homes near employment, education, and healthcare facilities."
State government debt and fiscal management
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Her campaign account promoted "400 extra" train services and the Metro rollout, framed as a transport-capacity commitment relevant to her growth-corridor seat.
No further seat-specific detail was found; statewide, Victorian Labor's infrastructure platform includes removing 110 dangerous level crossings (92 already gone), the completed Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, a $1 billion regional road repair and resurfacing program, and the Suburban Rail Loop.
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
Names "supporting better schools in the area" as one of her three stated focus areas as Pakenham candidate.
No further candidate-specific detail was found; statewide, Victorian Labor's platform cites opening more than 100 new schools since 2019 (19 in the current year alone), more than 2,300 school upgrades, and over 11,000 new enrolment places, framed explicitly around "growing communities."
Health and healthcare access
Names "ensuring accessible, high-quality healthcare for local families" as one of her three stated focus areas as Pakenham candidate.
No further candidate-specific or Pakenham-specific detail was found.
Statewide, Victorian Labor's platform cites opening 12 new hospitals, upgrading 40 more, 965 new doctors joining the system in the current year, and over $31 billion invested in the health system this year including a $9.3 billion boost for public hospitals.
Urban planning and housing density
No candidate-specific statement was found. Statewide, Victorian Labor frames its planning reforms as reducing "red tape" to "unlock additional housing," with the Suburban Rail Loop positioned as creating activity centres near new and existing homes.
Climate and energy transition
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
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.
Her three self-named focus areas (healthcare, education/schools, secure jobs) map directly onto core planks of Victorian Labor's current statewide platform — new/upgraded hospitals, new schools, and household economic security. SSelf-stated — LABOR-SOLIVEN, VICLABOR-HEALTH, VICLABOR-EDUVictorian Labor, "Alessandra Soliven"View sourceVictorian Labor, "New and Upgraded Hospitals"View sourceVictorian Labor, "Backing Schools and Teachers"View source
Indicating a campaign built on reflecting party-line priorities rather than a distinct personal platform. SSelf-stated — LABOR-SOLIVEN, VICLABOR-HEALTH, VICLABOR-EDUVictorian Labor, "Alessandra Soliven"View sourceVictorian Labor, "New and Upgraded Hospitals"View sourceVictorian Labor, "Backing Schools and Teachers"View source
Her campaign social media has amplified specific statewide announcements (150 additional PSOs, suppression-order law changes, a 20% vehicle registration discount, 400 extra train services) rather than originating distinct local commitments. SSelf-stated — IG-SOLIVENAlessandra Soliven (candidate campaign account), "@alessandraforpakenham on Instagram"View source
Consistent with a new candidate running on the party's current statewide message set. SSelf-stated — IG-SOLIVENAlessandra Soliven (candidate campaign account), "@alessandraforpakenham on Instagram"View source
Victorian Labor's current "Our Plan" priorities page (checked during this research pass, under Ben Carroll's leadership following his 28 July 2026 succession of Jacinta Allan) lists only schools, free kinder, hospitals, community safety, healthcare access, working-from-home protections, public transport, and infrastructure delivery as headline priorities. SSelf-stated — VICLABOR-HOMEVictorian Labor, "Victorian Labor — home page"View source
It carries no dedicated statewide page on housing, state debt/fiscal policy, climate/energy (SEC), Treaty/First Nations, or regional/rural issues. SSelf-stated — VICLABOR-HOMEVictorian Labor, "Victorian Labor — home page"View source
This absence at the party level plausibly explains the corresponding gaps in her own material on those issues, rather than those gaps being specific to her candidacy. SSelf-stated — VICLABOR-HOMEVictorian Labor, "Victorian Labor — home page"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
Worked as an electorate officer in the office of Pauline Richards, MP for Cranbourne, after being valedictorian at Alkira Secondary College; Richards publicly thanked her for the role in a speech to Parliament. VVerified — HANSARD-RICHARDS-2023Parliament of Victoria, "Governor's Speech (Address-in-Reply) — contribution of Pauline Richards, MP for Cranbourne" (21 Mar 2023)View source
Described in press coverage as a former Australian Services Union organiser prior to her Labor preselection for Pakenham. RReported — POLLBLUDGER-SOLIVENThe Poll Bludger, "Freshwater Strategy: Labor 23, Coalition 27, One Nation 25 in Victoria" (8 June 2026)View source
No formal Young Labor leadership or administrative position (e.g. a state or branch office-bearer role) was found in any source reviewed, despite her clear ALP branch involvement in Pakenham. RReported — LABOR-SOLIVEN, STAR-SOLIVEN, POLLBLUDGER-SOLIVENVictorian Labor, "Alessandra Soliven"View sourcePakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View sourceThe Poll Bludger, "Freshwater Strategy: Labor 23, Coalition 27, One Nation 25 in Victoria" (8 June 2026)View source
Named valedictorian of Alkira Secondary College (Officer, in the Pakenham district) before going on to work in Pauline Richards MP's electorate office. VVerified — HANSARD-RICHARDS-2023Parliament of Victoria, "Governor's Speech (Address-in-Reply) — contribution of Pauline Richards, MP for Cranbourne" (21 Mar 2023)View source
Her preselection for Pakenham drew specific media framing as a "Gen Z go-getter" / rising-star pick to hold a marginal seat, with outgoing member Emma Vulin publicly welcoming her endorsement as candidate. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
Continued involvement in student political organising beyond her 2023 UMSU term. VVerified — UMSU-NOMINATIONS-2025University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), "UMSU Annual Election 2025 — Provisional List of Nominations (Ballot Paper Order)" (2 Sept 2025)View source
Nominated as a candidate on the "Activate - Left Action" ticket for two positions — the Activities Committee and the Women's Committee — in the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) Annual Election held 1–5 September 2025. VVerified — UMSU-NOMINATIONS-2025University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), "UMSU Annual Election 2025 — Provisional List of Nominations (Ballot Paper Order)" (2 Sept 2025)View source
Both were contested multi-candidate races (not unopposed); the outcome is not stated in the nomination document reviewed. This is student-union political organising, not a candidacy for public office, so it is recorded here rather than under previous candidacies. VVerified — UMSU-NOMINATIONS-2025University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), "UMSU Annual Election 2025 — Provisional List of Nominations (Ballot Paper Order)" (2 Sept 2025)View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Retiring Pakenham MP Emma Vulin publicly backed her as successor when Labor announced her preselection, saying she "will bring generational change and fresh ideas" and noting she "grew up in the south east" and understands the community's needs. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
Vulin has continued to endorse her campaign in person; in a Facebook post from a joint appearance at Pakenham Bowls Club, Vulin described her as Labor's preselected candidate for Pakenham who "will work hard if elected to continue delivering for our community," adding "We wish you all the best!" VVerified — VULIN-FBEmma Vulin MP (Facebook), "A wonderful night with Alessandra Soliven - Labor for Pakenham and many supporters!" (21 Mar 2026)View source
Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, in whose electorate office she previously gained parliamentary experience, publicly praised her work ethic ("took on every task imaginable") and highlighted her union-organising advocacy at the 2024 Victorian Labor State Conference. RReported — STAR-SOLIVENPakenham Officer Star News, "Labor chose Gen Z go-getter to hold Pakenham in 2026 state election" (6 Nov 2025)View source
As of August 2026, current VEC guidance states that eligibility for public election campaign funding requires a candidate to receive at least 4% of first-preference votes in their contest, or be elected.
The payment amount is then calculated from the candidate's audited statement of election expenditure and their vote count, up to the legislated maximum amounts, with payment due within 30 days of a compliant audited statement being submitted (vec.vic.gov.au/candidates-and-parties/funding/funding-for-independent-candidates, accessed 23 August 2026).
That page now reflects the Electoral Further Amendment Act 2026, passed after the High Court's 15 April 2026 ruling in Hopper v Victoria ([2026] HCA 11) struck down Part 12 of the Electoral Act 2002 in its entirety, after which the VEC stated it temporarily lacked any mechanism to make funding payments or regulate donations; the reinstated framework carries forward this same 4%-or-elected threshold and calculation method unchanged.