Legislative Assembly · District of Polwarth
Jesse Holden
Last verified 29 Sept 2026
Seat context — Polwarth›
Polwarth is a Liberal-held seat covering the Geelong hinterland, Surf Coast, Otways and Colac region, held by Richard Riordan since a 2015 by-election. In 2022 he won 42.5% of first preferences and 51.8% to 48.2% two-party-preferred against Labor's Hutch Hussein, a margin under two points; the seat has been held by conservative parties for more than a century. The 2026 field is four candidates: Riordan, Hussein (recontesting), the Greens' Jesse Holden and One Nation's Anna Malcolm. The Tally Room says Labor is unlikely to win but One Nation may have hopes.
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Climate action and environmental protection, housing affordability and cost-of-living relief, coastal, water and forest protection, and sustainable regional development.
Wants to make sure "every voice counts, is included and respected".
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
Names housing affordability and cost-of-living relief as priorities.
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 Holden 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 Holden personally.
Housing affordability and supply
Names housing affordability as a priority and cites housing pressures in the region.
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 Holden 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 Holden 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 Holden 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 Holden personally.
Urban planning and housing density
Wants coastal, water and forest protection and sustainable regional development.
Climate and energy transition
Names climate action and environmental protection as his first priorities, citing rising seas and extreme weather.
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 Holden personally.
Regional and rural Victoria
Wants to include farmers, families, young people, retirees and business owners in regional decisions.
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. SSelf-stated — GREENS-HOLDEN, ET-GREENS-POLICYAustralian Greens Victoria, "Jesse Holden, Candidate for Polwarth"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. SSelf-stated — GREENS-HOLDENAustralian Greens Victoria, "Jesse Holden, Candidate for Polwarth"View source
He is not among the candidates in the 2018 or 2022 Polwarth results; the Greens' candidates were Courtney Gardner (9.79%) in 2018 and Hilary McAllister (16.7%) in 2022. VVerified — WIKI-POL-RESWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of Polwarth"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.
Holden has not previously contested an election. The Greens' 2022 Polwarth candidate polled 16.7%, well above the 4% mark.