Legislative Council · South-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Matthew Kirwan
Last verified 30 Sept 2026
Seat context — South-Eastern Metropolitan Region›
South-Eastern Metropolitan elects 5 MLCs and comprises 11 Legislative Assembly districts across Melbourne's south-east — Berwick, Carrum, Clarinda, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Frankston, Mordialloc, Mulgrave, Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South and Rowville. In 2022, Labor won 2 of 5 seats (Lee Tarlamis and Michael Galea), the Liberal-National Coalition 1 (Ann-Marie Hermans), Legalise Cannabis 1 (Rachel Payne) and the Liberal Democrats 1 (David Limbrick).
Background
Platform
Where they stand, issue by issue — grounded in 2026 Victorian polling, not assumed. Every position is tagged with how we know it.
Housing affordability, climate resilience, protecting public services, public transport expansion, gambling harm, green wedge preservation and the needs of culturally diverse communities.
"I'm running to stand up for ordinary people and to improve the lives of those in the south-east."
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.
Crime and community safety
Wants gambling harm addressed.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14.
Housing affordability and supply
Names housing affordability as a priority.
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.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
Wants public transport expanded.
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.
Health and healthcare access
Wants public services protected.
The Greens' platform, as summarised by the Australian Election Tracker, would fund 500 more psychologists and psychiatrists.
Urban planning and housing density
Wants the green wedge preserved.
Climate and energy transition
Names climate resilience and green wedge preservation as priorities.
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.
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 stated priorities sit within the Victorian Greens' statewide platform. SSelf-stated — GR-MK, ET-GREENS-POLICYVictorian Greens, "Matthew Kirwan"View sourceAustralian Election Tracker, "Greens policy profile — 2026 Victorian election"View source
Wikipedia's 2026 candidates table lists them under the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region. RReported — WIKI-2026CANDSWikipedia, "Candidates of the 2026 Victorian state election"View source
Track record & prior candidacies
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.
Kirwan has not previously contested a state election on the sources retrieved, and the Greens's earlier results in this region were not retrieved.