Legislative Assembly · District of St Albans
Natalie Suleyman
Last verified 24 Sept 2026
Seat context — St Albans›
St Albans is a safe Labor seat represented by Natalie Suleyman since 2014, who is recontesting. She has held a mix of ministerial portfolios this term: Minister for Veterans, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Small Business from December 2022; she lost the Youth portfolio in an April 2026 reshuffle (gaining Tourism), then was reassigned again in an early-August 2026 reshuffle — after Ben Carroll succeeded Jacinta Allan as Premier — to her current portfolio: Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Minister for Small and Family Business, and Minister for Veterans. The Greens' Bao Huynh, New Democrats' Zaffer Mannan, Victorian Socialists' Leanna Nguyen, and the West Party's Luận Walker are also confirmed. The Tally Room's 2026 candidate list (checked 2026-09-24) also shows Rob Dunstan (Liberal) and John Cowell (One Nation).
Background
Current occupation: Member for St Albans since 29 November 2014; currently Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Minister for Small and Family Business, and Minister for Veterans. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMAN, PREMIER-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View sourcePremier of Victoria, "Natalie Suleyman"View source
Before Parliament, an Australian Women's Register entry lists her occupation as "Electorate Officer" — no employer or exact years are given. RReported — AWR-SULEYMANAustralian Women's Register, "Suleyman, Natalie"View source
Her own campaign site recalls her first job was at a family-run café at Highpoint Shopping Centre, offered as personal background rather than a stated pre-political career. SSelf-stated — SULEYMAN-MEETNatalie Suleyman MP, "nataliesuleyman.com.au/meet-natalie"View source
Served as a City of Brimbank councillor from 2000 to 2008, including three terms as Mayor of Brimbank City Council. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
Two of those mayoral terms are documented as 2001–2002 and 2004–2006; the third term's exact dates were not found in any source checked this pass. RReported — WP-SULEYMANWikipedia, "Natalie Suleyman"View source
Previously served as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and chaired its Legal and Social Issues Committee, leading inquiries into early-childhood engagement of CALD communities, anti-vilification protections, historical forced adoptions, and support for older Victorians. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
Received the Municipal Association of Victoria's Certificate of Outstanding Service (Mayor Emeritus), the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in Local Government, and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
Describes herself as "a lifelong Westie," born and raised in Melbourne's west, and says she attended Kealba High School. SSelf-stated — SULEYMAN-MEETNatalie Suleyman MP, "nataliesuleyman.com.au/meet-natalie"View source
The daughter of Turkish Cypriot migrants from Cyprus; her father, Hakki Suleyman, is described as a longtime Turkish-Cypriot community activist who chairs the Migrant Resource Centre North West and convenes a Turkish-Cypriot program on community radio station 3ZZZ. RReported — WP-SULEYMAN, TVINE-SULEYMANWikipedia, "Natalie Suleyman"View sourceT-Vine, "Natalie Suleyman becomes first Australian Turkish Cypriot to be appointed a regional minister"View source
The first person of Turkish Cypriot heritage and the first Muslim woman elected to the Victorian Parliament. RReported — WP-SULEYMANWikipedia, "Natalie Suleyman"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.
States her priorities as reliable transport, quality education, rewarding jobs, accessible healthcare, and easing the cost of living, framing herself as an advocate for Brimbank's small businesses and multicultural community.
As Minister for Veterans since December 2022 — her longest-held and most consistent portfolio — has overseen the Veterans Capital Works Program and grants distributed through the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund.
As the seat's local MP, secured a $13.4 million rebuild of St Albans Heights Primary School and advocated for an expanded Sunshine Hospital emergency department.
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 site lists standard statewide cost-of-living programs — a 20% vehicle-registration rebate (about $186), Solar Homes rebates, and $650 utility relief — without a personally authored mechanism specific to her.
Crime and community safety
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Housing affordability and supply
Beyond the same generic statewide renter-protection and first-home-buyer programs cited under cost of living, no St Albans-specific housing-supply commitment was found.
State government debt and fiscal management
Not detailed in sources reviewed.
Infrastructure and public transport delivery
As the seat's local MP, championed the removal of level crossings at Main Road, Furlong Road and Ardeer, and the rebuilding of St Albans and Ginifer stations.
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
Secured a $13.4 million rebuild of St Albans Heights Primary School, raised in a Hansard member statement in August 2024, alongside new principal appointments at Albion North and St Albans primary schools.
Health and healthcare access
Raised the opening of the Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital and advocated for an expanded Sunshine Hospital emergency department and a priority primary care centre nearby, in a 2022 constituency question.
Urban planning and housing density
Backed a cultural lighting and safety upgrade for Victoria Square in the St Albans town centre under the state's Multicultural Business Precincts Revitalisation Program.
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.
Level crossing removals at Main Road, Furlong Road and Ardeer, and the St Albans/Ginifer station rebuild. VVerified — PREMIER-LXRP-STALBANSPremier of Victoria, "Trains Run Under Main Road St Albans Crossing"View source
Sunshine Hospital's emergency department expansion and a priority primary care centre nearby. VVerified — HANSARD-STALBANS-HEALTHParliament of Victoria, "Constituency question — Sunshine Hospital, 30 August 2022" (30 Aug 2022)View source
The $13.4 million rebuild of St Albans Heights Primary School. VVerified — HANSARD-STALBANS-SCHOOLSParliament of Victoria, "Member statement — St Albans Heights Primary School, 29 August 2024" (29 Aug 2024)View source
Almost $400,000 in support for the St Albans small business precinct, and a cultural lighting/safety upgrade for Victoria Square. VVerified — HANSARD-STALBANS-BIZ, PREMIER-MULTICULTURAL-BIZParliament of Victoria, "St Albans business precinct funding, 17 March 2026" (17 Mar 2026)View sourcePremier of Victoria, "Revitalising Victoria's Multicultural Business Precincts" (28 Feb 2026)View source
Track record & prior candidacies
First elected 29 November 2014; re-elected in 2018 and 2022. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
2014 result: 56.4% primary, 67.5% two-candidate-preferred. 2018 result: 59.67% primary, 71.54% TPP. 2022 result: 42.3% primary (down 18.4 points) and 59.6% TPP — a sharply narrowed margin. Figures from Wikipedia's electoral-results page, not independently cross-checked against the VEC's own historical results this pass. RReported — WP-STALBANS-RESULTSWikipedia, "Electoral results for the district of St Albans"View source
Served as a City of Brimbank councillor from 2000 to 2008, including three terms as Mayor. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
First appointed to cabinet on 5 December 2022, as Minister for Veterans, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Small Business. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
In her Youth portfolio (December 2022 – April 2026), launched youth-employment and youth-engagement programs including the Victorian Youth Congress. VVerified — PREMIER-YOUTHPremier of Victoria, "Empowering Youth To Lead And Advocate"View source
Lost the Youth portfolio in an April 2026 reshuffle — reassigned to Luba Grigorovitch — and gained Tourism, becoming Minister for Small Business and Employment plus Tourism. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
Reassigned again in an early-August 2026 reshuffle — after Ben Carroll succeeded Jacinta Allan as Premier on 28 July 2026 — to her current portfolio: Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Minister for Small and Family Business, and Minister for Veterans. VVerified — ABC-CARROLL2, PARLVIC-SULEYMAN, PREMIER-SULEYMANABC News, "Ben Carroll elected Victorian Premier as Jacinta Allan resigns" (28 July 2026)View sourceParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View sourcePremier of Victoria, "Natalie Suleyman"View source
Previously served as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and chaired its Legal and Social Issues Committee. VVerified — PARLVIC-SULEYMANParliament of Victoria, "The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP — Member page"View source
A Victorian Ombudsman report tabled in Parliament on 7 May 2009 examined City of Brimbank Council's conduct during part of her time as a councillor and mayor, finding the council "generally dysfunctional" and identifying a voting bloc of councillors influenced by unelected figures between 2005 and 2008. VVerified — WP-BRIMBANK-DISMISSALWikipedia, "Brimbank Council dismissal, 2009"View source
The report specifically found she had acted with "inappropriate partiality" in prioritising works at Cairnlea Park in the 2008–09 council budget. VVerified — WP-BRIMBANK-DISMISSALWikipedia, "Brimbank Council dismissal, 2009"View source
A fellow MP separately used parliamentary privilege to accuse her of branch stacking, calling her the "Robert Mugabe of Brimbank." RReported — CRIKEY-BRIMBANKCrikey, "Suleymans spin their way out of Brimbank" (12 May 2009)View source
The investigation concluded in December 2009 with no further action taken against her, the MP who made the allegation, or other named councillors; the state government separately dismissed the entire council on 15 September 2009, appointing administrators until new elections were held in October 2016 — a systemic response covering the whole council, not a finding against her individually. VVerified — WP-BRIMBANK-DISMISSALWikipedia, "Brimbank Council dismissal, 2009"View source
Unsuccessfully contested Labor preselection for the state seat of Kororoit ahead of a 2008 by-election — a preselection loss, not a general-election loss. RReported — WP-SULEYMAN, CRIKEY-BRIMBANKWikipedia, "Natalie Suleyman"View sourceCrikey, "Suleymans spin their way out of Brimbank" (12 May 2009)View source
No other prior state, federal, or losing council candidacy was found; she first won a City of Brimbank council seat in 2000 and was re-elected in 2003 and 2005. RReported — WP-SULEYMANWikipedia, "Natalie Suleyman"View source
Campaign, money & endorsements
Campaign logistics
Endorsements & Donations
Eligible for public election funding if elected, or if she receives at least 4% of first-preference votes in St Albans — the same 4% threshold that also governs nomination-deposit refunds. Funding is calculated as the lowest of the audited campaign-expenditure statement and an amount based on first-preference votes received, using the VEC's current indexed rate of $7.70 per first-preference vote for Legislative Assembly candidates (effective 1 July 2026, up from $7.46 the previous year).
As a major-party candidate, any funding attributable to her result would be paid to the Labor Party's registered agent, not to her personally (per the VEC's own funding and indexation guidance, accessed 2026-09-24).