Michelle Kennedy

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “If elected, I’d work across Parliament to strengthen IBAC's independence and ensure it has the resources to do its job effectively. I support stable, multi-year funding, independently assessed, with governments required to publicly explain any difference between what IBAC requests and what it receives. Recent funding increases are welcome, but we need to ensure resources keep pace with IBAC's expanded responsibilities.

IBAC's new powers to investigate suspected corruption involving public funds and government contractors are an important step forward. I'd support parliamentary scrutiny of how effectively these powers are working and consider further reforms allowing IBAC to hold public inquiries into systemic corruption risks, with appropriate safeguards for witnesses, privacy, and procedural fairness.

I also want greater transparency around public spending. Victorians should be able to see who receives major government contracts, what outcomes were promised and what has actually been delivered, while respecting legitimate confidentiality requirements. Governments should publicly respond to IBAC recommendations and report on their progress.

Accountability must apply to everyone, including me. I'd explain my parliamentary votes, disclose relevant interests and meetings, and report regularly to the people of Ivanhoe. Public office is a responsibility to the community, not a privilege that puts anyone above scrutiny.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Blanket staffing cuts conflict with my service and workforce priorities. Administrative staff can protect frontline workers’ time; my education policy explicitly recognises this.

Historically in Australia, cutting the Public Service has led to a considerably more expensive shadow workforce of consultants. Government work does not disappear when administrative staff are cut. High-end consulting contracts have typically been three times more expensive when compared to retaining public service in-house capacity. There have also been recent documented misuse scandals in big four firms.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Consistent with prevention and public money serving public benefit. Tax design should reduce harm and avoid making essential services dependent on continued gambling losses. Ending the automatic racing allocation would require an explicit new commitment from me which I would support.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Independent technical and financial scrutiny is essential in this project, which has been evaluated by many transport experts to not represent a positive return on investment. Removing connections, entrances and pedestrian infrastructure before demonstrating the consequences should not occur without adequate review. I would support an independent review and require evidence before endorsing this particular package of cuts. Other suggested engineering compromises that should be considered are shorter trains and platforms. Melbourne does need to fix its radial CBD hub and spoke transport layout. Experts agree that the SRL model has great potential to pull jobs out of the city, closer to workers in locations such as Monash, Box Hill, and Cheltenham.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support building 80,000 additional social homes across Victoria over the next decade. That should be a minimum. I’d push for a more ambitious public housing program, closer to the share of new homes Victoria built as public housing in the decades after the war.

The statewide target should count net additions after demolitions and sales, include a substantial share of publicly owned housing, and keep the homes affordable for the long term. I’d push for clear delivery milestones and annual reporting so Victorians can see how many homes have been added.

My separate commitment is to work towards 15% of new homes in Ivanhoe being public housing over the next parliamentary term. Building more secure, affordable homes close to shops, schools, services, and public transport would give more people a stable place to live and ease pressure on the private rental market.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Michelle's policy priorities state that she supports ‘replacing stamp duty with an annual tax based on unimproved land value, reducing the upfront cost of moving home and spreading tax payments over time.’” (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Predictable rents and protection against displacement fits my policy principles related to addressing cost of living and with a focus on those least able to afford sudden rent hikes. Before adopting the specific cap, I would need to settle the treatment of substantial improvements, enforcement and monitoring of rental supply and maintenance.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I somewhat oppose raising the foreign purchaser duty on residential property. Before supporting an increase, I’d want evidence that it would make homes more affordable. The effect on new construction matters. If a higher duty makes it harder for new projects to go ahead, it could mean fewer homes to buy or rent.

I support enforcing existing rules against tax evasion and taking action on homes deliberately left vacant for speculation. My housing priorities are to build more public and community housing, make it easier to build more homes near shops, schools, and public transport, and replace upfront residential stamp duty with an annual tax based on land value. I’d judge any proposed duty increase by whether it helps more people find a secure, affordable home.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “My faster and fairer energy transition and 2035 net-zero position point against subsidised coal-fired power station extensions. Reliability requires timely replacement generation, storage, transmission, and demand management, alongside worker assistance to transition to new careers. My strong opposition to this policy stems from it stalling the clean energy transition, locking in higher greenhouse gas emissions as well as being a significantly more costly and unreliable energy solution.

A fair transition also means supporting workers and communities early. Workers should have access to retraining and help finding secure jobs, and communities that have powered Victoria for decades should have a say in what comes next.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support helping Victorian households switch from gas to efficient electric appliances. As part of a faster, fairer energy transition, I’d prioritise low-income households, renters, and public housing residents. Support should cover the upfront cost of appliances such as heat pumps and induction cooktops, as well as any wiring or switchboard upgrades needed to install them. In rental homes, landlords should be involved so tenants aren’t left to organise or pay for upgrades themselves.

Efficient electric appliances can lower energy bills, and households that disconnect from gas can avoid ongoing gas supply charges. Switching to electric cooking can also improve indoor air quality by removing pollution from gas burners, which can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions. As Victoria’s electricity supply gets cleaner, electrification can also cut household emissions.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support building the transmission lines Victoria needs to connect renewable energy to homes and businesses. Getting the grid ready sooner is central to my plan for a faster, fairer transition to net zero by 2035. A stronger network can draw power from more places when supply is tight, improving reliability and helping put downward pressure on electricity costs.

Good planning starts with listening to landholders, Traditional Owners, and local communities while route options are still open. I’d push for routes that minimise impacts on farms, communities, and the environment, with clear reasons published for the route chosen. Landholders who host transmission infrastructure should receive fair, ongoing compensation.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “My fairer and faster energy transition policy supports continuing benefits for host communities. A mandatory ownership or profit-sharing offer is a more specific commitment. Benefits should also reach residents unable to invest their own money.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support capping government funding for private schools at their assessed entitlement under the Schooling Resource Standard. This is consistent with my commitment to fair, needs-based funding for every Victorian school. The cap should apply to combined state and Commonwealth funding for each school, taking into account its assessed capacity to contribute privately and the additional funding its students need.

I’d work with the Commonwealth to bring schools receiving more than their entitlement into line on a clear, published timetable, so students’ education isn’t disrupted by abrupt funding changes. The same reform should close funding gaps for schools receiving less than their entitlement, so they have the resources their students need.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support expanding government-run childcare in regional communities and areas where families struggle to find an affordable place. Every child should have access to quality early learning and get support early if they need it. Families should be able to find care close to home, with hours that help them balance work and caring responsibilities.

I’d prioritise communities with the biggest gaps in childcare and make sure new centres are affordable and accessible, including for children with disability or additional needs. Expansion must go hand in hand with support for early childhood educators through fair pay, secure jobs, training, and enough staff to give each child the attention they need.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I support strong vocational education pathways. The number and institutional model are new. Consequently, I would require evidence that these colleges add opportunity for more hands-on learning and prepare students for apprenticeships or traineeships; and complement existing schools, VM, VET and TAFE rather than draw resources away from them or create a second class system. I would also need to see how the new institutions would be staffed given the scarcity of qualified VET trainers.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support fully funding Victoria’s public schools by the end of 2028, my Candidate website ( (Source) ) has had this commitment on it from the start.

I’ll work with the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to bring every public primary and secondary school to 100 per cent of its Schooling Resource Standard, the needs-based benchmark for school funding recommended by the Gonski review.

That funding must reach classrooms and follow student needs. It should give schools the teachers, support staff, and resources to help every student learn, including students who need extra support. I’ll push for a published funding timetable and annual progress reports so families and school communities can see whether governments are on track.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I somewhat oppose the proposal to toughen bail laws for serious and repeat offending. Victim safety must be central to bail decisions. I support refusing bail when a person poses an unacceptable risk that bail conditions cannot adequately manage. Where the risk can be managed, I support clear, enforceable conditions tailored to the case. Before backing automatic bail refusals or making breaches of bail conditions a criminal offence for children, I’d want clear evidence that those changes would make people safer.

Keeping people safe also means preventing offending in the first place. That’s why my policies prioritise secure, affordable housing, support for families under financial pressure, school and vocational pathways that keep young people engaged, accessible mental health care, and early support for children affected by family violence or trauma. Most young people facing hardship never offend. Providing help early can reduce the risk of offending and give young people a better chance to stay connected to school, family, and community.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support School connection, mental health support, and coordinated family services. I strongly support funding programs with measurable outcomes and independent evaluation - Prevention should demonstrate results.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support increasing funding for frontline family, domestic and sexual violence services. Services need stable, long-term funding so people can get help when they need it, including crisis care, safe accommodation, counselling and specialist support.

Help must be accessible to people with disability, people who need an interpreter and others who face barriers to getting support. My policy also recognises that people fleeing violence often need help beyond the immediate crisis. I’d push for ongoing support for adults and children, including help with finances and finding secure, long-term housing, so they can rebuild their lives safely.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I somewhat oppose expanding police stop-and-search powers in public spaces. People should feel safe in public, and police need effective tools to seize weapons and prevent violence. Before giving police broader powers to search people, I’d want clear evidence that the change would reduce weapon-related harm and that more targeted measures couldn’t achieve the same result.

Any expansion should be limited to what’s necessary, with clear rules on when searches can occur, independent oversight and public reporting on who is searched, how often weapons are found and whether violence falls. I also support investing in early intervention, including helping young people stay connected to school, access mental health care and get family support before problems escalate.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support opening ten free public dental clinics for Victorians who can least afford care. Cost can force people to put off check-ups or treatment until they’re in severe pain. The clinics should provide routine check-ups, emergency care and treatments such as root canals where clinically appropriate, so people can get help early and keep their teeth.

I’d support straightforward means testing and locate the clinics where unmet need is greatest. To make all ten clinics work, Victoria needs a funded plan to recruit and retain dentists, oral health therapists and dental assistants. I’d also publish wait times for routine and urgent care so Victorians can see whether the clinics are improving access.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Hospital discharge lounges for patients who are post-acute and awaiting discharge medications are a good idea to reduce bed-block and Emergency Department ramping. Strict inclusion criteria for patients would be required however to ensure that only medically stable and ambulant people used them.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support increased funding for Community Health Services and preventive health initiatives generally. My health policy prioritises increasing multi-disciplinary health care clinics including Community Health Services. Increasing preventive health initiatives from the tiny 2% of the health budget will result in significant long term health savings, by preventing downstream acute and much more expensive hospital admissions. It should also contribute towards improved quality and even length of life for locals.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Experts such as the Grattan institute have maintained that there is no evidence that expanding the capacity of private hospitals to perform elective surgery on public patients achieves reductions in public hospital waiting lists. Private hospitals are often less efficient at providing care for certain cases, resulting in longer stay and unnecessary care. Additionally, there can be the perverse incentive in market based care to ‘cherry-pick- the most profitable procedures, leaving the more expensive/difficult care to be provided by the public system.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support establishing a Victorian Climate Disaster Recovery Fund. After floods and bushfires, households and communities can face years of rebuilding costs. Setting money aside now is responsible budgeting. It would give communities a more reliable source of help to repair essential infrastructure and rebuild in ways that reduce the damage from future disasters.

I’d examine a levy on fossil fuel producers to help finance the fund, consistent with my policy that the costs of fossil fuels should be reflected in their price. Before settling the design, I’d want a clear assessment of what Victoria can implement and how much of the levy could be passed on to households. I’d also require clear eligibility rules and public reporting on where the money goes and what it delivers.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I somewhat oppose a broad tightening of land-clearing rules on private land. Protecting native vegetation helps wildlife move between habitats, protects soil and waterways, and keeps carbon stored. We also need to respect landholders’ ability to manage their properties and keep farms productive.

My preference is to enforce existing protections and offer practical incentives, such as paying farmers to protect remnant vegetation or restore habitat along waterways. That would the public benefits farmers deliver through good land stewardship. Where evidence shows those measures leave significant habitat at risk, I’d consider targeted changes developed with landholders and assessed for their impact on biodiversity and farm viability.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support legislating a duty of care to protect young people and future generations from climate harm. When the Victorian Government makes major decisions, it should assess the long-term consequences, listen to young people and publish how it considered climate risks and what it will do to reduce them. That would give Victorians a clear basis for holding governments to account beyond a single parliamentary term.

This duty would reinforce my plan for a faster, fairer transition to net zero by 2035 and for better preparation for floods, bushfires and extreme heat. Young Victorians will live with the consequences of decisions made today. They deserve a voice in those decisions, and a clear explanation of how their interests were weighed.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support increasing funding and resources for the Country Fire Authority. Volunteer firefighters need modern trucks, safe equipment and the training to use them. I’d prioritise replacing ageing trucks that pose the greatest safety risks and work with local brigades to identify where equipment and volunteer recruitment and retention need the most support.

This is part of preparing Victoria for bushfires and protecting the people who respond to them. I’d require independent audits of the additional spending and publish the results so Victorians can see which trucks and equipment have been replaced, whether safety risks have been addressed and whether brigades are better equipped to respond.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I somewhat support capping tolls at $30 a week for one year. It could ease cost-of-living pressure for people who need to drive regularly, particularly in outer suburbs where public transport may be limited.

Before backing the cap, I’d want the government to publish what it would cost to cover tolls above $30, how it would fund that cost and what effect it expects on congestion. A cheaper toll could encourage more driving, and the subsidy could add to state debt or divert money from public transport.

My longer-term priority is affordable transport. I’d push for a funded plan to keep public transport fares affordable, improve the frequency and reliability of connections, and subject toll pricing and contracts to independent scrutiny. People who need to drive deserve fair tolls, and more households should have a practical alternative.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support allocating 5 per cent of Victoria’s transport budget to safe, connected bike paths. Many people would ride for everyday trips if they had a safe route the whole way. I’d prioritise closing gaps in the network, making intersections safer and separating cyclists from motor traffic and pedestrians where possible, even where that means reallocating road space.

A connected network would make it easier to ride to schools, shops, workplaces and train stations. When more people can choose to cycle for short trips, it can ease congestion, cut transport emissions and help people stay active. Those are benefits I’d count when assessing value for money. I’d publish where the money goes and track whether the investment closes aps, safety and gets more people riding.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support spending at least $3 billion a year maintaining Victoria’s state roads. Too often, repairs happen after potholes have become dangerous. I’d prioritise preventive maintenance in metropolitan and regional Victoria, including resurfacing worn roads and improving drainage before damage gets worse. Roads exposed to heavy freight and extreme weather need particular attention.

I’d make this funding part of a long-term transport plan, with priorities based on road condition, safety risk and the cost of delaying repairs. I’d publish where the money goes and track road condition, repair times and recurring defects so Victorians can see whether the investment is making roads safer and keeping them in better condition.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “There is ample evidence from public transit systems all over the world, that increasing frequency of PT to transform the journey from ‘plan your journey’ to ‘turn up and go’, massively increases use, reducing car dependency and the associated vehicular traffic congestion. I would strongly advocate for more services to both the middle and outer suburbs of Melbourne, improving transport equity.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I support pausing approvals for new AI data centres until Victoria has enforceable protections in place. Well-sited projects can bring investment and jobs and help keep sensitive data in Australia. They should go ahead where they can meet clear conditions that protect nearby residents, protect our resources, and keep infrastructure costs off household bills.

Under my Fairer and Faster Energy Transition policy, developers would have to fund new renewable generation equal to at least 150 per cent of the centre’s projected annual electricity use, with enough storage and other backup capacity to match its demand around the clock. They’d also have to fund new desalinated water supplies, use battery backup instead of fossil fuel generators and pay for the grid upgrades their projects require.

Local residents should have a say while siting options are still open. I’d require public reporting on energy and water use and enforceable limits on noise and other local impacts. Once those safeguards are in place, projects that meet them should be able to proceed.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly oppose repealing Victoria’s Treaty legislation or abolishing the First Peoples’ Assembly. I support First Peoples’ sovereignty and right to self-determination. The Assembly gives First Peoples in Victoria a representative voice in decisions that affect their communities, and the Treaty provides a way to negotiate directly with government.

I also support protecting truth-telling so First Peoples can share their experiences in their own words, and all Victorians can better understand our shared history and its ongoing effects. The Victorian Government should report publicly on the commitments it makes through Treaty, what it has delivered and where more work is needed.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “I strongly support providing free abortion care up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is essential healthcare. Cost should never force someone to delay care or put it out of reach.

This fits my broader health policy of making timely care easier to access close to home. I’d work to make free abortion care available across Victoria, including in regional communities, with clear referral pathways so people can get confidential care without unnecessary delays.”

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Support for enshrining work from home entitlements (two days per week) makes common sense, addresses cost of living issues, reduces traffic congestion, reduces traffic emissions, and increases workforce participation. It's now much more practical for employers too - worker performance can be just as easily tracked remotely. There are strong benefits for the employee including better work-life balance and no drop in productivity. The risks of reduced collaboration and mentoring from co-workers is well managed by having three days of worksite contact.”