David Southwick

Former shadow police minister. Has backed the Liberal plan for 3000 more police and protective services officers at train stations, and a 'break bail, face jail' policy. Voted for the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025.

• Minister7 Jan 2025Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections from January 2025 to November 2025.Parliament of Victoria
• Said13 Aug 2025In debate on the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025, supported an amendment calling for more resources for police and corrections and for the coalition's “break bail, face jail” policy.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Voted14 Aug 2025Voted yes on the second and third reading of the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025. Passed 73–3.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said28 Jul 2026In a members statement, said a Wilson Liberal government would recruit 3000 more police and put 200 protective services officers back on train stations in Caulfield.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Shadow Minister for Planning and for Housing and Building. Has criticised the government's housing targets and welcomed the dropping of a building cost requirement. Voted to let the Greens' rent controls bill be introduced in April 2026 (a procedural vote).

• Minister30 Nov 2025Shadow Minister for Planning and Shadow Minister for Housing and Building since November 2025.Parliament of Victoria
• Said17 Feb 2026In a members statement, said the government kept changing its housing targets and that 100,000 permits were unused. Said “You cannot live in a permit.”Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Voted1 Apr 2026Voted yes on the motion to introduce the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Rent Controls) Bill 2026, a Greens bill to cap rent increases. This was a procedural vote on whether the bill could be introduced. Lost 31–48.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said4 Jun 2026In debate on the Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026, said the opposition would not oppose the bill, welcoming the reversal of a minimum financial requirement that industry said would add up to 30 per cent to construction costs.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Has questioned the government's commitment to treaty, citing reports that Indigenous labour hire firms were kept off government worksites, and has asked about alleged CFMEU tactics against Indigenous firms. Voted against the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025.

• Said4 May 2023In question time, asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure what action would be taken against the CFMEU over alleged coercive tactics against Indigenous firms on state transport infrastructure projects.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Voted16 Oct 2025Voted no on the second and third reading of the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025. Passed 54–27.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said16 Oct 2025In debate on the Building Legislation Amendment (Fairer Payments on Jobsites and Other Matters) Bill 2025, said Indigenous labour hire firms had been locked out of government worksites for not being part of the CFMEU, and said that if the government was “fair dinkum about treaty” it would ensure those firms were employed on Big Build sites.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Former shadow transport infrastructure minister. Has questioned the cost of the Suburban Rail Loop and major project blowouts. Voted against the Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.

• Minister18 Dec 2022Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Major Projects from December 2022 to January 2025.Parliament of Victoria
• Voted31 Oct 2024Voted no on the second and third reading of the Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, which lets the Premier declare precinct projects around major transport works, including the Suburban Rail Loop. Passed 50–23.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said31 Oct 2024In debate on the Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, said the opposition supported major projects done properly but criticised cost blowouts, put at $40 billion.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said27 Nov 2024In question time, asked the Premier why the government was committing billions of dollars to the Suburban Rail Loop East, citing reported concerns from Labor MPs that Victoria could not afford it.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Has criticised the government's management of digital services and technology projects, and called for in-person options for people without digital skills. Voted to let the Greens' bill to pause new AI data centre approvals be introduced (a procedural vote).

• Said8 Feb 2024In debate on the Service Victoria Amendment Bill 2023, criticised cost blowouts on government technology projects and poor connectivity, and said older Victorians without digital skills should be able to use newsagencies, pharmacies and Australia Post as service kiosks.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Voted11 Aug 2026Voted yes on the motion to introduce the Planning and Environment Amendment (AI Data Centres Moratorium) Bill 2026, a Greens bill to pause approvals of new hyperscale AI data centres. This was a procedural vote on whether the bill could be introduced. Lost 31–50.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Has said racing is important to Victoria but questioned the purpose of the 2026 racing governance bill. Voted against the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024.

• Voted20 Mar 2025Voted no on the second and third reading of the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024, which provides for pre-commitment limits and carded play on poker machines. Passed 53–25.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said17 Jun 2026In debate on the Racing Legislation Amendment (Entity Governance and Other Matters) Bill 2026, said racing made an important contribution to Victoria but questioned what problem the bill was trying to solve.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Former shadow cost of living minister. Has criticised the emergency services levy and project cost blowouts. Voted against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy bill in 2025.

• Minister2 Oct 2023Shadow Minister for Cost of Living from October 2023 to January 2025.Parliament of Victoria
• Voted20 Mar 2025Voted no on the third reading of the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025, which replaced the fire services property levy with a broader Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. Passed 50–25.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said20 May 2025In debate on the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, said volunteers, farmers and small businesses would be hit by the new emergency services tax.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said10 Sep 2025In debate on a motion on the 2025–26 Budget, criticised government spending and cost blowouts on the Big Build, put at about $50 billion.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Has spoken about nurse workloads and hospital resourcing, and about harm from deferrable medical interventions on intersex children. Voted for a reasoned amendment to withdraw and redraft the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 (a procedural vote).

• Said6 Mar 2025In debate on the nurse and midwife ratios bill, said nurses and ambulances were stretched and that hospitals needed the resources to support the ratios.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Voted5 Feb 2026On the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025, voted for a reasoned amendment calling for the bill to be withdrawn and redrafted after further consultation with the medical sector. This was a procedural vote; the Assembly did not divide on passing the bill. Amendment lost 26–54.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said5 Feb 2026In debate on the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025, acknowledged intersex advocates and the lasting harm of deferrable medical interventions on children, and noted the bill would not take effect until December 2028.Hansard, Legislative Assembly