Jade Benham

Has pressed the Premier on repeat bail breaches and raised crime concerns in Mildura and the Mallee. Voted for the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025.

• Voted14 Aug 2025Voted yes on the second and third reading of the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025. Passed 73–3.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said1 Apr 2026In question time, asked the Premier why there are no consequences for people who repeatedly breach bail, citing a Mildura case in which an accused person was bailed three times.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said2 Apr 2026In a members statement, said small businesses, families and frontline workers in Mildura and the Mallee are dealing with repeat theft and abuse, and that crime in the regions is overlooked.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs since June 2026. Has argued for more local say in planning and said in 2023 that rental reforms had gone too far. Voted to let the Greens' rent controls bill be introduced (a procedural vote).

• Said16 Aug 2023In a matter of public importance debate on the housing crisis, said Mildura was losing long-term rentals as investors left the market and that “Rental reforms have gone too far.”Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said13 Nov 2025In debate on the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, said the state planning scheme is too rigid for rural housing and that councils and local communities should get back a say in local planning.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
• Minister5 Jun 2026Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs since June 2026.Parliament of Victoria

Spoke against the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 in its current form and voted against it.

• Said14 Oct 2025In debate on the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, acknowledged the history and the need for healing but said the bill could not be supported in its current form, because reconciliation comes from communities rather than Parliament.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

Has called for urgent repairs to the Calder Highway and better care for passengers on V/Line replacement coaches. Voted against the Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.

• 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
• Said12 May 2026In an adjournment matter, asked the Minister for Public and Active Transport for an urgent review of how vulnerable passengers are treated on V/Line replacement coaches, after an 84-year-old Mildura resident spent about nine hours on a coach.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said24 Sep 2026In a members statement, called on the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to urgently repair the Calder Highway south of Sea Lake after another crash, and backed bringing back the country roads and bridges program.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Voted to let the Greens' AI data centres moratorium bill be introduced (a procedural vote). Has raised cybersecurity concerns about the statewide health information sharing system.

• Said22 Feb 2023In debate on the Health Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023, warned that health databases are a target for hackers, citing the Medibank breach, and called for patients to be able to opt out of the system.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 raised border venues' concerns that mandatory carded play would push gamblers to New South Wales clubs, and opposed 2025 gambling licensing changes. Voted against the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024.

• Said18 Mar 2025In debate on the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024, relayed concerns from Mildura venues that mandatory carded play would drive patrons to clubs across the New South Wales border.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• 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
• Said20 May 2025In debate on the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, said the opposition supports harm minimisation but opposed changes it said would hurt local venues and newsagents that fund community groups.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Has raised rising regional council rates, the emergency services levy and fuel costs for farmers. Voted against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund bill.

• 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
• Said14 Oct 2025In an adjournment matter, asked the Minister for Local Government to review rising regional council rates and pensioner rebates that have not increased, and criticised the emergency services levy on rates notices.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said1 Apr 2026In a matter of public importance debate on the cost of living, said any removal of the fuel excise should keep fuel tax credits for primary producers, and raised the price of water for food producers.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Has sought higher travel reimbursements for regional patients and raised access to health care in Mildura. 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).

• 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
• Said13 May 2026In a members statement, said regional Victorians get less access to health care and specialists, and noted that Mildura Base Public Hospital staff have planned their own expansion.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
• Said11 Aug 2026In an adjournment matter, asked the Minister for Health to review recent changes to the Victorian patient transport assistance scheme and raise reimbursements in line with CPI, saying they are the lowest in Australia.Hansard, Legislative Assembly