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Paul Mercurio

Labor member for Hastings in the Legislative Assembly, first elected in 2022. Outgoing member: every seat is up for election on 28 November.

Party website: Victorian Labor (no personal website listed)

Party: Labor
District: Hastings
Donations to them: None disclosed
Donations to their party: $2.2m

Hastings in violet, within Eastern Victoria.

Roles

26 Nov 2022 to nowMember for Hastings

Where they stand

A snapshot of their record on the issues shaping this election, taken from how they voted, what they've said and the portfolios they've held. Reviewed 6 Nov 2026.

Crime and bail

Spoke for the 2025 bail changes and tougher penalties for assaults on prison officers, while stressing rehabilitation. Voted for the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025.

Said18 Jun 2025In debate on the Corrections Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, supported a tougher response to assaults on custodial prison officers, while saying prisons should also focus on rehabilitation.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Said13 Aug 2025In debate on the Bail Further Amendment Bill 2025, said earlier bail changes had unintended consequences and that the laws were being adjusted again, and gave full support to the changes.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

Housing and renting

Has backed faster planning approvals, shared-equity home buying and clearer rent rules for residential park residents. Voted against letting the Greens' rent controls bill be introduced (a procedural vote).

Said5 Mar 2025In debate on the Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2025, supported the federal shared-equity scheme, saying it comes during a housing crisis and will help more people own a home.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Said13 Nov 2025In debate on the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, supported cutting red tape so builders can build, recalling asking on council “How about we say yes to things faster?”Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Voted1 Apr 2026Voted no 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

Treaty and First Peoples

Spoke for and voted for the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025.

Said15 Oct 2025In debate on the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, spoke in support and said “Treaty is truth-telling.” Questioned the opposition's position on treaty.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Voted16 Oct 2025Voted yes on the second and third reading of the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025. Passed 54–27.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Transport and roads

Has welcomed a cross-peninsula bus service and record road maintenance funding, and backed point-to-point speed cameras. Voted for the Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.

Voted31 Oct 2024Voted yes 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
Said27 May 2025In a members statement, welcomed a new bus service crossing the Mornington Peninsula, which locals had sought for over 20 years.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Said5 May 2026In debate on the Roads, Road Safety and Ports Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, supported point-to-point average speed enforcement and cited more than $1 billion for road repair and resurfacing.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

AI and technology

Has spoken about both the benefits and harms of social media. Voted against letting the Greens' bill to pause new AI data centre approvals be introduced (a procedural vote).

Said30 Jul 2025In debate on the Crimes Amendment (Performance Crime) Bill 2025, which targets people who post their crimes online, said social media helps MPs share information but also has a negative side.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Voted11 Aug 2026Voted no 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

Gambling and racing

Has spoken in several gambling debates about the damage done by poker machines and gambling addiction. Voted for the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024.

Said30 May 2024In debate on the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Repeal and Advisory Councils Bill 2024, supported the bill and singled out closing gaming venues outside the casino between 4 am and 10 am as the best part of earlier reforms.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Voted20 Mar 2025Voted yes 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 repeated gambling reforms were needed because people had lost livelihoods and homes, while not assuming all pokies venues do the wrong thing.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Cost of living

Has described car registration rebates and cheaper public transport in the 2026–27 budget as cost-of-living relief, and supported gas market changes during the energy transition. Voted for the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund bill in 2025.

Voted20 Mar 2025Voted yes 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
Said3 Mar 2026In debate on the National Gas (Victoria) Amendment Bill 2025, supported the bill, saying gas is still needed for now but is finite and the transition must be safe and secure.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Said4 Jun 2026In debate on the 2026–27 budget papers, described the 20 per cent registration rebate and half-price and free public transport as cost-of-living policy.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Health

Has spoken for nurse-to-patient ratios in law and for free dental care. Voted against a reasoned amendment to withdraw the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 (a procedural vote).

Said6 Mar 2025In debate on the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2025, supported the bill, drawing on a family hospital stay to describe the value of nurses' care.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
Voted5 Feb 2026On the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025, voted against 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
Said23 Sep 2026In debate on a motion about Labor's free dental election commitment, supported free public dental care and said it would be good to see it become a national scheme.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

How these snapshots are made. Each position links to a dated source: a recorded vote in Hansard, the member's own words in Parliament or official releases, or a portfolio they held. Where only the party's position could be found, it is tagged “Party” and is not counted as the member's own. Party members usually vote together, so a vote often reflects the party's position rather than a personal one. Topics with nothing on the record say so rather than guessing. Nothing here is a rating or a recommendation.