Who's on your ballotVictorian state election, Saturday 28 November 2026
Candidates are added after nominations close at 12 noon on Monday 9 November, once the VEC publishes the official list and ballot order.
Back to all members

Richard Riordan

Liberal member for Polwarth in the Legislative Assembly, first elected in 2015. Outgoing member: every seat is up for election on 28 November.

Website: richardriordan.com.au

Party
Liberal
District
Polwarth
Donations to them
$6,867
Donations to their party
$1.9m

Polwarth in violet, within Western Victoria.

Roles

  1. 31 Oct 2015 to nowMember for Polwarth
  2. 12 Sep 2021 to 18 Dec 2022Shadow Minister for Local Government; Shadow Minister for Resources
  3. 25 Feb 2022 to 13 Oct 2025Shadow Minister for Housing
  4. 18 Dec 2022 to 2 Oct 2023Shadow Minister for Public Transport
  5. 2 Oct 2023 to 7 Jan 2025Shadow Minister for Emergency Services
  6. 7 Jan 2025 to 13 Oct 2025Shadow Minister for Planning
  7. 13 Oct 2025 to 30 Nov 2025Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing; Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport, Events and Hospitality

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

Has pressed the Police Minister to reopen the Colac police station, saying it was cut to business hours and then shut to the public from February 2026.

  • Said5 Mar 2026In a constituency question, asked the Minister for Police when the doors of the Colac police station would reopen, noting it had been cut back to business hours earlier in the year.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
  • Said19 Mar 2026In an adjournment matter, asked the Minister for Police to fix the front door of the Colac police station, closed since 12 February, saying the nearest other police presence is over an hour away.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Housing and renting

Shadow minister for housing from 2022 and for planning from 2025, until November 2025. Led the opposition against the government's 2025 planning bill, citing a housing crisis and poor consultation, and has blamed regulation and taxes for landlords leaving the rental market. Voted to let the Greens' rent controls bill be introduced (a procedural vote).

  • Minister25 Feb 2022Shadow Minister for Housing from February 2022, and also for Planning from January 2025, until November 2025.Parliament of Victoria
  • Said30 Oct 2025In debate on the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, said private rentals in Victoria had fallen by 40 per cent and blamed rental rules and government policy for landlords leaving the market.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
  • Said13 Nov 2025Leading for the opposition on the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, said Victoria is in a housing crisis of the government's making and opposed the bill, citing a lack of consultation with industry and councils.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

Treaty and First Peoples

Voted against the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025.

Transport and roads

Was Shadow Minister for Public Transport from December 2022 to October 2023. Has pressed for repairs to the Princes Highway and other Polwarth roads and for more V/Line carriages on the Warrnambool line. Voted against the Transport Infrastructure and Planning Legislation Amendment Bill 2024.

  • Minister18 Dec 2022Shadow Minister for Public Transport from December 2022 to October 2023.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
  • Said25 Aug 2026In an adjournment matter, asked the Minister for Public Transport to release V/Line plans for extra carriages on the Warrnambool line, saying added services had meant 10,000 fewer seats a week.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
  • Said8 Sep 2026In a constituency question, asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety whether the Princes Highway between Colac and Winchelsea would be resurfaced, describing potholes and a lack of maintenance.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

AI and technology

Voted to let the Greens' AI data centres moratorium bill be introduced (a procedural vote).

  • 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

Gambling and racing

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

Cost of living

Opposed the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy as an unfair tax on regional Victorians and voted against it. Has urged residents to object to rate valuations because of the levy.

  • 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 Mar 2025In debate on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund bill, called it “another massive tax attack on regional and country Victorians” and an unfair tax.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
  • Said10 Sep 2025In a members statement, urged Polwarth residents to object to rate valuations, saying many were reporting large increases driven by the emergency services levy.Hansard, Legislative Assembly

Health

Has asked the government to match a coalition commitment to upgrade the Colac urgent care service, and said the nurse ratio changes need funding and staff behind them. Voted for a reasoned amendment to withdraw 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 Aug 2026In debate on the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2026, said the government must make sure hospitals such as Colac Area Health have the funding and nurses the new ratios require.Hansard, Legislative Assembly
  • Said24 Sep 2026In a constituency question, asked the Minister for Health to match the coalition's $15 million commitment to upgrade the urgent care service at Colac Area Health, noting it now has nearly 12,000 presentations.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.