2026 Victorian State Election · Methodology
How it works
This page explains how we chose the statements and parties, how we worked out each party’s position, and how your match is calculated.
Last updated
How the statements were chosen
There are 30 statements. Each one is about an issue raised in this election. We wrote them to be balanced, and where a policy has a cost or trade-off, the statement says so.
The wording of every statement was reviewed independently to check it is neutral.
Which parties are included
We research every party registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission that has a sitting member of Parliament or a published policy platform, using the same rules for each.
A party is a main party if it holds at least one seat in the Legislative Assembly, or if it is at 5% or more statewide in a published Victorian poll. Main parties are shown first in your results and on the map. Every other registered party we researched is under “All parties” in your results, drawn as an open circle on the map. Some of them have published fewer positions, so check how many statements each match is based on.
- Greens: holds Legislative Assembly seats
- Labor: holds Legislative Assembly seats
- Liberal: holds Legislative Assembly seats
- Nationals: holds Legislative Assembly seats
- One Nation: 22% statewide (Roy Morgan, 26–29 October 2026)
Sources: Parliament of Victoria, current Legislative Assembly members; Roy Morgan SMS poll, 26–29 October 2026, 3,610 Victorian electors. Checked . We will check again after nominations close.
Party logos are shown at the same size for every party and come from the VEC’s register of political parties or the party’s own website.
Parties are listed in alphabetical order everywhere except your results.
How party positions were worked out
- We start with the party’s own words: its website, policy documents, media releases, what its members said in Parliament (Hansard) and how they voted. Then we use reputable news reports.
- We do not use opinion pieces, Wikipedia, think tanks, blogs or unverified social media.
- Each party was researched separately, to the same rules.
- Where we found no evidence, we record “No stated position”. We never guess.
- Every position shows its sources and a confidence level (high, medium or low).
- Positions were then audited by separate reviewers. They checked the sources, checked fairness from each party’s own point of view, checked that the same rules were applied across parties, and reviewed the wording of the statements.
How your match is calculated
You and each party are placed on the same five-point scale: strongly disagree (−2), somewhat disagree (−1), neutral (0), somewhat agree (+1) and strongly agree (+2).
For each statement, the match is 1 − (difference ÷ 4). The same answer scores 100%. Opposite ends of the scale score 0%. We average this over the statements that both you and the party answered. Statements you skip, or where the party has no stated position, are left out.
Statements you mark as important count double.
The map is the average of your answers on the economic statements (across) and the social statements (up and down). Some statements are not on the map but still count towards your party match.
Your results list parties from closest match to furthest. Parties with the same score are shown in random order.
Limitations
- Parties can change their positions during the campaign. We update when they do.
- A questionnaire simplifies. Thirty statements cannot capture everything a party stands for.
- Your result is not a recommendation. It is a starting point for reading the parties’ own policies.
Corrections
If you think a position or statement is wrong, please report an error. Include a source if you can.
We will publish every correction we make, with the date it was made.
The statements
Each statement, its map axis, and which way agreeing moves you. Economic runs left to right. Social runs progressive to conservative.
| # | Statement | Axis | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BudgetThe state government should cut spending to reduce Victoria's debt, even if it means delaying major projects. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 2 | TransportConstruction of the Suburban Rail Loop should continue. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 3 | TaxPayroll tax on Victorian businesses should be cut, even if it means less revenue for public services. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 4 | TaxRecent increases in land tax on investment properties should be kept rather than rolled back. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 5 | HousingThe government should directly build and own much more public housing, rather than relying mainly on the private market. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 6 | HousingAnnual rent increases should be capped by law. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 7 | HousingThe state should be able to override local councils to approve more housing in established suburbs. | None | Not on the map |
| 8 | EnergyThe government-owned State Electricity Commission (SEC) should continue building and owning renewable energy projects. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 9 | EnergyOnshore gas exploration and production in Victoria should be expanded. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 10 | EnergyThe ban on gas connections in new homes should be lifted. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 11 | EnergyVictoria's ban on nuclear power should stay in place. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 12 | BudgetThe number of Victorian public service jobs should be reduced. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 13 | TaxThe Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy should be replaced with the previous Fire Services Property Levy. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 14 | TransportPublic transport fares should be reduced, even if it costs the state budget more. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards left |
| 15 | EducationHigh-fee private schools should have their payroll tax exemption restored. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 16 | EconomyThe state government should reduce regulation on Victorian businesses. | Economic | Agreeing moves you towards right |
| 17 | Crime & justiceBail laws should be made even tougher, even if it means more people are held in custody before trial. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards conservative |
| 18 | Crime & justiceThe minimum age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 19 | Crime & justiceYoung people who commit serious violent crimes should face the same sentences as adults. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards conservative |
| 20 | Crime & justicePolice should have more power to stop and search people in public places. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards conservative |
| 21 | RightsLaws should further restrict protests that disrupt roads, businesses or places of worship. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards conservative |
| 22 | First PeoplesVictoria's Statewide Treaty with First Peoples, including the elected Gellung Warl body, should be kept. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 23 | HealthMore medically supervised injecting rooms should be opened in Victoria, in addition to the existing one in North Richmond. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 24 | HealthVictoria's government-run pill testing service, including at festivals and events, should continue. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 25 | HealthCannabis should be legal for adults to use personally. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 26 | EnvironmentRecreational duck hunting should remain legal in Victoria. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards conservative |
| 27 | EnvironmentVictoria's ban on commercial native forest logging should stay in place. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 28 | EnvironmentVictoria should cut greenhouse gas emissions faster, even if it raises costs in the short term. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards progressive |
| 29 | RightsReligious schools should be allowed to hire staff based on whether they share the school's religious beliefs. | Social | Agreeing moves you towards conservative |
| 30 | GamblingPoker machine players should face mandatory loss limits. | None | Not on the map |