State Election 2026
2026 is an election year for Victorians – what does that mean for your organisation?
The next Victorian state election is on Saturday 28 November 2026. If a Victorian state government agency or department is one of your organisation’s stakeholders, there will be some impact for you this year.
Getting Ready for Advocacy and Meetings
Make yourself familiar with the current Ministers/Members of Parliament and any other individuals who have announced their candidacy. Your organisation’s communications needs to include all declared candidates to ensure they are all equally informed – this includes mailing lists, invitations to events, briefings and external meetings.
Your organisation needs to be able to present its story to potential candidates:
The organisation’s key statistics – what you do and how well you do it.
Case studies of successes and challenges.
What you require to make a bigger or better impact in the community.
How your organisation can work with government and help meet their objectives.
Heightened Political Environment
Your work may be impacted by known, and potential, election candidates entering the public arena in the leadup to formally declaring themselves as a candidate. Local identities may be seeking media coverage, attending more community events or making more public statements on the issues of interest to your organisation. There also may be funding or policy promises made by candidates of the major parties that directly affect your organisation – funding that benefits you or funding to a “competitor”.
Caretaker Period
Government staff will have restrictions placed on them during the caretaker period, which is expected to commence on the first day of November:
Must not implementing major policy.
Must not make significant appointments.
Must not enter major contracts or undertakings.
Manage intergovernmental negotiations and visits.
Maintain an apolitical public sector.
Government websites are “frozen” with minimal content updates.
Community engagement or social research projects can fall under the definition of “major undertakings”. Your organisation needs to be aware of these and plan accordingly.