Victorian Election
Candidate Forums
The churches of Victoria are working together to host “candidate forums” in many electorates for the 2026 Election. Everyone is welcome to attend in person, and each event is planned to be live streamed or recorded for those who cannot make it.
These forums are our opportunity, as the Christians of Victoria, to make our voice heard this election.
Search for the forum that is closest to you
Promote at your church
Click on a forum below for promotional resources, including powerpoint, newsletter text and flyer.
Current Events
Due to the change in expected election date, forum dates are being re-negotiated with candidates. please check back closer to the forum dates for final details.
| Bass | St George's Anglican Church, Wonthaggi | Thu 29 October, 7.00PM |
| Bendigo East | Creek Street Church | Thu 5 November, 7.00PM |
| Bendigo West | Creek Street Church | Thu 5 November, 7.00PM |
| Berwick | Crossway South East campus | |
| Box Hill | St John's Anglican Church, Blackburn | Mon 26 October, 7.00PM |
| Caulfield | Beit HaMashiach (House of the Messiah) Messianic Congregation | Tue 27 October (TBC) |
| Clarinda | Christ Church Anglican, Dingley | Thu 5 November (TBC) |
| Cranbourne | Turningpoint Church | |
| Croydon | Life Ministry Church (LMC) | Thu 12 November, 7.00PM |
| Dandenong | Dandenong Church of Christ | Wed 28 October, 7:00 pm |
| Eildon | Woori Yallock Presbyterian Church | Thu 5 November (TBC) |
| Essendon | St Thomas', Anglican Parish, Moonee Ponds | Sun 8 November, 11.30am |
| Eureka | Ebenezer St.John's Presbyterian Church | Tue 10 November (TBC) |
| Frankston | Frankston Community Baptist Church | Thu 29 October, 6:30pm |
| Geelong | City on a Hill Geelong | Mon 9 November, 7.00PM |
| Gippsland East | Riviera CC | Sun 8 November, 5.00PM |
| Melton | Melton Christian Church | Wed 11 November (TBC) |
| Mill Park | Infinity Church | Thu 12 November, 7.00PM |
| Mulgrave | Waverley Baptist Church | Thu 5 November, 7.00PM |
| Narracan | Drouin Anglican and Presbyterian Churches and Drouin Christian Fellowship | Tue 20 October, 7.00PM |
| Narre Warren North | Reveal Church, Endeavour Hills | Tue 10 November (TBC) |
| Narre Warren South | Holy Trinity, Hampton Park | Sat 31 October, 5:00PM |
| Oakleigh | Clayton Presbyterian Church | Wed 28 October, 7:00 pm |
| Pakenham | Pakenham Baptist Church | Wed 11 November (TBC) |
| Polwarth | The Colac Presbyterian Church | Sat 24 October, 4:30PM |
| Ringwood | Whitehorse Uniting Church - Mitcham | Wed 4 November, 7:30 pm |
| Ripon | Ebenezer St.John's Presbyterian Church | Tue 10 November (TBC) |
| Shepparton | Shepparton Church of Christ | Thu 5 November, 7:00 pm |
| Tarneit | Epiphany Anglican Church | |
| Thomastown | Infinity Church (Thomastown) | Thu 12 November (TBC) |
| Warrandyte | Pentecost Church Doncaster | Sat 7 November, 10:30 |
| Wendouree | Ebenezer St.John's Presbyterian Church | Tue 10 November, 7:00 pm |
Cancelled Events
These forums have been cancelled because the sitting MP and other major candidates declined the invitation or could not make themselves available.
| State | Electorate | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Banks | Candidate Cancelled Event | |
| NSW | Blaxland | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Bradfield | Church could not find a time that could suit candidates. | |
| NSW | Cook | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Cowper | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Cunningham | Church could not find a time that could suit candidates. | |
| NSW | Farrer | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Fowler | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| NSW | Gilmore | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| NSW | Grayndler | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Hughes | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Hume | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| NSW | Lindsay | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Newcastle | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Parramatta | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Reid | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Watson | Candidates are not available. | |
| NSW | Werriwa | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| QLD | Bonner | Sitting MP not available | |
| QLD | Bowman | Candidates are not available. | |
| QLD | Brisbane | Church could not find a suitable date. | |
| QLD | Longman | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| QLD | Maranoa | Candidates are not available. | |
| QLD | Moreton | Candidates are not available. | |
| QLD | Ryan | Candidates withdrew at the last minute | |
| SA | Makin | Partnering with other candidate forum. | |
| SA | Spence | Candidate Unavailable | |
| SA | Sturt | Unable to coordinates dates with Candidates | |
| TAS | Franklin | Sitting MP declined invitation. | |
| TAS | Lyons | Both candidates withdrew at late notice | |
| VIC | Bendigo | Candidates are not available. | |
| VIC | Corangamite | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| VIC | Corio | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| VIC | Hawke | Candidates are not available. | |
| VIC | Mallee | Candidates declined invitation. | |
| VIC | McEwen | Multiple candidates withdrew at last minute | |
| VIC | Monash | Candidates are not available. | |
| VIC | Wannon | Sitting MP not available. | |
| WA | Durack | Sitting MP withdrew at last minute | |
Keep up to date
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Frequently asked questions
What is a "candidate forum"?
A candidate forum is an event held a few weeks before an election where the main candidates for a specific electorate are invited to speak to a group of people and answer their questions. These events are frequently run by issues groups (environment, housing etc) or the local chamber of commerce, and are about getting a specific demographic of people together and giving the politicians the opportunity to speak directly to their concerns.
These forums are being hosted by the churches of the electorate, to allow politicians to specifically hear the concerns of the Christian community, and give specific and direct responses.
Can my church hold a forum?
We would love to hear from you if your church is interested in holding a forum.
Freedom for Faith has a guide to running the forums, and our team will walk with you the whole way and provide support to make it as easy as possible.
You can read the full guide here.
For more information, contact us on [email protected]
Which candidates will be invited?
Where possible, all candidates will be invited to speak at the forum. In electorates with a large number of candidates, invitations might need to be limited to give attendees the opportunity to hear in more detail from the candidates most likely to win the electorate or impact the election.
What questions will be asked?
Most forums will spend some of their time asking pre-determined questions, and some of their time taking questions from the attendees.
The organising churches will determine the initial questions and communicate them to the candidates well before the forum. Suggested questions have been developed by the combined heads of churches to reflect the concerns that are common amongst Christians.
The questions from the attendees are usually taken through an online question portal, to allow live-stream viewers to also ask their questions.
Which churches are invited?
The forum is being hosted by a group of churches from the electorate. Everyone is welcome to come.
Do you have any other questions?
Authorised by Mike Southon, Freedom for Faith, 168 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW