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.
VIC
| Electorate | Host Church | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bayswater | Concluded | |
| Bellarine | Church by the Bay | |
| Bendigo East | Creek Street Church | |
| Bendigo West | Enjoy Church Bendigo | |
| Berwick | Crossway South East campus | |
| Box Hill | St John's Anglican Church, Blackburn (partnership with HTD) | |
| Bulleen | Holy Trinity [Anglican Church], Doncaster | |
| Bundoora | St Peter's, [Anglican Church] Bundoora | |
| Caulfield | Beit HaMashiach (House of the Messiah) Messianic Congregation | Tue 27 October (TBC) |
| Clarinda | Christ Church (Anglican), Dingley | |
| Cranbourne | Turningpoint Church | |
| Eildon | Woori Yallock Presbyterian Church | |
| Essendon | The Anglican Parish St Thomas, Moonee Ponds | |
| Euroa | Australian Christian College - Benalla | |
| Evelyn | St John's the Baptist, Lilydale | |
| Footscray | City on a Hill: Melbourne West | |
| Frankston | Frankston Community Baptist Church | Thu 29 October (TBC) |
| Geelong | City on a Hill Geelong | Mon 19 October (TBC) |
| Gippsland East | Riviera Christian Centre | |
| Gippsland South | Sale Baptist Church | |
| Glen Waverley | Crossway Baptist Church – Burwood East | |
| Hawthorn | Camberwell Baptist Church | |
| Ivanhoe | St James Anglican Church, Ivanhoe | Thu 15 October (TBC) |
| Melton | Melton Christian Church | |
| Mill Park | Infinity Church | |
| Mornington | St Peter's Anglican Church, Mornington & Mount Martha | |
| Morwell | Reality Church Traralgon | Wed 21 October (TBC) |
| Mulgrave | Waverley Baptist Church | |
| Murray Plains | Community Church of Kyabram | |
| Narracan | Drouin Christian Fellowship | |
| Narre Warren North | Reveal Church, Endeavour Hills | |
| Narre Warren South | Holy Trinity, Hampton Park | |
| Northcote | Northcote Baptist Church | |
| Oakleigh | Clayton Presbyterian Church | |
| Polwarth | The Colac Presbyterian Church | Sat 24 October (TBC) |
| Ringwood | Whitehorse Uniting Church - Mitcham | |
| Shepparton | Shepparton Church of Christ | |
| South-West Coast | Warrnambool & District Baptist Church | Tue 27 October (TBC) |
| Sunbury | Combined Churches of Sunbury | |
| Warrandyte | Pentecost Church – Doncaster | |
| Yan Yean | Valley Presbyterian Church | |
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 | |
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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