Nepean By-election 2026

Nepean was first contested at the 2002 election, a new name for an electorate that had been known as Dromana since 1967. The area has traditionally been represented by the Liberal Party, with Labor only holding the district on the election of the Cain government in 1982, and then Labor's upset victory in 2018.

Dromana was held for the Liberal Party 1985-92 by Dr Ronald Wells, who was defeated for pre-election in 1992. Wells instead won and represented Eumemmerring Province in the Legislative Council from 1992 until retiring in 1999.

Wells was succeeded in Dromana by Tony Hyams, but he retired after a single term, and Dromana/Nepean was represented by Martin Dixon from 1996 until his retirement at the 2018 election. Dixon narrowly survived the 2002 Bracks landslide to become the first member for the renamed Nepean. He subsequently increased his majority, but on retirement the buffer was not enough to withstand the swing to Labor in 2018. The election of Labor's Chris Brayne was built on a swing of 15 per cent over two elections.

Former professional tennis player Sam Groth returned the seat to the Liberal fold at the 2022 election, with a 7.1 per cent swing.

Groth was born and raised in regional NSW before moving to Melbourne as a 16 year-old to pursue his dream of being a professional tennis player. He represented Australia at both the Olympic Games and in the Davis Cup, as well as being awarded Australian Tennis' highest honour, the Newcombe Medal in 2015. After retiring from tennis after the Australian Open in 2018, Groth embarked on a media career with the Nine network and as a columnist for News Corporation.

He entered state parliament in 2022, immediately entering the shadow ministry with the youth, tourism, sport and events portfolios. He quit shadow cabinet in December 2024, shortly before John Pesutto was replaced as leader by Brad Battin, and subsequently became the deputy leader of the party.

In 2025 he was the subject of articles in the Herald Sun about the beginning of his relationship with his wife, for which Groth sued the newspaper for defamation. It's understood the parties settled out of court.

Groth was re-elected as deputy leader when Jess Wilson became party leader in November 2025, but quit the position in January and announced he would not contest November's general election. He said he made his decision after realising that public pressure on his family had come from within his own party. He pulled his retirement forward in February, saying he intended to pursue other opportunities.

(Victories by the party that formed government are underlined)

Peter Angelico

Libertarian

Angelico is the founder and managing director of a Dandenong manufacturing firm and has more than 30 years of industry experience. He is also president of the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance and was named Corporate Citizen of the Year by the City of Greater Dandenong. Angelico was a long term Liberal Party member who left the party last year.

Website

Sianan Healy

The Greens

Healy works in healthcare advocacy and manages the Evidence and Capacity Building team at Women's Health Victoria. Prior to that she was a qualitative researcher investigating experiences of infertility and fertility treatment. She holds a PhD in history from the University of Melbourne.

Website

Darren Hercus

One Nation

Hercus is a civil engineer and owns a joist and truss manufacturing business in Dromana. He says he is a former Liberal voter and cites pressures on his business such as increased land tax, workers compensation and rates bills as his motivation to join One Nation.

Website

Tracee Hutchison

Independent

Hutchison has worked in the media since the early 1980s as a broadcaster, journalist, and producer including in roles at triple J, the ABC, Channel 7, Channel 9, and a community radio station on the Mornington Peninsula. She grew up in Rosebud and McCrae and continues to work in the area with Mornington Community Support Centre and Southern Peninsula Community Support. Hutchison is the chair of Green Music Australia, a peak national environmental music body. Her campaign is backed by Independents for Mornington Peninsula, who supported Ben Smith’s campaign for the overlapping federal seat of Flinders at the 2025 federal election.

Website

Anthony Marsh

Liberal Party

Marsh is the Mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire and was elected to the council as an independent at the 2020 local government election. Marsh has previously said he would not run for parliament but says he is doing so due to the performance of the state Labor government. Before entering local government he was a Commissioned Officer in the Air Force. He also owns a small business that develops a drone safety app.

Website

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