PRESS RELEASE: DLP enters the Victorian election with candidates in all eight regions
MEDIA RELEASE, 16 October 2026
Victorian Executive Secretary Cary de Wit to lead the campaign as candidate for North Eastern Metropolitan
The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) will contest all eight Legislative Council regions and the majority of Legislative Assembly seats at the Victorian state election on 28 November, with Victorian Executive Secretary Cary de Wit as lead candidate for North Eastern Metropolitan Region. Further candidates will be announced over the coming weeks.
Mr de Wit said Victorians had, unfortunately, stopped expecting politicians to say what they really think, and that this was feeding distrust and hopelessness amongst voters.
“People are sick of politicians who won’t say what they really believe. Some pretend to talk straight, but they’re dog-whistling, trading on division and chasing a protest vote. The DLP will say what it stands for, and so will I, because these are principles we actually hold.”
“This party has stood for working-class families since the 1950s. We put the everyday concerns of ordinary people first, like the cost of living, affordable housing, tackling crime and the freedom to say what you want. What we reject are radical left-wing ideas.”
This is the first Victorian election since group voting tickets were abolished. Upper house preferences are now directed by voters, not by deals between parties.
“This is the first election where the upper house can’t be won on a preference deal. Good,” Mr de Wit said. “We’ll earn every vote the hard way, with ideas you can check against your own life.”
Earlier this month, Mr de Wit stood with doctors on the steps of Parliament House during their statewide stop work. He was the only politician who turned up to stand with the crowd. Labor was in the building, but behind closed doors at another failed negotiation.
He went to listen, not to speak for them. What he heard, from people asking for nothing more than a safe working day, will be in the DLP’s health policy when it is released.
The DLP will release its policies one at a time between now and the election. Major policy areas include:
– Youth crime: a real answer that keeps kids off the street and out of prison at the same time.
– Free speech: restoring the freedom to say what you think.
– Energy: cheap power that brings industry back to Victoria.
– Health: funding more doctors and hospital beds, not more bureaucrats.
– Families: a real choice for mothers who want to raise their own kids.
“Every one of these will be plain enough to test,” Mr de Wit said. “If it doesn’t make sense to you, tell us. That’s the point of doing this on social media and podcasts, where people can answer back.”
The DLP will release new policies every week until the election, with a focus on social media and podcasts. Mainstream media are welcome to follow the campaign, and Mr de Wit is available for interview.
About the DLP
The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission. Its roots go back to 1955. The party stands for working people and families and puts principle ahead of left or right.
Images and media kit
High-resolution photos of Cary de Wit, free for editorial use with the credit “Image: DLP Victoria”:
https://dlpvic.org/media/2026-10-campaign-launch/
Media contacts
Cary de Wit, Victorian Executive Secretary
[email protected], +61 409 155 591
Ben Durrant, Media Advisor, NEXTT Consulting
[email protected], +61 400 019 395
Authorised by C. de Wit, Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Suite 301, 434 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004.
