THE Labor Party has chosen Chris Buckingham to run for the seat of Bass at the 2026 Victorian state election, following the decision by current MP Jordan Crugnale to not seek re-election.
Mr Buckingham served as CEO of the former Casey Cardinia Libraries and later as head of the Latrobe Valley Authority, now part of Regional Development Victoria. He is currently the chief executive officer of consultancy firm The Fair Co.
A former candidate for the re-named seat of McMillan (now Monash) at the 2016 federal election, where he stood for the Labor Party against Russell Broadbent, Mr Buckingham was a regular visitor to Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
Mr Buckingham has praised Ms Crugnale for her dedication to the community.
“Jordan Crugnale has done an incredible amount of work for the people of Bass over the last seven years and will continue to do so over the next 12 months. The community will reap the benefits for many years to come,” he said.
Mr Buckingham said he was determined to retain the seat for Labor and would advocate strongly for local communities.
“I am determined to retain the seat of Bass and will advocate on behalf of the electorate to ensure our community continues to prosper and grow,” he said.
“Fairness goes to the very heart of how I work. No one should be held back, and no one should be left behind.”
Bass is the most marginal seat in Victoria, retained by Ms Crugnale by 200 votes in a narrow election win in 2022.
It follows the announcement last month by Bass Coast Shire Councillor Matt Morgan that he would run for the Greens. The Liberal Party is yet to name its candidate for the state electorate of Bass, little more than 12 months out from the November 2026 state election.
