There will be a new face elected to the district of Bayswater, with sitting MP Jackson Taylor announcing he will not run for re-election in 2026.
First elected in 2018, Mr Taylor was a member of Victoria Police and a councillor and deputy mayor of Knox City Council before entering state politics.
Mr Taylor said being the member for Bayswater has been the greatest privilege of his life and his decision to not recontest the seat next year came after much consideration with his young family.
“Being in politics and public office has given me incredible opportunities to work with our community and achieve things together that I’m immensely proud of, but it has also meant a lot of time away from my family,” he said.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision, but after nearly 10 years in public life, including my time on Council – it feels like the right time to step back,”
“Through this amazing chance to serve our community I have made so many lifelong friends and people I will be forever grateful for, you see a lot of negativity in the news, well I can tell you, out in the real world doing what I do – I’ve seen the best of us every day, and it gives me great hope for tomorrow.”
Mr Taylor first won the seat of Bayswater for Labor in 2018, narrowly beating out incumbent Liberal MP Heidi Victoria by 296 votes.
Mr Taylor said that in his very first speech he said that he would work hard every single day because his constituents deserve nothing less and he certainly hopes he has lived up to that.
“I’ve always said I know not everyone voted for me, but I have always done my absolute best to act in our community’s interest and to represent you with honesty and with commitment,” he said.
“I’ve also had the greatest of opportunities to get to know so many fantastic community organisations, schools and local businesses right across the area, we are so lucky to have such a strong community, one that cares and one that knows just how good Knox is, thank you for being so kind, for your support and for simply being you,”
“Through this amazing chance to serve our community I have made so many lifelong friends and people I will be forever grateful for, you see a lot of negativity in the news, well I can tell you, out in the real world doing what I do – I’ve seen the best of us every day, and it gives me great hope for tomorrow.”
Mr Taylor faced a stiff challenge to retain his seat in 2022 when the seat of Ferntree Gully was abolished and he had to run against the sitting Liberal MP Nick Wakeling. Despite a statewide swing against Labor and predictions that the redistribution would favour Mr Wakeling, Mr Taylor was returned with an increased primary vote and a lead of 3603 votes.
Mr Taylor took the time to celebrate some of the projects delivered in the district but said the credit belongs to the community for pushing for many things and keeping him honest.
“I am stoked that we’ll soon have an upgraded Angliss Hospital caring for more people as well as a new public aged care facility, I’m proud we’ve secured the biggest investment into Boronia ever by a level of Government with our revitalisation work and the new station precinct…I am especially proud that we’ve delivered major upgrades to every single Government school that I have had the great honour of representing,” he said.
“I’m stoked to have delivered for our legends across community sport including new pavilions at JW Manson, Tormore, Wally Tew and Colchester reserves and that we helped deliver new basketball and netball centres and that we delivered the green heart of Knox… I’m proud that we’ve made our local roads safer like at the new McMahons intersection in Ferntree Gully or the Alchester intersection in Boronia,”
“Equally I’m so proud that we have delivered more support for mental health services, backed local prevention of family violence funding, supported the Boronia Breakfast Program and so much more to help people who need it.”
Mr Taylor also expressed pride for broader Victorian Government policies such as free kinder and free TAFE and projects including the Metro Tunnel, North East Link and the Suburban Rail Loop.
In a statement, Premier Jacinta Allan said Mr Taylor continued to show extraordinary energy and determination to deliver for the community he loves.
“Jackson didn’t have an easy start in life, but his upbringing has clearly shaped his deep sense of purpose,” she said.
“He credits his public education for giving him the support and direction he needed to set off on the right path,”
“I want to thank him for his outstanding contribution to our Parliament, and to his community and I wish him, his wife Tash and his son George the very best for the future.”
