James Merlino

The Honourable
James Merlino
MP
The Honourable James Merlino MP
	Merlino with Jackson Taylor MP, 2021.
28th Deputy Premier of Victoria
	In office; 4 December 2014 – 27 June 2022
Premier	Daniel Andrews
Preceded by	Peter Ryan
Succeeded by	Jacinta Allan
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria
	In office; 2 February 2012 – 25 June 2022
Leader	Daniel Andrews
Preceded by	Rob Hulls
Succeeded by	Jacinta Allan
Premier	In office; 4 December 2014 – 27 June 2022
Cabinet Positions
Minister for Education
	In office; 4 December 2014 – 27 June 2022
Premier	Daniel Andrews
Preceded by	Martin Dixon
Succeeded by	Natalie Hutchins
Minister for Mental Health
	In office; 29 September 2020 – 27 June 2022
Premier	Daniel Andrews
Preceded by	Martin Foley
Succeeded by	Gabrielle Williams
Minister for Emergency Services
	In office; 10 June 2016 – 29 November 2018
Premier	Daniel Andrews
Preceded by	Jane Garrett
Succeeded by	Lisa Neville
Minister for Police
	In office; 11 October 2010 – 2 December 2010
Premier	John Brumby
Preceded by	Bob Cameron
Succeeded by	Peter Ryan
Minister for Corrections
	In office; 11 October 2010 – 2 December 2010
Premier	John Brumby
Preceded by	Bob Cameron
Succeeded by	Andrew McIntosh
Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs
	In office; 1 December 2006 – 2 December 2010
Premier	Steve Bracks; John Brumby
Preceded by	Justin Madden
Succeeded by	Hugh Delahunty
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Monbulk
	In office; 30 November 2002 – 26 November 2022
Preceded by	Steve McArthur
Succeeded by	Daniela De Martino
Deputy	Incumbent
Post Governmental Positions
Chairman of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 30 June 2023
Deputy	Christine Wyatt
Preceded by	James McKenzie
Chairman and Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 1 January 2023
CEO	Vicki Doyle
Director of Hawthorn Football Club
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; December 2022
President	Andrew Gowers
CEO	Ash Klein
Chairman of Victorian Catholic Education Authority
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 6 December 2023
Personal details
Born	James Anthony Merlino; 17 August 1972 (age 52); Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Meagan Merlino
Children	3
Education	St Edmund's School; Mount Lilydale Mercy College
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Occupation	Union official; Labourer; Politician;

James Anthony Merlino (born 19 August 1972)^[3] is a former Australian politician who served as 28th deputy premier of Victoria from 2014 to 2022 under Premier Daniel Andrews. He was the deputy leader of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2012 to 2022 and a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the division of Monbulk from 2002 until his retirement.

Early life

Merlino was born in Melbourne to Italian immigrant parents Bruno and Mary Merlino. His father was a bricklayer who immigrated to Australia in 1961. Merlino attended St Edmund’s Primary School, where he became interested in politics especially during the 1984 Australian federal election.

Political career

Merlino was elected at the 2002 state election defeating Steve McArthur. Merlino comfortably retained his seat at the state election in 2006 and became the Minister for Sport and Recreation and Youth Affairs, securing a place in cabinet. Under new Premier John Brumby's government he retained that ministry and gained a new role as Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs.^[4] He subsequently became Police Minister following the resignation of the previous Minister.

When the ALP lost government in the 2010 state election, Merlino became Shadow Minister for Police, the TAC and Road Safety. In February 2012, he was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria, following the resignation of Rob Hulls, becoming deputy leader of the opposition^[5]

With the election of the Andrews Labor Government in late 2014, Merlino became Deputy Premier and Education Minister.^[6] On 10 June 2016, Merlino also became Minister for Emergency Services following the resignation of Brunswick MP Jane Garrett from the Andrews Ministry.^[7]

In March 2021, Merlino became the Acting Premier of Victoria, after Daniel Andrews fell down a flight of stairs while holidaying on the Mornington Peninsula, suffering several broken ribs and a broken vertebra from the fall. Merlino was Acting Premier until Andrews returned to work on June 28.^[8]^[9]

In June 2022, Merlino announced his retirement from politics and did not contest the November state election.^[10] He stepped down from his ministerial roles on 27 June.

Merlino was a member of Labor's right faction.^[11] He is a Catholic.^[12]

Football

In December of 2022 he was part of the successful Andrew Gowers ticket in the Hawthorn board election.^[13]

References

^ "James Merlino Appointed Chair". The Age. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
^ "James Merlino Appointed Chair of Victorian Catholic Education Authority - Press Release" (PDF). Victorian Catholic Education Authority. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^ "Out of the shadows: Will James Merlino be our next premier?".
^ "John Brumby's new Cabinet". Herald Sun. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
^ "Merlino becomes deputy leader of Vic ALP". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
^ Parliament of Victoria - Members and Ministers February 25, 2016 Retrieved 25 May 2016
^ "James Merlino to replace Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, as government threatens to sack CFA board". Ninemsn. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^ "Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in intensive care with damage to his vertebrae and ribs". ABC News. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
^ Taylor, Josh (9 March 2021). "Daniel Andrews in intensive care with broken ribs and damaged vertebrae after fall on 'slippery stairs'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
^ "Victorian ministers confirm resignations from Andrews government ahead of November election". ABC News. 24 June 2022.
^ "Daniel Andrews under internal pressure to get back to basics". The Age. Fairfax Media. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
^ "Emotional pleas and shocking stories as Victorian MPs debate a matter of life and death". The Age. Fairfax Media. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
^ "Election results announced". 13 December 2022.

External links

James Merlino at re-member

Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Steve McArthur	Member for Monbulk 2002–2022	Succeeded by Daniela De Martino
Political offices
Preceded by Peter Ryan	Deputy Premier of Victoria 2014–2022	Succeeded by Jacinta Allan
Preceded by Martin Dixon	Minister for Education 2014–2022	Succeeded by Natalie Hutchins
Preceded by Jane Garrett	Minister for Emergency Services 2016–2018	Succeeded by Lisa Neville as Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Preceded by Martin Foley	Minister for Mental Health 2020–2022	Succeeded by Gabrielle Williams
Party political offices
Preceded by Rob Hulls	Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria 2012–2022	Succeeded by Jacinta Allan

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the Parliament of Victoria is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "James Merlino Appointed Chair". The Age. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.

[2] "James Merlino Appointed Chair of Victorian Catholic Education Authority - Press Release" (PDF). Victorian Catholic Education Authority. Retrieved 6 December 2023.

[3] "Out of the shadows: Will James Merlino be our next premier?".

[4] "John Brumby's new Cabinet". Herald Sun. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.

[5] "Merlino becomes deputy leader of Vic ALP". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.

[6] Parliament of Victoria - Members and Ministers February 25, 2016 Retrieved 25 May 2016

[7] "James Merlino to replace Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, as government threatens to sack CFA board". Ninemsn. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.

[8] "Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in intensive care with damage to his vertebrae and ribs". ABC News. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

[9] Taylor, Josh (9 March 2021). "Daniel Andrews in intensive care with broken ribs and damaged vertebrae after fall on 'slippery stairs'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

[10] "Victorian ministers confirm resignations from Andrews government ahead of November election". ABC News. 24 June 2022.

[11] "Daniel Andrews under internal pressure to get back to basics". The Age. Fairfax Media. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

[12] "Emotional pleas and shocking stories as Victorian MPs debate a matter of life and death". The Age. Fairfax Media. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

[13] "Election results announced". 13 December 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]