Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
James Merlino | |
Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
Nationality: | Australian |
Office2: | 28th Deputy Premier of Victoria |
Term Start2: | 4 December 2014 |
Term End2: | 27 June 2022 |
Premier2: | Daniel Andrews |
Predecessor2: | Peter Ryan |
Successor2: | Jacinta Allan |
Office3: | Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria |
Term Start3: | 2 February 2012 |
Term End3: | 25 June 2022 |
Leader3: | Daniel Andrews |
Predecessor3: | Rob Hulls |
Successor3: | Jacinta Allan |
Office5: | Minister for Education |
Term Start5: | 4 December 2014 |
Term End5: | 27 June 2022 |
Premier5: | Daniel Andrews |
Predecessor5: | Martin Dixon |
Successor5: | Natalie Hutchins |
Office6: | Minister for Mental Health |
Term Start6: | 29 September 2020 |
Term End6: | 27 June 2022 |
Premier6: | Daniel Andrews |
Predecessor6: | Martin Foley |
Successor6: | Gabrielle Williams |
Office7: | Minister for Emergency Services |
Term Start7: | 10 June 2016 |
Term End7: | 29 November 2018 |
Premier7: | Daniel Andrews |
Predecessor7: | Jane Garrett |
Successor7: | Lisa Neville |
Office8: | Minister for Police |
Term Start8: | 11 October 2010 |
Term End8: | 2 December 2010 |
Premier8: | John Brumby |
Predecessor8: | Bob Cameron |
Successor8: | Peter Ryan |
Office9: | Minister for Corrections |
Term Start9: | 11 October 2010 |
Term End9: | 2 December 2010 |
Premier9: | John Brumby |
Predecessor9: | Bob Cameron |
Successor9: | Andrew McIntosh |
Office10: | Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs |
Term Start10: | 1 December 2006 |
Term End10: | 2 December 2010 |
Premier10: | Steve Bracks John Brumby |
Predecessor10: | Justin Madden |
Successor10: | Hugh Delahunty |
Office11: | Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Monbulk |
Term Start11: | 30 November 2002 |
Term End11: | 26 November 2022 |
Predecessor11: | Steve McArthur |
Successor11: | Daniela De Martino |
Office12: | Chairman of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority |
Termstart12: | 30 June 2023 |
Predecessor12: | James McKenzie [1] |
Deputy12: | Christine Wyatt |
Office13: | Chairman and Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited |
Termstart13: | 1 January 2023 |
1Blankname13: | CEO |
1Namedata13: | Vicki Doyle |
Office14: | Director of Hawthorn Football Club |
Termstart14: | December 2022 |
President14: | Andrew Gowers |
1Blankname14: | CEO |
1Namedata14: | Ash Klein |
Office15: | Chairman of Victorian Catholic Education Authority |
Termstart15: | 6 December 2023 [2] |
Birth Date: | 1972 8, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Birthname: | James Anthony Merlino |
Spouse: | Meagan Merlino |
Children: | 3 |
Party: | Labor |
Education: | St Edmund's School Mount Lilydale Mercy College |
Alma Mater: | University of Melbourne |
James Anthony Merlino (born 19 August 1972) 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.
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.[3] 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[4]
With the election of the Andrews Labor Government in late 2014, Merlino became Deputy Premier and Education Minister.[5] On 10 June 2016, Merlino also became Minister for Emergency Services following the resignation of Brunswick MP Jane Garrett from the Andrews Ministry.[6]
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.[7] [8]
In June 2022, Merlino announced his retirement from politics and did not contest the November state election.[9] He stepped down from his ministerial roles on 27 June.
Merlino was a member of Labor's right faction.[10] He is a Catholic.[11]
In December of 2022 he was part of the successful Andrew Gowers ticket in the board election.[12]