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James Merlino
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Merlino with Jackson Taylor MP, 2021.
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | James Anthony Merlino (1972-08-17) 17 August 1972 (age 51) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Labor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Meagan Merlino (m. 2000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | St Edmund's School Mount Lilydale Mercy College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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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.[1] 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[2]
With the election of the Andrews Labor Government in late 2014, Merlino became Deputy Premier and Education Minister.[3] On 10 June 2016, Merlino also became Minister for Emergency Services following the resignation of Brunswick MP Jane Garrett from the Andrews Ministry.[4]
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.[5][6]
In June 2022, Merlino announced his retirement from politics and did not contest the November state election.[7] He stepped down from his ministerial roles on 27 June.
Merlino was a member of Labor's right faction.[8] He is a Catholic.[9]
In December of 2022 he was part of the successful Andrew Gowers ticket in the Hawthorn board election.[10]
| Victorian Legislative Assembly | ||
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| Preceded by | Member for Monbulk 2002–2022 |
Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Deputy Premier of Victoria 2014–2022 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Education 2014–2022 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Emergency Services 2016–2018 |
Succeeded by as Minister for Police and Emergency Services |
| Preceded by | Minister for Mental Health 2020–2022 |
Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria 2012–2022 |
Succeeded by |
 | This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the Parliament of Victoria is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
