News / Politics
Labor opts for fresh face in battle for Brunswick
Ministerial adviser chosen as state election candidate
Mark Phillips
Monday, April 13, 2026
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LABOR has chosen Gabriel Steger, an adviser to federal Minister Ged Kearney, as its candidate for Brunswick at this year’s state election.
Brunswick Voice understands Steger, 31, has been chosen by agreement, avoiding a pre-selection contest.
Due to internal processes that are still underway, Labor is not ready to officially announce Steger as the party’s candidate but that is expected to happen within days.
He currently works as an adviser on national policy to prevent gender-based violence in the office of Kearney, the Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and MP for Cooper on the eastern side of Merri Creek.
Steger grew up in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and has lived in Brunswick for three years as a renter in a share house.
According to a biography published online, Steger holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Melbourne University and speaks Mandarin Chinese. He has been involved with several community organisations, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, United Nations Association of Australia, Community and Public Sector Union and the Young Workers Centre.
Steger has also worked at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Attorney-General’s Department, and Asialink Business.
He faces an uphill battle to win Brunswick, which is held by the Greens with a 13.7% margin but the retirement of popular current MP Tim Read may open the door to Labor winning back the seat.
Merri-bek councillor and former Mayor Adam Pulford has been selected for the Greens after Read announced in February that he would not be seeking re-election so he could focus on his health after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Read narrowly won Brunswick in 2018 ending decades of Labor dominance in the seat.
In 2022, he enjoyed a swing of 11.5%. Labor’s candidate at that election was union official Mike Williams.
Steger’s first public event as the then-unannounced Labor candidate was to accompany the MP for Pascoe Vale, Anthony Cianflone, to pledge $468,000 from the state government towards Brunswick Hockey Club’s new hockey pitch in Coburg.
The money will fund a new synthetic pitch, LED lighting, and associated infrastructure at McDonald Reserve on Bell Street.
The new facilities are expected to open in 2027.
Cianflone confirmed the funding during a visit to the hockey club’s current playing venue at Brunswick Secondary College last Thursday night.
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