25 Facts About James Newbury

James Benjamin Kingsley Newbury was born on 13 May 1978 and is an Australian politician.

James Newbury has been a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2018, representing the seat of Brighton.

James Newbury was a Liberal staffer in Canberra and Melbourne before his election, and holds three degrees.

Between December 2018 and September 2021, James Newbury held the positions of Shadow Assistant Minister for Wastewatch and Shadow Assistant Minister for Freedom of Information.

Between March 2021 and September 2021, James Newbury was Shadow Assistant Minister for Scrutiny of Government.

Between September 2021 and February 2022, James Newbury held the position of Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government and Shadow Minister for Government Services and Public Sector Integrity.

Between September 2021 and December 2022, James Newbury held the positions of Shadow Minister for Equality, Shadow Minister for Bay Protection, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Shadow Special Minister of State.

James Newbury was a backer of Michael Kroger to be the president of the Liberal Party in Victoria.

James Newbury was a close ally of Marcus Bastiaan, who claimed to control a large portion of the administrative committee.

James Newbury won preselection for the district of Brighton in 2016, receiving support from prominent outgoing MP Louise Asher who described James Newbury as "one of the most outstanding individuals with whom I have had the pleasure to work" in a reference letter.

James Newbury was criticised during the campaign for campaigning to close a homeless shelter in his electorate.

James Newbury defeated former Bayside Council Mayor, Felicity Frederico to retain Liberal Party preselection for the 2022 Victorian state election and then defeated Labor's Louise Crawford and Frederico, who ran as an independent at that election.

James Newbury has expressed deep concern over the leadership of Victorian Liberal Party President Greg Mirabella, joining former Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy in condemning Mirabella's conduct during and after the 2022 Victorian State Election.

James Newbury voted to expel Moira Deeming from the parliamentary Liberal Party in 2023, but later voted to re-admit her, and voted for Brad Battin in the subsequent 2024 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill.

James Newbury is a supporter of abortion rights, who criticised a Liberal Party colleague Bernie Finn in May 2022, calling his anti-abortion views "deeply disturbing and dangerous".

James Newbury stated that governments should not "legislate control over a woman's body".

James Newbury was criticised for sharing a photo on social media that showed a girl's self-harm.

James Newbury linked the post to the COVID-19 lockdown and the strain on mental health, later removing the post from Twitter two hours after he posted it.

James Newbury has backed the idea that police should be able to racially profile people that they question, and to store that information for future reference.

James Newbury has criticised the practice of duck hunting, and called for the practice to be stopped.

James Newbury has called for an end to the state's culls to Victoria's feral brumby population, pledging to stop the eradication, if elected to government.

James Newbury has supported LGBTQ supports in Victoria including, maintaining Victoria's strict anti-conversion therapy laws, funding LGBTQ community radio and providing a "dedicated professional legal support service" to LGBTQ Victorians.

James Newbury drew media attention when he gave an "iron clad guarantee" that the Victorian Liberals would not amend new laws banning gay conversion therapy.

In 2024, James Newbury criticised the Allan government's housing plan for higher density living in activity centres in Melbourne to address lack of housing supply.

James Newbury was criticised in December 2024, including by the Nationals, for labelling the Premier and Treasurer, who both represent regional Victorian electorates, as 'out-of-towners' in regard to the government's housing and planning initiatives for Melbourne.