Sustainable Australia Party is running in the 2 May Nepean By-election and has announced its candidate as former Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Reade Smith.
Sustainable Australia Party is pleased to announce Reade Smith as its candidate for the 2 May 2026 Nepean By-election.
Reade lives on the Mornington Peninsula and has 12 years of local government political experience as a former councillor with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council from 2000 to 2012 and was mayor in 2005. He has experience as a candidate and campaigner in local, state and federal elections.
Reade is also a former Senior Constable with the Victoria Police, having been stationed at a number of police stations including Rosebud, Mornington and Frankston. He retired from Victoria Police to manage a Frankston-based youth leadership and empowerment program called Youth At Risk. He is currently employed as a local laws ranger at a south-east Melbourne council.
Reade is a dedicated community advocate and is passionate about creating an environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically healthy society. He has a demonstrated commitment to the Mornington Peninsula's diverse community and is particularly concerned by the affordable housing crisis and homelessness, environmental and climate change issues, regional infrastructure and community development.
Reade represented the Mornington Peninsula Shire as a Director of the UNESCO Western Port Biosphere, to help create a sustainable future for Western Port. Reade also represented the Mornington Peninsula Shire on the Inter Council Aboriginal Consultative Committee for four years.
In 2000 Reade was co-opted onto the council of his former high school, Mt Eliza Secondary School College, for eight years where he gained a detailed knowledge of the secondary school system.
Reade and his partner Amanda recently celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary. He has two adult daughters and five grandchildren, enhancing his desire to create a more sustainable Australia.
"I am excited to be endorsed by Sustainable Australia Party as its candidate for the May 2026 Nepean By-election. Having worked in community organisations including local government for decades, the community has identified affordable housing as the number one campaign issue, including for younger Australians, women in crisis and pensioners. We need affordable housing now, the sustainable way," said Mr Reade.
"The best way to make change is to get involved in the community and particularly politics. Sustainable Australia Party best aligns to my values and addresses key housing, environmental, population growth, over-development and corruption issues that many Victorians are concerned about."
"This is an extremely competitive election and I look forward to further engagement with our local community across the Peninsula. Minor parties like SAP are not backed by billionaires, political funding companies or big unions, but equally, our grassroots style of campaigning is authentic and community-driven."
"Our independent community movement looks forward to taking it up to the big boys and girls with a science and evidence-based approach to policy - the antidote to left or right ideology," added Mr Smith. | Ends
More information about Reade Smith and his campaign can be found on the SAP website here.