James Newbury

 ( 1978 Births ) 

James Benjamin Kingsley Newbury (born 13 May 1978) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2018, representing the seat of Brighton.

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Early life Newbury grew up in Malvern East, and his grandfather, Dr Charles Renton Newbury, was President of the World Dental Federation and a recipient of a CBE.

Newbury joined the Liberal Party in 1999.

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

Newbury's university degrees include a Juris Doctor (Post Graduate Level Degree), a Master of Business (Law), and a Bachelor of Business (Law).

In the Liberal Party, Newbury worked as a Senior Adviser to the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, a Parliamentary Adviser to the Hon Christopher Pyne, a Parliamentary Adviser to the Hon Joe Hockey; and worked for a number of other Parliamentarians including Senator Richard Alston, the Hon Tony Abbott, and Senator Mitch Fifield.

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

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

Between September 2021 and February 2022, 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, 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.

In the Shadow Cabinet reshuffle by incoming leader John Pesutto in December 2022, Newbury retained the portfolios of Equality and Environment and Climate Change but was also elevated to the leadership team as Manager of Opposition Business.

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Politics Newbury was a backer of Michael Kroger to be the president of the Liberal Party in Victoria. He also was a close ally of Marcus Bastiaan, who claimed to control a large portion of the administrative committee. This group generally aimed to install conservative politicians, or have moderates toe a more conservative line. Newbury is considered a moderate who has "sought to return the party to its centre."

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

This was the cause of some disappointment in the Liberal ranks, as it would lead to a reduction in their female representation. Newbury's victory came with allegations of branch stacking.

Newbury won the seat in an electoral landslide for the Labor Party but suffered an 8.7% swing against him, and was in danger of losing the previously safe Liberal seat to a relatively unheard of 19 year old who had only joined the Labor party two months prior and whose entire electoral campaign budget was $1750. He was criticised during the campaign for campaigning to close a homeless shelter in his electorate.

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.

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.

The Age newspaper reported that Newbury had spoken at a meeting of the Liberal Party’s Administrative Committee, slamming Mirabella’s proposed one-man review of the election, saying he believed private reviews “would not be founded in truth, and feared it could be hijacked by self-serving politics and factionalism”.

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.

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Political positions

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Abortion 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". He also stated that governments should not "legislate control over a woman's body".

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COVID-19 lockdowns Newbury was a vocal critic of the Victorian lockdowns.

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

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Crime 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.

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

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Environment 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.

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LGBTQ affairs 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.

Newbury drew media attention when he gave an "iron clad guarantee" that the Victorian Liberals would not amend new laws banning gay conversion therapy. Newbury's views angered more conservative elements, including "hard-right Liberal backbencher" Bernie Finn now a member of Family First and Nationals leader Peter Walsh, who was recorded using foul language about Newbury in a Coalition partyroom meeting in which Walsh stated that the Nationals did not support Newbury's stance on the conversion therapy ban.

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

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