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.
Early life
Merlino was born in Melbourne to Italian immigrant parents Bruno and Mary Merlino. His father was a bricklayer who immigrated to Australia in 1961. Merlino attended St Edmund’s Primary School, where he became interested in politics especially during the 1984 Australian federal election.
Political career
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. 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, and subsequently became the deputy leader of the opposition.
With the election of the Andrews Labor Government in late 2014, Merlino became Deputy Premier and Education Minister. On 10 June 2016, Merlino also became Minister for Emergency Services following the resignation of Brunswick MP Jane Garrett from the Andrews Ministry.
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 28 June 2021.
In June 2022, Merlino announced his retirement from politics and did not contest the November state election. He stepped down from his ministerial roles on 27 June 2022.
Merlino is a member of Labor's right faction. He is a Catholic.
Football
In December 2022 he was part of the successful Andrew Gowers ticket in the Hawthorn board election.