Nicole Werner

Nicole Ta-Ei Werner (born 27 March 1991) is an Australian politician. She was elected as the member for Warrandyte in the Victorian Legislative Assembly at a by-election in 2023.

Before entering politics, Nicole was a charity manager and youth pastor at the ‘Christian Pentecostal megachurch’ Planetshakers.

Early life and career
Werner’s parents migrated to Australia from Malaysia in the 1980s with their life savings of $800.

Werner was unable to speak English when she started kindergarten. She went on to study at language school in Doncaster East.

Political career
Werner joined the Liberal Party in 2020, triggered by frustration of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Werner ran for the state seat of Box Hill in the 2022 Victorian State election, losing to incumbent member, Paul Hamer.

Following the retirement of long term Victorian Liberal MP, Ryan Smith, in the state seat of Warrandyte, sparking a by-election in the seat, Werner was preselected as the Liberal candidate in June 2023. Werner was elected to succeed Ryan Smith at the by-election on 26 August 2023.

Werner is considered a member of the Liberal party’s ‘religious right’ grouping.