David O'Reilly is standing for the Legalise Cannabis Party in Monash.

Born in Seymour, Victoria, to army parents, he completed high school in Moorabbin and enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of 17 in 1979.

After an initial period of service, David took a short break during the 1980s before re-enlisting in 1990. He served until his discharge in 2011, achieving the rank of Warrant Officer Class One (WO1). His extensive service included multiple deployments overseas, with periods in Iraq, Afghanistan and Indonesia during the tsunami response, as well as work alongside other Pacific nations.

David remains deeply committed to serving the veteran community. He currently holds several roles, including Vice President of the Morwell RSL.

"I'm standing for the seat of Monash because it's time for honest conversations about health, justice and personal freedom," David said.

"As a candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party, I believe our region deserves a representative who puts evidence before ideology and people before politics.

"Cannabis law reform is long overdue. Every year, thousands of Australians are criminalised for using a plant that is safer than alcohol or tobacco.

"Many of these people are using it for legitimate health reasons — yet they face the threat of losing their licence, their job or their freedom. That's not just unfair, it's un-Australian."

Mr O'Reilly said the party was fighting to:

• End cannabis prohibition and treat it as a health and personal choice issue
• Protect medicinal cannabis patients, including their right to drive when unimpaired
• Ban workplace discrimination against people who use cannabis responsibly
• Support local cannabis and hemp industries, creating jobs and boosting regional economies

"This isn't just about cannabis. It's about civil liberties, common sense and compassion," he said.

"Our policies are based on science, harm reduction and respect for individual rights. They also offer major benefits to regional areas like Monash — where agriculture, manufacturing and tourism can all thrive under sensible legal reform.

"We're also committed to broader social justice issues, including affordable housing, access to healthcare and environmental sustainability. Reforming cannabis laws will reduce pressure on police, courts and emergency services-freeing up resources to focus on real community needs.

"This election, voters finally have a genuine alternative. A vote for the Legalise Cannabis Party is a vote for fairness, freedom and evidence-based policy.

"It's a message to Canberra that we're ready for real change."