He was elected as a member of the Liberal Party and was sworn in as a federal senator representing the state of Victoria on 1 July 2019.

[4] Prior to entering politics, Van was the managing director of South Melbourne public relations firm the De Wintern Group since 2003 where he advised clients on Royal Commissions and other Government inquiries.

[19] In November 2021, then Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was "disappointed" after claims that Van had made "growling and dog noises" at Senator Jacqui Lambie as she spoke during Senate Question Time, on the same day as the Sex Discrimination Commissioner released a report into harassment and workplace culture at Parliament House.

Former Liberal National Senator Amanda Stoker released a statement alleging that she had also been inappropriately touched by Van.

[24] Van was expelled from the parliamentary Liberal party room by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton after additional allegations of misconduct were raised with him, requiring him to sit on the Senate cross bench.

[27] In July 2023 it was reported that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) undertook an extensive investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Senator Van while he was on an ADF parliament program voyage in July 2021, and that the office of then Prime Minister Scott Morrison was notified and declined to take any action.