Merlino attended St Edmund’s Primary School, where he became interested in politics especially during the 1984 Australian federal election.

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.

When the ALP lost government in the 2010 state election, Merlino became Shadow Minister for Police, the TAC and Road Safety.

[6] On 10 June 2016, Merlino also became Minister for Emergency Services following the resignation of Brunswick MP Jane Garrett from the Andrews Ministry.

[12] In December of 2022 he was part of the successful Andrew Gowers ticket in the Hawthorn board election.