Scott Morrison backs Western Sydney ‘real eel’ Maria Kovacic, attacks Labor’s Andrew Charlton

Scott Morrison attacked Labor’s contentious candidate for Parramatta, who has a $16m home in Sydney's east, while introducing his “real eel” Liberal who could win the seat.

Labor’s wealthy candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton will be moving with his family into a house in his new electorate, a world away from his controversial $16m eastern suburbs’ digs.

On Tuesday evening, the millionaire revealed he had bought a house in North Parramatta, more than 25 kilometres away.

His announcement came as Scott Morrison attacked him for not being from the area he hoped to represent in federal parliament — and for fundraising there.

He had planned a $200-a-head “drinks and canapes” event in Sydney’s CBD this Thursday and was to be joined by former NSW Premier and one-time foreign minister Bob Carr.

“I’ve known (Mr Charlton) for some time, but he’s not from Western Sydney - he’s not of Western Sydney,” the Prime Minister said.

A spokesman for Mr Charlton said he had “already done dozens of local events, knocked on hundreds of doors., and met with thousands of voters across the electorate”.

“Since being preselected, Mr Charlton has purchased a house in North Parramatta, and will be moving to the area with his family,” the spokesman said.

“Between now and the election, Andrew will be hosting dozens more events, including fundraisers, and candidate forums in Parramatta.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Parramatta with Josh Frydenberg MP, Senator Marise Payne, Ben Morton MP, Ms Maria Kovacic, Liberal Candidate for Parramatta Chris Taylor CEO of Rheem Australia Steve McRae, Operations Manager, Rheem Australia, and Gareth Jennings, General Manager of Rheem Australia. Picture: Jason Edwards

The spokesman said Mr Morrison was “the last person who should be throwing mud about preselections”.

Visiting Rheem Australia’s headquarters in Parramatta on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said his pick for the seat, Maria Kovacic, was “Western Sydney through-and-through”.

“Maria Kovacic, she’s the real deal, she’s the real eel,” Mr Morrison said, referencing the NRL team Parramatta Eels.

“She’s from Western Sydney, she’s run a business in Western Sydney, she’s raised a family in Western Sydney.”

Ms Kovacic, who holds an advisory position on the Eels’ board and also ran a finance business, said she had spent “many years” working in Parramatta.

“What I’m trying to do here to represent my community is an extension of what I’ve been doing over the past decade,” she said.

Mr Morrison said: “You can see why she’s my pick”.

The Prime Minister was joined by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, whose office is based in the town, during his Parramatta visit on Tuesday.

“This is one of the most diverse communities in Australia,” Senator Payne said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was on the attack while in Parramatta. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It has a world leading university in Western Sydney University … producing students who are overwhelmingly, for so many of them, the first in their family ever to go to university.”

Labor parachuted Mr Charlton into the Parramatta electorate from his Bellevue Hill home, attracting intense controversy.

Mr Morrison notably spent much of Monday campaigning with Mr Frydenberg and Senator Payne, proving he was not a one-man band like the 2019 election campaign.

During a press conference, the Prime Minister was asked if it showed his popularity was “on the nose” and that he was “damaged goods”.

Mr Morrison said it wasn’t a “popularity test”.

“(Deputy Prime Minister) Barnaby Joyce said this the other day, you go to the dentist, doesn’t matter whether you like him or not, or not like her or not, but you want to know that they’re good at their job,” he said.

Originally published as Scott Morrison backs Western Sydney ‘real eel’ Maria Kovacic, attacks Labor’s Andrew Charlton