Chris Bowen’s ‘captain’s pick’ David Saliba selected to run for Fairfield
Labor has finally selected a candidate for a heartland seat in Western Sydney following a drawn out preselection.
NSW
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Labor has finally selected a candidate to run in Fairfield, with Federal Minister Chris Bowen successful in getting his pick to contest the seat.
The party’s national executive endorsed former Australian Federal Police officer David Saliba on Monday afternoon in a ‘captain’s pick’, meaning it bypassed a rank and file vote of local Fairfield Labor members.
Sources said the move could lead to popular local Mayor Frank Carbone running.
The seat was one of just a handful of Labor electorates in the state which didn’t go to a vote among members, with the selection coming after The Telegraph revealed Federal Minister Mr Bowen had been gunning for Mr Saliba to be selected in the Labor stronghold.
Fairfield councillor Carmen Lazar confirmed to The Telegraph she also had put her hand up for the candidacy as well, only to lose out.
“It was important that I ran because I could,” Ms Lazar said, adding it was important to her “on behalf of the Middle Eastern community” to show democracy was in action by nominating.
Ms Lazar had previously pushed for a rank and file vote, saying last week “let’s practice democracy and let the most suitable member win”.
Mr Saliba’s selection has rankled some Labor members in the area, with multiple sources telling The Telegraph they were worried that his lack of profile compared to Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone would leave them vulnerable if the mayor decided to run.
Mr Carbone told The Telegraph last week he was considering running for Cabramatta and installing a running mate in Fairfield, but Labor sources feared Mr Carbone could still yet run for Fairfield himself.
Mr Saliba said his key issues he’d campaign on are high cost of living, housing affordability, and “limited access to essential government services”.
“I was born at Fairfield Hospital and a lifelong resident of Fairfield City, so I understand the issues that matter to local residents,” he said.
“The NSW Government needs to step up and deliver more for the people of Fairfield and Western Sydney.
“Labor’s commitment to upgrade Fairfield Hospital is a step in the right direction.
“I promise I will do everything I can to ensure the people of Fairfield get the support they need.”
Labor leader Chris Minns said last week that the delay in selecting a candidate for the party stronghold didn’t mean the electorate was being taken for granted.
“I want to make it really clear to the voters in Fairfield we don’t have any ownership of or custodianship of these seats. They belong to you, the people of Fairfield,” he said.
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Originally published as Chris Bowen’s ‘captain’s pick’ David Saliba selected to run for Fairfield
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