Labor candidate blasts party for backing Andrew Charlton in WhatsApp chat

A Labor candidate for a stronghold Sydney seat lashed her own party for backing MP Andrew Charlton to run for Parramatta at the federal election last year, secret WhatsApp texts have revealed.

A candidate for the Labor stronghold of Liverpool has been caught out slamming her own party and accusing them of dudding “people of colour” after it parachuted a “white, male millionaire” into Parramatta.

Liverpool Councillor and now state candidate for the area, Charishma Kaliyanda, sent messages in a private Labor supporters WhatsApp group during the federal election last year, where she attacked the party for its ‘captain’s pick’ selection of Andrew Charlton to run in the seat of Parramatta.

Mr Charlton’s endorsement for the western Sydney seat raised eyebrows given the economist and former adviser to Kevin Rudd was living in a $16 million mansion at Bellevue Hill at the time.

In her messages Ms Kaliyanda slammed her party for being “happy to have people of colour ‘take one for the team’” while not giving them a chance to win safe seats.

Ms Kaliyanda is currently running for Liverpool, one of the safest Labor seats in NSW at a margin of 17 per cent, with the party holding the area at state level since its creation in 1950.

Labor candidate for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda. Picture: Craig Wilson

“ … The party is more than happy to have people of colour ‘take one for the team’. Just not when it involves held or safe seats?” Ms Kaliyanda’s message to the group chat says.

In another message, Ms Kaliyanda jokes that Labor should parachute in multi-millionaire Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes into a “safe western Sydney seat”.

Leaked images of a Labor group chat criticising the selection of Andrew Charlton for Parramatta.

Leaked images of a Labor group chat criticising the selection of Andrew Charlton for Parramatta.

“Anyone have Mike Cannon-Brooks’ (sic) deets (details)? Maybe there’s a safe western Sydney seat head office can offer him?” she wrote.

When referring to the ‘captain’s pick’ of Mr Charlton, Ms Kaliyanda described it as “another gross variation of ‘white people are better placed to be the authority because the people of colour can’t be trusted to play nice between themselves’“.

“Also – how is it a sledge to call him what he is: a white, male millionaire?” she added, referring to another article posted in the group regarding the move.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leapt to the defence of his captain’s pick last year after it sparked anger among local members, with the Labor leader saying Mr Charlton had “unanimous” support to run.

Parramatta candidate and now MP Andrew Charlton. Picture: Liam Kidston

Despite Mr Charlton winning his seat, a similar play to parachute in a non-local backfired when former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally was dumped by voters in Fowler, with Independent Dai Le riding a massive swing to nab the seat from Labor.

It’s understood Ms Kaliyanda rang Mr Charlton last week to apologise for the comments.

She told The Telegraph on Tuesday her “passion temporarily got the better of me” when she wrote the messages.

“I’m a passionate advocate for the interests of women of colour and other diverse members of the community,” she said.

“Unfortunately, on this occasion my passion temporarily got the better of me in a private conversation with friends.

“I have apologised to Andrew for the comments. Now that I’ve met him, I respect him, and think he’s doing a great job as a local MP.”

Mr Charlton declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph.