Liberal Riverstone candidate Mohit Kumar claims voters want greater diversity

The Liberal candidate for Riverstone says his nomination in one of Sydney’s fastest growing electorates is a reflection of the region’s growing cultural diversity. Find out why he is making a political tilt.

Liberal candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

Police officer and Liberal candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar has revealed one of his inspirations behind his political tilt was to represent the growing migrant population in state parliament.

Mr Kumar, the chief police prosecutor at Blacktown, is hoping to replace the “large shoes” of retiring Liberal MP Kevin Conolly announced he would quit politics after more than a decade representing the community.

The police officer revealed he, who is of Indian heritage, was tapped on the shoulder to take on the candidacy last month and said western Sydney’s multicultural communities wanted greater diversity in state politics.

“It’ll be a proud moment for all of us if I am elected,” Mr Kumar said. “It will be a representation of the Riverstone electorate, and the diverse community that have called it home.”

If elected, Mr Kumar would be one of only a few state parliamentarians of South Asian descent.

Liberal candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar has said migrant communities want to represented in state parliament. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

In 2021, census data revealed more than 20 per cent of the Riverstone electorate were of Indian ancestry, compared to just three per cent statewide. Mr Kumar said many of them were new arrivals to Australia who faced challenges despite coming from educated backgrounds.

“Skilled migrants are coming here, but they are having problems with housing,” he said. “They get temporary housing from their employer, but then they are on their own and applying for permanent housing.

Mr Kumar emigrated from Mumbai for his studies in 1994, before joining the NSW Police Force in 2003.

Through his profession, Mr Kumar said he had insight into the challenges ethnic communities face in Blacktown but felt unable to take action.

“I want to be tough on the causes of crime, but I can’t do that as a prosecutor,” he said.

“As a member of parliament, I would be able to find ways to eliminate those causes, or at least minimise them.”

Next month’s vote comes at a pivotal time for Sydney’s northwest.

Member for Riverstone Kevin Connolly MP, left, with Health Minister Brad Hazzard, and Member for Castle Hill Ray Williams MP at the Rouse Hill Hospital Ministerial announcement November 24, 2022.

Tipped to welcome tens of thousands of new residents over the next decade, the region has garnered greater attention from policy makers as young families contend with high mortgage rates and cost of living increases.

But, the state government has also come under fire over accusations of infrastructure shortfalls.

Blacktown Labor mayor Tony Bleasdale recently hit out at the state government who he said treated residents like “second-class citizens”.

Mr Kumar said the NSW Government had delivered on multiple projects, but agreed more still needed to be done.

“There is unprecedented growth in Riverstone,” he said. “Because people are always moving in, development is happening daily. There are 100 houses being built weekly.

“It‘s a matter of how we make sure that we can keep on delivering – these are growing pains.”

Mr Kumar previously served as president of the Council of Indian Australians, and has worked with Sydney Health Partners, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, White Ribbon, Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club, and currently serving as Schofields Cricket Club president.

He will face off against Labor’s Warren Kirby at next month’s election. Mr Kirby was raised in Schofields and is the North West Business Chamber vice president who says the NSW Liberal Government has stopped listening to the community after 12 years in office.

“Our schools are at capacity, we are still waiting for twice-promised Rouse Hill Hospital, traffic congestion is getting worse, and families are hurting under rising cost of living pressures,” Mr Kirby said.