Federal Election 2019: meet your candidates for Sydney
Six candidates are hot on the campaign trail to win the seat of Sydney at next weekend’s Federal Election. We asked them the key question so you know what you’re voting for.
There’s only 11 days until the 2019 Federal Election, and the candidates battling it out for the seat of Sydney are hot on the campaign trail.
Sydney has been held by deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek since 1998, and her competitors face an uphill battle turning around the 43.74 per cent of first preference votes she received at the 2016 poll.
This year’s candidates include members of the Liberal Party, the Greens, the Science Party, United Australia Party and Christian Democratic Party.
Find out a bit about them, their priorities and personal lives.
TANYA PLIBERSEK MP: LABOR
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
I live in Sydney with my husband Michael and three children, Anna, Joseph and Louis.
What I want for the Sydney community is what I want for all Australians — a country with a strong economy and a fair society — where everyone can get great education and healthcare, where you can get a secure job with decent pay and afford to live a good life.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
I’ve been the MP for Sydney since 1998.
With the support of local residents I have delivered better services for our area including new affordable housing and homelessness projects, upgrades at every single Sydney school, and extra funding for health services such as building the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, the Charles Perkins Centre, and the Kinghorn Cancer Centre.
In the Rudd and Gillard governments I was the minister for health, housing, human services, and women.
If Labor is elected on May 18, I will be the Deputy Prime Minister.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
If you want real action on climate change — vote Labor.
If you want investment in the services people rely on — cheaper childcare, pensioner dental in Medicare, better cancer care, hospital emergency department services and elective surgery, $7.6 million extra for our schools, free TAFE places, and more uni places — vote Labor.
And vote Labor if you want unity and stability.
FAVOURITE PASTIME OR PASSION?
Working long hours and having three kids doesn’t leave me a lot of time for hobbies, but my absolutely favourite way to relax is to lie on the grass in the shade at the beach with a good book. I also love cooking, gardening, and bushwalking.
FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM?
Locally, the Bunnies of course. But nationally I’d say the Matildas. Such talented athletes and terrific role models.
AARON HAMMOND: SCIENCE PARTY
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
I’m an engineer, and love learning. I have a degree in mechatronics, covering mechanical and electronics engineering, and specifically the way systems of all types interact with each other.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
I joined the Science Party in 2017 and ran in the Perth by-election because there were no other candidates that I felt would represent me in the manner I wanted: sensibly, and consistently.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
I believe most people in Sydney would rather not think about government.
That’s why my key issues for this election are:
Strong action against climate change to protect our future,
A federal commission against corruption, to ensure our leaders really are acting in our best interests, and personal freedoms, a bill of rights to prevent the creep of legislation into our private lives.
FAVOURITE PASTIME OR PASSION?
When I have free time, I love flying hang-gliders, or doing aerobatics in light-aircraft. There is nothing like jumping headfirst off a mountain, pulling 5 Gs inverted, or sharing thermals with eagles.
FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM?
My family supports the Wests Tigers.
JACQUI MUNRO: LIBERAL PARTY
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
I’m a sole trader, consulting in public relations, communications and strategy. I am 28 and there is no place I would rather represent than Sydney. It’s my home, and has shaped me to be a more resilient and compassionate person. For me, the strength of Sydney is it’s diversity, and the surprising connections that can be made to solve problems and expand ideas.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
I have gained insights about how Australian’s view fairness through my work in the Australian Marriage Equality Campaign and strengthened the community of women leaders through the NSW Liberal Women’s Council. I have contributed to policy in working for politicians I admire across the three levels of government.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
Promoting innovation in renewable energy, encouraging entrepreneurship and developing a vision for a 24-hour city.
FAVOURITE PASTIME OR PASSION?
I love enjoying the amazing music that is created in Sydney. Whether it’s playing sax myself, getting on the dance floor at a techno party run by my friends at the Burdekin or sitting back at Foundry616 with a jazz big band performing, I love the creativity and community.
FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM?
The Cereal Killers (Redfern Mixed Basketball Wednesday Night A’s).
MATTHEW THOMPSON: THE GREENS
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
I’m a TAFE graduate. A community services worker and a proud queer activist.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
Politics shouldn’t be the privileged playground of the few, the more reflective of our community parliament is the more representative the decisions it makes will be.
Career politicians have gotten us into the mess we’re in. We need real people, like me, down in Canberra who understand the issues facing us here in Sydney and whom have the courage and conviction to stand up to the corporates at the big end of town.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
Ensure a just transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030 and say no to all new coal mines (including Adani).
Immediately raise Newstart and Youth Allowance and return dignity to our social security system.
Introduce free dental into Medicare and make mental health services accessible and affordable for all of us.
FAVOURITE PASTIME OR PASSION?
According to The Daily Telegraph one of my favourite pastimes is slut-dropping down Oxford Street. They’re not wrong either.
When I’m not out and about I’m probably binge watching the latest release on Netflix or attempting to take care of my numerous indoor plants.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM?
Growing up as a young queer man sports and the culture around it was a very toxic place for me to be so it’s not something I’ve participated much in.
However it’s been awesome to see more and more queer athletes breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive and vibrant culture in numerous codes across the country. More of this please!
REBECCA REDDIN: CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
My maturity, my social work background, my media training and my passion for people
have each equipped me on a smaller scale to deal with the types of problems that face politicians on a daily basis.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
I belonged to the Liberal Party from around 2008 or 2009.
I became a member of the Liberal Women’s Council, to which speakers were invited and where local, state and federal issues were discussed.
I left the Liberal Party and joined the Christian Democratic Party in 2018, something I should have done years earlier. With half the world under severe political dominance, it is imperative that the western world emanates positive and humane values and preserves freedom of speech.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
Development and rehousing for long term public housing tenants; the existing drug culture with its criminal problems versus the proposed new social mix in Sydney; substance abuse — alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs — the list is endless: all are priorities.
YOUR FAVOURITE PASTIME OR PASSION?
I have many, and possibly the most important ones I am not doing a lot of: photography, cinematography, research for screenwriting, sport, dance and performance. But I am doing some art thanks to the South Sydney Art group run by Andrew Collis and Catherine Skipper. And I love my two cats.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM?
Mostly the Adelaide Crows but also the Swans and the Rabbitohs.
ADAM HOLT: UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY
Adam has experience as a real estate agent and in various sales and support roles in the banking industry.
He feels it is time to give back to the community by running for parliament to be an alternative voice for the people of Sydney.
*taken from the United Australia Party website.
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