Federal Election 2019: ALP announce candidate for Hills seat of Mitchell

LABOR has commenced its Federal Election campaign in a Liberal stronghold, announcing a long-serving party member as the candidate for the a northwest Sydney seat.

Labor candidate for the federal seat of Mitchell, Immanuel Selvaraj. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

• Hills Council, Fire and Rescue raised 41 concerns about Atmosphere
• Panel rejects $3b Castle Hill Showground development
• Architecture firm reveal designs for 46-storey residential skyscraper
• Liberals win seat, say ALP should not have run

LABOR has commenced its Federal Election campaign in The Hills, announcing long-serving party member Immanuel Selvaraj as the candidate for the seat of Mitchell.

Mr Selvaraj, who has run on a Labor ticket for several elections at a local and state level, including earlier this year in a Hills Shire Council by-election, said cost of living pressures, transport issues and the quality of education in government schools were the major issues he would advocate for on behalf of residents.

“The Labor Party stands up for every day working Australians and I am contesting this federal election to ensure the residents of Mitchell get a fair go,” Mr Selvaraj said.

“I am a small business person and not a career politician, I face the everyday pressures that all residents face, sky rocketing power bills, high transportation costs combined with increasing house prices.

Immanuel Selvaraj said he has a four-point plan for the future of Mitchell. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

“Someone needs to stand up for the residents of Mitchell.”

The Labor candidate for the federal seat launched his campaign alongside deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek on December 8. with a”four pillar policy” for The Hills.

“Education will be Labor’s centrepiece policy in the Hills,” he said.

“Labor has committed over $14.1 billion to fund schools over the next 10 years and will remove upfront fees for over 100,000 TAFE places.”

Mr Selvaraj said health and the environment would also play a major role in the campaign for suburbs across northwest Sydney, while small business policies would support the backbone of The Hills and cut red tape.

“As a small business advocate I am very passionate about ensuring that small business owners find it easier to start and conduct business in the Hills area,” Mr Selvaraj said.

“Skyrocketing power prices and climate change deserve a serious plan.

“Residents in Mitchell struggle to pay power bills combined with their mortgages, so regulating power prices remains one of Labor’s key policies.

Mitchell federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke is the current serving member for The Hills.

The campaign launch from Labor this month comes long after Mitchell federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke was unanimously endorsed by 150 Liberal Party branch members in July.

The Liberal Party has controlled the seat of Mitchell since 1974 — while sitting MP Alex Hawke has held the seat since his election in 2007.

The seat covers suburbs from Nelson and Box Hill in the northwest to Northmead and North Rocks in the southeast.

The main suburbs include Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Bella Vista, Box Hill, Castle Hill, Kellyville, Nelson, Northmead, North Rocks, Rouse Hill, Winston Hills and West Pennant Hills.

Mr Hawke declined to comment.

For more state and federal election coverage visit hillsshiretimes.com.au