Federal election 2022: Meet the candidates for Mitchell

The seat of Mitchell is one of the safest Liberal seats in Australia, but that hasn’t stopped the ambitions of candidates who want to see change. Meet the candidates vying for your vote.

The seat of Mitchell in Sydney’s north west is one of the safest Liberal seats in Australia.

But the current margin of 15.7 per cent favouring incumbent MP Alex Hawke has not deterred the hopes of other candidates who want to have a shot at this seat deep in Sydney’s Liberal heartland.

Let’s compare their visions, goals and priorities for their electorate.

Linda Daniel — United Australia Party

Linda Daniel

Linda Daniel, who currently works as a legal writer, said she never previously entertained the idea of running as a candidate for a political party.

Ms Daniel decided to run for office because she believes politicians are no longer serving their constituents.

“(They) are more concerned about progressing their own careers and party interests. They have become complacent and I believe its time for everyday Australians to represent everyday Australians,” Ms Daniel said.

Her main concern for the Mitchell electorate is helping residents save their homes and businesses, and she cited the United Australia Party’s (UAP) promise to cap all home rates at three per cent as a means of alleviating this.

“Mitchell is currently under 73 per cent mortgage stress and on the list of top 10 areas to face the highest mortgage stress after rate hikes,” she said.

Ms Daniel also her other policy priorities as forgiving outstanding HECS debts, making higher education free, placing a 15 per cent excise licence on iron ore, injecting $40 billion into hospital funding and increasing the aged pension.

Matt Cox — The Greens

Matthew Cox

Matt Cox is a father of two who works with his wife as a vet in a family-owned western Sydney practice.

“We live in a community, not an economy. For too long our government has prioritised looking after big business instead of people and communities,” Mr Cox said.

“As a vet and small business owner, a long-time resident of the Hills and a husband and father of two, I can no longer stand by and watch this happening to our community and our country.”

As a policy, he wants to expand Medicare’s coverage of mental health to allow for and incentivise bulk billing of psychologists and psychiatrist appointments.

“While Medicare already covers mental health to some extent, it still leaves people out of pocket for every visit to a mental health professional,” he said.

Mr Cox is also a big believer in the economic benefits climate action can bring. He wants to replace coal by 2030 and bring down electricity costs.

His other policy priorities include boosting Australian manufacturing through a $15 billion “made in Australia” manufacturing bank and seeing a strong ICAC at the federal level.

“If you want a stronger economic future, with a better healthcare system and a more sustainable environment, then vote 1 Greens in this federal election,” Mr Cox said.

Immanuel Selvaraj — Labor

Immanuel Selvaraj

Baulkham Hills resident Immanuel Selvaraj has lived in Sydney’s ‘Garden Shire’ for almost two decades. He is a husband, father, businessman and community leader who has worked in the IT industry.

“Mitchell has traditionally been a safe Liberal seat but with rapid demographic changes and the factional wars that have been at the centre of the Liberal party … people are clearly fed up and starting to look at alternatives,” Mr Selvaraj said.

“Mr Hawke has repeatedly been in the middle of these factional wars … we need to question how much time he really spends looking after his electorate.”

Mr Selvaraj believes the Mitchell electorate has been taken for granted and thinks the Liberal Party’s economic management is not scrutinised enough.

“Currently inflation is at its highest level over the last 20 years. Debt is almost a trillion dollars and the deficit is $78 billion.”

His policy priorities include increased subsidies for childcare, upgrading the electricity grid, creating more free TAFE education, improving the aged care system and implement a federal anti-corruption commission.

He is also committed to protecting the environment and advocating for small businesses.

Clinton Mead — Liberal Democrats

Clinton Mead

Clinton Mead is the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Mitchell. He did not respond to The Hills Shire Times’ request for comment.

According to the candidate’s website, Mr Mead is a software developer who also served on the Campbelltown Council for four years.

“Clinton knows he’s not an expert in the thousands of areas that government intrudes,” the candidate’s website states.

“However, unlike most other politicians, is willing to admit it, so would work towards smaller government.”

Don McKenzie — Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

Don McKenzie, who did not respond to The Hills Shire Times’ request for comment, is Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate for Mitchell.

Alex Hawke — Liberal

Alex Hawke

Incumbent Liberal MP Alex Hawke, who has been the federal member for Mitchell since 2007, grew up in the Hills district and lives there with his wife and four children.

Mr Hawke holds a Master of Government and Public Affairs and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney. He also served as an Army Reserve officer.

He is currently the Minister of Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs.

“The last two years have been tough for residents, with the impact of the pandemic it has been challenging for families and businesses,” Mr Hawke said.

“To build a stronger future, our plan will deliver more jobs, with current unemployment below 4 per cent — the lowest in 48 years.”

“In Mitchell, over the past two years the Morrison Government has invested over $4 million in funding to our local manufacturers; supporting businesses to scale-up, introduce new products to market, strengthen our supply chains and create more local jobs.”

One of Mr Hawke’s top priorities is delivering more infrastructure for Mitchell’s growing community, including social infrastructure such as parks and playing fields.

“I will also continue to advocate for more domestic violence services to be located in the Hills District,” he said.