Federal election 2025 Reid: Meet the candidates

The Reid seat has been known to swing but how well do you know the candidates? They’ve shared everything from political ideals to where their careers began. Learn about your options ahead of May 3.

The candidates running for Reid in the federal election (clockwise from top left) are Joanna Somerville, Grange Chung, Sally Sitou, Steven Commerford, Clinton Mead and David Sarikaya.

Seven candidates are competing to take the seat of Reid in the federal election on May 3.

The seat is held by Labor’s Sally Sitou who is hoping to enter her second term in the position.

The seat to known to swing with Liberal’s Fiona Martin previously holding the seat and Ms Sitou winning with 10,176 more votes.

We asked candidates the same three questions to determine why they are running, what they view as Reid’s main issues and how they wish to address them if elected.

Sally Sitou, Labor

Labor candidate Sally Sitou is running for the Reid seat in the federal election.

I am the daughter of hardworking Chinese parents who fled Laos after the Vietnam War. I passionately believe in the freedom and opportunities that allowed my family to prosper in Australia. I live in Homebush with her husband and young son.

I’ve always grown up and gone to school in the western suburbs of Sydney, a place that is thriving with diversity and rich with so much culture.

Australia is a place that is generous, inclusive and compassionate – a country I love and will fight to make better.

What inspired you to run for the seat?

After working in international education for almost a decade, I believe everyone can build the future they want for their family with hard work and a good education.

Since the last election I’ve held countless community forums, knocked on hundreds of doors and made thousands of phone calls. I have advocated tirelessly for the community and have never taken their support for granted.

What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?

I have worked hard to deliver a positive plan for our community including tax cuts for every taxpayer, putting more money back in the pockets of all taxpayers in our community, providing $300 in energy bill relief for every household, putting money back in your pocket.

Adding a community battery in Cabarita to help decrease energy prices for local residents, Creating cheaper childcare to ease cost of living pressures for local families and ensuring children get the best possible start in life.

Having more action on women’s health by delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care and more.

What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?

There is more to do and I will continue to build a better future in the community by strengthening Medicare and delivering a bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinic in Burwood.

Delivering another $150 in energy bill relief.

Cutting HECS debt by 20 per cent for 23,500 residents and making sure student debt never grows faster than wages and more.

Grange Chung, Liberal

Liberal candidate Grange Chung is running for Reid.

I was born and raised in Sydney and have also lived throughout Australia and Asia. I enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy and attended the Australian Defence Force Academy and went on to serve in seagoing, intelligence, representational and policy roles.

Upon transferring to the Australian Navy Reserve, I became an airline pilot in the Singapore Airlines Group. I am now campaigning for the opportunity to represent Reid and to help ease the pressures that households are facing.

What inspired you to run for the seat?

I now want to give back to my community, fighting for it with every inch of my fibre in Canberra.

Reid is my home and I love the people here. It’s clear that the current Labor MP hasn’t delivered for Reid.

I’ll be a strong voice for Reid in our federal parliament. I’ll use my experience in seagoing, intelligence, representational and policy roles to get the investment Reid deserves.

I’ll work as part of the Liberal team to get Australia back on track.

Liberal candidate Grange Chung campaigning at Rhodes train station.

What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?

The cost-of-living crisis has crushed families and small businesses in Reid. When combined with skyrocketing power prices, this has led to the greatest decline in disposable income in our history and a record number of small business closures.

Only a Dutton Liberal Government can deliver the cost-of-living relief that Australians deserve after three years of Labor neglect.

We’ll immediately cut the fuel excise by 50 per cent for 12 months, introduce a $1200 tax cut and make the interest on first home mortgage payments tax deductible up to $650,000.

We’ll boost small businesses by bringing down energy costs and offering tax relief for business-related meal expenses, giving a much-needed shot in the arm for struggling cafes, restaurants and pubs.

What is your top three wish list for the electorate?

As the Liberal candidate for Reid, I’ve already secured a commitment from a future Dutton Liberal Government for a package of local investment.

We’ll receive an urgent care clinic to increase access to bulk billing; the new clinic will also relieve the load on Concord Hospital.

Our roads have been earmarked for funding. We’ll reduce congestion in and out of Wentworth Point by adding an extra lane each way on Hill Rd for improved and safer access.

We’ll give our fantastic community groups the support they need to grow. Touched by Olivia’s LIVVIng Room in Five Dock will get an expanded, modern community centre to bring together socially isolated people and provide a range of employment opportunities for those with disabilities.

Joanna Somerville, Greens

Greens candidate Joanna Somerville.

I believe everyone should be able to afford the basics. While you’re working harder than ever, one in three big corporations pay no tax. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expect a different outcome.

I’ve called the Reid electorate home for 30 years. In that time, I have seen people struggle to pay for groceries, health care and a roof over their head. In a wealthy community like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics.

The federal government’s policies are failing us. The two major parties care more about big corporations and billionaires than everyday people like you and me.

What inspired you to run for the seat?

I wanted to see real change for Reid. I was tired of hearing the same promises and nothing being done to address the concerns and needs of residents.

I want a better life for my community where they can live with secure housing, healthy food and an affordable environment that continues to nourish us where we live, work and play.

What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?

The cost of living and the housing and climate crisis. They are not separate and cannot be addressed in isolation.

In the inner west we have a huge divide in wealth and while some are doing very well, many are struggling with the cost of everyday items such as food, power bills and family expenses.

Rents are unsustainable and many have given up the dream of being able to buy a home in the suburbs.

The cost of power rises every year because the major parties are addicted to the money they receive from ultra-rich gas and electricity corporations.

This fossil fuel dependence is driving the climate crisis, which we see played out in ever-increasing natural disasters across NSW, with flooding, cyclones and bushfires.

These same gas, coal and electricity corporations pollute our air, waters and land and pay next to no tax, while working Australians continue to pay the price across all fronts.

What is your top three wish list for the electorate?

Our community needs our government to finally deliver on the cost of living, specifically getting dental into Medicare, making it free to see a GP and delivering 50c public transport fares for everyone.

We have a plan to make housing more affordable by capping rents and rate rises for mortgages. We know supermarkets are gouging us at the checkout and Labor

has adopted our plan to ban this practice.

And we can stop new coal and gas and address the climate crisis so we don’t all become further impacted by the frequency and size of floods, heatwaves and bushfires.

The Greens have been successful in the past, getting children’s dental into Medicare and 50c public-transport fares in Queensland.

We’ve forced Labor to concede to wiping 20 per cent of student debt and they’ve finally started talking about the need for more mental health support.

David Sarikaya, Trumpet of Patriots

Trumpet of Patriots’ Reid candidate David Sarikaya.

I am a dedicated family man and father-of-seven with a background that includes a PhD in psychology, numerous publications on mental health and resilience and leadership roles in various health and research institutions.

My dedication to mental health is evident through my work with the Australian Trauma Research Institute and contributions to developing effective therapies for PTSD and depression.

My professional journey reflects a consistent focus on empowering individuals and strengthening communities. My commitment to fairness, justice and my belief in a better future for all are the same values that unite all Australians.

What inspired you to run for the seat?

I got sick and tired of the same old doubletalk the major parties were spouting to maintain the status quo.

I’m committed to ensuring that all Australians have the opportunities and security to thrive.

I advocate for promoting economic freedom and practical solutions to restore prosperity.

What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?

Reid’s diverse community, including a significant Chinese-Australian population, underscores the need for inclusive and effective representation.

Australians are struggling with rising costs of living, while education standards are falling. I will advocate for common sense practical solutions to ease financial burdens and restore excellence in education.

The growing mental health crisis is leaving many Australians feeling isolated and powerless. I will push for better mental health services and strategies to rebuild social cohesion, ensuring no one is left behind.

Australians are tired of bloated bureaucracy, red tape, and a lack of transparency. I will fight to streamline government, cut waste and restore trust in our public institutions, putting power back where it belongs which is in the hands of the people.

What is your top three wish list for the electorate?

To ease the cost of living and invest in education to secure a brighter future for our children, rebuild mental health services to restore hope and dignity to all Australians.

Steven Commerford, Independent

Independent candidate Steven Commerford is running for Reid.

I am honoured to be representing our community as your independent candidate for the seat of Reid. I’m running because I believe in strong, local leadership – someone who truly understands the challenges our community faces.

What inspired you to run for the seat?

I started my career in the coffee industry working at both the Bushell’s Factory and Arnott’s biscuits. With deep knowledge of cafes, small business and manufacturing, I now work in sustainability and innovation with the University of NSW.

I’m ready to fight for Reid and I look forward to hearing from you as we work together for a better future.

What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?

I’m running because I believe in strong, local leadership and someone who truly understands the challenges our community faces.

Our community deserves a leader who not only talks about change but walks the talk and takes real action. With the cost of living hitting families and small businesses hard, we need someone who will stand up for you.

Together we can make Reid a place where families thrive and businesses succeed.

Libertarian Clinton Mead and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Gina Ingrouille are also running for Reid.