NSW Election 2019: Meet the candidates for Strathfield
The countdown is on to the NSW Election next Saturday so here’s your chance to get to know the candidates for Strathfield a bit better before heading to the ballot box.
The countdown is on to the NSW Election next Saturday so here’s your chance to get to know the candidates for Strathfield a bit better before heading to the ballot box.
Strathfield is one of the most marginal seats in the state, held by Labor’s Jodi McKay on a thin margin of 1.8 per cent.
The six candidates vying for the seat have taken some time out of their hectic campaigning schedules to tell you a bit about themselves, what they believe are the top three issues in the electorate and what they would do if they were elected.
LABOR: JODI MCKAY
I have been the Member for Strathfield since 2015. I am also the shadow minister for transport, roads, maritime and freight. I began my career as a journalist and worked in not for profit health and medical research organisations before entering politics. I have a masters of public administration from the University of Sydney.
Top issues in electorate
1. Overdevelopment and the lack of infrastructure to deal with the growing population and congestion
2. Investment in schools
3. Housing affordability and homeless
What she would do if elected
I have achieved upgrades at schools including Homebush West and Marie Bashir, with further improvements confirmed for Croydon Public School. If I am elected, I will will fight for building improvements to Burwood Public School, Strathfield Girls High School, Chalmers Road School and Homebush Boys High School. All stations in the electorate now have disability access except North Strathfield — that is also a priority. I would like the opportunity to continue my work to improve the Cooks River and secure residual land from WestConnex for community use. I want to see greater investment in renewable energy such as solar energy, free public transport for schoolchildren and public transport prioritised over tolled motorways.
LIBERAL: PHILIP MADIRAZZA
I grew up and have lived and worked in the Strathfield area my whole life, and I’ve seen first-hand the changes our community has experienced over the last 25 years. I am a small-business owner and serve as a City of Canterbury Bankstown councillor.
Top issues in electorate
As a father of three, I understand the challenges that people living and working in the Strathfield area face on a day-to-day basis such as traffic congestion and the rising cost of living. I believe the Strathfield community deserves more local services, better infrastructure and more family-friendly spaces.
What woud he do if elected
I will work with Premier Gladys Berejiklian to ensure Strathfield gets its fair share of the NSW Liberals & Nationals record-breaking investments in health, education and transport infrastructure.
GREENS: CRISETTA MACLEOD
I’m running because it’s clear residents in the electorate of Strathfield want to vote for The Greens. Together, we can ensure that common sense will finally prevail in our efforts to slow climate change and that renewable energy sources replace fossil fuels.
I’ve been a member of Ashfield Greens for many years, and we are excited to see our neighbours in Strathfield becoming very active too.
I have three adult children, all professional musicians. My own first career was as a professional French horn player and teacher. I want to see music become available to all schoolchildren.
Top issues/what she would do if elected
The time is ripe for voters to choose common sense — on climate change, housing, offshore detention and drug legislation. The Greens are the party for common sense, fairness and respect. And unlike the two major parties, Greens NSW does not accept corporate donations.
Together, we can tackle climate change by rapidly transitioning to renewable energy; we can work towards housing for all of us, not just the rich who are playing Monopoly with our homes; we can treat refugees with compassion, not use them cruelly as political pawns; we can take the dirty money out of politics; and we can honour the owners of the land we love.
I want the driving force in government to not be capital gain, but instead fairness and respect for us all — the needs, hopes, and future of every Australian.
KEEP SYDNEY OPEN: VINAY OREKONDY
I was born and raised in Strathfield, and after several years working in international law in France and the United States, I’m back in Strathfield as a teacher, lawyer and mediator.
After witnessing America first-hand become a more closed and fearful society, I’m committed to keeping Sydney a powerful symbol of openness, diversity and internationalism.
Top issues in electorate
Encouraging diversity and multiculturalism
Encouraging small business in the area
Removing lockout laws in the city to ensure access to entertainment for Inner West residents, and to prevent the violence being pushed into the Inner West.
What he would do if elected
Strathfield is a powerfully multicultural community I intend to keep it that way. He also supports cutting excessive red tape for local small businesses, ensuring strong sources of entertainment for Inner West residents and preventing the lockout laws from pushing violence into Strathfield.
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES: JACK LIANG
I’m a 25-year-old consultant who has lived in Belfield for over 10 years.
I am passionate about engaging everyday Australians with conservative values and ideas having experience in-campus politics and through work on previous elections.
I want to offer voters a conservative alternative to the establishment parties.
Top issues in electorate
1. Unethical cost-cutting and free-for-all property development that has allowed inconsistent property building quality under the watch of the major parties needs to stop.
2. Successive governments have steadily cut TAFE funding since 2007. Proper TAFE funding needs to be restored to ensure workers can cross-skill or re-skill in our rapidly evolving economy.
3. Taxpayers should not be faced with the possibility of paying for late-term abortions in NSW hospitals under Labor’s election pledge.
What he would do if elected
I will work to ensure that new developments will require independent, industry certifiers that are qualified engineers, not certifiers appointed by developers. We cannot have repeats of the Opal Tower.
I will call for appropriate funding of the TAFE system to prioritise critical professions such as aged care and technicians. We are facing an increasingly ageing population and an increasingly technological economy and TAFE will play a key role for those who cannot attend university.
I will fight to ensure that NSW hospitals are not forced to provide abortion services to receive proper funding from the State. This is essentially financial coercion that is also directing taxpayers’ funds into projects that taxpayers’ may not want to support.
ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY: SIMON FLETCHER
I am a local lawyer living in the Inner West with great passions for social justice, human and animal rights alike. I have made the decision to stand as a candidate for the AJP Candidate as the core values of the party resonate most with my personal views, these being kindness, equality, rationality and nonviolence. I see my legal experience as an important skill-set to be used in legislation for the protection of animals.
Top issues in electorate
I consider the most important issues in the electorate are stadium spending, public transport, WestConnex and pets in apartments.
What he will do if elected
I will apply the AJP core values of kindness, equality, rationality and nonviolence to all issues within my electorate.
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