NSW election: Beloved Sydney street personality Danny Lim to make run for parliament’s upper house

Beloved Sydney street personality Danny Lim will bid to become an MP at March’s state election, saying he was motivated to run after his arrest and injuries late last year.

Mr Lim ran unsscfully in 2019 on a platform that included letting animals on public transport. His arrest and injuries late last year prompted him to run once again, he said. Picture: John Appleyard

Beloved Sydney street personality Danny Lim will make a run to become an MP in parliament’s upper house at March’s state election, revealing he was prompted to throw his hat in the ring after his arrest and subsequent injuries late last year.

Mr Lim, who is a mainstay of the city’s busy streets, was injured at Town Hall’s QVB in November after he was arrested by police officers before suffering head injuries and taken to hospital.

He was wearing a sandwich board reading ‘SMILE CVN’T! WHY CVN’T?’ when security guards then called the police.

Vision from the incident allegedly depicted Lim thrown to the ground by officers, which left him with a bloody head and a stay in hospital.

The 78-year-old said he was motivated to run as an independent for NSW’s Legislative Council after the incident because he “still had work to do”.

Mr Lim will run below the line on the ballot for the Legislative Council. Picture: John Appleyard

“I was lucky to be alive,” Mr Lim said.

“And whoever is in the sky looking over me said: ‘Danny, you’ve still got work to do’.”

Mr Lim explained he’ll run under the line on the ballot as ‘Danny Lim’s team of independent candidates’, and is in the process of securing the requisite nominations and candidates to run as part of his ticket.

As part of his announcement, he slammed the “endless broken promises of the Mike Baird, Gladys Berejiklian and Dominic Perrottet governments” and said he wanted to usher in a “positive and respectful change in Australian politics”.

Vision from the incident at Sydney’s QVB which allegedly left Mr Lim with head injuries. Picture: Supplied

“The system doesn’t work for many people,” Mr Lim said.

“My intention is to encourage others to also get involved, be brave and create a destiny with an open mind and open heart.”

As part of his campaign, Mr Lim said he’d – among others – campaign for “openness, transparency, accountability and morality” in state politics, as well as a raft of progressive policies, including: free dental care for disadvantaged Australians, more affordable housing, a basic living wage, funding for ICAC, and legalise cannabis.

Mr Lim said since the incident in November his health has “been like a yoyo”.

“Everything is difficult at the moment,” he said.

Mr Lim and federal member for Wentworth Allegra Spender.

“I find it hard sometimes, I get dizzy and headaches, I have no mental or physical energy, but I don’t just want to stay at home.”

No one has been charged in relation to the incident

No independent has ever been elected to the upper house of parliament and Mr Lim ran unsuccessfully in 2019 but wanted to give it another go.

“Running for and getting into parliament is very hard,” he said.

“But it’s important not to be afraid to get involved.”

News tip? Email [e-mail]