Strathfield By-election: Everything you need to know
Candidates in the Strathfield By-election have made their pledge to voters. Here is everything you need to know for election day on February 12.
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The candidates set to battle it out for your vote in the inner-city seat of Strathfield — previously held by former Opposition Leader Jodi McKay — have been finalised just two weeks out from by-election day.
A total of six candidates, from a range of parties, have thrown their hat in the ring to contest the Labor seat including Sustainable Australia Party’s Ellie Robertson, Independent candidate Elizabeth Farrelly, the Animal Justice Party’s Rohan Laxmanalal, The Greens’ candidate Courtney Buckley, and Liberal candidate Bridget Sakr taking on Labor Party candidate Jason Yat-Sen Li.
Early voting for the Strathfield by-election started on January 31, running through to February 11. Meanwhile election day on February 12 will run from 8am to 6pm.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Sustainable Australia Party candidate Ellie Robertson has always put her community first — volunteering on a range of council advisory committees, environment and animal welfare groups.
The Sustainable Australia candidate said, as a person living with a disability, she was shocked to discover the issues others with disabilities have with accessibility throughout the electorate.
“Overdevelopment and issues with our infrastructure are some of the biggest issue impacting Strathfield,” she said.
“The clearing of trees, open space and bushland for the creation of development and urban heat isn’t something we shouldn’t be championing.”
The Holsworthy resident said schools, shopping centres and community facilities across the electorate weren’t accessible for residents living with a disability — which was an issue she hoped to advocate for change.
“I would like to see the leafy, community-based Strathfield of the past,” she said.
“I love Strathfield’s heritage and the prestige nature of the community that I want to have preserved.”
Ms Robertson said another highlight was the multiculturalism of the Strathfield community.
Labor Party candidate Jason Yat-Sen Li is the son of hardworking migrants who “came to Sydney to build a better life”.
The Allawah resident said his dad built and ran his own small manufacturing business, while his mum was a school teacher for 40 years.
“I have been a lawyer, run a business, and worked in community and charity sector for over 20 years,” Mr Yat-Sen Li said. “I believe in hard work, family, opportunity and giving people the best education and health as the foundation for a good life.”
The Labor candidate said the Strathfield community “represents the best of NSW”.
“(They are) Hardworking, values driven, and bringing together communities and faiths from all over the world,” he said. “Many are recent migrants like my family, and all of us share the desire for a better future for themselves and their families.”
Mr Yat-Sen Li said he would push to see vaccination hubs established in Strathfield schools, as well as improvements to ventilation in the classroom: “all critical to keep schools safe and open”.
“I will make sure small businesses actually get the support they need to get through the pandemic.”
Independent candidate, Elizabeth Farrelly, is a former city of Sydney councillor and is determined to stamp out the “theft of public amenity” across the electorate.
the independent candidate told the Inner West Courier she was “a critic of the way our city planning refuses to prioritise the public interest”.
“I’m running because I’m sick and tired of watching Sydney get torn apart by greed,” she said.
“We’re seeing bland apartments being built over beautiful public spaces, mature gardens and
heritage houses.
“The concrete jungle is taking over the local community, creating a heat basin, desolate streetscapes and killing our city. I want to put a stop to that.”
Ms Farrelly said she aimed to fight the development of tower “that destroy suburbs”.
“There is a 52-storey residential tower proposed for the heart of Strathfield that will overshadow open spaces and turn Strathfield’s busy pedestrian hub into a wasteland,” she said.
“The Cooks River, currently a stormwater drain, can be easily restored into a beautifully integrated waterway where people can play and picnic.
The former councillor said the diverse nature of Strathfield was something she loved, alongside the community’s picturesque urban villages: “these qualities and differences need protection and enhancement”.
Ms Farrelly said she was determined to see an inquiry into dodgy development”.
“There is a problem with the system that allows something like Opal Towers to destroy people’s homes,” she said.
Animal Justice Party candidate, Rohan Laxmanalal, has been a volunteer for the party since 2018, telling the Inner West Courier of his finance and business background working in renewable energy and futures exchange.
“There wasn’t a political party that aligned with my vegan values, but after coming across the Animal Justice Party, soon enough I was heavily involved,” he said.
The Sydney Olympic Park resident has previously run for the state seat of Granville and federal seat of Reid.
“Some of the biggest issues to plague this community is human health and climate change,” he said.
“However, there is also a real lack of green space due to the massive increase in development across the electorate.
“There is a need for balance — we can’t change the past, but we need to consider a balance in the future.”
Mr Laxmanalal said he relies on public transport to reduce his footprint, and avoid congestion on local roads.
“Parramatta Rd is still a major issue when it comes to congestion in our community.”
The Animal Justice Party candidate said he loves the animal-friendly nature of the Strathfield community the most: “that is something that really stands out to me”.
Two years to the day her daughter Veronique was tragically killed alongside her cousins in the Oatlands crash, Strathfield resident and Liberal candidate, Bridget Sakr is determined to represent the community that supported her family through the trauma.
In February, 2020 Ms Sakr’s daughter, Veronique, along with her three cousins, was killed by a drunk and drugged driver outside of the Oatlands Golf Club.
The business woman, who has had a long-ongoing career in financial services also established her own small business.
“The grief and pain over my daughter’s death is a daily presence in my life, but it has also driven me to create positive changes in our community such as the heartFELT platform to support families experiencing grief and trauma,” Ms Sakr told NewsLocal.
“When my daughter died, this community provided me and my family with sincere support, and wrapped their arms around us — this helped to form my decision to give back to the community by running in this election.
“If elected, I will be able to deliver for our community by being the voice of their hopes, concerns and needs in the Government.”
The Liberal candidate said congestion and issues on our roads are some of the key issues plaguing Strathfield.
“People should be spending less time stuck in traffic, and more time at home and with their families,” she said. “Another issue that will be a priority for me, if elected, is ensuring appropriate development in this area and fighting for more green public spaces that will give local families a place to get together and enjoy themselves.”
The financial services expert said, through her own business, she has gained an understanding of the issues that face local businesses during the Covid pandemic, while also calling for more mental health outreach programs for the Strathfield community.
“Two years ago, my family had to confront a tragedy, and this community came together to support us,” she said.
“I love the community spirit that exists here, as people shared our heartbreak and grief, and sought to make sure that we could keep going – together.
“Strathfield has soul, and this is what inspired and encouraged me to take up this opportunity, and try to repay its wonderful support.”
Greens Candidate Courtney Buckley were contacted for comment.
FIND OUT WHERE YOUR NEAREST POLLING PLACE IS HERE
COVID SAFETY PLANS ROLLED OUT
A series of safety plans have been rolled out across the state in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid on election day.
Voters are being urged to vote early through the postal vote or pre-poll systems in an effort to “reduce the number of people simultaneously attending voting venues on election day”, while all eligible workers of the NSW Electoral Commission are required to be double vaccinated, with booster vaccinations strongly encouraged.
You will need to check-in and out of election venues and wear a face mask while inside polling booths or in queues.
Single use pens will be provided by the Electoral Commission.
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