Meet the Campbelltown candidates for the 2023 state election

The state election candidates for Campbelltown reveal their top priorities as campaigning ramps up with days left until NSW decides who the next leader will be.

Howard Jones, current MP Greg Warren and Adam Zahra are all vying for the seat of Campbelltown.

In less than a week, Campbelltown residents will flock to the polling booths and decide who will lead the next chapter of the region’s future in politics.

With March 25 rapidly approaching and pre polling now open, campaigns are in full swing and eight politically diverse candidates are vying for the Campbelltown seat currently held by Labor MP Greg Warren.

The candidates putting up their hands to represent the people of Campbelltown have revealed their top priorities should they get elected. Here is what they had to say.

ROSA SICARI

Rosa Sicari is running for the Liberal Democrats and was contacted for comment, however did not respond.

Matthew Twaddell: Animal Justice Party

Matthew Twaddell, 52, has lived in Campbelltown for 18 years. Married with two stepchildren, he is an IT Professional with more than 25 years of experience.

“I am running so the people of Campbelltown can give their number one vote to the Animal Justice Party,” he said.

“This will send a strong message to the major parties that the people of NSW care about animals, people and the planet.”

Mr Twaddell said when speaking to voters, the main issues raised were wildlife safety and conservation concerns.

“Saving the endangered Campbelltown koalas, protecting remaining green spaces, and encouraging development which works with, not against, nature so we have a Campbelltown we can all share and enjoy,” he said were all problems residents had raised.

Matthew Twaddell.

In the final week of campaigning, his final pitch to voters was to ensure they gave the Animal Justice Party their number one vote in both houses.

“Help make Campbelltown a place we can all be proud to call home,” he said.

Gypshouna Paudel: Liberal

As a local business manager, mother and community advocate, Gypshouna Paudel said she would be a strong and passionate voice for Campbelltown to ensure it was the best place to live, work and raise a family.

“I was born in Nepal and moved to Australia, where I studied and completed a Masters in Professional accounting,” she said.

“Now living in Minto with my husband Binod, young son Gilon and cousin Hema, I also work locally and am involved in several organisations, including the South West Nepalese Community Sydney, helping those in need and bringing the community together.

Gypshouna Paudel.

“Campbelltown is an incredibly diverse community, and with my knowledge and experience, I want to ensure that significant investment in government services provided under the Liberals continues to ensure no one is left behind.”

Mrs Paudel said as part of Dominic Perrottet’s Liberal Team, she was ready to keep Campbelltown moving forward.

She said she would fight for further education and health services investments, ensure critical community infrastructure is built, and support small businesses.

Jayden Rivera: The Greens

At 29 years old, Jayden Rivera is the youngest candidate vying for the seat of Campbelltown but is a passionate advocate for The Greens.

With 15 years under his belt in the hospitality industry, Mr Rivera said he ran for the upcoming election because of the cost of living crisis.

“I believe The Greens’ plan to tackle this is the most rounded and effective approach,” he said.

“Housing simply isn’t affordable anymore. Rent is too high and uncontrollable, and energy prices are skyrocketing.

“We need to control all of these issues, and The Greens have a plan to do this.”

Mr Rivera is also running because he believes there is a need to protect wildlife and endangered koalas.

Jayden Rivera.

He said real action is needed to fix Appin Road and protect koala habitats effectively.

“I have lived in the electorate for 25 years and have lived in various suburbs in the electorate over this period,” Mr Rivera said.

“The three main issues that have been raised during this campaign are cost of living pressures, Koala habitats, in particular, the Mt Gilead area and the housing and rental crisis/interest rate rises.

“We can reduce the cost of living pressures by bringing assets like energy and even creating a public bank back into public hands, provide free public transport, free community healthcare and much more.

“And finally, the rental crisis can be solved by putting controls into place, freezing rents, stopping the rental bidding and making housing affordable by providing sustainable houses.”

Howard Jones: Sustainable Australia Party

With a background in business after building service stations in locations such as Pambula and South Nowra, Howard Jones is vying for the seat of Campbelltown.

“I’m running for the Sustainable Australia Party because I’m sick of the overdevelopment thrust on people,” he said.

“I’m sick of the fragile environment being pushed aside in favour of another subdivision.

“Many voters are just as frustrated seeing this senseless policy of development over and over for the sake of growth for growth’s sake. We need a long-term plan that considers everything I’ve mentioned above.”

Howard Jones.

Mr Jones said the Sustainable Australia Party was an independent community movement with a science and evidence-based policy platform.

He said they were fighting to protect the environment and stop overdevelopment and corruption.

“This includes protecting endangered species habitats, native forests and local tree canopies; reducing Australia’s waste production; acting on climate change; [and] stopping inappropriate high-rise and sprawl,” he said.

“[It also includes] delivering new community infrastructure before more housing; stabilising Australia’s population size; transparent reporting of political donations and lobbying and banning political donations from big business and unions.”

Greg Warren: Labor

Labor MP Greg Warren was first elected in 2015 and is currently the Shadow Minister for Local Government, Veterans and Western Sydney.

He previously served as a councillor, mayor, and the Australian Regular Army for almost 10 years after joining in his late teens.

Having resided in southwest Sydney since the early 90s, Mr Warren said he was acutely aware of the issues facing the ever-expanding region.

“I joined the Australian Regular Army in my late teens out of the desire to serve my country, and I now have channelled that desire to serve into politics,” he said.

“I am extremely passionate about Campbelltown – an area where my two sons were raised.

“We are a unique community famous for its willingness to help those in need.

“If elected for another four years, I will continue to spend each day fighting for the community of Campbelltown.”

Mr Warren said the cost of living, public transport issues and concerns about health services were the three main topics raised by residents.

He said there was no doubt increased prices for groceries, power, fuel, and interest rates placed enormous strain on households’ budgets.

“NSW Labor has introduced a raft of measures to tackle cost of living pressures,” he said.

Greg Warren.

“Our train services are also simply substandard, and that is why a NSW Labor Government will review the train timetable and the need for express services – like the Campbelltown to Parramatta service that was axed by the NSW Liberals in 2018.

“I am proud to have fought for the $632m upgrade of Campbelltown Hospital.

“However, the upgrades are redundant unless there are adequate staffing levels. That is why a Minns Labor Government will hire 1200 more nurses and midwives throughout the state.”

For his final pitch to voters, Mr Warren said this election was about the future.

“We want to see better health services, investment in our schools, adequate infrastructure, well-balanced urban planning, as well as protecting our environment,” he said.

“Thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve you, and I look forward to doing it for another four years with your support.”

Tofick Galiell: Independent

Independent candidate Tofick Galiell, 68, who works as a senior estimator and project manager, has decided to run to “empower” the people of Campbelltown.

“The Incumbent takes Campbelltown for granted because it is a safe Labor seat. He just needs to put up placards and send nice Labor financed letters, which are recycled every election. He has done nothing for the people of Campbelltown,” he said.

“When the Government imposed the harshest lockdown measures on our LGA, it was the Shadow Minister of Police (Labor) who suggested we be fined $5,000 if we disobey the lockdown measures.

“I want to make sure Campbelltown will not be selected for special lockdown measures again unless we are in danger of spreading a lethal disease.”

Mr Galiell said other reasons he had decided to run included a distrust in the major party when it came to selling state assists, the cost of road tolls and a desire to see more products built in Australia.

“Campbelltown Hospital is also in a crisis. I sat in emergency and noticed three young mothers with a child sitting on their laps six to eight hours waiting for a doctor to see them,” he said.

“We need to incentivise Year 12 Students to become nurses, doctors and health professionals so we can fill the shortages from here in NSW. Because of the desperate situation, we find ourselves in, I doubt the vetting of overseas nurses and doctors is done properly.

“We need to incentivise year 12 Students to take up teaching. We are currently filling vacancies with overseas trained teachers whose second language is English.”

Mr Galiell said voters had raised concerns about privatising assets, tolls, the education and health systems, selective lockdowns and the cost of living.

His final pitch to voters was “the Incumbent takes Campbelltown for granted because it is a safe Labor seat”.

Adam Zahra: One Nation

Adam Zahra, 42, is a father of three who has lived in Campbelltown his whole life and owned a business in the Macarthur region for more than five years in the window covering industry.

Running for One Nation, Mr Zahra said his generation could bridge the divide between Campbelltown’s older and younger generations.

“After running in the Federal election in 2022, I decided to continue to build NSW One Nation’s presence. Labor has had an easy run with no competition from Liberal,” he said.

“Proof is in the pudding with the example of the lift at Leumeah station, which was out of order for more than three weeks.

“A few quick messages to our Party Leader Mark Latham while campaigning, and the lift was repaired within a week. I’m just a candidate and have chalked up a win for Campbelltown already.”

Adam Zahra.

Mr Zahra said as a lifelong resident, he knows the potential of Campbelltown and is a “true local”. While on the campaign trail, he said voters had raised multiple issues, but there were three standouts.

He said the first was the cost of living, with residents worried about higher energy and fuel prices, rising interest rates and the jump in grocery prices.

“The people of Campbelltown are also worried about housing affordability. With the huge pricing increases, mums and dads are worried about how their children will afford a home one day,” Mr Zahra said.

“Thirdly, Appin Rd. It seems the government will invest $76m for an Arts centre upgrade but not invest to save people’s and animals’ lives on a deadly road.”

When asked what his final pitch to voters was, Mr Zahra said people were sick of the “Labor let down, and the Liberal hauntings” and One Nation would address significant concerns.

“We will end the race to net zero and shore up our baseload energy supply,” he said.

“We will cut the red and green tape driving the prices of new domestic builds up.

“We will redirect extravagant spending from the Campbelltown arts centre upgrades and get Appin Road built.”