Meet the Macarthur candidates for the 2022 federal election

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

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

With May 21 rapidly approaching and pre polling now open, campaigns are in full swing and six politically diverse candidates are vying for the Macarthur seat currently held by Mike Freelander.

Prepolling has also opened for those who are unable to vote on the day. Locations include:

• Campbelltown Civic Centre
• Ingleburn Community Centre
• Oran Park Community Centre
• Camden Civic Centre

Since the last election in 2019 the country has dealt with the devastating impacts of Covid, bushfires and floods. And on May 21, the Macarthur region will decide who they think is best to advocate for their region.

The candidates putting up their hands to represent the people of Macarthur have revealed their top priorities should they get elected.

Jayden Rivera, The Greens

Jayden Rivera is running again for the seat of Macarthur as the candidate for the Greens Party. Now 28, he was just 25 when he ran the first time.

And this election, he has a firm focus on a few key areas.

“My top priorities this election is real action on the climate crisis, cost of living pressures, making dental and mental health care free under Medicare, and free education from early childhood all the way through university,” he said.

“I have worked in hospitality since the age of 14.

“I have been a fast food manager since the age of 18 and this has made me understand the importance of raising the minimum wage, as well as the importance of the hospo and retail industry which can facilitate flexibility to study and also see the stresses of many fellow employees who need to work full time and study to survive and get ahead.”

Mr Rivera said this background is why he believes free education and raising wages and all support payments are necessities, to address the cost of living burden on everyone.

“Growing up in Macarthur, certain areas aren’t being given the attention that is required to assist in these issues, I am making a difference by running for Macarthur pushing for what I see it needs to be a healthy, supported community,” he said.

“I want to represent Macarthur because it’s where I have grown up, and being able to represent my community and listen to everyone to improve our ever-growing community is something I’m very passionate about.”

Binod Paudel, Liberal

Binod Paudel was born in Nepal and is a self-described hotelier turned coaching entrepreneur who has lived in Minto for six years with wife, Gypshouna, and son, Gilon.

His top priorities for this election include cost-of-living pressures and support for local businesses, healthcare facilities and services and celebrating and preserving the region’s indigenous heritage.

“I believe I can be a strong voice and advocate for Macarthur in Canberra,” Mr Paudel said.

“I have my finger on the pulse, am connected with my community and know what we need locally to ensure residents get every opportunity possible.”

Mr Paudel said Macarthur needs a “true listener” and someone in parliament who understands its needs due to a rapidly growing population and changing demographic.

“I understand the local issues on the ground. I will fight to lower cost of living pressures, create more healthcare facilities and services, and stand up for local business,” he said.

“We have just suffered through a once in a lifetime pandemic and the Morrison Government will help us navigate our way out.

“I want to be part of that solution. Our unemployment rate is down to four per cent - the equal lowest level in nearly 50 years – and I will fight for local employment opportunities right here in Macarthur.”

Dr Michael Freelander, Labor (incumbent)

Macarthur federal Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander who is running for re-election. Picture: Richard Dobson

Current Macarthur MP, Labor’s Mike Freelander, has held the seat since 2016 and has high hopes of being re-elected again.

Dr Freelander said the most important issue he was highlighting this election was there should not be development without infrastructure to support it.

“We haven’t learn from the mistakes of the past and we should really be putting in the infrastructure in health, transport and education before we get more development,” he said.

“I have also made a particular point of advocating for a fully-funded and staffed child developmental unit at Campbelltown and a Labor Government has pledged $4 million for this.

“My third priority is to get good jobs out here at Macarthur and making sure we are encouraging businesses and manufacturers to set up locally because I think we have huge potential with our workforce here.”

Dr Freelander has been working in the region as a paediatrician since 1983, and a passion of his is ensuring there are sufficient child health programs for the region.

“I want everyone to access healthcare without enormous cost,” he said.

“I wanted to get into politics because a lot of the patients I was seeing were suffering from the social determinants of health and did not have equal access to proper housing, education, and work.

“I think the area was being neglected by state and federal governments and I thought I could provide more help if I worked on a bigger picture scale.”

Dr Freelander said the Macarthur region has enormous potential that is unfulfilled because of lack of support from governments on both sides for a long time.

“I am optimistic about the future of Australia, I think we dealt with the pandemic very well and we saved thousands of lives,” he said.

“We just need to get our settings right in terms of the economy and the workforce.”

Rosa Sicari, United Australia Party

Rosetta Sicari has lived and worked in and around Macarthur for 40 years and describes being a mother and grandmother as her “favourite career”.

Coming from an Italian working class family, Ms Sicari went on to become a child care educator and worked mostly with children with special needs before retiring but she continues to own a business with her husband.

Ms Sicari said one of her biggest concerns related to families, children and education.

“I am referring to the low social economic areas as we have a large number of families living in government housing renting and most on social welfare,” she said.

“I have seen many children especially from large families the eight to 12 people living in a home and sometimes only two people working supporting the rest of the family.

“However when the children grow and finish school they are pushed to go find a job to help support the family ... in the end they end up in the cycle of life living as their parents did and the cycle continues generation after generation.”

Ms Sicari said she wants to help children break free from the cycle by approaching schools to speak at assemblies to encourage parents to be part of making it possible for their children to have a better future.

“Families have basic needs, home, food, clothes, job, income, but they lack self esteem. Self esteem is essential part of life of a person being able to live a complete and happy life,” she said.

“The community of Macarthur has many needs but I feel this is the most important.”

Ms Sicari said while she did not have experience in politics she has “experience in life” and that was what mattered.

“I love this community and I have watched it grow from nothing into an amazing place,” she said.

Adam Zahra, One Nation

Adam Zahra, 41, has lived in the Macarthur electorate his entire life and is a small business owner in the “window coverings game” and is a sign-writer by trade.

The first priority Mr Zahra has for the region is reducing the cost of living.

“This could be done by ensuring we maintain affordable base load energy,” he said.

“Also to counteract increasing interest rates we need to ensure that job security is maintained so that Australians can afford to put food on the table and keep a roof over the families head.”

Mr Zahra said public health is another concern, adding that the greater Macarthur area needs a second public hospital and he will be fighting for a specialised children’s hospital.

“Another issue that was raised by a constituent was there isn’t enough high school spots for the amount of children in our electorate,” he said.

“I believe an urgent case study should be done to ensure we can get our kids into schools to get our next generation educated and skilled.”

Mr Zahra decided to enter the realm of politics as the “lockdowns, mandates and government over reach needed to stop”.

He said politicians were ridiculed and ostracised for simply going against the narrative.

“I saw this as a threat to democracy and the trend to cancel instead of debate became a scary alternative.

“I wanted to represent Macarthur as I have lived in the region all my life. I live, work and shop here in my community. I want to make a positive difference do Macarthur.”

Mr Zahra said that finding out the current incumbent lives the furthest away from his electorate was “surprising”.

“I don’t feel Macarthur has had a true representation in parliament,” he said.

“For too long Macarthur has been neglected by its politicians. We need new energy to reinvigorate the region.”

Scott Korman, Liberal Democrats

The Macarthur Chronicle attempted to contact Scott Korman but did not hear back by the time of publication.

According to his page on the Liberal Democrats’ website, he has spent most of his life in the Macarthur area.

“Working in IT projects alongside the Department of Education and major infrastructure companies, he has seen the catastrophic bungling and mismanagement which only government contracts can produce,” the profile states.

“In recent years, Scott has volunteered his time to video and social media work for community causes and has worked hard in his local area to raise attention for important causes, at times controversially.

“Scott joined the Liberal Democrats to take his community work to another level. He will never vote for an increase in taxes or a reduction in freedom.”