Federal election 2022: Western Sydney MPs Michelle Rowland, Jason Clare future stars

Candid former pollies have shared how the “smartest members” of Labor could shape western Sydney as a powerhouse of the nation but warned how the Chinese vote could be under threat in the region.

Western Sydney’s place on the national map could be elevated if Labor wins the federal election thanks to heavyweight “star” MPs hailing from the region.

At a Business Western Sydney federal election debate at Parramatta Square on Wednesday, former Liberal MPs Fiona Scott and Michael Photios, and Labor senator Graham Richardson, were unanimous in their glowing opinions of the ALP’s Greenway MP Michelle Rowland, Blaxland’s Jason Clare and Watson’s Tony Burke.

Ms Rowland is the oppositions communications spokeswoman, while Mr Clare and Mr Burke hold the housing and industrial relations shadow ministries respectively.

Mr Richardson declared Mr Clare, who won thousands of new fans after he stepped in for Labor leader Anthony Albanese when he was sidelined because of Covid, as the “star of the campaign’’.

“We’ve been waiting for him to blossom for a decade and in one hit he’s come good,’’ he said.

“I think the guy’s powder and shot and there’s a very big future in Jason Clare.’’

He praised Ms Rowland as an emerging star.

“I think she’s fantastic,’’ he said.

“She used to be a partner at Gilbert and Tobin (law firm) so she’s no fool; she’s got half a brain.’’

Greenway MP Michelle Rowland’s seat takes in Blacktown suburbs.

Blaxland MP Jason Clare’s constituents are in Bankstown and he is also the opposition housing spokesman. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms Scott, who was a Liberal MP for Lindsay in Penrith from 2013 to 2016 chimed in: “She’s amazing. She’s a very good member of parliament.

“Although we won’t see changes of seats (in western Sydney), I think we can see the influence of those voices of those very long standing stalwarts in federal Parliament and how their influence will really impact us here in western Sydney.’’

Mr Richardson agreed: “I think you’ll find that cohort in western Sydney will dominate the Cabinet. A lot of those people are going to be vying for very senior jobs.

“It’s a very, very important area for us and we’re pleased to have some of our smartest members out there.

“You can afford a dumbo in a safe seat — you can’t in a seat that matters. I’m very pleased with the calibre of the people we’ve got.’’

Michael Photios, Fiona Scott and Graham Richardson at the Business Western Sydney lunch and debate at Parramatta Square.

Tony Burke, whose seat takes in several Canterbury-Bankstown suburbs, was also endorsed.

“You’ll see that western Sydney will be the big guiding hand in a Labor government,’’ Mr Richardson said.

“To my mind that’s a really good thing because at least we’re giving power to the areas where we control the vote.

“The punters out there love us. They fall out of love occasionally but not for long; they come back and we keep winning out there so it’s a very, very important area out there for us and we’re blessed to have some of our smartest members out there.’’

He told the gathering that the cost of living was voters’ chief concern.

“If walk down the main street of Fairfield and ask them about foreign affairs being a big issue they will look at you as if you come from somewhere else,’’ he said.

“Ukraine is a long way away but we have no skin there. Solomon Islands is next door but people don’t care.

“It will be fought on the cost of living issues.’’

The 0.25 per cent Reserve Bank rate rise revealed on Tuesday is expected to hit western Sydney voters hard.

“This 0.25 per cent has the opportunity to impact people here in western Sydney more than other places,’’ Ms Scott said.

“It’s not the 0.25 per cent we saw yesterday, it’s the additional rate hikes.’’

On top of mortgage stress, locals in her former seat have endured bushfires and flooding which have jeopardised home insurance premiums.

Though Ms Scott does not predict western Sydney seats to switch leadership apart from Reid, which is “most up for grabs”, Chinese communities were at risk of dumping Liberals in favour for Labor.

The panel discussed how leaders had to “be careful” when blanketing China under the one tag, as opposed to Russian problems which were pointed at the individual (Vladimir Putin).

Ms Scott said the issue was most under threat in Banks (St George and Bankstown), Reid and Parramatta where there are thriving Asian communities.

Reid, which has a margin of 3.8 per cent, is held by Liberal MP Fiona Martin who is challenged by Labor’s Sally Sitou, is the seat most in danger.

It takes in several Canada Bay suburbs including Abbotsford, Cabarita and Drummoyne but also working class areas including parts of Auburn and Lidcombe and the densely populated Sydney Olympic Park where there are calls to build Parramatta light rail’s second stage.

For Parramatta, infrastructure was key to securing votes.

Mr Photias, a former Ryde MP in the early 1990s, found it “bewildering” that stage two funding for the Parramatta light rail had not been secured.

“How many sequels to James Bond do they do — they just keep coming. You keep re-engineering. It should be built, it should be built tomorrow.’’

He said despite Labor contender Andrew Charlton being parachuted in from his eastern suburbs mansion, he was a smart and articulate performer and his postcode did not rile locals as hard despite the backlash.

Western Sydney MPs could dominate Cabinet if Anthony Albanese wins the election, political pundits say. Picture: Liam Kidston

He said that was because Parramatta residents were not very parochial.

Mr Richardson backed Mr Albanese but warned that he could not afford to make more mistakes after failing to name Australia’s unemployment rate.

He was not so charitable to One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson who he said was hanging “around like a bad smell” and called Clive Palmer as “a grub”.

“We don’t have to have a parliament full of saints but you need to have a parliament with a skerrick of integrity and that doesn’t apply to Clive,’’ he said.

When approached about the comment, the United Australia Party said Clive was happy to debate Graham Richardson “in person” at Parramatta.

Other predictions from the panel included Bennelong going to Labor’s Jerome Laxale, senior Liberal Andrew Constance winning Gilmore and Liberal Jenny Ware claiming Hughes against ex-Liberal turned United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly.

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