Federal election: Cumberland councillor Steve Christou runs for Parramatta as independent

He quit the Labor Party to become mayor of a western Sydney council and now one of the most outspoken critics of the pandemic is running in the federal election.

Former Cumberland mayor Steve Christou has nominated as an independent candidate for the seat of Parramatta, saying the electorate has been taken for granted “for way too long’’.

Mr Christou, who remains as an Our Local Community councillor representing the Granville ward, issued a statement on Tuesday and said that “only a local can truly understand and represent the interests of the community”.

“I have decided to run as a candidate to give the electorate of Parramatta a real alternative outside of the two major political parties,” he said.

“For way too long the Parramatta electorate has been taken for granted by political opportunists who have not delivered any outcomes for the local community.

“The locals feel they are being used as a vehicle to elevate big egos into government, with no real commitment to community interests and needs.”

He slammed Labor’s decision to parachute in eastern suburbs millionaire Andrew Charlton into Parramatta, questioning whether he would “know or care about the day-to-day costs of tolls, expensive commutes to the city and dealing with infrastructure changes that are taking place here on our doorstep”.

Steve Christou says he can represent locals more than major party candidates. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“This is the second time the Labor Party has parachuted an outsider into the Parramatta seat. Julie Owens was an outsider from North Sydney in 2005, now history repeats itself with this bloke from Bellevue Hill,’’ he said.

The Guildford resident and married father-of-two also took aim at the Liberal Party for abandoning its residents in Parramatta and Cumberland when the state executive failed to endorse candidates.

“It’s amazing that the Liberal Party is now asking the same residents, who they have betrayed and abandoned, for their support and approval,” Mr Christou said.

“I understand what’s going on here. I live it every day.’’

Mr Christou lashed out at the government during lockdown during the Delta wave when the government imposed tougher curfews, restrictions and lockdowns on Cumberland compared with other Sydney local government areas.

“Tens of thousands of people were unable to go to work and support their families,’’ he said.

“They were unable to pay their mortgage, rent, bills, or put food on the table to feed their children.

“The response by our elected leaders has been dismal and catastrophic to our local community because we are simply not on their radar.’’

Mr Christou sensationally quit the Labor Party in September 2019 when he used his acceptance speech to criticise the party for failing to represent the values that drew him to it 18 years before and for becoming too Left-wing.

However, his critics said he switched parties so he could get the numbers to become the mayor. In January, Labor’s Lisa Lake was voted in as mayor.

On Saturday, the Liberal Party endorsed Western Sydney Women co-founder Maria Kovacic as its candidate to run for Parramatta, which Labor holds by 3.5 per cent.

It is considered a marginal seat and speculation has run rife about who would replace long-time Labor MP Ms Owens since October when she revealed she would retire.

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