Greens’ Phil Bradley to run for Parramatta in 2022 federal election

He made history as the first Greens councillor elected on to a western Sydney council and now he’s joining the race to represent the key electorate of Parramatta in the federal poll.

Councillor Phil Bradley has nominated as the Greens candidate for the federal election and reminded voters of the party’s influence in the Parramatta electorate, which Labor holds by a marginal 3.5 per cent.

“Our Greens preferences have decided two from three of the last federal Parramatta elections,’’ Mr Bradley said.

Mr Bradley, who became the first Greens politician on Parramatta Council in 2017, says “change is within reach” and pledged to prioritise urgent climate action.

As a councillor he has advocated for reduced development and as a federal hopeful said he would push for 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, reduce extreme urban heat and minimise waste.

“The world has just experienced the seven hottest years on record and we are now facing a climate emergency, yet Australia is still letting our greenhouse gas emissions increase,’’ he said.

“Days per year hotter than 40 degrees in western Sydney are predicted to rise tenfold in our children’s lifetime.’’

Greens MLC David Shoebridge and Parramatta federal Greens hopeful Phil Bradley.

The Winston Hills father-of-two and former civil engineer and TAFE teacher, who has been a local for 27 years, has vowed to push for “equitable policies on homelessness and affordable housing”.

“We must address the realities of so many people in Parramatta suffering distress due to housing costs,’’ he said.

“The Greens support improved renters’ rights and much greater funding for public and social housing.”

He ran for the Parramatta in the federal election in 2013, 2016 and 2019 and in every state election since 2011.

Out of his rivals — Labor’s Andrew Charlton, Liberal Maria Kovacic and independent Steve Christou — Mr Bradley is the contender who lives closest to the electorate.

Winston Hills falls under the Liberal-held Mitchell, where Alex Hawke is the sitting MP.

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