Labor’s Anthony Albanese, Bob Carr want David Borger to be Parramatta federal MP

ALP top brass has approached prominent and outspoken western Sydney advocate David Borger to stage a political comeback and run for the federal seat of Parramatta.

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese and former NSW Premier Bob Carr have encouraged business advocate David Borger to run for the federal seat of Parramatta that will be vacated once incumbent Julie Owens retires.

Ms Owens, 63, announced her retirement in October, paving the way for a field of hopefuls to run in the marginal seat, which Labor holds by 3.5 per cent.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger has a long connection with Parramatta. Picture: John Appleyard

A source said the opposition leader and Mr Carr, who led NSW from 1995 to 2005, approached Mr Borger, the Business Western Sydney executive director, to run for Parramatta.

“David has spent a good portion of his life advocating for Parramatta as a Lord Mayor, councillor, state member for Granville and now as an executive director for western Sydney,’’ the source said.

“Clearly Parramatta will be a very competitive competition between the major parties with Julie Owens not recontesting, so obviously they’re looking for someone who’s got runs on the board for Parramatta and western Sydney who can articulate a strong, positive vision for this growing city in the heart of Sydney.’’

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: Christian Gilles

But Mr Borger has rejected calls to re-enter politics on the federal level — a position that would mean he would have served all tiers of government after being Parramatta Lord Mayor from 1999 to 2007, before becoming the Granville MP for four years since 2007.

“I’ve been humbled and flattered by the calls and messages that I’ve received from a wide cross-section of the community and politics over the past few weeks asking me to consider putting my name forward for the federal seat of Parramatta,’’ he said.

“It’s been 10 years since I was last in politics and I feel that I’ve made my contribution in that space. I’m very happy spending time with my family and settling into our new home in North Parramatta.’’

Former NSW Premier Bob Carr is understood to have endorsed David Borger. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Borger said Sydney’s second city needed a dynamic voice in Canberra to invest in Parramatta.

“We have big infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro West and Parramatta light rail stage 2 and the Riverside Theatres that has no federal funding at all – that needs to change with a fresh face,’’ he said.

“I’m looking forward to some strong election promises to our part of the world when the election is called in the next six months.”

Mr Albanese’s office was contacted for comment. Mr Carr declined to comment other than to say Mr Borger would be “a fine candidate’’.

Insiders believe Mr Borger’s absence from the race paves the way for incumbent Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn to replace Ms Owens.

However, Ms Finn remained tight-lipped about plans and said she would leave it to the branch to preselect its candidate.

Durga Owen, a North Parramatta resident and criminal lawyer, confirmed she would run for pre-selection for the federal seat.

Liberal candidates vying for Parramatta are expected to be Charles Camenzuli and Parramatta councillor Martin Zaiter.

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