Parramatta federal Andrew Charlton buys North Parramatta house

His address in the affluent eastern suburbs drew backlash but Parramatta’s Labor candidate has shown confidence he is here to stay after buying a property in the electorate.

Parramatta federal Labor candidate Andrew Charlton has bought a four-bedroom house at North Parramatta, signalling that he is quietly confident about keeping the marginal seat red after the May 21 poll.

Mr Charlton, who was Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s former media adviser, was living in a $16 million Bellevue Hill mansion but on Friday shifted 30km up the M4 to live in the heart of the electorate, choosing to buy instead of rent.

The comparatively humble brick house on 990sq m sold for just under $2 million and will have enough bedrooms to accommodate the married 43-year-old’s wife Phoebe and children Angus, 8, Ruth, 6, and Ingrid, 3.

North Parramatta is a suburb rich in history, with 320 properties being heritage listed.

“Parramatta has some of the best indigenous and colonial estates in the country,’’ Mr Charlton said.

“It’s a beautiful place to live. I like the parks, I like the cafes and all the people.’’

On March 24, Opposition leader Anthony Albanese picked Mr Charlton to run for Parramatta — a seat retiring MP Julie Owens holds by 3.5 per cent.

Andrew Charlton and opposition treasurer spokesman Jim Chalmers in Parramatta on April 1. Picture: Twitter

Mr Albanese’s pick bypassed Labor hopefuls Durga Owen, Alan Mascarenhas and Abha Devasia’s chance to win preselection in a rank and file process, which enables party members to choose their candidates.

More than a fortnight later, the Accenture managing director did not appear fazed by the negative attention of being a blow-in, saying he has hit the hustings since he was officially endorsed on April 1 and has been transparent about his background with potential constituents.

He has dispensed leaflets at train stations, Dundas, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple at Granville and is planning a community dinner in Harris Park, a subcontinental community, on Monday night.

“I’ve been at train stations every morning and doorknocking,’’ he said.

“People are concerned about the cost of living, they’re concerned about wages flatlining, they’re concerned about aged care and child care.

“I’m just trying to meet as many people as possible, listen to them and put together a strong economic plan for Parramatta’s future.’’

Mr Charlton plans to upgrade Parramatta’s notoriously slow internet connections.

“The NBN has been a disaster in Parramatta,’’ he said, adding it lacks the infrastructure needs “to be a global city’’.

Asked whether people were sceptical about Labor’s reputation for poor economic management he said the party had not held power “for a long time either in the state level or the federal level”.

“Parramatta is the second biggest economy in NSW. There’s a huge amount of potential and I spent my whole life as an economist building stronger economies and stronger communities.

“Everybody in Parramatta wants a better life for themselves. They aspire for a better life for their family, a better life for their kids and that’s my experiences — building a better economy and creating the building blocks for opportunity for people.

“I believe in aspiration, I believe in opportunity, I believe in making sure that everybody has the best opportunities to get ahead in life.’’

He said he employed 70 people when he started Alpha Beta, which Accenture purchased.

Mr Charlton will battle against Liberal candidate Maria Kovacic, Parramatta councillor Phil Bradley (the Greens) and Cumberland councillor Steve Christou.

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