State Election 2023: Katie Mullens’ plans for Parramatta as Liberal candidate

Parramatta’s Liberal hopeful concedes she is the underdog but is ready to fight against her high-profile rival in an effort to keep the seat in her party’s control. Find out what drives her.

Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes, with Katie Mullens (fifth from right) and Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee.

North Parramatta lawyer Katie Mullens says she is ready to fight for Parramatta to keep the electorate in Liberal control as the battle for the key seat gets under way.

Ms Mullens has been endorsed as the Liberal hopeful and aspires to retain the seat following the retirement of incumbent Geoff Lee, who kept the electorate in blue hands since 2011.

She will be pitted against Labor Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis, who enjoys a high profile on the council, on which she has served since 2017.

Ms Mullens, 39, was confirmed as the candidate on January 20 following the withdrawal of MP David Elliott’s chief of staff, Tanya Raffoul, from the preselection race.

“I think we can all agree that parliament is filled with political staffers and people that have come out of the political machinery and I think that people want true representation,’’ Ms Mullens said.

“I know people consider me to be the underdog in this election and all I can say to that is that I will fight as hard as I can to win this election.’’

Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes and Parramatta Katie Mullens with cyclists along the Parramatta River.

Ms Mullens said she wanted to see the completion of projects the Liberals had poured billions of dollars into, including Parramatta light rail stage two, the Powerhouse Museum and Westmead Hospital upgrades.

The cost of living pressures need to be tackled, too, she said.

“The government already has some practical support for that but I think that there’s more to be done in that area,’’ she said.

“Obviously there’s no silver bullet for cost of living and it’s not something unique to Parramatta or Australia, but that’s an area that I’m passionate about, advocating for and seeing changes made to help the people of NSW, help the people of Parramatta.’’

Ms Mullens grew up in the town of Bellbrook, west of Kempsey on the mid North Coast, and moved to Sydney as a 21 year old to study law at the Western Sydney University.

She has been a criminal and civil lawyer for the past 15 years and works at Barrak Lawyers in North Parramatta. She has lived in the area since moving to Sydney.

“I’m a real person who works in Parramatta, who deals with residents on a daily basis,’’ she said.

“I know the issues and challenges they face and I face the same ones and I think I can bring that grassroots, lived experience to the job.

“As a local lawyer I’ve helped residents, families, small businesses with their challenges and issues on a daily basis and it’s something that I want to continue to be able to do on a broader scale.’’

The Liberals hold on to Parramatta by 3.2 per cent. Ms Mullens would not be drawn on her political factions.

“There are factions in every party and the important thing is that we want to win the election for the Liberal Government and we need to work as a united front on that,’’ she said.

“It’s considered a key seat so it’s very important.’’

On Friday, Labor blasted the Liberals, saying it would be three years before the nomination of the Parramatta Female Factory would be finalised and sent to UNESCO for assessment and possible World Heritage listing.

Mrs Davis said: “Protecting and celebrating Parramatta’s built heritage has never been a priority for the Liberals.”

But Ms Mullens said $54m had been allocated to the site in December 2021.