What public thinks of Labor preselecting Andrew Charlton to run for Parramatta

Controversy has engulfed the Labor Party’s plan to parachute an eastern suburbs dweller into the seat of Parramatta. But does the public care? Find out what his potential constituents think.

The Labor Party’s plan to parachute eastern suburbs millionaire Andrew Charlton to represent the marginal seat of Parramatta has triggered debate about whether candidates should hail from the seat to better reflect their constituents.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is eyeing off Mr Charlton, a former economics adviser to ex Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to contest Parramatta. The Bellevue Hill resident and Accenture managing director’s preselection would deny members the rank and file process that allows them to choose their candidates.

Solicitor and 2019 candidate for the state seat of Seven Hills, Durga Owen; union lawyer Abha Devasia, of West Pennant Hills; and the Parramatta branch’s vice president and communications specialist Alan Mascarenhas had already expressed a desire to run for the seat, which retiring MP Julie Owens has held for 18 years with a slim 3.5 per cent margin.

Former adviser to Kevin Rudd and adjunct economic professor Andrew Charlton. Picture: YouTube

They said their subcontinental backgrounds would better reflect the multicultural seat, which stretches over 57sq km from Toongabbie to Carlingford.

Mr Charlton was born in Kenthurst and attended Knox Grammar School.

Voters such as Ramsy Wahbe of Oatlands said he would be out of touch with the community.

“He wouldn’t understand this area at all,’’ she said at Dundas Valley’s Vikings Sports Club on Thursday, a day shy of her 74th birthday.

Chris Moses and Ramsy Wahbe of Oatlands at Vikings Sports Club in Dundas Valley, in the seat of Parramatta.

“He’ll just follow the party line. He won’t worry about the electorate so I don’t think I’d vote for him.’’

Like her friend, Chris Moses is a traditional Liberal voter and “prefers a local”.

“The local people should get a chance,’’ the Carlingford woman said.

“I have no problem with the Liberal Party whatsoever. It‘s the local people who put their heart and soul into the area. It’s just more viable to have someone from the local area.’’

Their friend Mary Nicholas, of Ermington, remains furious that the ALP parachuted former premier Kristina Keneally into the diverse seat of Fowler in September, snubbing local lawyer Tu Le, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees.

Mary Nicholas is indignant over the ALP’s handling of the Fowler preselection.

Ms Keneally has relocated but lived 43km away in Scotland Island from the centre of the southwestern Sydney seat.

“The Cabramatta people have got their own community, they’ve got their own community that they were happy to support and they put her in there,’’ Mrs Nicholas said.

“I know she’s got a big support base but I think it’s wrong.’’

If he was elected, Mr Charlton would not win her vote because she supports the pro-business Liberal party.

“We’re all business people,’’ she said.

“I think that’s the way it will go (a Liberal vote) but anything can happen.’’

However, the Kalb family of Dundas is not fazed about fielding a candidate from the affluent eastern suburbs.

“If he’s a good candidate it doesn’t matter where he lives,’’ Bala Kalb, 40, said.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet. It depends on who the candidate is; sometimes I vote for the independent.’’

Dundas family Bala Kalb, 40, and his wife Asha Kalb, and son Pranav, 6, outside the bellwether booth of St Bernadette's Primary School in Dundas Valley.

Education is the main priority for Mr Kalb and his wife Asha, who are trying to transfer their son from a low-staffed public school into the Catholic system.

The Kalbs, who have Indian backgrounds, also do not care that Mr Charlton could be picked over the more diverse Ms Owen and Ms Devasia.

“I wouldn’t mind which suburb he’s from, I wouldn’t mind which ethnicity he’s from as long as he’s someone we can depend on,’’ Mr Kalb said.

Greystanes 33-year old Adam Stanic would not support Mr Charlton “because he doesn’t understand the people of the area and every issue they face in their daily lives”.

“He wouldn’t know what the transport here is like, he wouldn’t know what the ethnic groups here are like, he wouldn’t know about the sports culture here.

“For me you have to be with the people of the area, you have to understand the people of the area and you have to help the people of that area.’’

He wants whoever is elected to keep Parramatta’s “momentum going as it has been for the past 10 years”.

“I think transportation’s very important for the Parramatta area since it’s becoming a bigger city,’’ he said.

Adam Stanic does not support a candidate from outside the area.

Western Sydney University journalism students Monique Grant, 19, and Vanessa Valastro, 20, would support more diverse candidates.

“I think any opportunity for diversity is a good thing,’’ Miss Grant said.

“I think every year goes by and we choose the same people anyway.

“We both come from an Italian heritage and you see representation but you don’t really see too much representation.’’

Vanessa Valastro and Monique Grant say it’s time for more diverse representation.

Miss Valastro welcomed any candidate with “knowledge” to fill the seat but indicated it was time for change.

“There are probably Anglo Saxon white men in the majority of the seats, so to give an opportunity for someone with a Sri Lankan or Indian background, it opens up a new door of influence,’’ she said.

“With a lot of immigration in Australia, there’s a big Indian population and I feel like it will also show them that they’re included in something.’’

MORE NEWS

North Parramatta: Nick Henning is The O’Connell St Walking Dress Up Guitar Guy

Work starts on Alfred Street Bridge, Parramatta