Meet the Penrith candidates for the 2023 NSW state election

With only days left on the state election’s campaign trail, candidates are pushing to win final votes. Meet the movers and shakers vying for your support in the key seat of Penrith.

From L-R: Geoff Brown, Stuart Ayres, Minoo Toussi

With only days left on the state election’s campaign trail, candidates are ramping up their campaigning and doubling down on their promises. Meet the movers and shakers vying for your vote in the key seat of Penrith.

Stuart Ayres – Liberal

Stuart Ayres, current member for Penrith

The current member for Penrith – hanging on by a margin of less than 1 per cent – says his re-election will keep Penrith moving forward.

“I‘m running for Penrith to ensure we have the strongest possible voice in parliament and to continue to deliver for the Penrith community,” he said.

“We need leadership and experience to ensure our economy is managed well. This allows us to invest back in the community with projects like redeveloping Nepean Hospital, widening Mulgoa Rd, upgrading our schools and creating new parks, playgrounds and sports facilities.”

“I also know we need to take the pressure off the household budget. That’s why we are lowering the cost of electricity with our $250 rebate, public transport with Opal Cap reductions and vouchers for sport and creative activities for kids.”

The widening of Mulgoa Rd to six lanes is at the very top of Mr Ayres agenda.

“We’re going to widen underneath the M4 Motorway so more people will be able to travel through this congested corridor and it will be a huge win for the community,” he said.

The bottom line of Mr Ayres campaign pitch focuses on three main issues:

“Reducing pressure on the household budget, building the infrastructure we need as our community grows and keeping Penrith a great place to live.”

Karen McKeown – Labor

Labor candidate for Penrith Karen McKeown

Karen McKeown, the two-time former mayor and councillor since 2004 has made her priorities for the area crystal clear – to take Penrith and deliver it back to the people.

“Penrith needs a representative that will put them first. I have no fall back position,” she said.

While on the campaign trail Ms McKeown has spent ample time door knocking in the community to become well acquainted with the issues concerning locals most.

Among her election promises are recruiting more teachers and nurses, improving staff levels at Nepean Hospital, bringing manufacturing back to NSW and ending privatisation.

Ms McKeown has also revealed her stance opposing any raising of Warragamba Dam’s wall, instead preferring “levies in the area” and “evacuation routes”.

“We know how floods affect our area and half of those events don’t come over the wall, they come from tributaries,” she said.

On the hot button issue of the Penrith Paceway, Cr McKeown has called for greater transparency from the government regarding their plan for the site.

“The community deserves a firm commitment from the NSW Government on the timeline and details of the Penrith Stadium proposal,” she said.

Minoo Toussi – Greens

Penrith Candidate for Greens NSW Minoo Toussi

This mother-of-two, interior designer and long-term member of Amnesty International describes herself as an “activist fighting for human rights, equality, justice and democracy”.

Ms Toussi says she fell in love with the Penrith area since moving to Australia in 2007 and is advocating to protect the community‘s quality of life.

“I want to represent our vibrant, wonderful community,” she said. “This election is our chance to fight back, together. Let’s be united”

At the top of her agenda is lowering the cost of living, improving affordable housing and seeing mental and dental added to Medicare.

“We are in the midst of a housing crisis and our environment is in a concerning ecological state as a result of investor greed, over development and our economy’s over-reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, the gender pay gap and lack of access to health and disability support is merely maintained and rarely spoken about but raised often out in the seat.”

An interior designer by trade, Ms Toussi has taken what she’s learnt about sustainable design practise and translated this into policies and principles to safe guard future generations.

“Having children has made me even more determined to go to work for this local area and protect what is special about our community, not just now, but for future generations,” she said.

“We also need a parliament full of politicians that actually reflect the diversity of our community.”

Geoff Brown – Sustainable Australia Party

Penrith Candidate for Sustainable Australia NSW Geoff Brown

A near lifelong Penrith local Geoff Brown is running to “de-corrupt politics in NSW parliament” and to “implement sustainable solutions for our future” by rallying against the overdevelopment of Penrith.

The former student welfare officer at Western Sydney University said this included protecting the area’s natural environment, stopping inappropriate high-rise and sprawl and increasing transparency around politician donations and lobbying.”

Mr Brown has a track record in achieving results, successfully campaigning against development of the former Air Services Australia site in Cranebrook, which is now Sydney's newest nature reserve Wianamatta Nature Reserve.

Another achievement he can be credited with is starting and running the Werrington Community Festival for several years, as well as developing the concept for the Cumberland Conservation Corridor for which he successfully lobbied the federal government to commit $37.5m.

His final pitch to voters reiterates the guiding principles of the Sustainable Australia Party, which Mr Brown describes as ‘an independent community movement with a science and evidence-based policy platform”.

Timothy Pateman – Legalise Cannabis

Timothy Pateman

As 29-year-old father-of-two Timothy Pateman is running with a clearly defined goal and vision, to legalise cannabis for adults.

“I have realised over the years that legalised cannabis isn’t going to just happen and I always wanted to help in some way to overturn an unjust law,” he said. “Without any activism and people willing to throw their hat in the ring nothing will happen anytime soon in regards to this issue. An issue that I and a majority of Australians support.”

The small business owner is currently based in the Blue Mountains but previously has lived in Kingswood and Penrith, communities he says will benefit from the business opportunities and medical treatments which come from legalising cannabis.

“Cannabis not being legalised is an issue that’s brought up a lot,” he said. “People are sick and tired of an outdated law that doesn’t reflect public opinion, its one policy but has many issues.”

In his final pitch, Mr Pateman asks pollers to vote for a “commonsense change” in policy which will be a “win-win situation” and turn a prohibited market into one worth millions of dollars.

Vanessa Blazi – Animal Justice Party

Vanessa Blazi animal justice party candidate

An animal lover and small business owner, Vanessa Blazi is throwing her hat in the ring to advocate for a kinder world and the interests of pet owners.

Ms Blazi, who runs a dog walking and pet sitting business, will advocate for supporting pet owners through this economic crisis by introducing bulk-billing veterinary services and improving the rights of pet owners living in rentals ranking high on her agenda.

“One issue that raising a lot of concern on the ground is the rights of renters to own pets, particularly for those who have had to surrender their animals because they can’t afford their current rental and need to move,” she said.

“Our concept is VetiCare, like Medicare for animals so people can afford to have their pets treated under the cost of living crisis.”

In her final pitch to voters Ms Blazi wants voters to consider a vote for the Animal Justice Party is “a vote for a kinder world, bringing not just justice to animals but helping people in need and protecting our precious environment.”

Belinda McWilliams – One Nation

Belinda McWilliams,

The 49-year-old from Kingswood stepped away from her job as an estimator in a stainless steel factory to run, after noticing key issues in the community which are yet to be addressed.

“While I was out campaigning, I have heard similar from the local community that the three main concerns raised by voters are regarding the new stadium on the Penrith Paceway site, the ongoing cost of living, infrastructure and overdevelopment,” she said.

In delivering her final pitch to those heading to the polls Ms McWilliams said “Penrith needs a shake-up” and told voters she would ensure the area was “not put on the back burner”.

“I promise to support the interests of the people of Penrith first and foremost and be present in the community, I will work together with the community to secure a better future for Penrith,” Ms McWilliams said.

“I want to do this as a local, who knows and shares the day-to-day struggles, and not as a career politician. We will not back down in parliament to champion our wonderful city and its community. ”