17 candidates chasing the votes in Banks, Blaxland and Watson as federal election hots up
Seventeen candidates will be vying for the three main seats in the Canterbury Bankstown area for the upcoming Federal Election.
SEVENTEEN candidates will be vying for the three main seats in the Canterbury Bankstown area for the upcoming Federal Election.
In the most marginal seat Banks, which Liberal MP and Immigration Minister David Coleman holds on a slim margin of 1.6 per cent, he will face five other candidates.
He won top spot on the ballot paper and the rest in order of appearance are Gianluca Dragone of The Greens; Chris Gambian, Labor; Reginald Keith Wright (United Australia Party); Anjali Thakur of the Animal Justice Party and Ki Man Ho, Christian Democratic Party.
Up until Mr Coleman won the seat for the Liberal Party in 2013, Labor had held Banks since the electorate’s creation in 1949. Suburbs include East Hills, Lugarno, Mortdale, Oatley, Panania, Padstow, Padstow Heights, Hurstville Grove, Picnic Point, Revesby, Riverwood and South Hurstville.
BLAXLAND CANDIDATES
In Blaxland, there are five candidates competing for the safe Labor seat, held by Jason Clare, the Opposition spokesman for Resources and Northern Australia and Trade and Investment. Labor has a margin of 19.5 per cent.
The candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order:
1. Veronica Rowe (Christian Democratic Party); 2. Oz Guney (Liberal Party) 3. Jason Clare (Labor); 4. Nadeem Ashraf (United Australia Party) and 5. James Rooney (The Green)s.
Labor has had a stronghold over Blaxland since its formation in 1949.
The electorate includes Auburn (part), Bankstown (part), Berala, Chester Hill, Condell Park, Georges Hall, Guilford (part), Lidcombe (part), Milperra, South Granville, Villawood and Yagoona.
WATSON CANDIDATES
Six candidates are competing to win Watson, held by senior Labor Cabinet member Tony Burke on a 17.6 per cent margin.
The candidates are: 1. Dean Wrightson, United Australia Party; 2. Karl Schubert, Christian Democratic Party; 3. Raymond Zeng, Science Party; 4. Emmet De Bhaldraithe, The Greens; 5. Tony Burke, Labor and 6. Mohammad Zaman, Liberal Party.
Watson includes Greenacre, Mount Lewis, Chullora, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Roselands, Campsie and Belfield.
Pre-poll voting started on Monday.
The candidate profiles will be published when they come in.
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