Federal Election 2019: Tony Burke has five rivals for the seat of Watson
Labor stalwart Tony Burke faces five challengers to retain the seat of Watson in the May 18 Federal Election.
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Labor stalwart Tony Burke, who has held the seat since 2004, faces five challengers to retain the seat of Watson in the May 18 Federal Election.
Liberal candidate Mohammed Zaman is opposing Mr Burke again after the Labor candidate won by a margin of nearly 30,000 votes in two-party preferred voting. Mr Burke has a 17. 6 per cent margin
Dean Wrightson (United Australia Party), Karl Schubert (Christian Democratic Party), Raymond Zeng (Science Party) and Emmet de Bhaldraithe (The Greens) are the other candidates.
Among Mr Burke’s promises if Labor is elected is to commit $1.5 million towards the construction of a music hub and community space in Belmore while commissioning a feasibility study to move SBS from Artamon to western Sydney.
Watson’s suburbs include Ashfield, Bankstown (part), Belfield, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury (part), Chullora, Croydon Park, Enfiled, Greenacre, Kingsgrove, Lakemba, Mount Lewis, Punchbowl, Rookwood, Roselands and Strathfield South.
UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY: DEAN WRIGHTSON
Mr Wrightson did not respond to the Canterbury Bankstown Express’s request for a candidate profile.
No photo or information about Mr Wrightson was provided to our newspaper.
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY: KARL SCHUBERT
Mr Schubert did not respond to the Canterbury Bankstown Express’s request for a candidate profile.
No photo or information about Mr Schubert was provided to our newspaper.
SCIENCE PARTY: RAYMOND ZENG
A bit about you: Born to immigrant parents and raised in Sydney, I’ve spent most of my life immersed in the Canterbury-Bankstown district. As an industrial designer, my focus is creating better experiences for people. This often means discovering how things work, and then finding ways to improve them.
Your political background: I’ve been fairly apolitical until recently — but watching the lack of forward thinking in federal policymaking harm local communities drove me to change things for the better. The Science Party — with their future-oriented policies and technologically literate people — was a perfect fit.
Top three priorities in your electorate:
1. Energy. Federal investment in reliable and clean energy sources is crucial to guaranteeing energy stability and affordability.
2. Transport: Local congestion and a lack of North-South connections mean frustrating commutes. Effective public transport solutions are critical for growing communities.
3. Hospital waiting times: Our hospitals are critically understaffed, and seeing a specialist can take months.
What is your favourite pastime and why? Making things — throughout university, I worked on two solar cars which raced across the Australian outback, as well as on Vivid Festival lighting displays. Beyond these projects, I’m always finding ways to fix things around the house.
What is your favourite sports team? I was quite a fan of the Canterbury Bulldogs back in the day! Back in primary school I received a signed poster and rugby ball from the team.
THE GREENS: EMMET DE DHALDRAITHE
A bit about you: Like many young people I work in the retail sector with minimum pay and eroding conditions, I’m also a proud member of my union RAFFWU.
Growing up and attending McCallums Hill Public I had a keen interest in the environment and issues of inequality. I’m a fulltime retail worker, activist, unionist, lifelong resident of Lakemba and your Greens candidate for Watson.
Your political background/experience: I graduated from the University of Sydney in 2015 with a Bachelors of Political, Economic and Social Sciences majoring in Government and International relations. I attended a lot of the meetings of the old Canterbury Council. I recently stood for the state seat of Lakemba.
Top three priorities/issues in your electorate:
1. Affordable housing: Housing affordability is at an all-time low with social housing accounting for less than 5 per cent of all housing stock. This is particularly severe in parts of Sydney with some suburbs in Watson having some of the highest levels of housing/rental stress in the country.
2. Education: Provide fee free undergraduate and TAFE for all students.
3. Energy: Move Australia to 100 per cent renewable electricity grid by 2030. Providing jobs of the future, tackling climate change and driving down energy prices.
What is your favourite pastime or passion and why?
I like exploring alternate histories and stories through the mediums of film, books and video games. It helps to challenge peoples perspectives and offer alternate ways of thinking about an issue.
What is your favourite sports team?
I’m a fan of Tottenham Hotspurs, but have the most support for the local sports clubs I grew up with like the Canterbury Lions soccer club or Beverly Hills Eagles cricket club.
LABOR: TONY BURKE
A bit about you: I grew up in a small business family and have lived locally all my life. I’m married to Skye and I’m a very proud dad.
Your political background/experience: I’ve been a strong voice against racism and bigotry. Whenever there has been an attempt to divide Australia I’ve worked for unity. Whenever there has been an attempt to push people to the margins, I’ve stood side-by-side with our community and we’ve walked together. My proudest work in politics has been when the community stood together in the Walk for Respect.
Top three priorities/issues in your electorate:
1. Bringing the Cooks River back to health.
2. Fix our local schools and hospitals.
3. Help people with cost of living. Wages have hardly moved in years and penalty rates have been cut. We also need to give people access to cheaper, cleaner renewable energy.
What is your favourite pastime or passion and why? I love music and still play the guitar and piano.
What is your favourite sports team? Bulldogs.
LIBERAL PARTY: MOHAMMAD ZAMAN
A bit about you: I am a small-business owner and importer/exporter. I operate a local Bangladeshi grocery store and raise my family here in Watson. I am a local councillor and a member of the Australia Bangladesh Business Council. I have a Bachelor of Commerce from the National University in Bangladesh. I have also previously worked as chef at the Opera Bar, Sydney Opera House.
Your political background/experience: I have been a member of the Liberal Party for five years and previously ran for Watson in 2016. I have a great deal of experience listening to and working with the community as a member of local government, serving as a councillor with Canterbury-Bankstown Council.
Top three priorities/issues in your electorate:
1. I’m looking to support local businesses through the Morrison Government tax relief plan which will assist more than 19,000 local businesses, their owners and families.
2. Health is also a top priority locally. The Morrison Government is delivering record funding for both Medicare and a new hospital agreement
3. I will work to ease congestion across Watson, including the area gets its fair share of the massive $4 billion Urban Congestion Fund.
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What is your favourite pastime or passion and why? I am a huge cricket fan and do what I can to support local cricket teams. I was born in Dhaka, the love for cricket is in my blood.
What is your favourite sports team? My favourite is Power Source Cricket Club, champions of the Origin Cricket Cup in 2016.
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