NSW Election 2019: Canterbury Labor MP Cotsis faces three rivals

Canterbury has four candidates in the running with Labor’s Sophie Cotsis defending her seat against the Liberals, The Greens and the Christian Democratic Party.

Canterbury state Labor MP Sophie Cotsis during her campaigning.

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CANTERBURY has four candidates in the running with Labor’s Sophie Cotsis defending her seat against rivals from Liberals, The Greens and the Christian Democratic Party.

Ms Cotsis won the seat in the 2016 by-election with 65.5 per cent of primary vote, with Branka Kouroushis of the Christian Democratic Party second, with 19.6 per cent.

The 2015 election was won by Labor’s Linda Burney with 50.2 per cent of the primary vote.

We asked all candidates to send information about themselves and their policies. Here are the interesting comments from those who responded.

Matt Harrison, the Liberal Party candidate for Canterbury, NSW

NAME: Matt Harrison

PARTY: Liberal Party

A BIT ABOUT YOU: I was born and raised local in the Canterbury community. Currently am studying arts/law at the University of Notre Dame, I understand the importance of a good education and getting the best start in life, which is why I am proud to be part of a Liberal team who has committed $6.5 billion towards 190 new and upgraded schools over the next four years.

I enjoy playing sport and I am also a qualified football referee. More than anything, I understand the importance of putting others first and wants to serve his local community in parliament.

YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE: I have had an interest in politics from an early age. Formally joining the Liberal Party in 2017, I believe in individual freedom, small government and the importance of the family unit in our community.

Further, I am firmly of the view that only a Liberal Government can deliver sensible economic management so local communities like Canterbury can access first class healthcare, education, transport and frontline services that we deserve. For too long Labor have neglected the Canterbury community, it’s time for a Liberal representative to get things done for Canterbury.

TOP THREE PRIORITIES/ISSUES IN YOUR ELECTORATE: Cost of living — the NSW Liberals are taking the pressure off you, with the $100 Creative Kids Rebate, $200 Active Kids rebate, free car registration for regular toll road users and a new annual $200 energy rebate for self retirees

A better start in life for our kids — the NSW Liberals will provide before and after school care for every student public primary school by 2021. We’re hiring an additional 4,600 teachers, we’re upgrading local schools, we’ve cleared the entire school maintenance backlog in every public school and we’re delivering airconditioning for classrooms.

Delivering better roads and rail — NSW Liberals are delivering major road connections like the M5 and the Sydney Metro Southwest so you can get to work faster and get home to your family sooner.

Canterbury includes Campsie, Clemton Park, Earlwood, Hurlstone Park, Undercliffe, parts of Ashbury, Belfield, Belmore, BeverlyHills, Kingsgrove and Roselands.

Linda Eisler, the Greens candidate for Canterbury.

ELECTORATE: Canterbury

NAME: Linda Eisler

PARTY: The Greens

A BIT ABOUT YOU/YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE: I have been a councillor on Canterbury Council and then Canterbury Bankstown Council since 2008. During my time on council, I have worked hard to improve communication between council and residents in a meaningful way and promote transparency. Prior to being a councillor I was a primary school teacher for over 20 years. I have recently become a grandmother and am being reminded of all the demands put on families when raising children.

I’ve been council’s representative to the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils where I sponsored a major project to promote solar panels. As chairman of the GreenWay for many years, I spoke to media, highlighting the value of light rail and the bicycle route from Cooks River to Iron Cove.

All who reside in Australia have a right to be adequately housed and have access to education and medical support. They also have a right to sufficient and appropriate employment.

Canterbury needs more green space, public schools, public transport, and a modern hospital with an increased number of beds to cope with its growing population. Overdevelopment in Canterbury needs to end and development needs to be of a much higher standard and provide a better quality of lifestyle.

The Sydenham-Bankstown Metro project is unwanted. We need new rail lines. This proposal will be disruptive for five years. It’s potentially unsafe and could lead to a loss of 17 stations with only 30 per cent seating. We must end the privatisation of transport and overdevelopment.

I am well known for my extensive work in disability, the environment (having set up the first Environment and Sustainability Committee in Canterbury), ending overdevelopment and corruption, as a community liaison, and supporting community projects such as community gardens. I am always honest and willing to represent all residents’ issues.

I’ve been a voice of Canterbury in local government. Now I would now like to represent you at the state level.

TOP THREE PRIORITIES/ISSUES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:

Public services for public good

Proper funding for public transport; hospitals; schools and TAFE

Climate action now: 100 per cent renewable energy in NSW — possible, affordable, essential

A city for all: sustainable, people-oriented with community spaces and affordable housing for all.

NAME: Sophie Cotsis

PARTY: LABOR

A BIT ABOUT YOU/YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE: I was born at Canterbury Hospital and attended Canterbury South Public, Kingsgrove Public and Kingsgrove High Schools. I graduated from Macquarie University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts and the University of Technology, Sydney in 2001 with a Master of Legal Studies. I have a range of employment experience in both the public and private sectors, including working at Sydney Airport while a student at university and for large infrastructure companies. I have been an active part of the many diverse multicultural communities that are found throughout NSW for many years and have a proud history of being involved in many community campaigns and causes. I first entered NSW parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council in September 2010, and have been a member of the Shadow Cabinet since 2011. I have played key roles in the establishment of the Inquiry into Affordable, Social and Public Housing and the Inquiry into Elder Abuse.

TOP THREE PRIORITIES/ISSUES IN YOUR ELECTORATE: I am most passionate about engaging government to invest more money into health services at Canterbury Hospital. For too long the Liberal Government has denied investment and funding to upgrade our hospital. NSW Labor has committed $9 million to an upgrade of the Emergency Department and for more nurses to be employed, but there will be more work that will need to be done. We have an opportunity to develop world-class health facilities in a health precinct surrounding Canterbury Hospital to deliver better patient care and health services.

I am concerned about the number of classrooms at schools that still do not have airconditioning. This means that in summer when temperatures have reached over 40 degrees, students and children have been forced to learn in classrooms without airconditioning. My priority will be to make sure that our local classrooms are airconditioned for the benefit of our children.

I will work with local communities and councils to give planning powers back to our community. NSW Labor has a plan to protect and enhance our local natural environment which includes planting an extra 6 million trees across Sydney, installing solar panels on 500,000 homes, providing free TAFE courses in areas with skills shortages, and increasing health screening services by investing more money into women’s health centres.

LIST OF CANDIDATES IN BALLOT PAPER ORDER: Matt Harrison (Liberal); Linda Eisler (The Greens); Fatima Figueira (Christian Democratic Party-Fred Nile Group); Sophie Cotsis (sitting member, Labor)

WHERE TO VOTE: bit.ly/2Clgfln