Contentious Parramatta candidate Andrew Charlton holds campaign event in CBD

Labor’s candidate for Parramatta has been accused of being “out of touch” with Western Sydney after opting to host a glitzy $200-a-head campaign event in the Sydney CBD.

Labor’s contentious candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton has been criticised for holding a “drinks and canapes” fundraiser in the Sydney CBD and not in the electorate he is seeking to win.

Mr Charlton spruiked a $200-a-head fundraising evening with former NSW premier and one-time foreign minister Bob Carr on his LinkedIn page yesterday.

Labor’s opponents said hosting a fundraising function 25km away from the centre of Parramatta was the latest example of Mr Charlton not adequately representing the electorate.

“I would have thought that if you live in Bellevue Hill and you’re running for a Western Sydney seat you may actually have your campaign functions in Western Sydney,” NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said.

Mr Elliott ruled himself out of running for the Liberal party in Parramatta but has pledged to be active in the party’s campaign to win the electorate from Labor.

Parramatta federal Labor candidate Andrew Charlton on the hustings at Pendle Hill train station.

“If Mr Charlton gets the time to ever visit Parramatta I’d be happy to show him a few of our first-class hospitality venues where I’m sure he’d be able to hold events at,” Mr Elliott, the state member for Baulkham Hills, said.

But Labor members, who were previously critical of Mr Charlton being parachuted into Parramatta from his $16m Bellevue Hill home, have rallied behind their candidate now he has been officially endorsed.

Labor sources said it was not unusual to host fundraisers in Sydney’s CBD to court money from business figures.

Mr Charlton was spruiking a fundraising function in the CBD on social media.

Cumberland councillor Diane Colman, a member of Labor’s federal electorate council (FEC) for Parramatta, said branch members had united in support of Mr Charlton.

“Of course we are helping out, our country can’t stand another three years of this government,” she said.

But attendees of a Parramatta FEC meeting earlier this month said there was a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Mr Charlton should not ask branch members to dip into their own pockets to run his campaign considering his wealthy background.

Mr Charlton told party members he had bought a house in Parramatta, after pledging to move to the electorate before the election.

Critics say the former Rudd advisor was parachuted into the electorate, and is “out of touch” with the community. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian

Labor figures yesterday expressed fears independent candidate Steve Christou, the former mayor of Cumberland, could steal votes away from Mr Charlton, putting Labor’s 3.5 per cent margin at risk. Mr Christou said he nominated as a candidate for the seat over his anger at Labor failing to select a local candidate.

He said Mr Charlton’s decision to host a fundraiser in the Sydney CBD “shows how out of touch” Labor was with Western Sydney.

“Parramatta would have been the obvious place to hold this fundraiser,” he said.

“In my opinion it proves that they’re not focused on Western Sydney residents and the issues they’re facing.”

The Liberals are hoping their businesswoman candidate Maria Kovacic will be able to take Parramatta from Labor to offset expected losses elsewhere.

Labor declined to comment when asked whether Mr Charlton would host fundraising events in Parramatta.

Originally published as Contentious Parramatta candidate Andrew Charlton holds campaign event in CBD