MP David Elliott dismisses running for Parramatta in the federal election
Liberal insiders are adamant seasoned state pollie David Elliott will make the switch to federal politics and dethrone Labor from Parramatta for the first time in almost 20 years. Here’s what he had to say.
NSW
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Despite being the favourite to win endorsement and run as Parramatta’s federal candidate, Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott has ruled out an interest in representing the marginal seat, which outgoing MP Julie Owens has retained since 2004.
“I put a lot of thought into it and it was not right for me,’’ he said.
“It was not right for my family,’’ adding his wife Nicole has had a long battle with breast cancer after her diagnosis 10 years ago.
Asked if he would contest the state election next year, he said his seat was being abolished and refused to comment.
“It’s a year away so I’m not going to speculate,’’ he said.
Discussions about Mr Elliott becoming a federal politician re-emerged after a Liberal Party decision on Sunday to dump preselection, which would have allowed party members to vote for a candidate.
Instead, a committee — comprising Mr Morrison, Premier Dominic Perrottet and Christine McDiven — will endorse hopefuls for the seat, as well as the electorates of Eden-Monaro, Fowler, Grayndler, Greenway, Hughes, McMahon, Newcastle and Warringah.
Parramatta members were due to gather at the Parkroyal Hotel on Monday night for the ballot, which was touted to see structural engineer Charles Camenzuli gain enough votes to pip Western Sydney Women co-founder Maria Kovacic and former Hornsby councillor Felicity Findlay.
On Saturday, one of Mr Camenzuli’s allies, NSW Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, was dumped from the party.
His cousin, Matthew Camenzuli, is suing multiple members of the Liberal Party — including Mr Morrison — claiming he participated in an undemocratic process that robbed branch members the chance to endorse candidates in three of Australia’s safest seats.
An announcement about the Liberal candidate is likely to be on Wednesday and if Mr Elliott is not endorsed (as of Monday afternoon he said he had not been approached), Ms Kovacic could be the pick.
Western Sydney Women co-founder Amanda Rose said unlike Mr Camenzuli, she was a fresh face who could connect well to all the community.
“We want someone who understands the community but also relates to government,’’ she said.
“She ticks all the boxes.’’
Mr Camenzuli declined to comment.
Pockets of Mr Elliott’s state electorate, which is primarily in The Hills, covers suburbs in the Parramatta council patch, such as Carlingford and North Rocks.
For constituents perturbed by Labor’s plan to parachute eastern suburbs millionaire Andrew Charlton as its candidate, Mr Elliott’s proximity to the seat would be viewed favourably.
Former Parramatta Lord Mayor and state executive member Steven Issa said Mr Elliott could go all the way and notch up enough votes to win office.
“He’s a former minister for police and veterans, he’s got runs on the board,’’ Mr Issa said.
“His name’s recognised against somebody who’s been parachuted in from the eastern suburbs without any recognition in Parramatta.’’
Mr Issa said he would be a strong, experienced advocate in Canberra.
Unlike MP Julie Owens, who will retire after 18 years following the federal poll, Mr Issa said a Liberal contender would deliver more projects for Parramatta.
“A lot of people love Julie Owens because she put a sari on and went to cultural events but I struggle to see any physical contribution in the last 10 years,’’ Mr Issa said.
“But with any Liberal, we would see a lot more. It would be less about virtue signalling, more about getting things done.’’
Parramatta is a pivotal seat and is held by Labor with a slim margin of 3.5 per cent. The Liberals have only held it once when Ross Cameron was the MP from 1996 to 2004.
Ms Owens laughed off criticism over not delivering enough infrastructure in her 18 years, saying it was “the worst of partisan politics” and added “we don’t need this rubbish”.
After last week’s uproar about parachuting in Mr Charlton, she praised him as an “interesting’’ person and said it was time to put criticism aside.
“I’ve been here for 18 years and I think it’s time for someone new,’’ she said.
“From the conversation I’ve had with him, he sees extraordinary potential in Parramatta.
“Parramatta’s extraordinarily complex and takes a long time to know it.’’
She added that she lived in Neutral Bay, Rockhampton and Brisbane before winning the seat of Parramatta and moving there just over a year before gaining office.
Solicitor and local Durga Owen, who has Tamil heritage, was vying for the candidacy and argued she would be better for the job because she better represented the diverse electorate.
“There’s quite naturally a lot of pain,’’ Ms Owens said.
“She’s an extraordinary person and she will have her turn.’’
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Originally published as MP David Elliott dismisses running for Parramatta in the federal election
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