Married At First Sight star Troy Delmege to run for North Sydney seat at federal election
Married At First Sight’s Troy Delmege says he is not moving into politics “for fame” after the federal member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman attacked the reality TV star for announcing his plan to run for the seat at the next election.
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One of reality television's most memorable contestants is running for parliament in the upcoming federal election.
Married At First Sight's Troy Delmege, who many may remember for his unconventional teeth brushing methods and maniacal laugh, has announced plans to run for the seat of North Sydney as an independent.
Today, current federal member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman said Delmege’s announcement was just a cheap ploy at extending his 15 minutes of fame.
“I have never taken my community for granted and am working hard for local residents,” he said.
“I look forward to the contest of the federal election.
“Federal parliament is dealing with serious issues and needs serious people to represent them in parliament — not just candidates who are looking to extend their reality TV exposure in a new forum.”
Delmege starred in last year's season of Married At First Sight, married initially to Ashley Irvin but eventually ending up with another wife, Carly Bowyers.
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Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, Delmege said he is proud that he does not have any experience as it makes him different to political “party hacks”.
“I will be a pragmatic problem solver who will actually change the status quo in North Sydney.
“I was a member of the Liberal party at one point, but it was out of convenience, living in a blue ribbon area where the Liberal party is the only game in town.
“I don’t have much in common with today’s politicians, who are mostly party hacks and don’t get there on merit.
“I am proud to be an outsider.”
Delmege rejected Zimmerman’s comments, saying it was easier to deflect his contention for the seat rather that fix any of the problems.
“Any MP, when challenged by an outsider can claim that they are only in it for fame,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s an easy deflection when the real issue is about quality of life declining across the electorate and the MP actually has no answers and hasn’t done anything to help.”
He was unemployed during his time on the show.
Today the 36-year announced his intentions and asked for donations from the public.
His policies including ending congestion by putting a moratorium on all new high-rises in North Sydney; renewable energy; improving democracy by abolishing the senate; fighting bureaucracy and personal freedom, in the form of online gambling.
On his website, Delmege has included a page listing his background, written in third person.
It included his tennis history, completing his Masters in Business Administration, where his parents volunteer and their two dogs — a pug cross cavalier spaniel called Bessie, and a Maltese cross silky called Molly.
He also noted his “number of professional roles for some of Australia's leading companies” but did not divulge the roles or companies.
In a nod to his past on reality TV, Delmege wrote “Troy has never been married (except on reality TV)” with a winking face.
His behaviour on Married At First Sight was so bizarre that many thought Delmege had to be a paid actor.
After his stint on the reality show he made many attempts to stay in the limelight, including publicly groping Bowyers in a park while paparazzi took photographs.
It is unknown if Delmege has had a job since the show finished airing last year, however it was reported his unemployment was part of the reason Bowyers ended their relationship.
Originally published as Married At First Sight star Troy Delmege to run for North Sydney seat at federal election