How local is local? Inside the fight for Parramatta
A failed state candidate vs the Bellevue Hill blow-in turned Western Sydney convert: Inside the fight to represent Sydney’s geographical centre.
NSW
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A battle over “how local is local” is underway in the geographic heart of Sydney.
In the seat of Parramatta, held by Labor’s Andrew Charlton on a margin of just 3.7 per cent, Liberal party campaign posters declare their candidate, Katie Mullens, is a “true local”.
That is a not-so-subtle dig at Charlton’s status last election as a Bellevue Hill blow-in, parachuted as a star candidate into a safe Labor seat.
Three years ago, Charlton snapped up a red-brick in North Parramatta in a bid to convince voters he was a Western Sydney convert — using the four-bedder as his campaign headquarters.
Now the campaign posters in the window are gone – and the election could not be further from renter Patricia’s mind.
“I’ll probably wait until I get there (to decide who to vote for),” she says.
Patricia moved to North Parramatta from Concord with her daughter and grandson a few months ago.
She hasn’t had “any problems” with Charlton as her landlord – but she hasn’t heard from him on the hustings.
She hasn’t heard from Liberal candidate Katie Mullens either.
Mullens was not having much luck on the hustings when we joined her doorknocking in Ermington; no-one appears to be home, and Mullens has worn through the soles of one of her shoes.
Mullens, who ran for the state seat in 2023, is pitching herself as someone who knows the cost of living pain Parramatta voters are under: “I’m facing them too as a regular Parramatta local,” she says.
“I’ve been working in the local community as a local lawyer for the last 16 and a half years,” she says.
“I’m an average local here, and I think that that’s exactly the kind of representation we need,” she says.
Labor is clearly still sensitive about parachuting Charlton into this seat. Campaign bosses refused to let us speak to the MP for this piece.
In written responses, Charlton said he is proud to represent Parramatta because “it reflects the very best of Australia: our diversity, our hard work, and our optimism for the future”.
He says he has met thousands of people in the community, and they “define” Parramatta: “a strong work ethic, aspiration, ambition, fairness and a shared determination to build a better future”.
In the geographic heart of Sydney, Parramatta is increasingly home to professional, well-educated, and younger voters.
At the 2021 census, the median age of a Parramatta resident was 32 (compared with 38 nationally), and almost 55 per cent of residents have a bachelor’s degree (compared to 26.3 per cent nationally.
Labor holds Parramatta with margin of just 3.7 per cent, making it one of Sydney’s battleground seats.
It was also the location for the first debate of the campaign, the Sky News / The Daily Telegraph People’s Forum.
Like anywhere else, skyrocketing costs of living are hurting local businesses here.
Elie Alwan, manager of restaurant chain Al Aseel’s Parramatta branch, says people are still coming through the door – but spending less.
“Instead of coming spending like $400 or $500, they reduce it in maybe $300,” he says.
The Liberal candidate says the Coalition’s promised cut to fuel excise will give immediate help.
It has at least won over retiree John, who says he will benefit “very much” from cheaper fuel.
But Mullens bristles when asked how she feels, as a Liberal, to be promising higher income taxes – by repealing the government’s $5 per week tax cut due to take effect next year.
“We do believe in lower taxes, and we’re looking at giving people tax breaks in areas where it really counts, like with our petrol announcement,” she says.
Is Labor’s “top-up tax” cut even enough for a cup of coffee in what has become Sydney’s second CBD?
Charlton says yes – at least in some suburbs of the electorate.
“This morning I bought three coffees for $14 from Impressive Cafe in Pendle Hill (and) yesterday I bought 2 coffees from Profiterole in Mays Hill for $9,” he says.
Labor sources say that Charlton has done a lot of work to make his presence felt, locally, since winning three years ago.
In Parramatta’s city centre, Joe – who identifies himself as a swing voter – agrees.
He is backing Charlton.
“The local member here has actually knocked on our door; who the others are I have no idea.
“I know (Charlton) because of his personal presence,” Joe says.
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Originally published as How local is local? Inside the fight for Parramatta
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