Macarthur candidates in order of ballot positions
1. Jayden Rivera – The Greens
2. Binod Pauder – Liberal
3. Mike Freelander – incumbent, Labor
4. Rosa Sicari – United Australia Party
5. Scott Korman – Liberal Democratic Party
6. Adam Zahra – Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
When voters go to the polls on Saturday, May 21, they will be deciding who will be their representative in Macarthur. Here is a snapshot of the candidates who responded to requests from this newspaper.
The Greens Macarthur candidate Jayden Rivera has lived within the electorate for the majority of his life.
“I have also been working in the community for over 12 of those years in various hospitality jobs as well as being active in the local sporting community.”
Mr Rivera is no stranger to politics having had a go at the 2019 federal election.
“I am running again this upcoming election because I am passionate about seeing necessary change in our community including pushing for free dental and mental healthcare being covered under Medicare for all.
“Free public transport, increasing minimum wage and support payments to align with the cost of living increases and tackling climate change and protecting our local wildlife. “The Greens have a plan by ensuring everyone pays their fair share,” he said.
Incumbent federal Labor MP, Dr Mike Freelander is recontesting the seat for a third time. He was first elected in 2016.
Dr Freelander, a paediatrician, moved to the Macarthur area in 1983 has been in Campbelltown for nearly four decades and has been committed to giving kids the best start in life. In his many years as a paediatrician in the Macarthur region, Dr Freelander has seen more than 200,000 patients; and his interest to enter politics stemmed from his patients and their families.
He said they were trying to navigating access to healthcare, access to work, access to housing and access to education.
He would like to see – a child development unit in Macarthur and better healthcare, child care and aged care services. He is also pushing for better infrastructure such as a heavy rail link from Macarthur to the new Western Sydney Airport and upgrades to Appin Road.
Dr Freelander has also been working to develop policies and combat attacks on Medicare, the NDIS and aged care residents.
He is also focused in protecting the local environment by preserving the koala population and “calling out the poor development policies of governments and developers”. He has been successful in securing upgrades for Wedderburn Bridge and the newly built Passfield Park School.
Adam Zahra, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate has a vested interest in ensuring Macarthur can provide his three daughters children the same, if not greater opportunities for their future.
He wants to ensure Macarthur gets its fair share of federal support. “For too long Macarthur has been underfunded,” he said.
“We are part of an enormous growth belt in in south western Sydney. With an international airport under construction, we do not have the infrastructure to meet the growing demand.”
He said Macarthur, which has around 174,000 people, is set to double by 2040.
“The greater Macarthur area needs a second public hospital.”
He said the area also needs a children’s hospital.
“It is unreasonable for the greater Macarthur community to continue to travel 45-60 minutes to get specialist emergency care for our kids.”
He believes there is a lot of work to be done to get Macarthur out of the blue and into the black – with new energy, orange energy.