Labor leader Anthony Albanese has defended a decision to parachute high profile candidate Andrew Charlton to run for the multicultural seat of Parramatta.
Dr Charlton is managing director of technology company Accenture and a former adviser to Kevin Rudd; he currently lives in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Mr Albanese on Friday made his first major public appearance alongside Dr Charlton since his preselection for Parramatta was confirmed.
It came despite backlash that Labor’s decision to choose the candidate had come at the expense of a local candidate in the area.
Mr Albanese said Dr Charlton had been offered “unanimous” and “unopposed” support to run in the seat.
“Andrew will bring extraordinary capacity to represent this amazing, vibrant community,” Mr Albanese said.
“There were a range of options and people who put themselves forward and that is a good thing that people have been prepared to consider being a candidate for the Labor party.”
Labor candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton speaks to the media alongside Labor Leader Anthony Albanese (right) during a press conference. Source: AAP / FLAVIO BRANCALEONE/AAPIMAGE
Dr Charlton had the personal backing of Mr Albanese to take over from Parramatta’s retiring MP Julie Owens.
He is considered by Labor to be a strong candidate given his political experience and acumen as a business leader and economist.
The newly installed candidate told reporters he was “honoured” to have been selected.
“My focus now is on meeting and talking to people right across Parramatta,” Dr Charlton said.
“I’ve spent the last 20 years as an economist and business owner, building stronger economies and stronger communities and that is exactly what I want to do as the member for Parramatta.”
The seat of Parramatta is held by Labor on a 3.5 per cent margin.
At least a third of the electorate is considered to have Indian, Chinese or Lebanese ancestry, according to the Census.
Labor also recently came under fire for its decision to name frontbencher Kristina Keneally as its candidate for the Western Sydney seat of Fowler in the lower house, despite the senator living near Sydney’s northern beaches.
Retiring MP Chris Hayes had backed Vietnamese-Australian lawyer Tu Le to replace him in the safe seat of Fowler, which encompasses suburbs with large multicultural populations.
Labor Senator Kristina Keneally along with President of the Vientnamese Community in Australia Paul Nguyen speak to the media during a press conference. Source: AAP / DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE
“We have a diverse range of candidates indeed, in the four seats that were chosen this week with nominations to conclude all of our processes,” he said.
“You need a range of experiences to drive through the change so that you are in touch with all of the views.”
Dr Charlton served as a senior economic adviser to Mr Rudd during the global financial crisis and also acted as a representativeive at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
