Labor’s Charlton defends Parra parachute

Labor’s Parramatta candidate has defended being parachuted into the western Sydney seat amid criticism he doesn’t represent the diverse electorate. 

Multimillion businessman Andrew Charlton hails from Sydney’s east, and only recently moved from his $16 million mansion to Parramatta.

Mr Charlton, an economist and former economic advisor to Kevin Rudd when he was prime minister, is using his success to court the traditionally working-class, ethnically diverse residents of Sydney’s west.

“Lots of these communities have an aspiration for hard work, to support their families, to build a better life for their kids and in many cases to build a business,” Mr Charlton told reporters at a Hindu Council of Australia dinner on Friday night. 

“That’s what I’ve spent my whole life doing.

“I understand what it takes to build a business and create jobs. And so those aspirations that many people in this community have fit well with my experience.”

He says the main issues being raised in Parramatta centre around struggling to make ends meet with the increasing cost of living.

Mr Charlton is up against the Liberals’ Maria Kovacic in the marginal seat, held by Labor on a slim 3.5 per cent margin. 

With the incumbent MP Julie Owens retiring, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made frequent visits – including five since the election was called – as the Liberals fiercely target the seat. 

Mr Charlton’s campaign suffered a setback in the middle of the week, after he was slammed in the tabloids for not being able to name three local restaurants. 

But the businessman accepted there would be ebbs and flows in his election bid. 

“I’ve knocked on hundreds and hundreds of doors, I’ve been in every single train station, meeting as many people as I possibly can,” he said.

“I can tell you what those concerns are, the cost of living. They’re talking about how hard it is to make the family budget work, they’re talking about small businesses.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese echoed Mr Carlton’s aspiration pitch when addressing the Council, as he lauded the Hindu community’s hard work.

“You’re a growing community that’s respected for your diligence, for your hard work, for your commitment to Australian values,” he said.

“We need to continue to provide opportunity. To make sure we go forward (and) as we go forward, we remain a country of aspiration and a land of opportunity.”