Liberal candidate for Parramatta Maria Kovacic will draw on her knowledge of western Sydney to contest the marginal seat.
After months of infighting and speculation, Ms Kovacic was finally announced as the Liberal Candidate for the seat of Parramatta on Saturday, April 2.
Using her experience as the daughter of migrants and a small business owner, Ms Kovacic is hoping to win over the hearts of locals.
“To be able to reflect the migrant journey as a first generation Australian, [gives me an] understanding of the challenges and how to navigate them,” she said.
“I think [living in western Sydney] gives me a different perspective and I think our community is seeking someone who understands their world and what they go through.”
The last time the Liberals held the seat was back in 2004 but Ms Kovacic believes she is up for the challenge.
“My focus is talking to as many constituents as I can and telling them my story about my advocacy for western Sydney for almost two decades,” she said.
“I have a lot to offer this community and that’s demonstrated in what I’ve done across a lot of community groups and as an advocate of small businesses as well.”
Ms Kovacic is the co-founder of Western Sydney Women and Western Sydney Executive Women, member of the Committee for Western Sydney, NRLW Advisory Committee member and a member of the steering committee for Parramatta Eels’ Women@Eels.
Living just outside the electorate in West Pennant Hills, Ms Kovacic said she is “absolutely” ready to move into Parramatta.
“I’m about two kilometres outside the Parramatta LGA, so quite on the border, but I think it’s about the message it sends,” she said.
For Ms Kovacic, improving the cost of living will be a key focus.
“In speaking to people absolutely the number one issue is cost of living,” she said.
“We can’t fix these issues that we have with the global supply chain, the impact of the energy prices from the Russian-Ukraine conflict, if we don’t actually have a strong economy and we saw that in the budget.”
The election will be held on May 21.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.