It’s the final countdown for Labor candidate Donna Davis and Liberal candidate Katie Mullens, as the two women vie for the seat of Parramatta at this Saturday’s State Election.
With the retirement of Liberal MP Geoff Lee, who has held the seat since 2011, Parramatta will see a new State Member come Sunday – and both candidates believe they’re up for the job.
Doubling as Lord Mayor for Parramatta Council, Davis believes the election will be close but that her local experience will work in her favour.
“At this critical moment for Parramatta, I have the local experience to take advantage of the opportunities before us and deliver the essential infrastructure and services our growing community deserves,” she said.
“Everywhere I go, I hear that after 12 years in office, Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals’ best days are behind them.”
Self described as the “underdog” of the race, local lawyer Mullens is confident the NSW Liberal Party has the best plan for the future of Parramatta.
“I’m not a lifelong politician, I’m not a full time Mayor, I’m a local professional who is passionate about Parramatta and the people I want to represent,” she said.
“When voters go to the poll, they are voting for a strong representative for Parramatta and for a strong Government for NSW.”
Both parties have been fighting hard to win the seat, as seen by the multiple announcements and visits NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns have made to Parramatta during the election campaign.
For Mullens, it’s the promise to deliver Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail, preserving the Roxy Theatre and the $56 million upgrade to Parramatta Park that she’s most excited about.
Stage 2 of the Light Rail is also a priority for Davis, alongside the long awaited Peninsula Park in Wentworth Point, more schools and safer staffing levels for hospitals.
Although the last election saw Parramatta remain a strong Liberal seat, despite a slight swing to Labor, there are plenty of factors that could come into play in determining Saturday’s result.
Top of the list is the reshuffling of the Parramatta electorate boundary, with strong Liberal-voting suburbs such as Oatlands, parts of Carlingford and North Rocks now falling in Epping.
A number of suburbs from Labor stronghold Auburn have also been transferred to Parramatta, including Silverwater, Sydney Olympic Park and Wentworth Point.
Other Parramatta candidates set to heat up the contest include Greens Candidate Ben Hammond, a political and social activist who is passionate about addressing the environmental crisis and eliminating the barriers people with disabilities face.
One Nation’s Candidate Mritunjay Singh, who is enrolled as being from Carlton, is focused on building a better future for Parramatta.
The final candidate is Sustainable Australia Party’s David Moll, who has lived in North Parramatta for over 20 years and wants to leave the future generations with a more sustainable lifestyle.
There are no Independent candidates running for Parramatta.
Currently, the TAB has Labor as $1.28 favourites to win the vital western Sydney seat as the Coalition’s 12-year reign in New South Wales teeters on the edge.
Voting centres will open from 8am to 6pm this Saturday. A list of local places to vote can be found on the NSW Electoral Commission website at http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au.
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.