Alternative Media Group

Greens announce candidate for federal election

Author:

Shant Fabricatorian

Posted:

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Former Marrickville Mayor Sam Byrne has been preselected by The Greens to stand in Grayndler at this year’s federal election. The inner-west seat is currently held by Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government Anthony Albanese with a two-party preferred margin of nearly 50 per cent.

Mr Byrne, who served two one-year terms as Marrickville Mayor, in 2005 and 2006, said the party’s strong record in Council elections in the area was a promising sign. “The most recent elections we’ve had were Council elections, and we’ve had fantastic results in Ashfield, Leichhardt, and Marrickville,” he said. “There’s been Greens on local councils in the area since 1991, and that length of time allows us to build a record of support.”

Mr Byrne said two of the biggest issues for residents in the inner west revolved around Mr Albanese’s ministerial responsibility of transport – increased aircraft noise, and the extension to the M5 East. “When Labor was in opposition, he (Mr Albanese) claimed to be fighting for residents on behalf of aircraft noise,” Mr Byrne said. “[But he’s been minister for nearly three years now… and has allowed the privatised Sydney Airport to continue to operate in a way which causes significant suffering for residents of the inner west and Sydney generally – that would have to be of concern.”

At 32 square kilometres, Grayndler is Australia’s second-smallest electorate. It covers Leichhardt, Newtown, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Petersham, Haberfield and Ashfield. Traditionally a very safe seat for Labor, gentrification has led to shifting demographics in the area. The Greens’ candidate at the 2007 election was Saeed Khan, who also previously served on Marrickville Council. He polled third in the seat, with a primary vote of 18.7 per cent.

Greens candidate for Grayndler at the upcoming federal election, Sam Byrne

Like this article? Register as a subscriber here. It's free! We'll keep you up to date with new stories on the site.