Have your say on Cabramatta electorate

Published on 15 July 2020

Mayor Frank Carbone standing in front of a sign saying FAIRFIELD at Fairfield City Museum and Gallery

Submissions have been received by the NSW Electoral Commission, which is required to conduct a redistribution of electoral seats across NSW. Major parties have made recommendations on the State electoral boundaries for our City, in particular to the electoral seat of Cabramatta.

As the Mayor or Fairfield City, it is important that I inform you of the changes proposed in these submissions.  I have written to the NSW Electoral Commission to voice my personal opposition to suggested changes including proposed name and boundary changes of electoral seats in our area. I have also asked councillors to consider submitting their own comments to the suggested changes.

Labor is proposing to change the name of Cabramatta to Villawood, and adjust the boundaries to amalgamate suburbs of Cabramatta with Bankstown suburbs, and remove suburbs including Mt Pritchard, Edensor Park and Bonnyrigg. 

The Liberal Party has proposed to change boundaries to include areas of Bankstown in the Cabramatta seat, and exclude areas like Mount Pritchard, Edensor Park, Bonnyrigg Heights and Wakeley.

Cabramatta has a strong and continuing community identity and has a long history of 40 years as an electorate. It is even the home town of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, and is a major commercial centre. It has represented the community well, and there is a close affinity within the community and geographical surrounds. It’s a name worth fighting for.

In my personal response to the NSW Electoral Commission I have argued that the name of Cabramatta be retained and the electorate be contained within Fairfield local government boundaries, rather than Bankstown.

This will mean better representation for our community, and a better understanding of the challenges and issues faced by the community.

You can read the submissions of suggested changes to the electorates on the NSW Electoral Commission website www.elections.nsw.gov.au/redistribution.

I urge residents to have your say. Comments close at close of business on Wednesday, 15 July.

I will keep you updated.

Pailau Gate in Cabramatta

 

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