Sutherland Shire councillor, Diedree Steinwall has been chosen as the Labor Party candidate for the seat of Hughes at the upcoming federal election.
Ms Steinwall is making her second attempt to win the seat, which Liberal Craig Kelly retained at the 2016 election with a margin of 9.3 per cent.
Mr Kelly is facing a challenge for Liberal Party preselection from shire councillor and former mayor Kent Johns.
Ms Steinwall, a second term councillor and shire high school teacher, has lived in the Hughes electorate for more than 30 years.
She and her husband Ken have two children.
Ms Steinwall said, “as a local resident, I am committed to working hard to meet the needs of the Hughes electorate which has been neglected and taken for granted by the Liberal Party for far too long.”
Ms Steinwall said she would focus on addressing inequality within the electorate.
“I will work as part of a Labor team to restore cuts to penalty rates, improve housing affordability and reverse the cuts to the ABC,” she said.
“If elected, I will continue to fight on behalf of residents in our community as I have done as a local councillor.”
Ms Steinwall highlighted a range of state and council issues in which she has been involved.
She said she had been a “fierce advocate against overdevelopment”, including the Kirrawee brick pit and proposed Heathcote Hall developments, “which is eroding the unique character of the area.”
Ms Steinwall said she had fought for increased funding for local libraries and recently worked with residents to keep the Engadine Leisure Centre pool open during winter.
She continued to strongly advocate for infrastructure spending to improve the bridges over Sutherland train station and on Heathcote Road.
“My focus is on highlighting Labor policies that address fairness and equality,” she said.
“We need a strong TAFE system to maintain our high quality tradespeople in the shire.
“It is unacceptable that student enrolments in government funded training at TAFE have plummeted by 24.5 per cent since the Liberals came to office.
“We also live in the most beautiful part of Sydney so a clean and sustainable environment is important as well as a world-class education and health system for all.”
