The Leader of the Opposition in the New South Wales Parliament, Ms Jodi McKay has said she aims to be the Premier of Australia’s most populated state one-day.
In an exclusive tete-e-tete with SBS Hindi’s Executive Producer Kumud Merani, Ms McKay opened up about the challenges of being the leader of the Labor Party in NSW after the recent turmoil, of leading the party with an aim to form the next government, her love for multiculturism and being asked often if she is ‘half-Indian’.
“My short-term aim is to be the Premier,” Ms McKay shared in a rapid-fire round.
But it has been quite a challenge to be the Leader of the Opposition and leading the Labor Party after Labor’s bruising state election defeat.
“Sometimes it is really difficult when you are in the opposition to make sure people understand who you are and what you care about. If you have policies, trying to get those policies heard and seen. I have been a leader now for four months and for me, it has been a very constant pace I have been keeping,” Ms McKay says about her new role.
“What is new for me is travelling the state. I haven’t done as much travelling as I am now doing but I am really enjoying it.”
McKay secured a majority of the votes in the caucus room and beat Chris Minns to become Labor Party’s leader in the NSW. Four months into this role, Ms McKay is acutely aware of the challenging task ahead.
“I feel an increasing amount of pressure to be able to take us to the government. I was fortunate to become a leader; we went through a ballot process. It was the first time in New South Wales, the Labor Party has had a ballot process. What that meant was my colleagues got a vote but also our 15,000 party members in New South Wales, and I got more than 60 per cent of the vote.
“So I have the support of our rank and file. And I am really pleased that I have that support behind me. But we have gone through some difficult time in last four months as well and they know that three and a half years we have to prove that we are a government in waiting and that means we have to build the trust in our party and I think that is something I feel very strongly, very acutely and I am intent on doing as well,” she tells SBS Hindi.
With more than 34 per cent of Sydney’s population born overseas, Ms McKay says multiculturism is Australia’s identity and she feels very passionately about the multicultural communities.
“When I became a leader, I took on the multicultural portfolio. So when the Premier or the leader of the opposition takes on a portfolio, they send a very strong message. I took on multiculturism because I believe deeply in it.
“Multiculturism is our identity. My strength is engaging and understanding and appreciating our multicultural community. And that means being an advocate for tolerance, compassion, inclusion, it means that I respect the rights of someone who wants to wear their clothes they want, want to eat the food they want, practise their religion, doesn’t matter how much money is in someone’s pocket and that everyone is the same and that is really important to me,” she says.
As an Australian politician, Ms McKay’s love for sarees is known in the community and she says she is often asked if she is ‘half-Indian’.
“I have got this real affinity for India. Most people think I am half-Indian and I am not. But I just love it. I love being there, I love wearing the saree.
“I really love these small cultural events and I try to attend as many as I can. I actually enjoy it,” she says revealing she has more than 70 sarees in her closet.
On the home-front, it is her supportive husband that keeps the wheels moving.
“I have an amazing husband. He does all the cooking, he looks after everything. I think it will be a little bit tough to keep the pace I keep if he wasn’t there to support me. He is so giving and he is such a good cook,” she says.
Rapid-fire with Jodi McKay:
What is your aim in life?
“My short-term aim is to be a Premier.”
What is your favourite quote?
“My favourite quote is Boldness, forever boldness.”
Who is your ideal male political leader?
“I had a soft spot for Neville Wran. I am trying to emulate what he did for the community, by going out.”
Who is your ideal female politician?
“I really like Jacinda Arden. She is doing a great job in New Zealand.”
How many sarees do you have?
“More than 70.”
What is your favourite type of saree?
“I really like the Pochampally saree from Kerala. They are so divine.”
What is your favourite food?
"My favourite food is Vietnamese. It is so fresh and my husband cooks it really well. But he also cooks Indian curry very well."
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