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Diverse candidates changing the face of Parliament

Incoming Independent M-P Dai Le (SBS)(1)

Incoming Independent M-P Dai Le. Source: SBS

The federal parliament is set to look different, with diverse candidates winning seats in the election. It points to the importance of reflecting the communities they represent.


Incoming Independent M-P Dai Le [[dye lee]] has made an appearance on Vietnamese community TV to speak directly to the people who helped elect her to the southwestern Sydney seat of Fowler.

It's an electorate with a strong Vietnamese presence, and was once a safe Labour seat before Ms Le knocked Labor's candidate Kristina Keneally out of the race.

She's not the only Asian-Australian heading to Canberra for the first time.

She's joined by the new Labor M-P for the western Sydney seat of Reid, Sally Sitou, who has Chinese heritage.

And Sam Lim, a Malaysia-born former police officer and dolphin trainer, has clinched the Western Australia seat of Tangney for Labor.

Despite Asian Australians making up about 16 per cent of the country's population [[according to the 2016 census]], they lack representation in parliament.

But that is starting to change.

This election will be remembered for the record number of independent women candidates who successfully unseated Liberal and National opponents in conservative strongholds.

From Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan in Melbourne, to Allegra Spender, Sophie Skamps and Kylea Tink in Sydney.

Their election campaigns focused on climate action, political integrity and gender equality.

 

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