Current MP: Michael Sukkar, 5/602 Whitehorse Road, Mitcham 3132, 9874 1711. [email protected]
Major Communities/Cities/Towns within Electorate: Bayswater North (part), Blackburn, Blackburn North, Croydon (part), Croydon South (part), Forest Hill (part), Heathmont, Mitcham, Nunawading, Ringwood, Ringwood East, Ringwood North (part), Vermont and Vermont South.
Key 2016 Election Information: +2.5% swing. 50% Liberal, 31% Labor, 11.7% Green on first party preference voting.
Strongest Support* for Liberal (two party preferred): Kalinda (Deakin) (where LP obtained 59.93% of votes), Weeden Heights (LP 59.67%) and Charlesworth Park (LP 59.48%).
Strongest Support* for Labor (two party preferred): Nunawading South (ALP 50.84% of votes), Blackburn West (ALP 50.77%) and Mitcham North (Deakin) (ALP 49.72%)
*Note: 'Strongest support' determined using the following criteria: highest % of two-candidate-preferred votes, excluding pre-polling places and polling booths where the number of votes for the winning candidate was less than 1000 or over 5000. This is one example of how you might identify strategic locations in your electorate - for all 2016 election data, please see the AEC Tally Room website.
Background: Michael studied Arts Law before completing his Masters of Laws. He then worked as a lawyer with Ashurst Australia and as a Senior Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers before entering politics.
Key Policy Background: Michael has been on several standing and joint standing committees. Those most relevant include social policy and legal affairs, human rights and intelligence and security.
Record on Issues Related to Refugees: Michael has recently been at the centre of controversy for the comments he made regarding the links between Islam and terrorism and a perceived need for Islam to reform. He has also written op-ed articles on the issue of people seeking asylum, defending and advocating for the coalition government’s policy, operation sovereign borders and border protection.
Other Potential Community and Advocacy Links: Michael is an avid basketball player who still maintained links with the local basketball community and competitions. Throughout his tertiary education he remained linked to a number of community activities, including coaching the juniors at St John’s Basketball Club.
Key Industries within Electorate: Mainly residential with some light manufacturing, commercial and retail industries.
Sources:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=242515
http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/guide/deak/
http://www.michaelsukkar.com.au/about-michael/
http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/vic/deakin.htm
https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/deakin/michael_sukkar