fbpx
Scroll Top

6 Female South-Asian Candidates to look out for in the upcoming election

With the 2022 Federal election less than 3 weeks away, it’s more important than ever for all people of voting age to be aware of the candidates we’ll be voting for at the ballot box. 

As noted in past articles, despite the fact that our system of governance is meant to be a representative democracy, it’s been noted by many that the current make-up of our federal government is not particularly representative or reflective of what Australia looks like today.

Here’s a list of the South-Asian women candidates from the 3 major parties.

Candidates for the House of Representatives (or the ‘Lower House) for the 2022 Federal Election

Rachel Jacobs (GREENS) Grayndler, NSW

Rachel Jacobs

Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah (LABOR) Higgins, VIC

michelle-ananda-rajah v2

Cassandra Fernando (LABOR) Holt, VIC

Cassandra-Fernando

Zaneta Mascarenhas (LABOR) Swan, WA

zaneta-mascarenhas

Mira D’Silva (LIBERAL) Maribyrnong, VIC

mira dsilva 3

Surbhi Snowball (LABOR), Flinders, VIC

surbhi-snowball

In future elections, I look forward to seeing more states and territories represented on lists like this one. However, considering just how slowly our more established institutions take to adopt change maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised.

 

A recent report by Raise Our Voices Australia, ‘Where are the Young Women?’ found that although “94% of respondents agree that it’s important for a government to be diverse … [v]ery few respondents believed they are represented in political spaces.”

 

This is why the women included in this list are so important to the progress and development of our country. In a time when it’s been highlighted again and again that women aren’t treated with equal dignity, fairness or respect in Australian politics, it takes courage and the strength to be part of our democratic processes – and it’s why their inclusion in the ballot should be celebrated. 

 

It’s also a reminder that more needs to be done by the Government and all major parties to ensure that our federal Parliament is a safe place for everyone, especially young women of colour, whom it seems to have failed the most. 

Want to join a community of impact driven South Asian Australian women? Sign up here to join a community which supports you and champions your work.

31 Jan: ASAC Impact Report 2023: Year In Review

Nine winners were revealed from a shortlist of 40 finalists across the categories of Content Creator, Community & Advocacy, Business & Entrepreneurship, Sports & Fitness, Arts & Culture, STEM, Journalism & Literature, International (based overseas) and Global Impact (based in Australia).

31 Jan: My First Stand-Up Comedy Set: Meet Actress Ria Patel

In today’s member highlight, we’re delighted to introduce Jess Singh, a film producer and creative. Jess has been making a significant impact in the world of film, working on numerous narrative short films and cultivating her growing interest in documentary filmmaking.

30 Nov: Meet The Winners: Australia’s Stellar South Asian Women Awards 2023

Nine winners were revealed from a shortlist of 40 finalists across the categories of Content Creator, Community & Advocacy, Business & Entrepreneurship, Sports & Fitness, Arts & Culture, STEM, Journalism & Literature, International (based overseas) and Global Impact (based in Australia).