FEDERAL Fremantle Liberal candidate Sherry Sufi is standing by his claim Australia was not invaded by Europeans, but settled (Herald, April 9, 2016).

He is also sticking by other strident views he’d published in essays written for conservative thinktank, Menzies House.

“The ability to voice opinions is a key part of our democratic process and I have voiced mine in the articles I have authored,” Mr Sufi says. “The positions I have put forward on various issues represent the positions of many, many concerned West Australians and residents within the Fremantle electorate.

“I don’t think it’s fair to stereotype the people of Fremantle as ‘alternative’ and ‘left-wing’. Fremantle is a diverse electorate with diverse views.”

Mr Sufi wouldn’t say if he personally supports indigenous people being recognised in the constitution, but is open to a referendum on the issue.

In 2013 he wrote a piece on same-sex marriage in which he argued the battle for equality for gays and lesbians has already been won in Australia: Labor seeking to redefine marriage is “a perfidious and futile attack on language”, he argues.

He told the Chook he now supports a plebiscite on the issue.

“Discrimination on the basis of sexual preference has no place in modern Australia,” he says.

Mr Sufi is all for the Perth Freight Link, arguing it will generate 22,000 jobs and help increase WA’s economic output to $28.3 billion per annum.

• Federal Fremantle Liberal candidate Sherry Sufi on the cappuccino strip — sticks to his belief Australia was settled, not invaded, but having once described the bid for marriage equality as “perfidious and futile” he says he now supports a plebiscite. Photo
supplied

“We don’t want to be labelled as the ‘wait-a-while’ state and oppose every new infrastructure project that is proposed,” he says,

“To keep up with the rest of our country’s move into the 21st century, projects like the PFL are both necessary and crucial to WA’s growth.”

The key themes of his campaign are job security, reducing the cost of living, providing a safety net and strengthening the local economy and infrastructure.

“In this election, the choice is clear: you either vote for those affiliated with special interest groups there to promote their narrow agenda at your expense, or you vote for a local resident who gets local issues and will be a strong local voice in Canberra.

“My aim is to win the seat, and if ever there was time Fremantle was ready for change, it is now.”

Mr Sufi says he has lived in the electorate for “several years”. He’s worked as a political researcher and adviser for federal and state Liberal politicians.

Former boss Michael Sutherland, who is now WA’s Speaker, declined to comment on Mr Sufi, but party insiders describe him as an “intellectual conservative”.

In 2013 Mr Sufi sought election to Cockburn council, contesting east ward. He finished last with 515 votes and 11.32 per cent of the vote.

Matthew Hanssen ran for the Liberals in Fremantle in 2013 and won 38.14 per cent of the primary vote (to Labor’s 40.82), shrinking Labor’s 2PP margin to under five per cent.

Popular Labor MP Melissa Parke is retiring. At this stage Mr Sufi is up against Labor’s Chris Brown and the Greens’ Kate Davis.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK