On Saturday 25th March we get to vote for the 58th Parliament of New South Wales. This includes all 93 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, including the Winston Hills electorate. Plus 21 of the 42 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Council.

As we approach 25th March, there’s a lot of media coverage about the election – but it can be hard to actually find out information about the local candidates and what they stand for. Chances are most of us won’t get along to a meet the candidates forum and won’t get to speak with the candidate directly. So to make it easier to get to know the candidates, we developed a set of 10 questions. And asked each candidate in the Winston Hills electorate to answer them. Plus four other electorates – Auburn, Epping, Granville, Parramatta.

| About Winston Hills Electorate | Meet the Winston Hills Candidates | Candidate Answers | About the State Election |

We sent our candidate survey to all candidates listed on the Electoral Commission website on Sunday 12th March, after candidate nominations closed and ballots drawn. We strongly believe it’s in everyone’s interest for all candidates to provide responses. And we welcome your support in encouraging them to do so.

We appreciate candidates making the time to respond, particularly given how busy it is for them in the lead up to the election. Candidate participation is purely voluntary. The responses have been provided by the candidates themselves and have only been formatted, not edited (even to correct spelling or grammatical errors). Where a candidate did not provide information, we have written NO RESPONSE RECEIVED.

ParraParents is not aligned with any political party or candidate. We have collected this information to help you make an informed decision when voting in the 2023 NSW state election.

About the Winston Hills Electorate

Winston Hills Electorate map NSW State Election 2023

The Winston Hills electorate is 35 square kilometres and includes all or part of the following suburbs: Constitution Hill, Glenwood Kings Langley, Lalor Park, Northmead, Old Toongabbie, Seven Hills, Toongabbie and Winston Hills. Note: Winston Hills is a new name for the seat of Seven Hills. The seat shifted to the north-west, losing the rest of Westmead to Parramatta and losing parts of Seven Hills and Toongabbie south of the railway line to Prospect.

Learn about the Winston Hills electorates history, geography, political situation and results of the 2019 election by checking out the Tally Room’s election guide.

Meet the Candidates for Winston Hills

Here are the 4 candidates running in the Winston Hills electorate. Here they are, listed in alphabetical order by surname.

Candidate Answers

We’ve provided candidate answers together for each question. Use the links below to jump to the different questions, or just keep scrolling through.

  1. Connection to Winston Hills
  2. Interesting Facts About the Candidate
  3. Achievements
  4. Main Issues Affecting Winston Hills
  5. Key Issue Affecting Families
  6. Population Growth, Development and Community Infrastructure
  7. Local Schools
  8. Changing Climate
  9. Planning System
  10. What They Plan to Achieve
  11. Other Comments

Note: Candidate answers have been provided in the order in which they were received. They are provided as received, with minor formatting and spelling corrections.

1What is your connection with Winston Hills electorate (including how long you have lived in the area) and what you like about it?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • I have lived in the area for over 6 years now and I am raising my kids here. The area so so many pockets of natural beauty around Toongabbie Creek, Lake Parramatta and the River. I love how friendly each neighbourhood we have lived in is, everyone is always looking out for one another and that is fantastic.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • My family has lived and worked in the electorate for the majority of our lives.
    I grew up in Old Toongabbie and went to Westmead Public School before attending Model Farms and James Ruse High.
  • I have great memories of playing soccer and cricket for Winston Hills as a kid. I have been the local MP for 8 years and my wife, Petrina, has been a teacher at Winston Hills for over 15 years. Prior to Parliament I worked as a police officer for 20 years, including stints at our local police commands.
  • I am passionate about our local area. Representing our community in State Parliament has been an absolute privilege and some of the best achievements so far have included improving our local schools, supporting our sports clubs and backing our local community organisations.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

2What are 3 things people might not know about you?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  1. I can play the flute but I am probably a bit rusty as I haven’t actively practiced in a while.
  2. I love to play tennis and I am often down at the courts on Binalong Rd.
  3. I have been The Greens candidate for our area in the past local, state and federal elections since 2019

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  1. I served as a NSW Police officer for over 20 years. Mostly as a police prosecutor in Western Sydney, and later as a senior officer developing policy aimed at supporting victims of domestic violence.
  2. My best school cricket effort was taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at Binalong Park.
  3. I now spend my weekends supporting the Parramatta Eels and cooking with Petrina and the kids.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

3What have you already achieved for/ in the electorate?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • I haven’t been elected to any position yet however I have raised and will continue to raise issues affecting local people. Issues such as:
    • Urban heat island effect and how is impacts us in Western Sydney
    • Renters Rights
    • Domestic Violence
    • Social Housing
    • Public Transport
    • Planning/over-development

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • Over the past four years we have delivered a number of major infrastructure projects for our local community.
    • A $1.7 billion redevelopment of the Westmead Hospital and Children’s Hospital
    • Secured a commitment for two new local selective high schools
    • Upgraded every train station in the electorate
    • Delivered more commuter parking, including the $2.5 million Winston Hills M2 bus-hub
    • Opened the NorthWest Metro
    • Secured over $13 million for parks and reserves in our community – including significant upgrades for Binalong Park, Sue Savage, Max Ruddock and Northmead Reserves.
    • Fast-tracked local school upgrades, like our $75 million commitment for Darcy Road Public, $40 million for Winston Hills Public, $39 million for Pendle Hill High and a major upgrade for Northmead C.A.P.A. High.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

4What do you see as the main issues affecting your electorate? (limit to 5)

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  1. Renters rights and protections
  2. Properly funded and safe schools
  3. Better pay and conditions for nurses, midwives and teachers
  4. Needing stronger action on climate change
  5. Stronger community consultation and participation in politics

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • Rising interest rates and the global economy is impacting heavily on our cost of living. 
  • More working from home led to increased desire for quality local parks and reserves. 
  • An increase in demand for more selective high schools, particularly in the Westmead and Wentworthville areas.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

5What is one key issue affecting local families in your electorate and how do you plan to address it?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • Ensuring schools are a safe and welcoming environment for all. This includes replacing demountables with proper classrooms with air conditioning. Ensuring having a safe school environment means paying our teachers properly and ensuring teaching support staff aren’t left behind.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • Childcare is an important issue for families in our local area. Whether that is affordability or the facilities located close to home. 
  • That is why the Liberal Government has committed to delivering several new local childcare centres at our existing schools, including Toongabbie West Public School. 
  • 50,000 kids will have access to free preschool sooner, with a re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government accelerating the rollout of its $5.8 billion universal pre-Kindergarten program. 
  • The commitment will bring forward $1 billion to commence construction on the first of the new preschools in the second half of this year. It is our commitment that every single child in NSW will have access to a full year of free, play-based learning in the year before school.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

6What are your thoughts on projected population growth for your electorate, associated development and community infrastructure?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • Parramatta LGA expected to be home to approx. 490,000 by 2041
  • Blacktown LGA expected to be home to approx. 636,000 by 2041
  • Community infrastructure must come first, including proper and accessible public transport, parks and recreation areas, and human orientated development that has our unique environment at the forefront.
  • If we are to grow to these projected levels then we need action now.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • Over the last 5 years the electorate has seen its population grow by 2.6%. This is significantly lower than the neighbouring CBD electorates. Our electorate consists mainly of single dwelling homes with higher density near the railway lines. 
  • Despite this limited growth, the Liberal Government has still upgraded our community infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and transport hubs. 
  • I look forward to improving our local parks and reserves to be enjoyed by families across the community to provide even better facilities. It is upgraded infrastructure that makes our electorate one of the best in Sydney to live, work and raise a family.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

7Please share your thoughts on local schools in your electorate and what they need

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • See Q.5.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • In my time as the local member, I have seen every school in the electorate receive major funding towards capital works, significant maintenance or the construction of completely new and modernised facilities. It is very important for me to see our local schools have the best facilities and educational opportunities. The Liberal Government has committed to fast-tracking these needed upgrades, like the $75 million redevelopment of Darcy Road Public School, $40 million upgrade at Winston Hills Public and a major upgrade to Northmead C.A.P.A. High. 
  • In recent times I have heard from families about the need for local selective high schools to give students even greater opportunities. That is why the Liberal Government is committed to two new local selective high schools at Westmead and Box Hill. Westmead will include a 1000 student primary school and a 2000 student selective high which will work in collaboration with the Westmead Health Precinct. This campus will allow students access to state-of-the-art S.T.E.M. education and countless professionals working in the precinct.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

8Western Sydney keeps getting hotter! It can be costly for families (and others) to keep cool and our changing climate impacts on health and wellbeing. What do you think is needed and what do you commit to

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • Rental properties need to be retrofitted to be insulated to acceptable levels. I hear stories of renters not being able to sleep in their homes during these hot nights and that is not acceptable.
  • We need community focused and lead cooling initiatives to cool the streets such as increasing canopy tree coverage across our area.
  • The Blacktown Council have started to offer heat refuges on hot days to provide temporary relief (which is a great initiative) but these are band-aid fixes and we need systematic change.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • The Liberal Government is committed to preserving our greenspaces and natural environment of this State. 
  • New South Wales is home to some of the best natural scenery in the world, and it is important we do our best to protect it. In the last 4 years we have planted 7600 trees along Toongabbie Creek, committed to a waterway restoration study for the creek and established the Great West Walk from Parramatta to Penrith. 
  • This Liberal is on track to reduce our emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035, while growing the economy and putting downward pressure on electricity prices. 
  • Our Net Zero Plan will grow our economy, create jobs and reduce the cost of living through strategic emissions reduction initiatives like Zero Emission Buses, our multi-billion-dollar program to transition the state’s 8,000 plus diesel and natural gas public transport buses to zero emissions technology

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

9What are your thoughts on the current planning system, in particular complying development? And what, if any, improvements do you want to see?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • We will return planning powers to local councils, abolish the failed Local and Regional Planning Panels and ensure that all land-use rezoning decisions are made by councils and communities.
  • The Greens will strengthen community objection rights, and reform council practices so that residents’ views are heard and valued. Finally, council amalgamations will only go ahead if the majority of locals vote for it.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • The complying development system reduces red tape, reduces costs for young home buyers and speeds up council processes. The key is that local councils such as the City of Parramatta perform their obligations to enforce our building regulations. 
  • The failure of local councils to enforce building regulations is an issue that is often raised. 
  • Council is the primary authority for enforcing zoning and building compliance. I have a long record of supporting local residents in opposing developments that are not in appropriate locations for our community. 
  • There are many suburbs in our electorate that are home to “special character areas”. I firmly believe that high density housing should remain alongside high capacity transport routes like heavy railway lines or main bus routes.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

10What are 3 key things you plan to achieve if elected?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  1. Introduce better minimum standards in rental accommodation including making it mould and damp-free, with ceiling insulation, heating, roof venting and waterproofing with compulsory energy efficiency standards, and internet access.
  2. Abolishing the public sector wage cap and delivering real wage increases as well as increased resourcing for frontline community, health and transport workers.
  3. Transition NSW to 100% renewable energy and make fossil fuel companies pay their fair share of tax

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  1. Implement the NSW Kids Future Fund to provide our kids with the best start possible in life. With this new initiative, we are helping a new generation to build the foundations of financial security so they are ready for success in the NSW of tomorrow.
  2. Deliver the NSW Liberal Government commitment to provide every child in NSW will have access to a full year of free, play-based learning in the year before school.
  3. Continue to upgrade our fields, parks and reserves, particularly those which form the heart of our community.

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

11Is there anything else you’d like to share with residents in your electorate?

Damien Atkins (The Greens)

  • By voting for the Greens in the Upper House, you will ensure the we will have the balance of power. This means we will be in the best position to fight for all these ideas and causes (and more). By voting for us in the Upper House means we will have 3 strong and active women elected and joining our continuing Greens team. That is the best way to ensure that change will happen.

Mark Taylor (Liberal Party)

  • I am keen to make our community even better. The Liberals plan to do this by:
    • Growing our economy so we can create secure and well-paying jobs and pay for the services NSW needs – and we’ll do it without taxing you more.
    • Reducing the pressure on household budgets by supporting you through the current challenges, while building the foundations for your financial security.
    • Investing in our frontline services for the long-term by hiring more doctors, nurses and teachers to recover from the strain of the pandemic.
    • Building for the future with our major infrastructure projects coming online, we’ll continue to invest in the roads, rail, schools and hospitals to keep ahead of future growth.
    • Empowering local communities because if we focus on our neighbourhoods, NSW will be stronger than ever

Anthony Chadszinow (Sustainable Australia Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]]

Sameer Pandey (Labor Party)

  • [yet to provide answer]

NSW State Election 2023 – General Info

What Are We Voting For?

The 58th Parliament of New South Wales, including all 93 seats in the NSW Legislative Assembly. Plus 21 of the 42 seats in the NSW Legislative Council.

What is the Role of the NSW Parliament?

With three levels of government in Australia, it can be confusing to know who looks after what. The State Parliament makes laws on matters such as:

  • police
  • schools and hospitals
  • state transport, roads and railways
  • housing services
  • community services

When Do I Need to Vote?

NSW Election Day is Saturday 25th March and voting is between 8am and 6pm. Some voting centres or polling places keep different hours so be sure to check. And don’t leave it to the last minute! You’ll need up to an hour to vote in busy times.

You can also vote before Election Day – it’s called pre-polling (when in person) – and early voting starts from 18th March 2023.

Who Needs to Vote?

Voting is compulsory for all Australian citizens who live in NSW and are 18 years of age or older. Fines apply for not voting. You can check your enrolment to vote if unsure.

What Do I Need to Vote?

Take your licence or other photo identification, or something with your current residential address on it. You may also want to take some money to buy a famous election sausage sizzle and support your local school, church or community group. And bring a bottle of water in case you have to wait a long time. Comfy shoes are a good idea as well!

Where Can I Vote?

Voting in person on Election Day (25th March) is still the way a lot of people vote in NSW. It’s generally quick and easy to vote in person at a voting centre or polling place, often at a local school. And election staff and officials are available if you need help. Plus you can usually enjoy a sausage sizzle or cake stall while you wait to vote.

If you would like vote in person, but you are unable to get to a voting centre or polling place on Election Day, you may be eligible to vote early or pre-poll. Early voting for the NSW State election opens from Monday 18th March until Friday 24th March.

The local early voting centres can be found at the following locations and are open Mon-Wed 8:30am to 5:30pm; Thur 8:30am to 8pm; Fri 8:30am to 6pm; Sat 9am to 6pm; closed Sundays.

  • Parramatta: Phive Makers Space, 5 Parramatta Square, level 3. I
  • Ermington: Ermington Community Centre, 6 River Road. It’s open Mon-Wed 8:30am to 5:30pm; Thur 8:30am to 8pm; Fri 8:30am to 6pm; Sat 9am to 6pm; closed Sundays.
  • Wentworth Point: Pulse Centre, 9 The Crescent

You can also vote by post/ mail – applications close 20th March.

How is My Vote Counted?

There are two papers you will be required to fill out on Election Day to vote:

  1. Small paper is Legislative Assembly (lower house of NSW parliament)
  2. Large paper is Legislative Council (upper house of NSW parliament)

You will be given choices on each paper of which individuals or parties you would like to give your vote to. You may choose on each paper to simply put a 1 next to the candidate of your choice. But you may number more if you wish. It’s different for each paper.

  • For Legislative Assembly ballot paper (small): A candidate has to receive 50% of all votes+1 to be elected. This is called an ‘absolute majority’. If the candidate you have voted 1 for, does not have enough votes to be elected, votes are re-sorted to the other candidates remaining, according to the second preference. This is why some people choose to vote by numbering their 2nd, 3rd and 4th etc preferences. See here for more information on voting in the Legislative Assembly (small paper).
  • For Legislative Council ballot paper (large): You may vote above OR below the line, but not both. You may “Vote 1” for the party you prefer ABOVE the line (listed as “Groups”). This is the minimum you need to do to vote. But you may further empower your vote for other preferred parties by labelling 2, 3, 4 etc above the line, and preferences apply, as for the lower house. If you choose to vote BELOW the line you must number a minimum of 15 boxes. See here for more information about voting for the Legislative Council.

Some “how to vote” cards suggest preferences but you are free to vote for any candidate or party you wish. And give your preferences (2nd 3rd 4th choices) to anyone you wish.

What Do I Do After Voting?

Enjoy a (democracy) sausage sizzle, return your how to vote papers to the party for reuse and politely decline any more. A simple “I’ve voted”, or “no thank you” should keep unwanted party politics away.

If interested tune in to TV coverage after 6pm and have your own political watch party!! Results and trends often become clear on the night of election day.

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