Hi, I’m Sujan. I’m standing as a Greens preselection candidate for the Senate because, at the most fundamental level, I believe in the real, positive impact that the Greens can have in the balance of power. I have been living in Western Sydney for the last 24 years, and multiculturalism and diversity are integral to my life. I have worked with refugees and asylum seekers and understand the struggles they face.
I first joined the Greens in 2014, when I first stood as a state candidate for the seat of Prospect. Since then, I have been a dedicated and actively campaigning candidate for the Greens in Western Sydney on five occasions – twice for the state parliament, once for the federal parliament, and twice for the Cumberland City Council. I feel that my extensive record in the Greens as a previous candidate illustrates my dedication to the party. I am also the founder of the organisation Upcycled Tech, which aims to reduce electronic landfill, and also connect the disconnected. I continue to learn daily and believe in continuous self-improvement.
By far what I’m most proud of in the campaigns that we’ve run in Western Sydney is connecting the Western Sydney electorate with Greens values — values which they truly believe in, but unfortunately are estranged from by the right-wing press and an increasingly conservative Labor Party. Values such as free public health and education, rights for refugees, upholding human rights, and a more democratic economy: we espouse these Greens values in our campaigns, but they sadly are not heard nearly as much in Western Sydney as they are in other parts of NSW. I believe that by selecting me as your Senate candidate, we can begin the complex process of bringing the diverse, progressive communities of Western Sydney inside the Greens tent — for good.
I have often been asked by Western Sydney voters why minorities should vote for the Greens when the Greens are unlikely to come to power soon. I am confident that we can change this apprehension by increasing our representation and support in the community — including Western Sydney in that process.
I am a strong believer in the principles and policies of the Greens, including the four pillars. Recently, I have been closely researching the genocide in Palestine and the Tamil genocide of 2009. It is shameful that the federal parliament has failed to take a stand for peace and common humanity, leading to the occurrence of such atrocities like these. If elected, refugees, asylum-seeking and peace and nonviolence will be at the core of my activism in the Senate.
Thank you for considering me as your next Greens senator for NSW.
