Tech entrepreneur and Indian Australian community leader Mira D’Silva has been announced as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the federal seat of Lalor, a traditionally safe Labor stronghold in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
With a background in business, technology, and community advocacy, D’Silva enters the race at a time when voter dissatisfaction with Labor is rising, presenting a potential challenge to long-time incumbent Joanne Ryan.
D’Silva, who migrated to Australia in 2004, has co-founded a successful technology firm that has created jobs and economic opportunities in the local community. Over the past two decades, she has built strong ties with the Lalor electorate, raising her family in the area and actively engaging in mentoring women and migrants through organisations such as the Australian Computer Society and the Victorian Multicultural Committee.
Speaking about her candidacy, D’Silva said,
“I will bring a unique perspective to this role across a range of policy areas. I want to bring real solutions to the challenges our local community faces.”
She has pledged to focus on addressing cost-of-living pressures, improving local infrastructure, and enhancing community safety as part of the Liberal Party’s broader plan to “Get Australia Back on Track.” D’Silva also aims to leverage her business experience to tackle inflation, support local enterprises, and deliver meaningful relief to Lalor residents.
Senator Sarah Henderson praised D’Silva’s credentials, describing her as
“an outstanding candidate with the experience and drive to make a real difference in Lalor.”
The seat of Lalor, which includes the suburbs of Werribee, Tarneit, and Hoppers Crossing, has been a Labor stronghold since its creation in 1949, with the exception of a brief period from 1966 to 1969. It has previously been represented by high-profile ALP figures, including former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Current Labor MP Joanne Ryan has held the seat since 2013 and serves as Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives. However, at the 2022 federal election, she experienced a significant 7.47% swing against her, securing 44.11% of first-preference votes.
With recent polling showing Labor struggling under increasing voter dissatisfaction over cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability, and infrastructure demands in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, D’Silva and the Liberal Party see an opportunity to capitalise on this discontent.
While the ALP still holds a comfortable margin, the upcoming election could see a tighter contest in Lalor than in previous years. The Liberal Party’s hope is that D’Silva’s business acumen and community engagement will resonate with voters looking for change.
As the campaign unfolds, Lalor will be one of the seats to watch, with D’Silva’s challenge to Labor’s stronghold potentially reshaping the political landscape in Melbourne’s west.
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