Hannah Thomas, daughter of former Malaysia AG, taking on Australian PM in federal polls
Ms Hannah Thomas is running against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his Grayndler constituency in Sydney. PHOTO: HANNAH4GRAYNDLER/INSTAGRAM
Hannah Thomas, daughter of former Malaysia AG, taking on Australian PM in federal polls
PETALING JAYA - Ms Hannah Thomas, the daughter of former Malaysia attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, is challenging Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Australian federal elections as The Greens candidate for the Grayndler constituency.
Grayndler is an electoral division in the Australian House of Representatives, located in the Inner West region of Sydney, New South Wales.
Ms Thomas, who is a lawyer, activist and advocate for progressive change, believes in fighting against genocide in Palestine, solving the housing and cost of living crisis and supporting the rights of refugees in the country.
'I'm lucky to have grown up in Malaysia in a family with a long history of strong progressive values, where political engagement and activism were always encouraged.
So it was probably inevitable that I'd eventually join The Greens once Australia became home,' she said in The Greens website.
Ms Thomas said she is inspired by the activism of young people, the potential for minority government, and the global solidarity among workers and marginalised communities.
She said the resilience of the Palestinian people and First Nations communities in Australia further fuels her optimism for a just future.
Ms Thomas is also the youngest candidate running against the Prime Minister.
'As someone who is currently renting, who wants to buy a first home, considering whether or not to have children, I guess I relate more to young people here,' she said in a recent interview with Australian TV programme The Feed SBS, which was shared on its Facebook page.
This election marks a historic moment where the Greens emerge as a formidable opposition in the Prime Minister's own seat, striving to deliver a powerful message of change to the Albanese Government.
'For the first time, an Australian Prime Minister's biggest threat is in his own seat against the Greens.
'It's an incredible opportunity to send the loudest possible message to the Albanese Government that we deserve better, that we deserve a government that tackles the problems that everyday people face,' she said.
The Australian federal election is scheduled for May 3 to elect members of the 48th Parliament.
Voters will decide all 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 out of 76 seats in the Senate.
The Labor government, headed by Mr Albanese, is vying for a second term, facing off against the Liberal/National Coalition led by opposition leader Peter Dutton.
Several minor parties and independents, including the Greens party, are also participating in the election. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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