Cassandra Fernando
Cassandra Fernando | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Holt | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Byrne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 February 1987 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Political party | Labor |
| Occupation | Pastry cook Trade unionist |
Cassandra Fernando (born 2 February 1987[citation needed]) is a Sri Lankan-born Australian politician. A member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), she has been the MP for the Division of Holt since the 2022 federal election.
Early life
[edit]Fernando was born in Sri Lanka and came to Australia with her parents in 1999 at the age of 11. She grew up in Dandenong North, Victoria, and holds a diploma in hospitality and a certificate in education support.[1]
Fernando worked at Woolworths in Dandenong Plaza for almost 15 years, including as a pastry chef.[2] She became a delegate to the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) and subsequently worked as an SDA organiser for five years.[1]
Politics
[edit]In March 2022, Fernando won ALP preselection for the seat of Holt at the 2022 federal election, following the retirement of incumbent MP Anthony Byrne. She is a member of the SDA faction, which was granted the right, under the federal intervention into the Victorian branch which has led to a suspension of democratic processes in the Branch, to preselect the candidate in Holt despite the left faction having larger membership numbers.[3]
She is the first Sri Lankan born woman to take a seat in the Australian parliament.[4]
Personal life
[edit]Fernando lives in Narre Warren South.[5] She is a member of the SDA, the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce and the Cranbourne Historical Society.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "ALP's Byrne replacement chosen". Star Journal. 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Cassandra Fernando". Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ Karp, Paul (28 March 2022). "Labor finalises candidates in crucial seats ahead of election". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Sri Lanka born Cassandra Fernando wins seat at Australia election". Daily News. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ a b "The private interests of Cassandra Fernando MP". openpolitics.au. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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- 1987 births
- Living people
- Sri Lankan emigrants to Australia
- Australian trade unionists
- Labor Right politicians
- 21st-century Australian politicians
- 21st-century Australian women politicians
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Holt
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Women members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia
- Australian women trade unionists
- Australian chefs
- Politicians from Melbourne
- People from Colombo
- Australian politicians of Asian descent
- Australian people of Sri Lankan descent
- Australian Labor Party politician stubs