Whatever WA's election result, state's diversity won't be reflected in parliament

Western Australians go to the polls on March 13th to vote in the state election, with the incumbent Labor government expected to increase its majority. But with the exception of some notable trailblazers, the next parliament won’t reflect the state’s cultural diversity, continuing a trend seen across the country.

Indian origin candidates contesting in Western Australia state election 2021. Source: Jim Seth, Yaz Mubarakai, Kevin Michel, Jags Krishnan, Nitin Vashisht, Mahesh Arumugam

Highlights

• According to the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics data, nearly one-quarter of all Western Australians speak another language at home and around 40 per cent of people were born overseas. 
• Neither of the major parties reflected that diversity in the candidates it preselected. 
• Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan, says political leaders from non-European backgrounds are lacking at all level of government across the country.   

---

Here's how to follow SBS Gujarati on our other digital and social media platforms.

• SBS Gujarati Website: Bookmark our website www.sbs.com.au/gujarati as a favourite.

• SBS Radio App: Download SBS Radio app from App Store or Google Play and listened to podcasts and live radio program.

• Listen to news and interviews in Gujarati: Subscribe to SBS Gujarati on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify