.melbourne
Goan-Australian Leon Rebelo has been selected by the Liberal National Party (LNP) MP from McPherson, Gold Coast, Queensland, to run in the upcoming Australian federal election.
Leon Rebelo, 29, a lawyer with experience in a variety of industries including both government and the private sector, was born in Canberra and his parents, Valeriano and Liddy, are first-generation Australians from Verna, South Goa.
Leon’s father is a dean at the Indian Institute of Technology in Sada Mormugao and an electrical contractor, and his mother, Riddhi, worked in the private sector in India and is now a civil servant in Australia.
The former LNP minister has held Mr McPherson’s seat for the past 14 years and confirmed he will retire before the next federal election.
The Australian LNP announced the decision on social media, saying: “Leon Rebelo has the ability to ensure the southern Gold Coast is represented in federal parliament.”
The LNP described Mr Leong as a “dedicated local man who brings the energy and enthusiasm” to continue its “long-term and strong advocacy work for the region”.
Mr. Rebelo won a pre-selection contest against three other candidates. They include Ben Naday (former political staffer), David Stevens (former advisor to former Australian Prime Minister John Howard) and Adam Fitzgibbons (former staffer to former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce).
In a post on X, Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Mr Leon was well placed to strengthen the current MP’s “long-standing and strong advocacy for the southern Gold Coast”.
“What I’m bringing to the table is someone with a different cultural background and experience in the private and public sectors,” Rebelo told the ABC.
Mr Rebelo, who has lived on the Gold Coast for three years and is originally from Canberra, is only the second Queensland candidate to be pre-selected to stand in the upcoming federal election, the ABC reported. Ta.
goa identity
Leon said he has a close connection to his Goan roots.
“Both my parents are from Goa and I still have family living in Goa. Although I was born in Australia, my parents have maintained a connection with my Goan roots and I I have traveled extensively to Goa and India many times over the years,” Leon said.
“Australia has a thriving Goan community, including in my home state of Queensland, and I have many Goan friends across the country.”
Leon also admitted that his Goan identity influenced and shaped him.
“My Goan identity, a wonderful blend of Portuguese and Indian, helped shape my values and beliefs through my parents. I consider Goan culture to be perfectly complementary to Australian culture. ” Leon said.
“We are hard workers and believe that hard work pays off. We value the importance of the family unit and are business-oriented (especially small businesses and family businesses). , I said that I won the lottery twice in my life, the first time being born in Australia and the second time being born to my parents who are Goan. It is the culmination of Australian aspirations.”
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