The woman behind a proposed Newcastle light rail class action will seek a seat in federal parliament in Saturday’s Wentworth by-election.
Angela Vithoulkas, who has coordinated a lawsuit on behalf of Newcastle traders affected by light rail construction, will be a rank outsider this weekend but also plans to pursue an Upper House seat in the March state election.
The City of Sydney councillor will run as an independent in Wentworth, Malcolm Turnbull’s old seat, but for her Small Business Party in the state poll.
Ms Vithoulkas, whose own cafe in George Street closed recently after years of light rail disruption in Sydney, helped lodge a $40 million lawsuit on behalf of about 60 Sydney traders in the Supreme Court in August.
She was in Newcastle two months ago signing up more than 40 business people to a second class action.
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
