Mangalorean Shilpa Hegde to contest in Australia elections

Media Release

Mangalore/Melbourne, Aug 8: The upcoming elections in Australia is unique for the number of Indian-origin candidates contesting for a place in the country's parliament. For Mangaloreans, it is a momentous occasion, as a lady from the city is one among the contestants.

Shilpa Hegde is a candidate for the Liberal Party from Wills in Melbourne, Australia. The elections will be held on September 7.

Shilpa is an engineer by profession and works for an IT consulting company. Her early life had profound influence and her parents were instrumental in infusing the family values, community service, and hard working culture. Shilpa was born in Mangalore, the daughter of a chartered accountant and mother busy with community service. She went to school in Mangalore and Muscat where her father was briefly posted. She went on to complete Bachelor of Engineering and other formal IT trainings that support her current role as a software consultant at one of Australia’s major IT company, DWS.
 
As a working class mother of two beautiful sons, Nihal and Sahil, she understands the hardship of local residents and businesses face due to the rising cost of living and the implications of Labor’s carbon tax. With the full support of husband Dayanand, Shilpa is committed to work hard to gain funding for jobs, education, roads, transport, and health.

Her passion to help people is evident in her involvement in various school and community activities and as a volunteer for charity organisations such as Guide Dogs, Vision Australia, Cancer Council, Beyond Blue, Kids Under Cover, National Tree Day, and MS Walk and Fun Run. This experience has provided her with invaluable insight and empathy for people. Shilpa has always aimed to deliver real solutions to the issues affecting her community.

Shilpa migrated to Australia in 2001 and settled in Melbourne. Soon after her arrival, she was inspired by the ideology and values of the Liberal Party and started her career as a Liberal volunteer in the November 2001 federal election. Her husband, Dayananda Shetty, was involved in the Liberal party at that time. Since then, she has actively supported her party in various council, state and federal election campaigns and party fundraising events.

While talking about her campaign Shilpa said, “I am already out there in the community door-knocking and listening to locals about the issues they are facing. For a long time Wills has been taken for granted by Labour."

Shilpa adds that Liberal has a plan to put Australia back on track.

This plan includes “Generation of one million new jobs within five years by delivering lower taxes, more efficient government and more productive businesses”.

While talking about her plans she said, “Wills has a relatively young population, however, it also has a lower than average income compared to the rest of Australia. This means that cost of living pressures are felt especially hard by those in the electorate. This has been constantly brought to my attention by residents."

Shilpa also believes that “Tony Abbott will make an outstanding Prime Minister."

"In the three years since the last election, Tony Abbott and the Coalition team have travelled to all parts of Australia listening and talking with people about their lives and their hopes for this country." "It is through theseconversations that the Coalition’s plan to restore hope, opportunity and reward was developed. Tony Abbott has, as have all the Coalition team, been listening to Australians about their issues and are ready to get this country back on track and build a stronger Australia," Shilpa added.