There are a ton of South Asian candidates running for office this year, and SAARI is bringing you a guide to figure out who’s who.

We’re finishing up with 3rd Party candidates and Independents. We’ve identified 9 South Asian Independent and 3rd Party candidates across the country.

Raj Rajwin, United Australia Party, Senate (NT)

Became a doctor in Delhi and worked as a specialist anaesthetist before migrating to Australia in 2002

Runs a medical centre in Delhi and a small business in the NT

Highly critical of the government's management of the pandemic, specifically lockdowns and vaccine mandates

Raj Guruswamy, One Nation, Senate (QLD)

Arrived in Australia from India in 1992 and became a citizen in 1995

Mechanical engineer who played a key role in establishing Adani’s operations in Queensland

Says he is not against migration but wants to cut migration figures by half

Rohan Laxmanalal, Animal Justice Party, Parramatta (NSW)

Background in finance and mathematics, currently specialising in renewable energy and environmental markets

Volunteers with vegan street outreach and food markets across NSW

Has run twice as a State and Federal candidate in Western Sydney seats

Sanjeev Sabhlok, Australian Federation Party, Menzies (VIC)

Came to Australia from India in 2000

Has a PhD in economics and experience as a senior civil servant 

Has criticised the government's response to COVID-19 as 'totalitarianism' and a 'full-blown police state' and has compared Scott Morrison to the CCP

Matthew Nunez-Silva, Liberal Democrats, Holt (VIC)

Former small business owner

Has experience in the workers compensation industry, advocating on behalf of injured workers

Critical of what he sees as the lack of leadership, lack of transparency, and lack of accountability from both the major parties

Daniel Nair Dadich, Victorian Socialists, Maribyrnong (VIC)

Long history of participating in protest movements in Melbourne's inner west

Volunteers and works with asylum seekers and refugees

Proud trade-unionist and has been the Australian Services Union delegate at multiple workplaces

Sam Morgan, TNL (formerly The New Liberals), Senate (NSW)

Arrived in Australia at age six, an orphan of the civil war in Sri Lanka

Credits Australia with providing her the chance to grow up safely, attain education and create a family of her own

Wants to ensure the opportunities she was given will continue for others in the future

Sheneli Dona, Independent, Hume (NSW)

Human rights activist and youth advocate, who has represented Australia to a number of United Nations agencies and international discussions

Established her own not-for-profit, youth-led human rights organisation, The Dona Faith Alliance, in 2018

One of the youngest delegates to the World Climate Summit 2015

Steve Khouw, Independent, Banks (NSW)

Has been a coal miner, an engineer, a small business owner, a reality TV star on Australian Survivor and a part-time food delivery rider

Longtime Liberal who left last year due to what he calls the 'toxicity inside the party'

Key issue is men's rights, as he claims the Family Law Court is stacked against men

Thanks for reading our guides to various South Asian candidates!

Maya Pilbrow is an Editor at SAARI Collective and the Media Manager for the quarterly literary journal The Suburban Review. You can connect with Maya on LinkedIn