Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a moment of pride for the Goan community worldwide, two individuals of Goan origin have been elected to the Australian federal parliament, following the recently declared national election results.
Thirty-year-old Leon Rebello, a lawyer by profession, made history by becoming the youngest Member of Parliament from the Liberal National Party (LNP). He will represent the southern Gold Coast constituency of McPherson. Rebello’s parents are first-generation Australians with roots in Verna, Salcete, Goa.
Speaking to the media following his victory, Rebello expressed deep pride in his Goan identity. “I have Goan culture flowing through my veins,” he said, adding that the values instilled in him by his Goan upbringing had played a pivotal role in shaping his worldview. “Goans are hardworking and deeply value the family unit, qualities that resonate with Australian values,” he added.
Joining him in the Australian Parliament is Zaneta Mascarenhas, who has successfully retained her seat from Swan as a representative of the Labour Party. Mascarenhas, also of Goan heritage, had first entered Parliament in the 2022 elections.
The dual success of Rebello and Mascarenhas has been widely celebrated in Goa, with community leaders and citizens expressing admiration for the global achievements of Goans abroad.
