Steve Christou
{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1978)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = Councillor
| name = Steve Christou
| birth_date = 23 January 1978
| birth_place = Erskineville, New South Wales, Australia
| image = Councillor Steve Christou Picture.jpg
| caption =
| office = Councillor of Cumberland City Council
for Granville Ward
| status = Incumbent
| term_start = 9 September 2017
| term_end =
| office1 = Mayor of Cumberland
| term_start1 = September 2019
| term_end1 = January 2022
| predecessor1 = Greg Cummings
| successor1 = Lisa Lake
| deputy1 = Eddy Sarkis
Michael Zaiter
| party = Libertarian (2024–present)
| otherparty = Our Local Community (2019–2024)
Labor (until 2019)
}}
{{Conservatism in Australia|Politicians}}
{{Far-right politics in Australia}}
Steve Christou (born 23 January 1978) is an Australian politician who has served as a councillor of Cumberland City Council since 2017, representing Granville Ward. He previously served as the mayor of Cumberland between September 2019 and January 2022.
Christou is a member of the Libertarian Party, having previously been a member of the Labor Party and Our Local Community.{{cite web |title=Cumberland |url-status=live |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/cumberland |first=Antony |last=Green |author-link=Antony Green |work=ABC News |access-date=10 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604112912/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/cumberland |archive-date=4 June 2023 |date=9 September 2017}} He also has an association with One Nation.{{Cite web |title=Sydney Forum |url=https://www.onenation.org.au/sydney-forum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505041431/https://www.onenation.org.au/sydney-forum |url-status=live |archive-date=5 May 2025 |first=Arthur |last=Lucks |date=19 March 2024 |access-date=2024-07-08 |publisher=Pauline Hanson's One Nation |language=en}}
Political career
In 2017, Christou first ran for council under the newly amalgamated Cumberland City Council as a member of the Labor Party,{{Cite web |title=History of Cumberland City Council |url=https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/history-cumberland-city-council |access-date=2024-07-08 |url-status=live |archive-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250514054553/https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/history-cumberland-city-council |publisher=Cumberland City Council}} which became one of the five biggest councils in New South Wales, and represents approximately 245,000 people. Christou was elected as councillor for the Granville Ward in September 2017.
In September 2019, Christou was elected as Mayor of Cumberland City Council under the Labor party. However, during his acceptance speech,{{Cite news |last=Vella |first=Joanne |date=27 September 2019 |url-access=subscription |via=The Daily Telegraph |title=Cumberland Council new mayor Steve Christou quits Labor Party |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-council-new-mayor-steve-cristou-quits-labor-party/news-story/14064a2820cf1737a67d36127fd9e5e7 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231116150349/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-council-new-mayor-steve-cristou-quits-labor-party/news-story/14064a2820cf1737a67d36127fd9e5e7?amp&nk=f413b5d34ce7f3939566694e6ef62552-1700147038 |url-status=live |archive-date=16 November 2023 |access-date=14 May 2025 |work=Parramatta Advertiser}} resigned from the Labor party after almost 18 years of membership, citing his personal view that the party no longer represented working class values. Christou stated that he wouldn't have Labor head office dictating to him how he should vote on same sex marriage and late term abortions.
Christou joined the Our Local Community (OLC) political party in 2019. At the 2021 local council elections, Christou was re-elected to his seat in the Granville Ward. With the Labor Party being elected with a majority of seats, Christou's Our Local Community Party became the opposition. However, he kept his seat as councillor for the Granville Ward.
Christou ran in the 2022 Australian federal election for the seat of Parramatta. He got 3.54% or 2,982 votes.
Christou was re-elected again in the Granville Ward at the 2024 local council elections however he resigned membership of Our Local Community (OLC) citing the party's purported negotiations with Labor in an attempt to broker a deal which would involve the party supporting a Labor Mayor. In December 2024, he joined the Libertarian Party.{{cite web |url=https://www.localelections.com.au/post/cumberland-councillor-steve-christou-joins-libertarian-party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501011600/https://www.localelections.com.au/post/cumberland-councillor-steve-christou-joins-libertarian-party |url-status=live |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=5 December 2024 |title=Cumberland councillor Steve Christou joins Libertarian Party |first=Leonardo |last=Puglisi |author-link=Leonardo Puglisi}}
=Senate candidacy=
Christou was the forth position candidate on the Libertarian–HEART–People First joint ticket for the Senate in New South Wales at the 2025 federal election.{{cite news |work=Neos Kosmos |url=https://neoskosmos.com/en/2025/04/13/news/australia/federal-election-2025-greek-australian-candidates-make-their-mark-across-party-lines/ |access-date=14 May 2025 |title=Federal Election 2025: Greek Australian candidates make their mark across party lines |date=13 April 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250419105014/https://neoskosmos.com/en/2025/04/13/news/australia/federal-election-2025-greek-australian-candidates-make-their-mark-across-party-lines/ |archive-date=19 April 2025}}
Political views
Christou holds conservative political views and has an active interest in a number of political and social issues.{{Cite web |title=Cumberland councillor Steve Christou exits party after they negotiated with Labor |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-councillor-steve-christou-quits-our-local-community-after-partys-attempt-to-strike-deal-with-labor/news-story/46d978dbeb58d6de3b669c069798468d?amp&nk=d2921463594ae65098a3bd96dc27755d-1730253246 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241030015351/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-councillor-steve-christou-quits-our-local-community-after-partys-attempt-to-strike-deal-with-labor/news-story/46d978dbeb58d6de3b669c069798468d?amp&nk=d2921463594ae65098a3bd96dc27755d-1730253246 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-date=30 October 2024 |access-date=2024-12-02 |via=The Daily Telegraph |work=Parramatta Advertiser |first=Joanne |last=Vella |date=29 October 2024 |language=en}}
= COVID-19 lockdown =
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Christou expressed opposition to some restrictions, stating that the lockdowns were akin to living in "Nazi Germany and Kazakhstan", citing disparity in rules between the eastern and western suburbs of Sydney.{{Cite web |last=Narunsky |first=Gareth |date=19 August 2021 |title=Mayor apologises over Nazi Germany comparison |url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/mayor-apologises-over-nazi-germany-comparison/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720064125/https://www.australianjewishnews.com/mayor-apologises-over-nazi-germany-comparison/ |url-status=live |archive-date=20 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Australian Jewish News}}{{Cite web |title='Absolutely disgraceful': Southwestern Sydney mayor questions equity of lockdown rules |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/absolutely-disgraceful-southwestern-sydney-mayor-questions-equity-of-lockdown-rules/203llzw2s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228032615/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/absolutely-disgraceful-southwestern-sydney-mayor-questions-equity-of-lockdown-rules/203llzw2s |url-status=live |archive-date=28 February 2025 |first1=Biwa |last1=Kwan |last2=Aili |first2=Massilia |date=19 July 2021 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=SBS News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title=Sydney mayors call for end to lockdown in 'heated' meeting |url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/roundtable-heated-as-sydney-hotspot-mayors-call-for-end-to-lockdown-20210914-p58rgl |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |url-access=subscription |first=Finbar |last=O'Mallon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922160137/https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/roundtable-heated-as-sydney-hotspot-mayors-call-for-end-to-lockdown-20210914-p58rgl |archive-date=22 September 2023}}
When Victorian premier Daniel Andrews classified Cumberland as a "red zone" and banned Cumberland residents from entering Victoria, Christou held a press conference labelling Andrews a "bedwetter".{{Cite web |date=2021-01-22 |title=Mayor from last remaining NSW 'red zone' blasts Dan Andrews |url=https://www.3aw.com.au/mayor-from-last-remaining-nsw-red-zone-blasts-dan-andrews/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312125458/https://www.3aw.com.au/mayor-from-last-remaining-nsw-red-zone-blasts-dan-andrews/ |url-status=live |archive-date=12 March 2025 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=3AW |language=en |first=Jacqui |last=Felgate |author-link=Jacqui Felgate}}
= ISIS brides repatriation =
Christou was critical of the federal government's decision to bring back and repatriate families of ISIS fighters.{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Lauren |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou labels ISIS repatriation an 'absolute betrayal' to western Sydney residents |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/cumberland-city-councillor-steve-christou-labels-isis-repatriation-an-absolute-betrayal-to-western-sydney-residents/news-story/9f1fe9d1cccd7fe0941e50af2aa65a81 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709085152/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/cumberland-city-councillor-steve-christou-labels-isis-repatriation-an-absolute-betrayal-to-western-sydney-residents/news-story/9f1fe9d1cccd7fe0941e50af2aa65a81?nk=7d29803c48e8500e145a6958762e7e81-1720498890 |url-status=live |archive-date=9 July 2024}}
= Australia Day celebrations =
Christou is a supporter of retaining Australia Day celebrations on 26 January.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-10 |title=Mayor slams 'cheap' excuse to cancel Australia Day celebrations |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/mayor-refuses-cheap-excuse-to-cancel-australia-day-celebrations-044405042.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228032920/https://au.news.yahoo.com/web/20250228032920/https://au.news.yahoo.com/mayor-refuses-cheap-excuse-to-cancel-australia-day-celebrations-044405042.html |archive-date=28 February 2025 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-AU}}
= LGBTQ+ motions =
In February 2024, Christou proposed a motion to stop drag queen story time for children in Cumberland.{{Cite news |last=Karacsony |first=Laurence |date=23 February 2024 |title=Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou doubles down on stance to reject drag queen story time in his locality |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/cumberland-city-councillor-steve-christou-doubles-down-on-stance-to-reject-drag-queen-story-time-in-his-locality/news-story |work=Sky News}} The motion was initially denied. However in a rescission motion, to which local residents turned up to the Council meeting to protest in support of Christou's motion, the proposal was passed and drag queen story time events were banned from being held at public facilities in the Cumberland region, including libraries and halls.
In May 2024, Christou proposed a ban on same-sex parenting books{{Cite news |last1=McLeod |first1=Catie |last2=Rose |first2=Tamsin |date=2024-05-18 |title=Three Sydney councillors who voted for a same-sex book ban were from one party. What's behind it? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/18/three-sydney-councillors-who-voted-for-a-same-sex-book-ban-were-from-one-party-whats-behind-it |archive-date=7 March 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307084029/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/18/three-sydney-councillors-who-voted-for-a-same-sex-book-ban-were-from-one-party-whats-behind-it |at=Explainer |name-list-style=and |access-date=2024-07-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} in the eight libraries located in the Cumberland local government area. Initially the proposal was passed at a Council meeting. However, it was overturned two weeks later following community backlash.{{Cite web |title=Western Sydney council investigated over decision to ban same-sex parenting books |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808204304/https://9now.nine.com.au/today/same-sex-parenting-book-ban-western-sydney-council-libraries-face-funding-cut-over-controversial-move/d6c20549-0674-43d8-811e-bcfab8dd2675 |url-status=live |archive-date=8 August 2024 |first=Tom |last=Livingstone |url=https://9now.nine.com.au/today/same-sex-parenting-book-ban-western-sydney-council-libraries-face-funding-cut-over-controversial-move/d6c20549-0674-43d8-811e-bcfab8dd2675 |access-date=2024-07-08 |date=7 May 2024 |website=9now.nine.com.au |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last2=Gorrey |first1=Anthony |last1=Segaert |first2=Megan |name-list-style=and |date=2024-05-15 |title=As it happened: Cumberland City councillors meet as same-sex parents book ban debate rages |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cumberland-city-council-book-ban-live-updates-councillors-to-meet-as-same-sex-parents-book-debate-rages-20240515-p5jdsn.html |url-status=live |archive-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240515113119/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cumberland-city-council-book-ban-live-updates-councillors-to-meet-as-same-sex-parents-book-debate-rages-20240515-p5jdsn.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
= Voice to Parliament =
Christou opposed the Voice to Parliament referendum.{{Cite web |title=Steve Christou appeals for 'No' vote in the Voice to Parliament |date=18 September 2023 |url=https://greekherald.com.au/news/steve-christou-appeals-for-no-vote-in-voice-to-parliament/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212015119/https://greekherald.com.au/news/steve-christou-appeals-for-no-vote-in-voice-to-parliament/ |url-status=live |archive-date=12 December 2024 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Greek Herald |language=en}}