Community Newsletter

3 October 2025

A big thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our climate risk & resilience event at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney.

With the government releasing the National Climate Risk Assessment, the National Adaptation Plan and the climate targets – it was a timely opportunity to come together to discuss the impact of climate risk and how we can build better adaptation and resilience to keep communities safe and lower the costs for Australians.

Our panellists were:

• Greg Mullins AO AFSM, Former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW, Founder Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA)
• Julia Davis, Senior Policy & Communications Officer, Financial Rights Legal Service
• Emma Aisbett PhD, Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy

For those who missed it, the link to the recording can be found here.

It’s been a pleasure attending a number of graduation ceremonies around Warringah and wishing Year 12 students all the best in their upcoming final exams. Whilst it’s a big milestone, exam results don’t define you and I hope all students feel proud of their achievements and hard work, no matter the outcome.

A huge thank you to all the parents and amazing teachers for their hard work and dedication in nurturing the class of 2025.

Save Milsons Point Post Office Petition

Many of you have contacted me about the impact the closure of the Milsons Point Australia Post Office has had on our local community.

I share your concerns and frustrations, and my team and I have been actively pursuing this issue. Thanks to your strong advocacy, I’ve raised the matter directly with the Prime Minister and government, met with Australia Post to discuss community concerns and potential alternatives, and written to Transport for NSW urging them to reconsider the tender process. My request is for Australia Post to remain at its current location or, at the very least, to identify a nearby site to continue providing these vital services.

Local North Sydney business owner, Venietta Slama, has also launched a petition opposing the closure, which has already attracted more than 2,800 signatures. If you are concerned, I encourage you to add your voice by signing the Save Milsons Point Post Office Petition.

This issue extends beyond Milsons Point, as Australia Post continues its modernisation program, shifting its focus to parcel delivery and collection services in line with changing consumer trends. I have also written to the government seeking greater clarity on how these changes will affect our communities.

Screenwriter Petition

In August, we held a roundtable with constituents from the screen industry to discuss the local challenges facing the industry and hear about practical policy recommendations. Following this meeting, I worked with these constituents, and the broader sector, to launch a petition to call on the government to do more to protect our Australian stories and the local jobs that help make them.

Screen stories are the most accessible form of culture available to audiences. They play an important social and cultural role by representing and reflecting Australians' lives.

Since the 1970s, the Australian government has ensured local audiences have access to Australian films, drama series, documentaries and children’s programs through local content regulations. Yet, as audiences have shifted to online streaming platforms, these regulations have failed to keep pace.

This has not only impacted our culture, but also the industry. The knock-on effect in the sector has been enormous with more than 55,000 jobs impacted.

The Albanese Government promised streaming regulation and local content requirements at the 2019, 2022 and 2025 elections but still haven't delivered.

We are calling on the government to make good on its promise and legislate that international streaming platforms invest in Australian stories by 30 June 2026.

If you care about saving our stories, please sign the petition. Every signature matters. Every share counts. The time to act is now.

Supporting Small Businesses in Warringah

I've met with many local small business owners who are struggling to find qualified staff to meet the needs of their businesses. For those looking to fill gaps by hiring skilled workers from overseas, the process of becoming an approved sponsor remains overly complex and difficult to navigate.

If you're a small business owner facing similar issues, I want to hear from you. I’m advocating for practical solutions and policy changes to support our local businesses.

Local Para Champions & Local Sporting Champions Program

The program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international events.

Applications for Round 2, 2025-26 are currently open until 31st October 2025

Youth Parliament

I am pleased to let you know that Expressions of Interest for National Youth Parliament are now open. Through this exciting new program, young people from all walks of life will engage directly with civics and the Parliament.

150 high school students, one from each electorate, will be selected to participate in a five-day residential program in Canberra next year. As Youth Members, they will gain firsthand experience of parliamentary processes from drafting and debating bills to understanding how laws are passed.

All costs associated with the program including travel and accommodation will be covered.

If you’re 16 or 17 years old, I encourage you to apply. It’s an opportunity to provide a unique platform to develop your leadership skills, engage in democratic decision-making, and represent your community at a national level.

Further information about the National Youth Parliament can be found here.

Local Community Grant Success

We are delighted to note that all Warringah nominees for the Stronger Communities Program Round 9 and Volunteer Grants 2024-25 were successful grant recipients.

Some of the projects that received Stronger Communities Program Grants are:

• Mary’s House Services, North Sydney– ‘Upgrading Mary’s House Services CRM to Support Victim Survivors of DFV’ $9,225
• 1st Balmoral Sea Scouts, Balmoral – ‘Energy efficient upgrade to Community Hall’ $20,000
• Northern Suburbs Basketball Association, North Sydney – ‘Accessible Toilets Project’ $20,000
• Manly Life Saving Club, Manly – ‘Emergency Search and Rescue Trailer’ $9,500

Helping our community

My team is here to assist with a range of issues from aged care plans and NDIS to immigration and citizenship matters. Below is a lovely email of thanks we received this week from Tao from North Sydney after receiving his visa.

Thanks so much for sharing this incredible news with me—my heart is bursting with excitement right now!

Just as you mentioned, I immediately logged into my Immi Account after reading your email, and I’m thrilled to confirm that my visa was indeed granted today. This is such a huge relief for me!

I can’t express how grateful I am to you, and the entire team at the Office of Zali Steggall. Your support, and attention to this matter, mean so much to me.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart – I’m very grateful.

Crows Nest Fest: Sunday 19th October, 10am – 5pm

Under the theme “Connection, Culture & Creativity”, this free, family-friendly event promises a full day of vibrant entertainment, delicious food, and unique market finds.

Join Team Zali for the Mary’s House Annual Walk on Sunday 26th October

Walk with us along the leafy streets and harbour paths of North Sydney to support Mary’s House Services, providing vital refuge and support to women and children escaping domestic and family violence. Register here.

Please take our short survey to let us know what matters most to you so my team and I can better represent you and our community.

For more information on Zali’s community activities and updates follow @ZaliSteggallMP on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky, LinkedIn, X or Tiktok.