Community Newsletter

21 September 2026

This update brings several opportunities to connect, have your say and support our community. Join Allegra Spender and me tonight for a special Politics on Zoom, share your views through my Climate Resilience Poll, and connect with local organisations supporting the wellbeing of men and boys.

I have been in Canberra over the past fortnight and will share a full parliamentary update soon. In the meantime, you can follow my latest speeches and work in Parliament on my website.

Thank you, as always, for staying informed and involved.

Zali

Read on for

• Tonight: 21 September – Join Zali, Allegra and Carrick Ryan
• How prepared are you for extreme weather?
• A win for online safety
• Men’s Stronger Together Breakfast – find local support
• Here to help – guides and services

Join Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and me for a special Politics on Zoom with former federal agent and political commentator Carrick Ryan.

After a packed fortnight in Canberra, Carrick will put your questions, and some of his own, to us. This is an opportunity to share your questions and views on the latest developments in Parliament, Australia’s changing political landscape and our new Community Strong party.

• When: Monday 21 September, 7.30–8.30pm
• Where: Zoom
• Questions: Submit yours when you register

Please invite family and friends who may be interested in joining the conversation.

Register here.

Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and costly. I want to hear how prepared people in Warringah and communities across Australia feel for heatwaves, bushfires, storms and floods.

I am developing a Climate Resilience Green Paper to help shape stronger national policy on climate adaptation and disaster preparedness. Your experiences and priorities will help identify where greater support and investment are needed.

Please take my one-minute Climate Resilience Poll and share it with family and friends across Australia. The more responses received, the stronger the evidence for national action.

Take the one-minute poll here.

The Government has proposed new Digital Duty of Care laws that would require online platforms to identify and reduce foreseeable harms. Australians would also have greater control over algorithm-driven feeds, including regular prompts allowing them to opt out.

This is an important step and a win for sustained crossbench advocacy to hold platforms accountable. While I have called for algorithms to be opt-in, giving users the choice to opt out is welcome progress. The details must now be carefully scrutinised to ensure the protections are strong and enforceable.

Just days before the announcement, I joined Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and consent advocate Chanel Contos to discuss harmful online content, consent education and why stronger safeguards are urgently needed.

Watch the discussion here.

Almost 200 men came together at Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club for the inaugural Warringah Men’s Stronger Together Breakfast, hosted by Zali and the Warringah Men’s Collective.

Manly Sea Eagles head coach Kieran Foran delivered a powerful keynote, speaking openly about his own mental health struggles and the loss of his stepson to suicide. He urged men to reach out for help and to “dig deeper” when checking in on family and friends, saying his experience had shown him that fighting these battles alone is “impossible”.

The breakfast brought men and boys of all ages together with support services, mentors and community groups across the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore. Zali spoke about the pressures facing men, including isolation, relationship breakdown, financial and housing stress, gambling harm, harmful online influences and poor mental health. Representatives from local organisations highlighted the wide range of support available.

The message from the morning was simple: no one needs to face difficult times alone. Support and connection are available locally.

Watch Kieran Foran’s speech here and read media release here.

Zali also acknowledged the event and all participating organisations in Parliament. Watch Zali’s parliamentary speech here.

Connect with local support groups

The breakfast brought together 26 organisations supporting men, boys, fathers and families: Dad Steps; Fireside Chat with Dads; Gidget Foundation: support for men; Lifeline Northern Beaches, Mosman to Kirribilli; MATES in Construction; Meditation HQ; Men’s Kitchen; Men’s Sheds (Greenway / Mosman / North Sydney / Northern Beaches); Mentoring Men; Mongrels Men; Northern Sydney Local Health District Adult Mental Health Service; PAVE Mentoring; Pioneer Clubhouse; Relationships Australia NSW; Spoke to a Bloke; Sydney North Health Network; The Fathering Project; The Men’s Table; The Overcomers Place; Tresillian: support for dads; Vipers Run Club; WNOW (When No One’s Watching).

If you or someone you know needs immediate support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78. If life is in danger, call 000.

Here are some of the ways my team and I can help: 

Updated Seniors Guide and free information session

Navigating government services and entitlements can be overwhelming. We've updated our popular Seniors Guide with the latest legislative changes to help seniors and their families understand the support available.

Pick up a hard copy from our Electorate Office in Manly or Zali’s Community Hub in Neutral Bay (Cnr Military Rd and Wycombe Rd), or download the guide here.

You can also join our free information session at the Community Hub on Thursday, 1 October, 1-2.30pm. Book your place here.

Sustainability resources for Warringah

Our Warringah Sustainability Guide and EV Supplement provide practical information for households and local businesses.

• The Sustainability Guide includes straightforward ways to reduce emissions, cut electricity and water use, and prepare for climate impacts.
• The EV Supplement covers the key things to consider when choosing an electric vehicle.

You can download both guides online or collect printed copies from our Electorate Office in Manly or Zali’s Community Hub in Neutral Bay.

We also sent a special Warringah Electrification Tips update last week, bringing together key rebates, zero-interest loans and government programs that can help you electrify your home. In case you missed it, you can read the update here.

Grants

There are many grants that can help individuals, community groups, businesses and schools to build a better Warringah.

Round 10 of the Stronger Communities Programme will be launching soon. Details on Expressions of Interest will be available on our website and via our Grants Newsletter. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in receiving details on Stronger Communities, or to subscribe to our regular Grants Newsletter.

Government Service Support

We can provide support on matters relating to Aged Care Plans, Services Australia enquiries, Immigration and Citizenship matters.

Congratulatory Messages

We are happy to provide messages for a special birthday or wedding anniversary. Further details here.

Be Scam Aware

Awareness is our best protection against scams. The government’s “Little Book of Scams” includes information on how to spot and avoid scams. Feel free to drop in and pick up a copy or download here.

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