Community Newsletter

30 January 2025

Happy New Year! After a short break – enjoying all that Warringah has to offer, January has been a busy month for my team who are back in the office with lots of exciting things planned for 2025, including gearing up for the Federal election.

PEP11 is officially dead in the water! Congratulations to the community groups behind the campaign for their persistence in pressuring the government to reject the proposal. The PEP11 project has been formally refused by the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic. A huge win for coastal communities from Manly to Newcastle!

And while thinking about our coastlines, it’s been wonderful to see the surf lifesaving community come alive on our beaches – both on patrols and in competition. Thank you to all those who do their bit to keep us safe in the water. If you haven’t already, check out the Beach Passport campaign to make sure you know your beach safety.

Next week I will be heading back to Parliament for the first sitting week of the year where I’m pleased to see that the Government has listed the Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024 for debate – much needed reform as e-commerce grows and matures. Whilst not yet providing full compensation to victims, I’m pleased to say the government has agreed to support my amendment to place a reverse onus on institutions to provide important information to scam victims to help them seek redress or compensation.

I’ll be watching out for the 'Nature Positive' laws return from the Senate. An Environmental Protection Agency and the additional supports this legislation will set up are vital to protect our precious and unique environment.

I will also be pushing for the government to bring on debate and a vote for the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Communications) Bill 2024 as it is still perfectly legal to lie in a political advertisement. This new bill addresses many of the protections I have proposed in my Voter Protections Bill, so I encourage the government to get on with it and bring integrity to political advertising. Regardless, even if passed, it is not intended to apply to the upcoming election so it is important to be wary of lies in political advertising. Please go to my website for my real voting record and policies.

Enrol to vote

With the next Federal election coming up soon, it’s time to ensure you’re enrolled to vote and your electoral roll details are up to date. Please visit the AEC to register or update your details www.aec.gov.au

In the lead up to Australia Day, I had the pleasure of attending a number of citizenship ceremonies for Northern Beaches, Mosman and North Sydney Councils. It was a real honour to be able to welcome so many wonderful new citizens to our great country.

It was also an opportunity to recognise those in our community who have gone above and beyond to make our local areas even greater. Congratulations to these local heroes:

Northern Beaches Council Awards

Mosman Community Awards

North Sydney Community Awards – nominations are open for the 2025 Community Awards

Freshwater Surf Carnival

Earlier this month I enjoyed attending the Freshwater Surf Carnival – which due to the huge swells was moved to Manly Beach. I was so impressed with the athleticism and surf skills all the competitors displayed. Thank you to both Freshwater and Manly surf clubs for all their efforts to make this day such a huge success, despite the challenging conditions.

One Meal

Before the Christmas break, my team and I were able to spend a morning with One Meal Northern Beaches to help clean boxes for fresh produce and pack Christmas hampers for those in need. One Meal Northern Beaches is a not-for-profit community organisation, 100% volunteer run, providing free food relief for people in need.

Butterfly Foundation

Recently, I visited the Butterfly Foundation, a national charity for all people who are affected by eating disorders. The Foundation is based in Crows Nest. Alongside the CEO, Jim Hungerford and Head of Communications and Engagement, Melissa Wilton, I also was able to meet with Dr Jennifer Hamer who discussed her lived experience with an eating disorder. Each month, sadly 100 people in Australia die due to their eating disorder, and more than 100,000 develop one. The Butterfly Foundation continues to advocate for early prevention and early intervention resources to help to address the escalating crisis.

Community Battery

Earlier this month, I attended the opening of Ausgrid’s Cammeray Community Battery with North Sydney MP Kylea Tink, Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen and Senator for NSW, Tony Sheldon. Around 350 locals in Cammeray (which is new to the Warringah electorate) will enjoy energy savings of around $200 a year from this Community Battery. The battery absorbs excess rooftop solar during the day and feeds it back to the network during peak times. If you live in the Cammeray area, and would like to benefit from the Cammeray community battery and lower your household energy bills, find out more here: Energy Storage as a Service (ESaaS) - Ausgrid.  These savings will be a welcome relief to the Cammeray locals, and I will continue to advocate for more community batteries within the expanded Warringah electorate.

My voting record

With the 2025 election approaching, you are likely to receive all sorts of fear and smear pamphlets in your letter boxes or social media feeds making all sorts of claims about my voting record.  As an independent, I consider each legislation on its merits and always seek to represent the views of the Warringah community. Depending on the issue, you can see that my vote is fairly evenly placed between Labor, the Coalition and the Greens. It’s also important to know that I attend the vast majority of votes. If I have abstained on a particular issue, it’s because I think it’s wedge politics and divisive. It’s important to have the facts – you can check my real voting record here.

Our first newsletter of the year is a great opportunity to remind you that my team are here to be of service to the Warringah Community.

Here are some of the ways we can help:

Government Service Support

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

Congratulatory 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.

Seniors Guide

To help seniors and their families navigate the government services and supports available, pick up a hard copy of our guide or download here.

Warringah Housing Survey

Following on from our Housing forum, we have kept our survey open to better understand your concerns and to hear from the community about the measures that could play a key role in addressing supply and demand.

Have your say here

New to Warringah? Your views matter.

Due to AEC electorate boundaries changes we are welcoming new constituents from Cammeray, Cremorne, Crows Nest, Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, McMahons Point, Milsons Point, Neutral Bay, North Sydney, Waverton and Wollstonecraft and I want to better understand how I can best represent you in Parliament and develop policies that benefit our community.

Have your say here

Community Forum in Crows Nest - Tuesday 18th February

I am hosting a community forum in Crows Nest on Tuesday 18th February from 6.30pm - 7.30pm.

This is an opportunity for you to meet my team, have your say on the issues that are important to you and our community, ask questions and share your views.

For further information and to register, click here.

Please contact my office on 99776411 or email me at [email protected] should you need assistance.

Please share this newsletter with your friends and family to keep them updated, or encourage them to sign up here on my website.