Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller would be happy to be arrested again fighting for what she believes in

DEPUTY Lord Mayor, Jess Miller wants to set the record straight on a number of issues — including why she’s not “anti-development”, the reason there needs to be “more normal people” in politics and what she loves about firebrand ex-senator Jacqui Lambie.

New deputy lord mayor of Sydney, Jess Miller. Picture: Justin Lloyd

JESS MILLER isn’t part of a club. She didn’t go to the best school. And if push comes to shove, Sydney’s new Deputy Lord Mayor says she’d happily be arrested again fighting for what she believes in.

In her first in-depth interview since becoming second-in-command to controversial Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Cr Miller said she wanted to set the record straight on a number of issues — including why she shouldn’t be branded “anti-development”, the reason there needs to be “more normal people” in politics and what she loves about firebrand ex-senator Jacqui Lambie.

Her journey from environmental activist to politician — a term that still makes her uncomfortable — was never destined to be smooth.

Jess Miller says she shouldn’t be branded “anti-development”. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The outspoken 33-year-old, who once said “cars ruin everything”, is a longstanding opponent of the WestConnex motorway. She was also handcuffed and led away by police during an anti-coal protest in 2008.

Despite admitting she’s now in a position where she wields more power, Cr Miller said: “I’d do it again”.

“You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to get yourself arrested for fun — it’s crap.

“It’s not a nice thing to have happen to you but it comes as a last resort. It’s not against the law to protest but I’d do it again.”

Cr Miller being arrested back in 2008 over a protest. Picture: Facebook

Cr Miller with colleagues including Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Picture: Facebook

The youngest councillor ever elected as Deputy Lord Mayor at the City of Sydney, she also rejected accusations of carrying a “strong anti-development attitude”.

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“I am pro-development. Green Square is going to be amazing because the city has actually taken the time to ask what people who live in apartments need,” she said.

She’s deputy by day but most of her constituents might be surprised to learn Cr Miller is also a mother, devoted boxer and martial arts student.

And she believes there’s an urgent need for “more normal people” like herself in politics.

“I would love for people to go, ‘If she’s doing it, so can I’, because I’m not special, I’m pretty basic,” she said.

“I’m not a member of any political party. I don’t have connections. I’m not rich. I didn’t go to the best school. I’m not part of the club.”

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Cr Miller also said she admired former independent senator Jacqui Lambie for her dedication to the role.

“I don’t agree with her on a range of issues but I really respect her. I think she really, really cares,” she said.

Cr Miller said she expected to see a rise in the number of independents being elected because voters were sick of the government “not listening”.

“A really healthy democracy is where the government realises there’s a social contract between the community and them ... but I sometimes wonder whether they’ve stopped listening,” she said.

“If they were listening they would hear that building a frigging 1950s road infrastructure for what’s supposed to be a global city is a dumb idea.”