NSW Election 2019: Guide to candidates taking on Rob Stokes in Pittwater
With just days to go until NSW goes to the polls here is your guide to who is running in Pittwater and what they stand for.
With just days to go until NSW goes to the polls here is your guide to who is running in Pittwater and what they stand for.
Liberal MP Rob Stokes is attempting to hold his seat but he has seven challengers hoping to beat him.
We asked them all to provide a short bio, a bit about their political experience and background and to list their top three priorities/issues in the electorate.
STACEY MITCHELL
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
A Marketing Executive, having been a Warriewood resident since I was 2 (total of 45 years) having seen much change – not all for the betterment of Pittwater. I remember watching the movie Jaws from my parent’s balcony being able to see the Screen from the Warriewood drive in, a valley with parcels of land with horses, glass houses, I remember a Pittwater Council and a visit to the beach that wasn’t over crowded. My husband Rob and I have two sons Harrison, 7, Hudson, 2.
YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
I joined the Liberal Party when I was 19 and at 24 I became the Electorate Officer for the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop - this is where I realised my love for Pittwater and my local community. I continued to support the Liberal Party until 2016 when factionalism controlled candidate selection (removing local democracy). I became a founding member of the Australian Conservatives in that same year, now leading over 500 members across Mackellar who equally believe in our policies and returning common sense to Parliament.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES/ISSUES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
Retaining Mona Vale Hospital – the Liberals State & Federally campaigned on saving it and broke their promise! If elected I would raise an enquiry into the State Governments Handling on this issue – providing a new hospital 15 kms away with no Ambulances to support the beaches unless you live locally to Narrabeen. Residents lives north of Mona Vale are seriously at risk.
De-merging Pittwater Council – 89% of an electorate to vote against amalgamation and then be merged with two other Councils creating a Council that is far too big, we were ignored – larger councils don’t necessarily deliver the best outcomes for ratepayers!
Halting our Population on the beaches, the ALP wants to see “a fair share for the beaches” but our infrastructure does not support the population we currently have, high-rise is not the answer. We need better roads, greater access routes and no more development until we catch up. As locals we struggle to get our kids to school, get to work, get our children to sport on weekends, it’s a bottleneck on all major roads. We need to stop and do some appropriate planning not – “hope planning with flood gates open”!
ROB STOKES
LIBERAL PARTY
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
Rob and his wife Sophie live in Newport and are busy raising three children. Before entering Parliament Rob was an environmental and planning lawyer with qualifications from Macquarie and Oxford Universities. Rob has been an active member of local surf clubs, churches and business chambers for more than 20 years.
THREE MAIN POLICIES:
Completing upgrades to key transport corridors such as Mona Vale Road and Wakehurst Parkway and delivering further public transport improvements to complement the B-Line and Keoride, including express service between Mona Vale and Macquarie Park, and Mona Vale to Chatswood via the new hospital.
Continuing investment into Mona Vale Hospital, including 30 new inpatient beds, a new ambulance station and more medical facilities.
Protecting Pittwater’s unique character and environment, including the purchase of remnant coastal rainforest at Newport with council.
NATALIE MATKOVIC
ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY
A BIT ABOUT YOU: I am interested in encouraging political parties to adopt animal-friendly policies in Pittwater. As a vegetarian for 16 years, I further became interested in the animal rights movement in 2017 when I became Vegan after learning about the awful conditions animals endure behind closed doors.
YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE: First time running as a candidate for Pittwater.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES/ISSUES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
1. Ban 1080 poison and introduce trap, neuter and release programs
2. Protect the ocean and waterways from pollution
3. End puppy farms
MIRANDA KORZY
THE GREENS
A BIT ABOUT YOU:
I’ve lived in Avalon for 15 years, where my husband and I brought up our kids. I’m a journalist and have covered everything from police to the prime minister. I’m standing for the Greens in Pittwater because I’m determined to give local people a voice in Parliament.
YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:
Journalism has given me a great background for politics. As a founder of Protect Pittwater, I’ve campaigned to recover Pittwater Council for two years. I also manage media for the Save Mona Vale Hospital committee. Over the years I‘ve stood up for many other issues too, including lobbying for public education funding.
TOP THREE PRIORITIES/ISSUES IN YOUR ELECTORATE:
Hospitals
Restore emergency and other acute services at Mona Vale Hospital. Work towards the government taking over Northern Beaches Hospital to resolve systemic problems and build confidence amongst staff and the public.
Council
Provide a binding plebiscite in the former Pittwater Council area to demerge our council. The Greens have already voted for this in Parliament and I’ll continue to fight for it.
Environmental Protection
Protect our trees, coastline and low-rise villages. The Greens also want a Royal Commission into NSW planning and to re-write planning laws, taking climate change into account and giving residents a greater say.
STEWART MATTHEWS
INDEPENDENT
Mr Matthews was yet to respond to questions. But he is a resident of Avalon Beach for 25 years, Stewart Matthews will run as an independent in the NSW election.
The business man and inventor, who has sold six million easy-to-use inverted bath plugs for people with Motor Nureons in Australia, since patenting his invention 25 years ago.
Mr Matthews said his campaign focused on returning Mona Vale Hospital to a facility offering acute-care services and reinstating Pittwater Council’s independent status following its amalgamation with Northern Beaches Council.
Mr Matthew said, if elected, he would be calling for a parliamentary inquiry into reasons underpinning Pittwater Council’s amalgamation, including allegations of misconduct by public officials.
“If I stand for anything then above all I stand for commonsense – we need a hospital,” Mr Matthews said.
MICHAEL NEWMAN
KEEP SYDNEY OPEN
Balgowlah’s Michael Newman, 24, is taking an inaugural run for State Government as a Pittwater candidate for new political
party Keep Sydney Open.
The new political party, grown from industry lobby group Keep Sydney Open, will attempt to win seats on the state’s
legislative council.
The new party’s policy platform focuses on nightlife and cultural investment, drug policy reform, civil liberties, stamping out
corruption, supporting small business, and improving the cost of living.
SUZANNE DALY
SUSTAINABLE AUSTRALIA
Dr Daly was yet to respond to questions from the Manly Daily.
The Newport doctor Suzanne Daly said she has entered politics to help the younger generation who feel stressed and overwhelmed by society’s problems.
“We have very high suicide rates for teens because they are all so stressed and anxious about these big problems that are politicians are doing nothing about.”
She said climate change was at the top of the list of concerns.
“They are confused, there is so much angst out there.
“We have to stop digging for fossil fuels. The world has moved on and so should we.”
Retaining and returning services to Mona Vale Hospital will be a big part of her campaign.
“The building is sound,” she said. “I will be fighting to keep it. There is a lot of strong feeling out there. People are very protective.”
Among the other issues she has pledge to fight against include over development which she said has made housing unaffordable for many.
She said she will endeavour to “think globally and act locally”.
JARED TURKINGTON
LABOR
Mr Turkington was yet to respond to the Manly Daily.
At just 19 years old, Newport’s Jared Turkington is Pittwater’s youngest candidate in the NSW election.
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