NSW Election: Labor picks community activist Sue Wright to run on northern beaches

Sue Wright has been a northern beaches’ community activist on issues from privatisation of public services to protecting precious bushland — now she’s a Labor candidate at the NSW election.

A passionate community activist who has fought against the privatisation of public health and transport services on the northern beaches has been picked to run for Labor at the next state election.

Sue Wright, from Narraweena, has already started campaigning to win the seat of Wakehurst, held by the Liberal Party since 1984.

Ms Wright, known by many locals as Sue Barsi, has a headstart on the Liberals who have yet to name a candidate for the March 25 poll even though the current MP, Brad Hazzard, who has held the seat for 32 years, announced in late October that he was retiring from politics.

Earlier this week the Manly Daily reported that the ‘teal” community independent movement had decided not to field a candidate in Wakehurst.

And long term Northern Beaches mayor Micheal Regan is still to confirm if he will run as an independent in the safe Liberal seat.

A campaign image used by Sue Wright, the Labor candidate for Wakehurst at the 2023 NSW election. Picture: Supplied

Ms Wright’s only official competition, so far, is The Greens’ Ethan Hrnjak.

She said her campaign would highlight what she described as the “30-plus years of Liberal neglect to our essential services on the northern beaches”.

Sue Wright (left), the Labor candidate for Wakehurst at the 2023 NSW election. Picture: Supplied

“I put my name forward as a Labor Party candidate because I became increasingly frustrated with the incompetence and arrogance of the Liberal Party and their total disregard to the needs of our residents.”

Ms Wright has been heavily involved in campaigns to stop the iconic Freshwater-class ferry services being replaced by smaller twin-hulled vessels, the privatisation of State Transit bus services on the northern beaches and the downgrading of Mona Vale Hospital.

Liberal Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard is retiring at the next election after holding the seat for 32 years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

She was also opposed to the private/public partnership at Northern Beaches Hospital.

“Public assets such as buses, ferries and health services were sold off to the highest bidder with no consideration as to whether it would be in the best interests of the local community,” she said.

Ms Wright, who has two children and was born on the northern beaches, has also been vocal as part of her membership of Mothers Against Nuclear Testing, the Labor Environment Action Network and Greenpeace.

A head on crash at North Narrabeen on Wakehurst Parkway. Sue Wright would push for the road to be upgraded. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

She will also campaign against the state government’s push to allow land owned by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council to redevelop bushland its owns at ‘Lizard Rock’, Belrose, into a housing estate and for Wakehurst Parkway to be upgraded in an environmentally sensitive way.

“Let’s protect our pristine environment, and keep the northern beaches safe from overdevelopment,” she said.

Labor’s candidate for Wakehurst is opposed to the public/private contract at Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest. Picture: Julian Andrews

“I’ve had a long involvement in community issues and have an honest passion to fix the problems.”

If elected, Ms Wright would also push for:

– an upgrade

– reinstating cancelled bus routes;

– more direct bus routes to North Sydney;

– expanding the number of mental health beds and services;

– better pay and working conditions for teachers and school staff;

– better maintaining public schools

– more public green spaces and;

– banning phones in schools.