NSW election: Pittwater ‘Teal’ independent Jacqui Scruby gears up to take on the Liberals
Another ‘teal’ community independent has come forward to take on the Liberals on the northern beaches in the state election.
Manly
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A community ‘teal’ independent aiming to grab a safe northern beaches seat off the Liberals at next year’s state election kicks off her four-month campaign on Tuesday night.
Jacqui Scruby, who has the support of Climate 200 — the crowd-funding group backing political candidates — will have a battle on her hands to win Pittwater.
The electorate, held by popular senior Cabinet Minister Rob Stokes, who is stepping away from politics at the March 2023 poll, is held with a 21 per cent margin.
But Ms Scruby, a 39-year-old environmental lawyer, former business owner and climate change advisor, is confident voters will again back the ‘teal’ philosophy as it did in the federal seat of Mackellar at the election in May.
Sophie Scamps grabbed what was described as a safe Liberal seat with a close to six per cent swing away from incumbent MP Jason Falinski.
Ms Scruby was Dr Scamps’ campaign manager in her ‘teal wave’ victory over Mr Falinski, backed by Climate 200 which says it supports candidates who are committed to “a science-based response to the climate crisis; restoring integrity to politics; and advancing gender equity”.
Now Ms Scruby, who lives in the electorate with her husband and two daughters, will tell voters that she will be an MP “who delivers for the community and not a political party machine”.
She will also tell supporters at her campaign launch at the Parkhouse hotel at Mona Vale on Tuesday night, that she will push for integrity on climate action and inappropriate development as well as cost of living, gender equality and political corruption issues.
Ms Scruby will also be watching the issue of potential oil and gas drilling in the ocean off the northern beaches. Even though former Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared it dead in the water before the last federal election, Asset Energy’s PEP-11 project is set to become an election issue. The decision will be reviewed in the federal court in March.
“Having just worked with Dr Scamps to improve the Climate Change Act and usher in the
new National Anti-Corruption Commission, I’ve seen first-hand how independents bring their
community’s voice to parliament,” Ms Scruby said.
“Cost of living is a major issue for the people of Pittwater.
“We need to make sure every family and business has affordable access to our abundant and cheap renewables to eliminate petrol costs and avoid energy bills.
“The people of Pittwater get it. They know what makes environmental sense, also makes economic sense and therefore makes common sense.”
Local issues on Ms Scruby’s radar include services at Mona Vale Hospital and the upgrade of Wakehurst Parkway.
“For too long, Pittwater has been neglected,” she said.
“We’ve lost our public hospital, we no longer have Pittwater Council, and one of our main roads floods seemingly every time it rains.”
A Liberal candidate is yet to be chosen, but Northern Beaches Councillor Rory Amon is the frontrunner at present, while the party decides whether or not to reopen preselection process to allow a woman to make a bid to become its candidate.
Ms Scruby’s launch starts at 5:30pm, ends at 7.30pm at the Parkhouse, Park St, Mona Vale.
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