Country activists on a mission to swing the North Shore by-election
ANTI-COUNCIL merger activists from across country NSW are travelling to Sydney to man the North Shore election booths in a bid to swing the vote.
Mosman
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ANTI-COUNCIL merger activists from across country NSW are on a mission to defeat the Liberal Party this weekend.
The campaigners are travelling to the city to man North Shore election booths as voters go to the polls on Saturday.
And they will join the residents fighting the merger of North Sydney and Mosman Councils with Willoughby.
“Communities are angry about the way they have been treated and who can blame them,” Save our Councils Coalition spokesman Will Tuck said.
“So it wasn’t hard for them to say they would come to Sydney to support SOCC’s campaign of putting the Libs Last on the North Shore and work to make a political point about the Premier’s role in mergers.”
The country activists are returning a favour as SOCC campaigners travelled to help man the election booths during the Orange by-election late last year.
Opposition to the merger of three rural councils was partially credited with the swing against the Nationals, bringing Philip Donato from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party to power.
Mr Donato visited Mosman on Tuesday and he believes there will be a swing in the North Shore by-election.
“By-elections are always volatile and they always swing,” he said.
“I’m not surprised by the level of anger that exists.”
Mr Donato believes the way in which former member Jillian Skinner left will leave a “bitter taste” in a lot of people’s mouths.
“It was like she was having a temper tantrum because she wasn’t able to be a minister,” he said. “It will be a swing against the Government. Whether it’s enough to lose the seat I don’t know but it will certainly be interesting to watch.”
The campaign trail has been a rocky road for the Liberal candidate Felicity Wilson who remains the bookies favourite to win.
She was booed and heckled at a pre-election forum in Mosman — and this week apologised for giving misleading information about her residential history.
She admitted she was wrong to say she had lived in the electorate area for “10 years”. Ms Wilson said she made a mistake on her candidate nomination form, and confirmed she had lived in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner-west for part of that time.
Ms Wilson also admitted to what she called an “unintentional error” when she said on Facebook that the first vote she ever cast for John Howard was in the 2001 election when she was a student living in his seat of Bennelong.
Electoral rolls show Ms Wilson was registered to vote at the time at an address in Marrickville. Her Facebook post showed a recent photograph with Mr Howard.
While Ms Wilson dismissed her errors as unintentional, NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley claimed she had “fibbed” and tried to embellish a connection with the seat of North Shore.
MEET THE CANDIDATES:
HARRY FINE
INDEPENDENT
Political newcomer Harry Fine decided to stand after coming to the conclusion that the State Government is taking the electorate for granted.
“The fact that this is a safe Liberal seat means that they don’t have to listen to what we as a community want or bother about our needs,” he said.
“I said, ‘don’t get mad, do something about it’.”
Mr Fine wants the community to have their say on council mergers and a sustainable solution to Military Rd traffic.
He has lived in the electorate for more than 20 years.
CAROLYN CORRIGAN
INDEPENDENT
Mosman councillor Carolyn Corrigan is fighting the State Government’s plan to merge councils. She was first elected to council in 2012 and has actively opposed the agenda during her term. Ms Corrigan is also challenging the government to find a long-term solution to traffic gridlock on Military Rd. Overcrowding in local schools and the lack of after-school care places is also on her agenda.
“I think the community is really sick and tired of being ignored,” she said.
Ms Corrigan has been endorsed by Ted Mack and Genia McCaffery.
IAN MUTTON
INDEPENDENT
Milsons Point-based campaigner Ian Mutton is angry with two by-elections being called after Joe Hockey and Jillian Skinner’s departures.
In recent years he has been battling with the State Government on a range of issues including Luna Park and the creation of a New York High Line style park along the harbour.
“I’ve had remarkable success. I have a skill that’s about influencing the decision-making process at government,” he said.
“If I’m elected I’ll bring that skill to bear for the providence of the entire electorate.”
FELICITY WILSON
LIBERAL
Felicity Wilson is running as a Liberal as she believes the Berejiklian government can deliver the services and infrastructure the community needs. She says the tunnel bypassing Mosman will be delivered.
“I believe in this government. I believe we can achieve great things,” she said.
She supports the State Government in its push to merge councils and says it will achieve key savings.
Ms Wilson was born in Cessnock and lives in Neutral Bay. She is involved in Rotary, netball and rowing clubs.
BRIAN BEAUMONT OWLES
VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA PARTY
Retired chartered accountant Brian Beaumont Owles is involved in several charitable organisations. He is a Rotarian and a member of Dying with Dignity.
His primary objective as a candidate is to raise awareness and support for the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 that is planned to be presented in Parliament.
“Dying with dignity should be a basic human right,” he said.
Mr Beaumont Owles is against forced council mergers, which he says has been inflicted upon communities without the recognition of normal democratic process.
JUSTIN ALICK
THE GREENS
The Greens have a vision for the North Shore. It includes increased housing affordability, the rejection of council mergers and the protection of local heritage.
“The Greens say lets have a tunnel but lets put a train through it. Bypassing not only the Spit Bridge but peak hour traffic,” he said.
Mr Alick criticised the plan for a road tunnel as 1950s thinking. He has put an idea forward for a dual road and rail tunnel.
Mr Alick grew up in rural Queensland and served with the UN in Southeast Asia.
He works for a NGO based in St Leonards.
ILA LESSING
ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY
Ila Lessing says her party offers an option for voters who feel much more needs to be done at a government level to assist the wellbeing of animals.
She is asking people to think of the greyhounds who have died as a result of industry abuse and wants to phase out the business.
Ms Lessing also highlighted fox baiting with 10-80 poison in local parks.
“The poison makes animals suffer seizures and convulsions and take up to 44 hours to die a very slow and painful death,” she said.
She has lived locally for 11 years.
SILVANA NILE
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Silvana Niles says she is the only true conservative voice that voters can trust to represent them on the North Shore. She has more than 35 years of teaching experience and is a mum of three.
“I am a leader who is passionate about family values and the upholding of Australia’s Judaeo-Christian heritage,” she said.
She supports plebiscites on council mergers.
Mrs Nile says she will protect children and make the internet “safe from porn”.
“I do support a pro-life stance, I will campaign for pro-family, pro-traditional marriage,” she said.
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