North Shore by-election: North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson to run as independent
THE North Shore by-election is attracting a packed field of independents with North Sydney mayor Jilly Gibson the latest to add her name to the race.
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NORTH Sydney mayor Jilly Gibson has confirmed she is running in the North Shore state by-election, which is attracting a packed field of independents.
Cr Gibson will join local campaigner Ian Mutton, Royal North Shore Hospital surgeon Stephen Ruff and Mosman councillor Carolyn Corrigan on the ballot.
She isn’t worried that their combined presence could dilute the independent vote and believes it will come down to preferences.
“The fact that four independents are running demonstrates the level of disillusion with the Liberal Government,” she said.
“If the independent candidates work together on preference deals, one is sure to win.
“The best independent will win.”
Cr Gibson is self-funding her campaign and her decision to run comes after prompting by residents.
She believes traffic, the B-Line, overcrowding in schools and the crisis in after-school care are the biggest issues in the area.
And she is also pushing her idea to build parkland over the Warringah Freeway.
The construction of a tunnel bypassing Spit and Military roads has been on the agenda for decades and Cr Gibson thinks residents want to see action.
“We need the tunnel right now,” she said. “We need to stop talking and start digging.
“A loss at the polls (for the Liberal Party) on April 8 will ensure the tunnel goes ahead. It’s the only way to force the Liberals to do it.
“We need to send a crystal-clear message to the Liberal Party that we’ve had enough.
“This is the only language politicians understand.”
Cr Gibson was first elected to North Sydney Council 17 years ago and has served as mayor for more than four years.
The current term has been a turbulent one for the council.
It was the subject of a public inquiry into allegations of conflict and dysfunction, while the council is also fighting a legal battle in a bid to stop a merger with Mosman and Willoughby.
Cr Gibson said the results of the inquiry released last week “vindicated” her, as her mayoral car will be returned and powers stripped from her will be restored.
“The results of the inquiry were a win for me and a win for local government,” she said.
Cr Gibson also believes her experience at the helm has served her well for life in state politics.
“I’m strong and resilient,” she said. “Nothing will deter me from the job at hand.
“I hear State Parliament is no place for the faint-hearted. The past four-and-a-half years (as mayor) have been the perfect preparation.”
Milsons Point-based Mr Mutton came on to the scene during his work on Luna Park and launching a push to transform rail land into Sydney’s answer to New York’s High Line.
“For decades, we’ve had politicians representing the Liberal Party when we needed politicians representing our community,” Mr Mutton said.
“What’s needed are representatives who are part of our community and that have the courage to embrace and then implement an inclusive vision.”
Mr Mutton is calling for community consultation on council mergers, the creation of the High Line park and making Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay permanent.
And on the tunnel construction, his message was clear.
“Two decades of endless talk and rearranging the traffic lanes and erecting signs,” he said.
“Solve the problem — build the Spit-to-Bridge tunnel.”
WRITES TIMING SPARKS RANCOUR
A row has broken out over timing in the North Shore by-election process.
The Parliament’s Speaker, Liberal MP Shelley Hancock, announced earlier this month her intention to issue writs this Friday ahead of the vote on April 8.
This has attracted the ire of one of the most vocal opposition groups involved in the by-election: Save Our Councils Coalition.
Its spokesman Phil Jenkyn says independent candidates cannot spend or raise campaign funds until the writs are issued, branding it a “disgrace”.
“The independents are strongly against government policy on a number of fronts, including council mergers, and this act of nobbling is an attempt to sabotage that and candidates’ funding, (and) is disgraceful.”
He believes the decision has greatly disadvantaged the independents’ campaigns, describing it as a “scandal”.
“The Speaker set the date as far back as she could and the independents were left like shags on a rock with no funding to do what the Government has been doing for three weeks — sending out election material,” he said.
SOCC pointed out that North Shore residents have received a flyer titled “Working for you” with Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s photo.
A statement from the Speaker’s office said the date was chosen following the official line of advice.
“Having determined the date for the by-elections (in North Shore and Manly), issuing of the writs for the by-election in each seat is also a matter that is the subject of consultation with the NSW Electoral Commissioner,” a spokeswoman said.
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“It is the Speaker’s intention to issue the writs for the by-elections on March 17, having regard to this advice.”
A Liberal Party spokeswoman said it would be “running a strong campaign in accordance with NSW electoral law”.
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