Tunnels and puppy farms on North Shore election agenda
Meet the candidates working to secure your vote on March 23. North Shore has a packed field with nine hopefuls campaigning on everything from tunnels to puppy farms.
North Shore voters have a packed field of nine candidates to choose from this state election.
The major political parties are having a punt at this prestigious harbourside seat alongside some unknown faces from one-issue organisations.
It’s building up to be a race between the sitting Liberal MP Felicity Wilson and independent Carolyn Corrigan in a re-run of the 2017 by-election.
Here we profile the candidates hoping to secure your vote on March 23.
Felicity Wilson
Liberal
North Shore MP Felicity Wilson is campaigning to retain the seat for the Liberal party. Since being elected in 2017 she has had high profile ups and downs — and remains strongly supported by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The number one issue raised with her on the campaign trail is traffic congestion and there is a strong push for the Western Harbour and Beaches Link Tunnels to be delivered.
Consultation on the proposed design concluded in December and it is understood the RMS is currently preparing the Environmental Impact Statement. Contracts for the tunnels will not be signed before the election.
“I am really looking forward to the contracting stage if we get re-elected. Fingers crossed again for our government to be returned because we’ve been waiting too many decades as a community for that project and I don’t want us to wait decades more,” Ms Wilson said.
“If we are re-elected the EIS will likely come out soonish and we will have further community consultation.
“It’s a major piece of infrastructure. It’s a lot of engineering work and community engagement to get right.
“We are 100 per cent committed to delivering it.”
Ms Wilson has faced challenges from within the local branches of the party and managed to return as the Liberal candidate this election thanks to just one vote. Her political rival Tim James took the case all the way to the Supreme Court in a bid to replace Ms Wilson, but lost. Her residential history also came under intense scrutiny after she wrongly claimed to have lived in the electorate for ten years.
“I would say my two years as a member of parliament have been a steep learning curve both in politics and making sure I’m representing the community’s interest,” she said.
“It can be brutal at times. I don’t think I’ve just survived, I think I’ve thrived and I’m really proud of the work I’ve done.
“I hope that over time I can keep working hard and be judged on my work performance.”
Her achievements in office include securing upgrades for three local schools, ensuring the spoil from Metro tunnelling is barged out and returning a bus stop to Cremorne.
Ms Wilson and her husband Sam Ison welcomed their first baby Eleanor over Christmas. She returned to work within weeks.
Carolyn Corrigan
Independent
Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan has represented the area on council for seven years. She also works as a nurse in St Vincent’s Hospital.
Ms Corrigan believes the biggest issues in the area are without a doubt traffic, congestion, loss of local planning control and overdevelopment, and climate change.
“To tackle traffic stress, congestion and disruption, I will work tirelessly to find an integrated, long-term solution throughout the entire lower North Shore,” she said.
“I will demand that if it is returned to power, the Coalition immediately release its business case for the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link, along with all environmental impact assessments.”
Ms Corrigan’s other priorities include protecting the natural environment and open public spaces.
Toby Pettigrew
The Greens
At the top of Toby Pettigrew’s agenda is stopping the Western Harbour and Beaches Link Tunnels.
“We need world-leading public transport, not a toll road that won’t relieve traffic on Military Rd,” he said.
Mr Pettigrew works as a policy officer in the public service and is currently working to improve mental health services in NSW. He has campaigned for marriage equality, workers’ rights and Aboriginal justice. He believes the north shore community can what will happen if the government doesn’t act now on the “climate crisis”.
Mr Pettigrew wants action for more renewables, less coal, better urban planning and affordable homes closer to workplaces.
If elected he promises to hold the major parties to account and push for better policy.
Michael Lester
Labor
Michael Lester lives in the area with his wife of 48 years. He brought up and educated his family at local public schools.
His career has been in the public service as an engineer and economic policy advisor to governments. He was also a diplomatic representative on trade, science, environment and business investment.
Key issues he has identified in the area include congestion, over development and a lack of public transport. Mr Lester is not supporting the Western Harbour and Beaches Link tunnels and wants a “decent public transport solution” instead.
He also believes there is under resourcing of education and health services.
“There needs to be a major overhaul of environment, planning, development and transport laws to better reflect community views and long-term sustainability,” Mr Lester said.
Olivia Bouchier
Animal Justice Party
Law student Olivia Bouchier wants to be a stronger voice in the community to strengthen environmental responsibility. She is concerned about the Western Harbour and Beaches Link Tunnels project and the potential damage it will have on air quality and bushland reserves.
“I would look to develop other transport solutions to prevent the tunnels project going ahead,” she said.
Ms Bouchier wants to be a voice in parliament for animal rights and wants to see laws changed to reflect values of kindness and nonviolence to stop the unnecessary cruelty imposed on animals in many industries.
Other key issues include stopping puppy farms, battery hens and logging in native forests. She would also like to see CCTV installed in abattoirs and intensive farms.
Colin Furphy
Keep Sydney Open
Northern Beaches local Colin Furphy has worked in hospitality and tourism for two decades. In that time he has watched the city’s social scene become quieter and wants it to be revived.
“It’s not as vibrant as it used to be,” he said.
“I’m passionate about people being happy and want to see our city back to what it used to be.”
Mr Furphy works as a lecturer and has lots of friends living in the lower north shore.
Samuel Gunning
Liberal Democrats
Samuel Gunning is the youngest councillor in North Sydney Council and has a strong anti-nanny state agenda. He would like to see pill testing at music festivals to stop unnecessary deaths.
“Pill testing saves lives and the NSW government has completely ignored the clinical literature on this matter, which is directly translating to young people dying who wouldn’t have otherwise,” Mr Gunning said.
At council he has consistently voted for lower rates and against what he brands “nanny-state policies” at local government level. The biggest issues he has identified in the area is over-taxation by the state government and “nanny-statism”.
“Families and business are taxed excessively in the North Shore and we will be looking to abolish or significantly reduce state taxes including payroll tax, transfer duties, land tax and motor vehicle taxes,” Mr Gunning said.
He believes that payroll tax effectively stunts job growth in NSW. And he will also be seeking to abolish lockout laws.
Jeffrey Grimshaw
Australian Conservatives
IT professional Jeffrey Grimshaw believes the Liberal Party no longer represents the values of mainstream Australia.
“North Shore has been treated with contempt by the Liberal Party,” Mr Grimshaw said. “Residents pay a significant proportion of taxes and next to nothing is put back into the area. “We have had all talk and no action on widening Spit Bridge and no other ideas on alleviating the rush-hour carpark known as Military Road. Cramming more and more people into Sydney is simply unacceptable.”
Mr Grimshaw believes NSW is crying out for common sense and strong leaders. He stands firmly for conservative principles: lower taxes, smaller government and stronger families.
“It is time to bring back common sense and choose someone who will fight not flail,” he said.
Mr Grimshaw was born in the UK and lived and worked in America and Japan before moving to Australia in 2004. He works at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and has experience in a broad range of industries, including mining, transport and energy.
Victoria Boast
Sustainable Australia
Victoria Boast works in the financial services and superannuation industry. She has lived on the lower north shore for ten years and is originally from Colombia.
She joined the Sustainable Australia because she believes that sustainability should be at the heart of all government policies.
According to her biography on the party website she would like future generations to be able to enjoy “the same beautiful Australia” she has had the opportunity to live in.
The Mosman Daily has attempted to contact Ms Boast.
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