North Shore, Lane Cove: North Sydney’s Independents in funding drive ahead of 2023 Election

The search to find independent candidates to challenge two Liberal state electorates is heating up with campaigners seeking the financial backing of powerful crowd-funding group Climate 200.

The search to find independent candidates to contest two north shore state Liberal seats is entering its third month as campaigners seek the financial backing of powerful crowd-funding group Climate 200.

Volunteers from North Sydney’s Independent are holding community meetings, online forums and surveys as part of ongoing efforts to find candidates to run in the state electorates of Lane Cove and North Shore at the March 2023 election.

The campaign group played a key role in flipping the federal North Sydney electorate from blue to teal at the May election after selecting Kylea Tink, who went on to unseat Liberal Trent Zimmerman.

In August, the group kickstarted a similar mission to challenge the upcoming state election but have yet to secure candidates to take on the two seats.

North Sydney’s Independent co-founder Denise Shrivell did not say how many names were in the mix to date but was confident candidates would be finalised by the end of the year.

The independent campaign will challenge Lane Cove, held by sitting MP Anthony Roberts.

“We’re speaking to some great people but the search continues and we’re casting the net wide,” she said. “There are potentials – we’re speaking to a group of people – but the numbers go up and down every day.

“I think it’s a significant thing to take on – not only the campaigning but we’re asking someone to take this on for four to potentially eight years. I don’t blame people for thinking about it long and hard.”

Felicity Wilson currently represents North Shore.

North Sydney’s Independent co-founder Denise Shrivell

The rumour mill has been in overdrive about possible candidates to challenge the seats.

Names floated to date have included North Sydney independent councillor MaryAnne Beregi – who told the North Shore Times that running in North Shore “was not on my radar”.

In Lane Cove, independent councillor Bridget Kennedy said she had been approached by campaigners to challenge the state seat, but had declined to run and would instead focus on her council commitments.

Ms Shrivell believes Lane Cove had the greatest momentum towards a shift in political representation. Sitting member Anthony Roberts – a member of the party’s right faction – has represented Lane Cove since 2003 and holds the seat on a 14.7 per cent margin.

An independent campaign in North Shore would meanwhile target the voting record of Felicity Wilson, a moderate within the party.

North Sydney’s Independents played a key role in Kylea Tink’s successful Federal campaign.

Climate 200's Simon Holmes a Court has supported the search for candidates.

“Groups like North Sydney’s Independent rise up when there’s a demonstrable mismatch between the views of the community and the actions of the local members at all levels of local government,” Ms Shrivell said.

“With Anthony Roberts in Lane Cove we can demonstrate the greatest mismatch there (and) we’re in a good position to find and put forward a strong candidate.”

Ms Shrivell said the group was in talks with Climate 200 to seek the organisation’s financial support in the lead-up to election day.

Climate 200 convener Simon Holmes a Court recently took to social media to make a public call out for willing candidates to challenge both electorates.

North Sydney’s Independent has recognised there were challenges with running a state campaign as opposed to a federal campaign, including optional preferential voting at the state level.

State independents would also be unable to amass the same level of funding generated by the federal Teal independents due to state electoral spending caps

“We do think there is a path to success and at the moment it’s building our campaign team and volunteer teams to support a community candidate,” Ms Shrivell said. “We would like to have someone identified by Christmas.”

The North Shore Times contacted Mr Roberts and Ms Wilson for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.