Pittwater Life January 2023 Issue

News
Battle for Pittwater heats up
The battle for the State
seat of Pittwater has
commenced in earnest,
with environmental lawyer
and corporate climate
change advisor Jacqui Scruby
announcing she will run
under the ‘Independent for
Pittwater’ banner at the NSW
election in March.
Ms Scruby, is hoping to end
the NSW Liberal Party’s 15-
year grip on the electorate.
Incumbent MP Rob Stokes,
who is not recontesting the
seat, has held Pittwater since
2007.
CANDIDATES: Independent Jacqui Scruby; the Liberal Party’s Rory Amon; and Labor’s Jeffrey Quinn.
Meanwhile, Northern
“PEP-11 and future projects of Pittwater. Businesses and students and teachers,
Beaches Councillor and remain a risk to our beaches. households should be energyindependent
nurses, doctors, and those
family lawyer Rory Amon has Our community is clear: we
– it’s policy requiring essential medical
been endorsed by the NSW must save our beaches. No failure that they’re not. care.”
Liberal Party State Executive oil and gas on our coastline. “We need to make sure
Liberal Party candidate
as its candidate.
We need this to be more than every family and business Rory Amon said: “I
Mr Amon received
dead in the water – it needs has affordable access to am looking forward to
overwhelming support from to be tied to a rock and sunk our abundant and cheap continuing Rob Stokes’ and
the local members’ branch to the bottom of the ocean renewables to cut energy the Liberal Party’s record of
before his candidacy was forever.”
costs. It’s a no brainer.” delivery and continuing to
rubber-stamped just before Most recently Ms Scruby She added the Pittwater provide a strong voice for the
Christmas.
has been an advisor to
community was appalled people of Pittwater.”
Pittwater local Jeffrey Mackellar MP Dr Sophie at NSW currently clearing A lifelong local of the
Quinn will stand as NSW Scamps. She says the
an area of native forest 50 Beaches, Mr Amon has served
Labor’s candidate.
experience has demonstrated times the size of Sydney’s as a councillor on Northern
Ms Scruby, 39, who lives in the true power of
CBD each year, costing the Beaches Council since 2017.
Pittwater, says she will fight independents.
NSW Government $29 million “Locally I’ve fought to
to make the community’s “Having just worked with annually.
ensure accountability and
voice be heard on State and Dr Scamps to improve the “In NSW we have the
transparency, improve
local issues.
Climate Change Act and National Party hellbent on services and manage the
She said Pittwater had been usher in the new National killing koalas, insisting Council’s finances, as well
“neglected too long” by the Anti-Corruption Commission, we continue logging native as standing up against
Liberal Party.
I’ve seen first-hand how forests at the taxpayers’ inappropriate development,”
“We’ve lost our public independents bring their expense. We’ve opened 11 Mr Amon said.
hospital, we no longer have community’s voice to
new coal mines under the “While there are challenges
Pittwater Council, and one Parliament. But the job is far current government and ahead, including addressing
of our main roads [the
from done.
our export emissions are the cost of living and housing
Wakehurst Parkway] floods “As in the Federal election, abhorrent.
affordability, protecting
seemingly every time it I know that people are
“We are also facing changes our community from
rains,” she said.
ready for a different kind of to planning and zoning, overdevelopment, managing
“The Pittwater community politics,” she continued. “So and a major development the transition to a net-zero
wants better services and to many of you have already at Lizard Rock bordering economy, ensuring the
protect our beautiful area – reached out to get involved. Pittwater.”
duplication of Mona Vale
and the best way to do that is This is a truly community-led NSW Labor candidate Road and upgrades to the
to have an independent voice campaign.”
Jeffrey Quinn, who has Wakehurst Parkway, I’m
in State Parliament.
Ms Scruby says she is worked as a school teacher optimistic about our State’s
“As an independent, I will standing for strong climate and a small business owner/ future and protecting and
always vote in the interests action, restoring integrity and operator, said the focus enhancing our lifestyle here
of our community, not
trust in state politics, and of his campaign would be in Pittwater.
in a political party’s best ensuring NSW’s economy was on education matters plus “I’ll continue to fight for
interests.”
managed responsibly.
healthcare advocacy.
local families and small
Further, Scruby said that She said that having been “The electorate is facing businesses, and be a strong
Asset Energy, the company a small business owner, she teacher shortages, impacting voice for Pittwater.”
behind the PEP-11 lease – was committed to ensuring student outcomes and
Alex McTaggart was the last
which if resurrected had the the State Government didn’t schools needing maintenance Independent to represent the
potential to see gas drilling stand in the way of the due to underfunding,” Mr Pittwater electorate (2005-
kilometres off our beaches “incredible small businesses” Quinn said.
2007). – Nigel Wall
– had announced its project in Pittwater.
“I am passionate about *What do you think? Tell us
plans were “far from dead in “Cost of living is also a healthcare – I will advocate at readers@pittwaterlife.
the water”.
major issue for the people for the community, parents, com.au
8 JANUARY 2023
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