CAMPAIGN UPDATE: WEEK 22
I’ve been on the edge of my seat all week, watching results come in from the Willoughby by-election. With nearly 1 in 5 former Liberal supporters now swinging towards Independent Larissa Penn, the state government has been dealt a clear message: We, the community, will no longer be ignored.
Saturday’s outcome was a huge vote of no confidence for the Northern Beaches and Western Harbour Tunnels. From the outset, these projects have been yet another example of short-term thinking – using infrastructure approaches from the 1960s to plan for tomorrow. Frustratingly, North Sydney will pay the price with more traffic congestion on our streets, more air pollution around our schools and the loss of 15,000 sqm of green space from our parks and reserves.
Our community has spoken out at state level, and I am grateful that our democracy has given us the opportunity to be heard. But I also know there is much more work to be done to ensure that government decisions are made with transparency, community consultation, sustainability and integrity at their core - and that our views are reflected at all levels of government.
I hope you'll join me on Zoom this Wednesday for an expert panel discussion on political integrity, and in person on Sunday for our official Campaign Launch! North Sydney, it's our time - let's be the change we want to see.
