Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby: End of Year Recap 2024
As we reach the end of 2024, I can’t help but reflect on what a momentous year it’s been and look forward with huge excitement to 2025.
I’m incredibly grateful that the people of Pittwater have put their trust in me, and I will work hard to retain that trust and build the trust of those who did not vote for me. Little did I know at the beginning of this year that I would run a successful election campaign and represent this community as the MP for Pittwater in the NSW Parliament. It just goes to show how unpredictable and unexpected life can be.
In the few weeks since I was sworn in at the NSW Parliament, I have met with community and advocacy groups, striking nurses, hospital staff, Ministers and the NSW Premier. Key legislation has passed, much of it with multipartisan support, including strengthening penalties for illegal tobacco sales and support for long energy storage generation to help firm the grid.
I’ve also attended some wonderful community events, school speech days, the opening of the new Wyvern Hospital and the Women’s Resilience Centre, and heard from hundreds of constituents. I’ve also set up a new office in Mona Vale with my team. Please feel free to drop by.
My engagements with ministers have exceeded my expectations with many of my representations being addressed with progress on key issues for our electorate. Ministers have worked collaboratively with me to resolve issues I brought to them. We’ve had some successes already with the Deputy Premier announcing $1 million in funding for Pittwater High and further funding for Narrabeen Sports High in the pipeline, and the Minister for Health confirmed consultation with allied health workers at Mona Vale Hospital was underway, after I raised media reports of cuts to services with him.
I’m particularly happy that the NSW Premier Chris Minns visited the unfinished Mona Vale Road to see the mess we’ve been left with for himself. The unfinished road is unsafe and it’s only a matter of time before there’s a fatality. I’m building a strong case for urgent action, which includes a petition www.jacquiscruby.com.au/finish_mona_vale_rd_petition. I’d like everyone in Pittwater to sign so the Premier gets the message loud and clear.
But there is still a lot I’m working on.
We are facing council rates rises locally. Structural reform is needed to avoid rate rises. I will be advocating for the state government to act on the 18 recommendations from the recent NSW Committee Report into the ability of governments to fund infrastructure and services, and I am keen to see the report of the current Federal Inquiry into local government sustainability.
Yes, our councils need to manage budgets efficiently, deliver core services and make cuts but as your state MP I’ll be advocating for the reversal of cost-shifting to local government, greater government funding, particularly to manage the increasing costs associated with extreme weather.
I’m asking NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully to exempt Pittwater from proposed new low to mid-rise development rules, because of the risks of bush fires and flooding and limited infrastructure. I appreciate the need for more homes to be built, but we have to ensure development is appropriate and that is best led by councils not developers. We also have key developments planned in Brookvale and Frenchs Forest that don’t have the same environmental risks and infrastructure constraints as Pittwater.
I’ve called on the Minns’ government to deliver the Great Koala National Park by the end of the year and end native forest logging, in a joint letter with other independent MPS. The longer we wait the more damage is done, and it’s time they kept their election promise. We have lost koalas in Pittwater, we don’t want to lose them from NSW. I plan to keep the pressure up.
I’m supporting nurses’ claim for a 15% pay rise, so we don’t keep losing them to Queensland where the pay is better, and I’m pushing Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) to implement the same nurse ratios and pay as in our public hospitals. Submissions have now closed for the audit into the NBH and we await the recommendations which will no doubt focus advocacy efforts early next year.
I’m working with Wakehurst MP Michael Regan to get the NSW Government to fund a rebuild of Narrabeen Athletics Track and find a better short-term solution than the inadequate grass track.
Whilst I’m focused on state issues, I’ve also advocated for the community on key local issues including finding a compromise to the trees in Ruskin Rowe, pushing back on 30km zones west of Barrenjoey Road and planning and road issues. With all these, I consider the state angle, such as cost shifting to councils, which is a key contributor to potential rate hikes, the appropriateness of state grants like 30km zones, and engaging Transport for NSW or Sydney Water, who will be commencing works in Avalon soon.
2025 is shaping up to be a jam-packed year. But I am really enjoying being able to make a positive impact on the issues we all care about. I plan to go on as I started, doing everything I can to give this community the kind of honest, inclusive and responsible representation you deserve.
I’ll be holding town hall meetings on different topics such as eBike regulation, home insurance increases, and planning changes. But I also like to meet people where they are at – I understand that not everyone wants to attend a town hall!
Initiatives like the recent Surfers for Climate Trade Up Cup, which I threw my support behind, was a chance to talk to our local tradies about how to capitalise on home electrification. We discussed how Solar not only helps households save money and be energy-independent, but redirects money into the hands of local tradies, rather than the offshore fossil fuel companies. It’s the kind of smart policy that works environmentally and economically.
Congratulations Pittwater! From students to community volunteers and all our hard-working residents – it’s been a challenging year – I hope you take a restful and reflective break, family time and enjoy our beautiful electorate or travel to somewhere that is nearly as amazing! Lastly, I’d like to say special thank you to all those people who keep our essential services going over the holidays and keep us all safe.
Being a community independent means always putting the community first, listening to your concerns and advocating for things we believe in. It’s led by you, and I always want to hear from you.
If you’ve got something you’d like to talk to me about, or an event or meeting you’d like me to attend, please get in touch via:
Phone: (02) 9999 3599
Email: pittwater@parliament.nsw.gov.au
1725 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale, NSW 2103
You can keep up to date with what I’m doing by following me on socials and signing up to my newsletter.
