Looking ahead: A stronger, healthier future for Mackellar

It’s been another busy and productive year, and as the summer break approaches, it’s a good time for an end of year wrap up. 

This year I’ve continued to focus on the issues that matter most to people across the Northern Beaches – supporting local business, protecting our climate and nature, calling for cost of living relief, more affordable housing, improving access to healthcare and fighting to end gambling advertising. 

Following three years of advocacy, $250 Million to complete the Mona Vale Road upgrade was announced in the March 2025 Federal Budget. Matching funding from the state government has permitted this project to get back on track. 

In February, I introduced the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill which would embed a framework for long term vision in policy making, based on a similar act introduced in Wales in 2015. 

Supporting business remains a key priority. Our businesses are the heartbeat of our local community and economy – providing services, employing locals, sponsoring our community clubs, and keeping our villages vibrant. I’m calling for a $20,000 tax-free threshold and for the instant asset write-off to be made permanent, to give small business owners greater certainty to invest and grow. 

On the 2035 climate target debate, I argued for a strong, science-backed target to lessen the threat to the future safety of our children and grandchildren. 

Amendments to our broken national nature protection laws were finally debated in Parliament last month. Amongst other things, I fought hard to remove the exemptions for native forest logging and land clearing that have seen Australia become a world leader in mammal extinctions and a global deforestation hotspot – the only developed nation to be so. The Bill is now up for debate in the Senate. 

There was a big win for nature with the NSW Government’s commitment to finally establish the Great Koala National Park – protecting 176,000 hectares of vital koala habitat. This is a cause I’ve been proud to campaign for alongside local communities and independent MPs at the state level. 

As a federal response to growing community concern about e-bike safety, I introduced the Safer E-Bikes Bill. The Bill would introduce best practice, quality and safety standards, similar to those in the EU. This would ensure that e-bikes sold in Australia could not be easily hacked to be ridden like a motorbike – thereby improving safety for both riders and pedestrians. 

Investing in preventive and primary healthcare has also been a major focus. By investing in health promotion and disease prevention we can improve wellbeing, ease pressure on hospitals, save billions from the health budget and make the health system more sustainable. 

I’m continuing to push for stronger regulations to reduce plastic pollution, tighter controls on gambling and junk food advertising, and stronger Freedom of Information laws to promote transparency and accountability in politics. 

Closer to home, I’m engaging with the Minns Government to ensure that, as the public part of Northern Beaches Hospital transitions to NSW Health, the current world-class private healthcare services and beds are retained. These services are essential for our community and must not be lost in the transition. 

As we head into summer, I hope you can take time to enjoy the beautiful part of the world we live in, and I wish everyone a joyful, safe, and relaxing festive season.