Michael Regan: Summer update

I’m thrilled to see more independent voices here on the Northern Beaches, with Pittwater electing Jacqui Scruby as their State Member. It is clear our community values independent representation and understands our effectiveness, especially in a minority government.

It’s great to now have another voice lobbying the NSW Labor Government to prioritise the re-opening of the Narrabeen athletics track. The insurance claim for flood damage is well progressed and consultants are now preparing options to make it more resilient to flooding.  

However, I’m concerned there is likely to be a significant funding gap between the insurance payout and making the new track more resilient to flooding. With so many schools and clubs impacted by the closure, we are working hard to secure the additional funding, so our community can once again train at this first-class facility.

Nurses and midwives at Northern Beaches Hospital play a critical role in caring for our community. Healthscope – the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital – is paid by the NSW Government to treat public patients in our region. But ultimately, our local hospital is run privately, for profit.

Right now, nurses and midwives from Northern Beaches Hospital are in enterprise agreement negotiations with Healthscope. Despite their tireless work, our nurses and midwives are paid up to 16% less than their Healthscope counterparts in Queensland. What’s more, increased staff-to-patient ratios being rolled out at public hospitals under the NSW Government’s Safe Staffing policy will not apply to the private Northern Beaches Hospital. We’re hearing from local nurses and midwives that these factors strain staff wellbeing and patient care.

We are at risk of being left behind. To ensure our community receives the care it deserves, we call on private hospital operator Healthscope to provide a 15% pay rise for nurses and midwives, and implement staff-to-patient ratios consistent with the standards being introduced in NSW public hospitals under the Government’s Safe Staffing policy.

Sign the petition

Please sign the petition on my website www.michaelreganmp.com to demand better pay and safer staffing ratios for our nurses and midwives at Northern Beaches Hospital. This is crucial to attract and retain the skilled nurses and midwives we depend on. 

I welcomed the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to issue a $30,000 fine to ADCO Construction, for breaching water pollution controls at the new Forest High School site. The breach involved sediment run-off polluting waterways that feed into Manly Dam.

Manly Dam is a jewel of the Northern Beaches and I take any threat to its environmental values extremely seriously. I have written to the NSW Environment Minister, advocating for the fine to be reinvested into environmental protections and restoration projects at Manly Dam. It is only fair that the community affected by this pollution sees some tangible benefit from this penalty.

As climate change drives increasingly frequent and intense rain events, I have also asked the NSW Government to review and strengthen sediment run-off conditions in the planning system to better reflect the impacts of climate change.

Finally, can I wish everyone a safe and joyful summer holiday season. I hope you can take time to connect with loved ones and get out and about in our beautiful part of the world, the world’s best kept secret.