Plans to abolish the federal electorate of North Sydney has kicked up a stir in the community.
Over May, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) released their proposed redistribution report, which saw the seat of North Sydney removed and the electorate divided between Warringah, Bennelong, and Bradfield.
With the news, outraged community members and volunteers surged forward, creating a campaign and petition “Save North Sydney” to fight against the AEC’s recommendation.
“Save North Sydney” have taken to the streets to alert people. From handing out flyers and speaking with North Sydney constituents in locations such as Milsons Point train station, Kirribilli and North Sydney markets, Northbridge Plaza, Neutral Bay shops, and Willoughby Road shops, “Save North Sydney” has managed to gather around 300 signatures.
Online, the signature count is much higher. At the time of publication, the change.org petition has received over 2,000 signatures. The petition’s description reads, ‘WE CALL OUT FOR YOUR HELP to defend our community’s voice and history, and ensure North Sydney remains a distinct electorate.’
Volunteers were urging the community to submit responses to the AEC, advocating for North Sydney. To aid in the drafting process, as constructing objection letters is not in most people’s CVs, volunteers conducted workshops, which was attended by over 100 constituents.
Caroline Gallagher, Hunters Hill local and “Save North Sydney” spearhead volunteer, is driving the push to save North Sydney. After discovering the abolishment news, Caroline was shocked, and keenly decided to challenge the proposal.
‘[AEC] are basing it on population growth… We respect institutions like the AEC…. they did follow their processes, but the growth projections are based on old ABS data,’ says Caroline Gallagher. ‘That means they have not consulted sources… like local and state planning authorities. If they had, they would have seen that we are growing, this includes the two Metro stations in our electorate. It doesn’t feel right.’
Caroline mentions that while campaigning, she realised most people were unaware of the impending redistribution, and once they were informed, did not agree. ‘It is inefficient and a huge waste. We are a thriving community with a massive heartbeat,’ says Caroline.
Federal Member for North Sydney, Kylea Tink, has submitted a formal objection letter to the AEC proposal. In her letter, Member Tink recommends retaining North Sydney, and instead abolishing Berowra, having Bradfield and Mitchell take on the area, and allow the Galston Gorge to be a natural boundary division.
‘It is my respectful view that the Committee has erred in its evaluation of the impacts on North Sydney’s deep and wide communities of interest in proposing to abolish the Division and has arrived at a high-impact, disruptive redistribution while overlooking reasonable, practical and foreseeable alternatives,’ writes Member Kylea Tink.
To The Post, Member for Berowra Julian Leeser says, ‘The commission has already considered all of the issues that some independent members are raising and rejected them. I agree with the proposed boundary changes.’
For more information, visit www.aec.gov.au/redistributions/2023/nsw/