February 19, 2026

Parliament Update February 2026

Debates • Meetings with Ministers • My Private Member's Statement • Questions • Local Legends

Hi Wakehurst,

That’s a wrap on the first sitting fortnight of 2026! From debating bills to meeting Ministers, the year has already kicked off with a bang.

In this update you’ll find:

My contributions to debates on bills that matter to Wakehurst
Recent meetings with Ministers
My Private Member’s Statement on planning proposals and bushfire risk
Questions I asked Ministers to get answers for you
And of course, shout-outs to our local legends!

Excited for much more to come in 2026.

Cheers,

AN UPDATE ON BROOKVALE TAFE

Last week, I met with Steve Whan, Minister for TAFE, to discuss establishing a Zero Energy and Emissions Building Learning Centre within the NSW TAFE network, building on the strong foundations already in place at Brookvale TAFE in Wakehurst. We were joined by Head Teacher of Carpentry and Building, Dwane Stockini, who brought his expertise and insights from his collaboration with the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Zero Energy and Emissions Building Learning Centre to explore how a similar model could work here in NSW. With high-performance buildings cheaper to run, healthier to live in and better for the environment, I’ll continue advocating for Brookvale TAFE to become a leading hub for training the next generation of tradies in energy-efficient construction.

We also discussed the successful roll-out of the Educational Pathways Program (EPP) across the Northern Beaches. Since Term 1 last year, it has helped students across 10 Northern Beaches high schools find real pathways beyond the classroom through Careers Immersion Teams, mentoring, vocational tasters, and job readiness workshops. With 1,200 students benefitting so far, I’ll keep pushing to make the program permanent so every student can get a head start on their future.

For more information, check out my socials for the video we filmed together about the program!

Check out my video on the EPP here!

IN THE CHAMBER

Second Reading Debate: Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025

I contributed to the debate on the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025. While I supported the intent of protecting workers, I was not convinced the bill was necessary in its current form. Serious concerns were raised by business leaders about insufficient consultation, regulatory overreach and the bill’s broad definition of “digital work system”.

Existing WHS laws already required employers to manage safety risks regardless of how work was organised. I supported the amendments proposed by the member for Wagga Wagga and called for meaningful consultation with industry before the bill commenced.

Second Reading Debate: Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment (Landlord Offences) Bill 2025

I spoke in support of the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment (Landlord Offences) Bill 2025. In my contribution, I described concerns raised directly with me by students from Wheeler Heights Public School about an illegal tobacco and vape shop operating near their school and asked for action.

When primary school children tell their local MP they feel uncomfortable about exposure to vaping and illegal tobacco, we should listen and act, and this bill does exactly that by extending responsibility to landlords and closing the loopholes that have allowed illegal operators to reopen again and again.

Watch my speech here

PRIVATE MEMBER'S STATEMENT

Planning System and Bushfire Risk

I gave a Private Member’s Statement on the draft Sydney region plan and its approach to natural hazards and bushfire risk. While I support objectives such as increasing housing diversity, urban renewal and infill, more social and affordable housing in particular, and protecting Sydney’s blue-green grid and tree canopy, I hold serious concerns about how bushfire risk is being addressed. I made a submission outlining these concerns and raised them with the Minister’s office.

Large parts of Sydney sit at the bushland-urban interface, including our electorate of Wakehurst. Recent catastrophic bushfires in Australia and overseas demonstrated that a major fire event is no longer a question of if, but when. Gosford in December was a wake up call. 18 homes lost and one life. So very sad.

I’ve raised concern about a statement on page 60 of the draft Sydney 2030 plan suggesting a different application of risk-based frameworks on Aboriginal-owned land. In my view, that sentence was problematic and needed to be removed, as it implied a lower standard of bushfire risk assessment because of who owned land.

This issue is not theoretical for our community, as seen in the Patyegarang ( Lizard Rock) planning proposal in Belrose, a 370-home subdivision opposed by the NSW Rural Fire Service due to unacceptable fire risk.

Fire does not discriminate, risk does not change based on ownership, and no development anywhere in Sydney should proceed where bushfire risk is unacceptable. Simple.

NOTICES OF MOTION

First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme property price threshold

I gave notice that I will move that the house acknowledges that the property price threshold of $1 million is excluding first home buyers on the Northern Beaches from the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme.

I called on the NSW Government to raise the property price threshold for the scheme to $1 million for full stamp duty exemption and $1.5 million for the concessional cap, consistent with the federal government’s 5% Deposit Scheme.

County Road

I also asked that the house note the lack of sportsfields on the Northern Beaches, with a 2017 assessment by council noting a shortage of 24 hectares. The previously proposed upgrade of County Road Reserve Belrose will help fix this shortage, making better use of an existing field. The former NSW Government reneged on the County Road upgrade, despite extensive planning and consultation under the Parks for People Program.

I am calling on the NSW Government to urgently upgrade the field, including new change rooms so female matches can be held at the ground.

QUESTIONS ASKED

Question Time:

During Question Time, I asked the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee to update the House on the progress of the inquiry into the safety and quality of services at Northern Beaches Hospital.

The Chair confirmed the committee has received 255 submissions and held three days of hearings. He noted the inquiry is complex due to confidential evidence and an ongoing coronial inquest and that the committee is focusing on systemic and policy issues while continuing to work through the evidence.

Read all of my questions asked in NSW Parliament here

Questions for Ministers

I asked the Minister for Roads:

About traffic loop technology on the Northern Beaches, specifically about how many of Northern Beaches traffic lights have cameras or the loop technology installed and what the budget for maintenance and replacement is in total.
About the delivery of new bus capacity for the Northern Beaches, specifically when the 10 new B-Line double deckers will be in service and what the delivery schedule is for the 229 electric buses scheduled to be in operation out of the Brookvale depot by 2028.
When the anti-climb mesh barriers would be installed on the Warringah Road overpass considering they were described as ‘currently in design for installation’ in the response to my last request for updates.

I asked the Minister for Transport:

If the government has implemented the findings of the Bus Industry Taskforce completed in May 2024.
For information on Region 8 and Region 14 bus service performance including metrics such as on-time running, cancelled and incomplete trips, customer complaints, driver vacancies and asset maintenance

I asked the Minister for Education and Early Learning:

If the Department of Education has investigated or planned to upgrade the electricity supply capacity at Frenches Forest Primary School considering air conditioning needs are not able to be met due to its limited ability.
If the Cromer Campus P&C can fundraise for air conditioning to cover classrooms not supported by the Department’s own planned air conditioning installation at the school. Additionally, if so, will the Department help facilitate installation consistent with necessary government standards and procurement policies.

I asked the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces:

If they could provide a timeline for a response to Northern Beaches Council’s November 2025 planning proposal to amend their Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme.

I asked the Minister for Industrial Relations and the Minister for Work Health

About labour hire practices. Specifically I asked them to advise about engagement with labour hire agencies, wages and expectations, and if they will take into account cost of living pressures and workforce retention.

I asked the Minister for Health:

About the tobacconist closure notices issued by NSW Health to stores in breach of tobacco trading laws. Specifically, what is the process for stores to reopen, is there ongoing compliance monitoring for such stores and will the history of such closures be taken into account should additional breaches be reported.

I asked the Minister for Agriculture:

When the amendments to the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code will be implemented.

LOCAL LEGENDS

One of my favourite things about being at Parliament is that I get the opportunity to shout out those members of our community for their exceptional achievements and service to Wakehurst. I also appreciate the opportunity to give tribute to a few very special residents who unfortunately have passed recently, a huge loss for our community and of course their family.

Cromer Campus for their exceptional achievements in 2025. Congratulations to its students, teachers, staff, parents and wider school community on a truly outstanding year in visual arts, music, dance, industrial technology and sports. I’d also like to acknowledge the advocacy of the P&C and the progress towards a new multi-purpose sports hall.
Ronan Connolly for his success in the Premier League Grand Final playing for the Collaroy Cromer Strikers and for winning the 2025 MWFA Premier League player of the year award.
Millie Tonkin from the Manly Warringah Sapphires for being named as a finalist for the Nance Kenny Medal reflecting her hard work and incredible performance displayed throughout the 2025 season.
Fight for a Cure have dedicated more than a decade to supporting families fighting cancer. Everything they have done is thanks to countless hours from volunteers, sponsors and donors who show up year after year, I sincerely thank you for your compassion.
Cameron Read who received the Citizen of the Year Award last month from Northern Beaches Council for his outstanding service to surf lifesaving. In late 2025, Cameron demonstrated exceptional leadership in coordinating the lifesaving response during a terrible shark attack. On behalf of Wakehurst, I thank Cameron for his invaluable contribution to our community.
John Balfour OAM for being named Northern Beaches Council Senior Citizen of the Year. John took part in the Australian Army Reserves for 48 years and gave over 50 years of service to his local RSL NSW, I am truly thankful for his extraordinary leadership for our community.
Andrew Lee for his leadership of the Vipers Run Club and its initiative, Move for 60 which has raised over $500,000 for charities over the past four years.
Lieutenant Commander Justin Downey-Price CSM, RAN on receiving the Bar to the Conspicuous Service Medal as part of the Australia Day Honours last month for his exceptional leadership and performance in the Royal Australian Navy.
Adopt a Beach Team from Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches on being named the 2026 Community Group of the Year by Northern Beaches Council. The foundation has been protecting our coastlines for 34 years now.
Simone Short, founder and Chair of Gidget Foundation Australia, for being named our Westfield Warringah Mall Local Hero for 2025. Through Gidget House, Simone has brought free, bulk-billed specialised perinatal counselling to Northern Beaches Hospital.
Emu Parade for their amazing work keeping our local beaches clean in a fun, sociable way and for their work inspiring others to think differently about waste and the power of small actions.
Jefflyn Ward was honoured with a Community Service Award by Northern Beaches Council on Australia Day for her remarkable contribution to our community through her volunteer work with the Dalwood Auxiliary.
Ariel Darley was honoured with a Community Service Award by Northern Beaches Council on Australia Day for her outstanding contribution to local sport through her tireless work as Secretary of Warringah Aquatic Club and her work on Swimming Metro Northeast and Swimming NSW committees.

All Community Recognition Statements are avaliable to
read on my website, as well as the NSW Hansard

Tributes

Tribute to Richard Gordon. Richard made significant contributions to the local community, serving as Director of the Forestville RSL Club from 1997 until 2003 when he went on to become the president of the Forestville RSL War Memorial Playing Fields Community Committee. His enduring dedication has left an indelible mark on our community and he will be deeply missed. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Richard’s family. May he rest in peace.
Tribute to Jack McCoy OAM. Mr Jack McCoy was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia last month for his extraordinary contribution to surf cinematography and his lasting impact on Australia’s surf culture and coastal community. Jack also served as an ambassador for organisations including Surfrider, where he used his voice and influence to promote environmental awareness and stewardship. May his life and legacy be remembered with deep gratitude for the impact he made.

TOURS

On 10 February 2026, I was pleased to welcome members of Zonta Northern Beaches to NSW Parliament for a tour and morning tea. We had a great discussion about community priorities in Wakehurst and the important role Parliament plays in advancing outcomes for women and families.

RESTORE & FORMALISE THE RED HILL BIKE JUMPS

To rebuild and protect the Red Hill Mountain Biking Dirt Jumps, we need YOUR voice.

Please sign and share my Red Hill Mountain Bike Jumps petition.

The Red Hill Mountain Biking Dirt Jumps have long been a valued recreational space for our community. With the unexpected demolition of the jumps, a much loved local recreational outlet has been destroyed. This has pushed a thriving community of riders away from a safe, established location and undermined the positive work that went into it. I’ve raised this in parliament, but now I need your help by signing the petition.

This petition calls on the NSW Government to:

Reopen and restore the Red Hill mountain biking dirt jumps
Work collaboratively with the community, local riders and experts to ensure the trails are safe, sustainable and environmentally recognisable
Recognise mountain biking as a legitimate, healthy and positive community activity on public land.

Together we can send a clear message: Red Hill belongs to the community and it’s time to restore it.

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY

For more information, check out the videos I posted on Instagram and Facebook, where I met with local riders to hear about the first-hand impacts the demolishment had on our community.

LOCAL SENIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS

For NSW Seniors’ week, you can nominate a local senior for their achievements and contributions to our Wakehurst community. Click here to find the nomination form. Award recipients will be chosen and welcomed to a special morning tea in NSW Parliament in March - but be quick, nominations are now closing 5pm Tuesday 24th February.