Why I'm running as an Independent
I’m honoured to have been selected again by the community to run as the community independent candidate for Cowper.
I believe that all of us have a role in building a better future for our region. Being a community independent means listening to everyone in our community, understanding the problems they face, and working tirelessly to find solutions. This is a new kind of representation, grounded in listening, care for each other, and our natural world.
And we need it now more than ever.
Our healthcare system is crumbling, the cost of basic essentials like groceries and power is skyrocketing, and more and more people are unable to afford a home.
Businesses and families are doing their best to stay afloat, and many can’t even access reliable internet or mobile coverage.
Meanwhile, the places we cherish are being destroyed all around us, while Australia’s carbon emissions are increasing.
We’ve been ignored for too long by representatives who prioritise their donors, party factions, or the latest political scandal over the everyday needs of our electorate.
How can we expect our representatives to fight for us when they accept millions in donations from corporations responsible for so many of our problems—whether fossil fuel companies, supermarkets, banks, or casinos?
One-third of large corporations pay little to no tax, billions of dollars in public subsidies are directed towards the fossil fuel industry, and we’re spending hundreds of billions on submarines that will likely never arrive.
Meanwhile, funding to essential services like healthcare and housing are going backwards.
I’m a community independent, free from the constraints of party politics. I have no obligations to donors, factions, or party interests. This means I can stand up for the issues that matter to everyone who lives in our electorate.
With an independent representative, we can build a future where:
- Families can afford homes, and healthcare is accessible to all.
- Businesses and households have reliable internet and phone services.
- Our emissions and power bills go down, not up.
- Our natural environment is protected.
I’m not afraid to take on the big issues, but I’ll do it with compassion and a commitment to listening to what really matters to you.
About me
Born and raised on the North West Slopes of NSW, my passion for community led me to pursue nursing. I advanced to become a regional healthcare leader, overseeing nursing and midwifery, sustainable healthcare, and disaster response teams from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour.
I’ve always been someone who speaks up for those who need it. I’ve cared for patients in crisis, led healthcare teams through fire and floods, raised two wonderful kids, and, after winning my own battle with cancer, became a leading advocate for cancer prevention, support, and research.
In 2022, I had the privilege of being selected as the community independent candidate for Cowper. Over 1,500 of us built a movement that turned Cowper from a safe seat into the Nationals' most marginal electorate. It was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life, showing what’s possible when we listen to the community and talk about the issues that matter: climate action, affordable housing, healthcare, and reliable mobile and internet services.
This time, we’re ready to make history and turn Cowper Independent.