Alex Greenwich strides into his first full year as MP

State Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich is still a parliamentary novice – he’s only been Member for Sydney for a little over two months.

Hard to believe considering the mark he’s made on the role. While he shares much common ground with his predecessor, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Mr Greenwich has brought his own style and flavour to the position Sydney’s leading lady held for 24 years.

“I feel I’m coming into my own fairly quickly,” Mr Greenwich agrees. “Five years as National Convenor of Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has given me extensive exposure to politics, and I’m very fortunate to have the guidance and support of Clover, who’s my political hero,” he says.

But not one to rest on his laurels, he adds: “I’ve still got a lot to learn. There’s always a lot to learn. In think I’ve learnt most so far from the people of Sydney, who remain my greatest inspiration and the reason I’m doing this job.”

While there‘s no doubting his commitment to the role, it’s clear Mr Greenwich has the gift of the gab. Rarely short of a response, he puts everything just so. But ask him to nominate his highlights for 2012, and you’re met with a surprising response – silence. Just for a little while, anyway.

The problem is there’s been so many!

“That’s a really hard question,” he muses. “I began the year as National Convenor of AME, which is a job I really got a lot of satisfaction from, I married my wonderful husband Vic in May, I ran on Clover’s ticket in the local government elections, I ran for parliament and was successful – so it’s really tough to single them out.

“I’d probably say my wedding day was the highlight, followed by the reception I got on my first day in parliament.”

A reception which included rapturous applause from the public gallery – and a big sloppy kiss from Liberal Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith.

“Yeah, there was that too,” he laughs.

Getting to the business end of things, he nominates his main political highlights as: his part in establishing an education working group to deliver more primary school places and a public high school for Inner Sydney; helping develop a community engagement plan with NSW Lands and Housing to help the public housing tenants of Millers Point navigate an uncertain future; and being a lone voice for animal welfare in the Lower House – a task especially important with the Shooters and Fishers Party holding the balance of power in the Upper House.

Next year, these will continue to be priorities, he says. Alongside his part in the NSW Cross-Party Marriage Equality Working Group, opposing the harbour helipad and second casino plans for Sydney, promoting Sydney’s digital economy, and the day-to-day tasks of representing and responding to constituents.

It looks like 2013 is going to be just as busy as 2012 – if not busier. But before all that, Mr Greenwich will enjoy a brief holiday period, giving him some cherished playtime with the puppy he and his husband Vic have adopted – Max, a whippet from Monika’s Doggie Rescue, which rescues and re-homes dogs from Council pounds.

Then there’s a brief respite with Vic on the South Coast, with the couple vacationing at Jervis Bay. And then it’s straight back on the parliamentary horse.

“I can’t wait to get back into it and do my job of representing and serving the people of Sydney,” he says. “I’m very fortunate to have a job I’m really passionate about, and I welcome the opportunity to serve my community whenever and wherever I can.”