Meet the candidates running for Coogee this state election
Image: Current Coogee MP Marjorie O'Neill. Photo: Facebook/Marjorie O'Neill.
By JASMINE SIMMONS
Six candidates are vying for the seat of Coogee this state election, including Labor’s Marjorie O’Neill running for re-election.
The electorate of Coogee covers 14.6 square kilometres, which includes the suburbs of Coogee, South Coogee, Randwick, Bronte, Clovelly, and parts of Kingsford, Bondi and Bondi Junction.
The NSW political history for Coogee shows a near-even swing between both Liberal and Labor major parties, highlighting it as a marginal seat. In 1974, Labor won the seat and held this position until the 2011 Liberal win by Bruce Notley-Smith.
Labor’s O’Neill the went on to win over Notley-Smith in 2019.
The Labor margin in Coogee for the upcoming state election is estimated at 2.3%.
Lluisa Murray (Sustainable Australia Party)
Candidate for the SAP, Lluisa Murray, stated that her main areas of focus for this election are “protecting our environment, stopping over-development, and stopping corruption”.
Murray told City Hub that her personal values align most with quality of life issues that are closely related to our local and global environmental health.
“I want to ‘do my part’ as an individual in a working democracy, and I think we need to prioritise Australia’s unique environment,” Murray said.
The Sustainable Australia Party is concerned with taking a scientific and evidence based approach to policy, implementing the line #RedefiningGrowth to mean better, not bigger.
Murray stated that “the Sustainable Australia Party is the only political movement to challenge the reckless political agenda of rapid growth in both resource consumption (e.g. water, energy, forests, fish stocks, etc) and population size.”
“Instead, we prioritise growth in our health and wellbeing over business-as-usual growth in consumption and population,” said Murray.
If elected for Coogee representative, Murray said that she will be “very active in parliament” and “raise her voice” to propose effective ways to protect our environment, stop overdevelopment and stop corruption.
Kylie von Muenster (Liberal)
Speech pathologist and law firm manager, Kylie von Muenster, has experience working in regional and city hospitals, and has volunteered within the local Bronte Surf Life Saving Club.
Von Muenster’s focus for the election is to give back to her local community by ensuring opportunities for local families, addressing the rising cost of living and preserving the environment for future generations.
Despite criticism aimed at the Liberals for inaction on climate change during the federal election, Von Muenster told The Australian Financial Review that at a state level, the Party has a “really strong message” on climate and energy renewal.
Von Muenster believes that the NSW Liberal’s have delivered on environment and climate action, with policies to reduce 70% of greenhouse emissions by 2035.
Majorie O’Neill (Labor)
As Coogee representative, Majorie O’Neill aims to stand with the community and keep the locals in her best interest. Her areas of focus for the upcoming election include issues concerning public transport, education, health, climate change, environment, over-development, and anti-corruption.
O’Neill has previously campaigned for paediatric cardiac services, bus services, and domestic violence services in her local area. If re-elected, she will continue to advocate for climate change with the “Save Our Environment” campaign.
O’Neill states that Coogee Beach has been impacted by environmental neglect, and is “deeply committed to saving Yarra Bay from seabed dredging and the construction of a cruise ship terminal”.
O’Neill is a fifth generation Eastern Suburbs local, and has volunteered for the Clovelly Surf Club, and at UNSW as a women’s sport coach. O’Neill was previously a Waverley Councillor before being elected for the seat of Coogee in 2019.
Rafaela Pandolfini (Greens)
Greens candidate and Randwick Councillor, Rafaela Pandolfini, is an activist for her local community and values the Coogee land, sea, and environment.
Pandolfini’s areas of focus for the election are fully funded education, a pay rise for educators and health workers, abolishing poker machines from pubs and clubs, public transport planning and climate action.
“The Greens will always advocate tirelessly for action on Climate Change,” Pandolfini told City Hub.
“We want to see ambitious plans for making renewables accessible, and we want to see the biggest emitters like Coal and Gas companies taxed”.
The Greens also plan to stop the increase in living expenses, which has been an ongoing issue for the locals in Coogee.
“The Greens will fight for immediate rent freezes and no grounds evictions for renters. We want the wage cap scrapped and we want dental into Medicare,” Pandolfini said.
Pandolfini has previously put forward motions in the Randwick council to utilise buildings for art and cultural activities, aligning with her personal values.
“I will advocate as I have done passionately on council for a lot more investment in arts & culture and vibrant communities. I am in the arts and I struggle to see what support there is for art, culture and a vibrant community in Coogee.”
Simon Garrod (Animal Justice Party)
Coogee candidate for the Animal Justice Party, Simon Garrad, is strongly campaigning for animal liberation in the upcoming election.
Garrod believes that it is essential for societies to evolve into more caring and equal communities, valuing the rights of animals.
Garrod has worked in IT at UNSW for over ten years, and has teaching and counselling experience. He has also spent twelve years as a field archaeologist working in the UK and Madagascar, and has worked as a street photographer in Australia, South-East Asia and Europe.
Animal justice aligns with Garrod’s personal values, and he aims to put animals at the forefront of the political agenda for the election. He will strive for animal welfare for their own benefit, and to benefit the wider community.
Alicia Mosquera (Informed Medical Opinions Party)
