Tell us a bit about yourself —family, background, and why you’re running.
I’m originally from a little town called Bellbrook on the Mid North Coast and moved to Parramatta in 2004 to study Law at the University of Western Sydney (as it was known then!), becoming the first in my family to get a university degree. I worked in a local cafe through uni before becoming a solicitor in North Parramatta where I’ve spent the past 17 years, helping families and small businesses through some of their most challenging times.
So many in our community are hurting under the pressure of rising bills. Grocery prices, electricity and gas, rents and mortgages have all gone up. And nothing will change unless we make a change.
That’s why I’m running for Parramatta. I’ll be a strong voice in a better government that will get Australia back on track by reining in wasteful spending and rebuilding our economy. It will be a government that delivers immediate relief for household budgets and small businesses – for example, by halving the fuel excise saving you $14 on every tank of fuel – and that will make energy, housing and healthcare more affordable.
What’s your plan to help local families with the rising cost of living—especially around groceries, housing and childcare?
Under Labor, we have seen the biggest collapse in living standards in our country’s history – and every family I speak to is really feeling the pressure of rising costs on their household budget.
That’s why a Liberal Government will provide immediate relief while we work to rein in inflation and rebuild our economy.
We will halve the fuel excise for 12 months, making every litre of fuel 25 cents cheaper and saving you around $14 a tank. For a household with two cars filling up once a week, this will save you around $1,500 over 12 months.
A Liberal Government will also deliver a tax offset of up to $1200 for taxpayers earning up to $144,000, benefitting 10 million Australian taxpayers when they lodge their tax return for the 2025-26 financial year.
We are also committed to a natural gas reservation scheme for the East Coast, which will mandate that more gas be sold into the Australian market driving down gas and electricity prices.
I have been renting in Parramatta since I moved here 21 years ago, when I was working as a waitress in a cafe to pay my rent and bills during university. I have had countless conversations with young people in Parramatta about how hard it is to save up and purchase their first home, this is something that I know firsthand. I’m really passionate about helping young Australians purchase their own home and to have the security and pride of home ownership.
The Liberal Party is committed to helping first home buyers by allowing them to access up to $50,000 of their superannuation for a deposit. Furthermore we are pledged to creating a mortgage tax deduction for first home buyers purchasing new constructions, a first home buyer with a taxable income of $120,000 with a $650,000 mortgage at 6.1% will receive a benefit of around $12,000 a year .As well for housing we have committed to banning foreign investors and temporary residents from purchasing existing homes in Australia.
We are also committed to keeping supermarkets from exploiting suppliers and consumers through a new competition policy, including divestiture powers, as well as strengthening the Food and Grocery Code, increasing penalties for unfair practices by supermarkets and establishing a Supermarket Commissioner.
What will you do to improve access to healthcare services in our area, including bulk billing, mental health support, and specialist care for families?
Bulk-billing has collapsed under the Albanese Labor Government from 88% to 77% in 2023-24. We are committed to a plan which restores the rate of bulk billing to the level under the last Liberal Government, which will help Parramatta locals find a bulk-billing doctor to take care of the health of their families.
We are investing $9.4 billion into strengthening our Medicare system.
I have secured a commitment to invest $5 million to upgrade headspace Parramatta and ensure young Australians living in Western Sydney have better access to the mental health services they deserve. It will provide for an additional 8,000 visits per year, allowing approximately 1,800 more young people in the local community to access the support they need.
As well my State Parliamentary colleagues made major investments in Westmead Hospital and Westmead Children’s Hospital during their time in government from 2011 to 2023, and I plan to work with my State and Federal Parliamentary colleagues to ensure that families have access to quality healthcare in Parramatta.
What are your top 3 priorities for the Parramatta electorate if you’re elected?
We need to bring down the cost of everyday life so people can start enjoying life again instead of worrying about how to pay for it.
A Liberal Government will invest in projects our community needs – like road upgrades that get you home sooner and safer and more community infrastructure.
I’ve fought for funding to fix some of the worst intersections in the area like Moseley Street and Evans Road on Pennant Hills Road in Carlingford and the intersection of Kissing Point Road and Quarry Road in Dundas. We’ll also back a $25 million investment to upgrade Wentworth Avenue to address issues at the Toongabbie Bridge.
A Liberal Government will also invest in the community infrastructure a growing community like ours needs like $4.8 million to upgrade Sir Thomas Mitchell Reserve, $3.6 million to upgrade facilities at Binalong Park, funding to upgrade the lights at Harold West Reserve and more security cameras for our CBD.
What are your top 3 favourite local spots in the Parramatta area (e.g. cafes, parks, walks, playgrounds)? Bonus points for a hidden gem!
This is a wonderful question! I have lived in Parramatta for 21 years so I have a picked out a favourite spots over the years:
You can’t go wrong with a stroll through Wisteria Gardens in Parramatta Park. It has special historical interest as one of Sydney’s most intact surviving Edwardian Gardens but it is also simply a gorgeous place in the Park to spend time and connect with nature, with stunning plants and flowers on display throughout the year.
The Parramatta Female Factory is a wonderful place to visit – you can travel back in time with a guided tour taking you through the well preserved first female factory and penal colony in New South Wales. The tours are educational and fascinating, giving a special insight into the stories of the first female convicts sent to Australia. There is also a great cafe on site where you can sit back and enjoy refreshments while surrounded in heritage.
It’s always great to visit Little India Harris Park to try fantastic food from across India. There are so many places to eat. One of my favourite places to stop by is Jaipur Sweets who are known for their freshly made jalebi.