Ryburn concedes to Scruby   
Oct 22, 2024
Northern Beaches Advocate

Jacqui Scruby has declared victory in Pittwater after Georgia Ryburn conceded defeat.   

Around 3.00pm yesterday afternoon (Monday, 21 October), the Liberal candidate for Pittwater, former Northern Beaches Deputy Mayor Georgia Ryburn, called Teal Independent Jacqui Scruby to formally declare defeat in the 2024 Pittwater State by-election.

The Northern Beaches Advocate called the seat for Ms Scruby on Saturday evening (19 October), as the progress count revealed she had taken an unbeatable lead in the polls.

Jacqui Scruby
Ms Scruby held an outdoor press conference for national news media on Sunday afternoon (20 October) at Bayview Park, Pittwater Road, Bayview, but declined to declare victory until further counting had taken place.

It is understood Ms Ryburn likewise held out formally conceding defeat on the advice of Liberal Party staff, until more of the count had been completed.

The NSW Electoral Commission stopped the count at 9.00pm on Saturday evening (19 October), with only the pre-poll results from Mona Vale. Yesterday, additional pre-poll results were counted for Avalon Beach and Narrabeen, putting the final result beyond doubt in Ms Scruby’s favour.

Georgia Ryburn
Georgia Ryburn issued a public statement yesterday afternoon (Monday, 21 October) confirming she had called Ms Scruby to congratulate her on her victory.

“In the final minutes of voting on Saturday, I was proud to shake Jacqui’s hand with a sincere smile on my face. We even did a little dance, because after all, we live in Australia — the best democracy in the world — and that is worth celebrating.

“I have just spoken to Jacqui Scruby to concede and congratulate her.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely disappointed. This isn’t the outcome I hoped for, but I know this isn’t the end of the road.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be your Liberal candidate for Pittwater, and am humbled by the amazing support from the Pittwater community and the Liberal Party.

“How fortunate we are to call our great community home,” said Ms Ryburn.

Ms Scruby referred to the phone call conceding defeat from Ms Ryburn as ‘gracious’, and said she thanked her for standing to serve Pittwater.

Jacqui Scruby
Addressing the assembled media on Sunday, Ms Scruby laid out her agenda for the next two years .

“I’m very conscious that we only have two short years remaining of this parliamentary term, and because I have a very good relationship here in the community with both residents and also community groups, I’m very keen to hit the ground running and deliver for Pittwater.

“My platform that I’ve prioritised is securing the funding for Mona Vale Road and getting that project happening. It’s something that unites the whole of the Northern Beaches community, even people who acknowledged that maybe they weren’t supportive of the project to start with,” said Ms Scruby.

Jacqui Scruby
“Also [I’ll be] pushing back on blanket planning laws, and delivering cost of living measures beyond vouchers that people miss. Also bringing a voice to NSW Parliament on structural change, such as looking at the rising cost of insurance and what can be done there from a state level.

“The issue around the rising cost of insurance related to extreme weather and climate change is something I’ve been working on at a federal level. It’s something that affects areas of our electorate, like Narrabeen and Terrey Hills, which are at high risk.

“Some families are facing insurance that’s so high that they’re actually uninsured or underinsured. It’s not a discussion that’s been had in NSW Parliament enough, and that’s one of the areas that I would seek to be vocal on,” said Ms Scruby.

Jacqui Scruby
Asked about housing density, Ms Scruby said she accepts the housing targets that had been set by the Federal Government of 5,900 new homes in the Northern Beaches Local Government Area by 2029, but reaffirmed her commitment to oppose blanket policy changes, and the proposed development at Lizard Rock, Morgan Road, Belrose.

“People here, and I share that opinion, realise that blanket planning laws aren’t necessarily the most appropriate way to plan for housing and I’ll be putting that to the government.

“Last election, I campaigned against that [Lizard Rock] development proceeding, and the reason for that is around the bushfire risk.

“One of the things that is lacking from state government planning is this understanding of how building on flood plains, building in bushfire areas is actually a huge contributor to the home insurance crisis,” said Ms Scruby.

Jacqui Scruby
Finally, Ms Scruby paid tribute to the supporters and volunteers who had turned out for her campaign, and what she referred to as ‘years’ of effort in building momentum.

“Community Independents are only able to do what we do because it is genuine community momentum. It hasn’t just happened overnight, it’s years and years of engaging people in their democracy, having discussions about what people care about, what policies they care about, what their values are,” said Ms Scruby.

The next NSW Election will be held in March 2027.