After 16 years in local government, Michael Regan has attended his last-ever council meeting. Michelle Giglio chats with the Wakehurst MP
When Michael Regan made his inaugural speech to State Parliament some 16 months ago, he said he ‘genuinely wanted to make this world a better place’ so his sons could have the same opportunities he’d had. It all started in local government, when Michael ran for Warringah Council in 2007, spurred on by his cricket team mates to nominate because the ‘pitches were rubbish!’ He went on to become the first popularly-elected mayor of Waringah, and then served almost two terms as Northern Beaches Council mayor, resigning when elected as Wakehurst MP – but staying on as a councillor to serve out his term, which ends on 15 September, the day after the local council elections.
Michael has now attended his final council meeting, but said he would not miss the chamber. “I’ve always been realistic that there was always going to be another mayor,” he says. “I was always going to do the job 100 per cent the best I could to represent my community, first and foremost; work with the staff, and work with fellow councillors to make sure that we got the best decision.
“And that’s what we did for 15 years. And we were really successful, so that’s what I’m really proud of.”
He counts one of his biggest achievements as turning around Warringah Council as ‘one of the most despised’ (it had been put into administration), “To having the confidence of the community to turn that culture around, the financials around and the community sentiment around. And culminating in winning the Bluett Award was extraordinary.” The prestigious annual AR Bluett Memorial Award is given yearly to the best NSW metropolitan council. NBC also won this award under Michael’s tenure.
Leading the successful push for the B-line bus routes was another proud moment which Michael labels ‘a game changer’. “It was one of the most successful transport projects in the state, if not the country.”
After seven years at NBC, Michael says it is heading in the right direction – and expects less politicisation of council given there will be no longer be a Liberal block because of the party’s failure to nominate their candidates. “It will depend on the leadership of the mayor and whoever has the majority on council, and ensuring they work to represent everybody and put the community first,” he states.
“If you do that, you’ll be successful. And the community benefits.”
Michael says the political party he started on council, the Your Northern Beaches Independent Team, which current mayor Sue Heins is a part of, showed that a group of independents could work as a co-operative. “But as I’ve always stated, 90 per cent of the council agenda goes through unanimous. That’s Liberals, Greens (and independents voting together). I think the key has always been, and my success has been, because I’ve worked with, not against.
“The new council has to be cognizant that they need to run the with the community and not any personal political agendas. If they’re smart and I suspect they will be, they will work with the community, staff and more importantly, work with each other to make all that work.”
Now that he is in State Parliament, Michael has taken the same attitude with him, elected as the first independent to the formerly safe Liberal seat of Wakehurst. He rejects the assertion that he will do deals with Labor for favours. “I will speak up against something I think is not right or unjust,” he states – giving the example of a recent speech in parliament about why the government should ban poker machines on Anzac Day. “That’s the value of independents. We can work across all those lines.”
Negotiating millions of dollars for Cromer High School for its multisport facility is just one example of how he is making a difference for the Beaches community he represents. Advocating for better transport infrastructure – including pushing for a flyover at the Officeworks intersection in Dee Why – is another.
Michael says his role as state MP is ‘re-energising’ him and he’s learning new topics, like native forest logging, protecting koala habitats, and switching off gas. “Now it’s more about the bigger picture view, not just my local area.
“So that’s been a real learning curve.”