Pittwater Online News

New Analysis Shows Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps Tops Time Spent Doing Her Job

Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps at a community event during her Summer 'break'. Photo: AJG/PON

Federal politicians headed back to Canberra this week, just as new analysis on they use their time in Parliament was released.

The time spent on political theatre and sledging are almost on par with policy debate in the Australian parliament, according to Australian-first analysis from Amplify, a not-for-profit group researching community views and promoting policy.

The Amplify House Monitor used AI to categorise more than 16,000 speeches over an estimated 625 hours from the first six months of the parliamentary term (mid-July 2025 - end December 2025).

While lifting productivity is high on the political agenda, the analysis shows MPs and Senators wasted more than a third of their time on political theatre and bad behaviour, spending the equivalent of 28 business days criticising and attacking one another.

Excluding parliamentary procedure and formalities, nearly 50% of the remaining time was spent on political theatre and bad behaviour.

The analysis of Hansard showed Mackellar MP and Independent Dr. Sophie Scamps spent the most time on policy. 

In an Interview with ABC Radio National on Monday Dr. Scamps said:

‘’I was really pleased and I think my team are really pleased as well because the reason I came into politics was to be constructive and collaborative and to bring in fresh ideas and I think that's reflected in these results.’’

Dr. Scamps has not only been turning up and doing her job, without enormous fanfare and much ado, some of her introduced amendments have been taken up by the government and helped federal politics closer reflect community expectations – the Scamps amendment ideas for a water trigger for mining projects, for example, were adopted by the Australian Government in December 2023. 

When parliament was recalled early in response to the attack on a children’s Hannukah party, Dr Scamps' amendment to establish a National Firearms Safety Council was also supported by the government.

‘’It is great news for Australians that in passing the new national gun laws the Government has agreed to establish a National Firearms Safety Council akin to the one I proposed in my amendment to the bill. A National Firearms Safety Council is based on the work of the National Gun Safety Alliance and would ensure a public health and safety lens is applied to gun control in Australia.’’ Dr. Scamps stated on January 21

Founded and chaired by venture capitalist Paul Basset with board members including former New South Wales Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet and former Queensland Labor MP Kate Jones, Amplify’s CEO is Georgina Harrison, a former public servant.

“Australia is facing flatlining productivity, a nationwide housing crisis, growing levels of national debt and rising inflation, but instead of focusing on policy our politicians are more focused on political point-scoring and chest-thumping,” Georgina Harrisson said.

“Australians overwhelmingly want their elected representatives to focus on solutions to the big issues impacting them and their communities, not sledging each other.”

Amplify’s most recent national survey found 72% of Australians believe politicians are more focused on winning votes than solving problems and the Amplify House Monitor reinforces what the community already knows.

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Marine Rescue NSW volunteers respond to almost 700 incidents in January 2026

Marine Rescue NSW vessel Cottage Point 31. Photo supplied.

Data released this week shows Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state have begun the year in high demand, completing 668 search and rescue missions during January, including 162 emergency responses and the safe return of 1,644 people to shore.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Dan Duemmer said the peak boating period saw volunteers respond to a wide range of incidents, including EPIRB activations, sinking vessels, medical emergencies and numerous missing person searches.

“Our volunteers are highly trained and prepared to respond rapidly to many types of emergencies on the water,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Duemmer said.

“In January alone, crews attended 19 medical emergencies on our waterways, including cardiac arrest.”

Crews also carried out more than 50 assists to grounded vessels, which Acting Deputy Commissioner Duemmer said were largely avoidable.

“Boaters must be aware of tides, their surrounding environment and prevailing conditions,” he said. “If boating in an unfamiliar area, do your preparation, consult local charts and speak with the nearest Marine Rescue NSW unit before launching.”

Almost half of all responses across the state during January were related to engine issues.

“Boaters must ensure their vessel is in good working order before heading out, carry sufficient clean fuel, have the correct safety equipment on board, always wear a life jacket and check the weather,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Duemmer said.

Greater Sydney was the busiest region during January, with volunteer crews completing 282 search and rescue missions. The Middle Harbour and Port Jackson units also recorded their busiest peak summer period on record, providing daily on-water support over 62 days during December and January. 

“Volunteer crews from our two Sydney Harbour based units were in high demand on the state’s busiest waterway across December and January, completing a combined 183 missions, safely returning 514 people to shore.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Duemmer also praised the Service’s radio operators for their vital behind-the-scenes work.

“Our radio operators are the backbone of Marine Rescue NSW. Their skill and knowledge are invaluable in assisting boaters on the state’s waterways,” he said.

During January, Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed almost 27,000 calls and monitored 33,646 people on board vessels that had Logged On.

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Milla Coco Brown - Lucas Hickson Win 2026 Kim Burton Pro Junior 

MEREWETHER BEACH, Newcastle, NSW (Sunday, February 1, 2026)

Report by WSL

Today, Milla Coco Brown (AUS) and Lucas Hickson (AUS) won the Kim Burton Pro Junior, the opening event of the 2026 season for the World Surf League (WSL) Australia/Oceania Junior Qualifying Series (JQS). Merewether Beach delivered fun surf in the two-to-three-foot range for the second event in the 40th anniversary celebrations of Surfest Newcastle. The conditions set the stage for the region’s best juniors to compete for valuable ranking points as the race toward qualification for the 2026 WSL World Junior Championships officially began.

Milla Coco Brown (AUS) claimed her second Pro Junior victory in a row, her fourth overall. Credit: WSL / Paul Danovaro 

The successful run of Milla Coco Brown (AUS) continued today as the 18-year-old from Pittwater's Bungan Beach Boardriders claimed her fourth Pro Junior victory. After winning the Let’s Surf Lake Mac Pro Junior for a second time to close out the 2025 Australia/Oceania JQS season, Brown made it back-to-back Pro Junior wins to move to the top of the rankings for the new year. Between the two events, she also helped lead Australia to team gold at the ISA World Junior Championship in Peru, earning the silver medal in the U/18 division. Now, Brown is primed in her campaign to compete in the WSL World Junior Championships for the first time.

"Thanks to Kim Burton for putting on such a good event and the girls for a fun Final," Brown said. "I'm pretty happy to win. It was pretty fun, but tough conditions, so I was stoked to lock back into comp mode after free surfing for a couple of months. Good way to kick off 2026."

A strong southerly change blew through ahead of the men’s Semi-finals, seeing the women’s Final open as largely a battle of single turns. Brown took command from the start with two rides in the 4-point range, before finding a long open face that allowed her to unleash down the line and post a 6.67. A back-up 6.00 from an aggressive single turn provided a 12.67 heat total that closed the door on her opponents.

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The fauna bridge on Mona Vale Road East – will it be a bridge to nowhere?

A proposed change of zoning for land in Ingleside could jeopardise the future operation of a planned fauna corridor, including a fauna bridge and underpass on Mona Vale Road East.

This could isolate threatened fauna in Ingleside Chase Reserve, leading to long term decline and possible local extinction.

Fauna bridge on Mona Vale Road East. Ingleside Chase Reserve is on left. Photo David Palmer

The land is a critical element in the pathway for native fauna populations in Ingleside Chase reserve to cross Mona Vale Road east and disperse through bushland in Ingleside to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. 

The land was set aside in the 2016 Ingleside Precinct Structure Plan, and marked as a fauna corridor. This was part of an agreement between Transport for NSW, (then RMS) and the NSW Department of Planning to create a corridor, fauna underpass and fauna bridge over Mona Vale Road East which would link Ingleside Chase Reserve with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. 

However, in the new Local Environment Plan for the Northern Beaches this land has been zoned C3 which allows housing. If houses are built on it, then native animals which cross the fauna bridge or use the underpass will have nowhere to go.

Pittwater Natural Heritage Association secretary David Palmer is calling for action by the Department of Planning to remedy the situation. 

“Whilst RMS kept their side of the bargain and built the fauna bridge, the Department of Planning didn’t keep their promise to zone the land for conservation. So now we have a situation where sometime in the future housing could appear on this land and the fauna Bridge over Mona Vale Road would lead into residential back yards and fences, rendering it a useless waste of money.

“We would like Northern Beaches Council to ask the Planning Department for a solution to this problem,” he said.

Cr Miranda Korzy will put a motion to Northern Beaches Council calling on Council to liaise with the Department of Planning, which owns the land, and other agencies to identify ways to protect it.

PNHA hopes that her motion will be supported by other Councillors as the long-term viability of native fauna populations in Ingleside Chase Reserve, which is under Council’s control, will be affected.

PNHA President, Marita Macrae says Pittwater Natural Heritage Association has been advocating for protection of native fauna in Ingleside Chase Reserve since 1994 when much of it was privately owned and threatened by a plan to subdivide it. 

“Our campaign spurred Pittwater Council to take action to protect it which resulted in the creation of the nature reserve. We thought that with the creation of the fauna corridor and crossings over Mona Vale Road, our campaign would be over, but sadly our vision seems to have been thwarted,” she said. 

PNHA member Jacqui Marlow has been involved in rescuing native fauna in the area for many years. She says that protection of the fauna corridor land is critical for the long-term survival of native animals. 

She explained that “If native animals are not able to move between habitats, they will face gradual population decline leading to local extinction. We have many threatened mammals and birds in Ingleside Chase reserve including Eastern Pygmy Possums, which are listed as vulnerable in NSW. They depend on being able to move safely through the landscape to find food, shelter and mates.”

Eastern Pygmy possum near the fauna bridge on Mona Vale Road East. Photo David Palmer

The map below shows recorded sightings of Eastern Pygmy Possums on both sides of the fauna bridge and underpass on Mona Vale Road East.

Eastern Pygmy Possum sightings near the fauna bridge and underpass on Mona Vale Rd east. Image: Atlas of living Australia 2025

Native animals have been photographed using the fauna bridge, showing that it is working, and as the vegetation on and around it grows thicker, more animals will use it. But if, after crossing the fauna bridge, animals encounter back yards, fences and domestic pets, then it will prove to be a bridge to nowhere.

PNHA has commissioned Pittwater Pathways to produce a three minute You Tube video titled “A Bridge to Nowhere?” explaining the issue. Click on this link or watch it below.

MP for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, stated:

“Pittwater is home to extraordinary natural heritage that must be protected. Wildlife crossings were built as part of the Mona Vale Road East Upgrade. For these to be most effective, adjoining land in Ingleside must be rezoned to ensure wildlife can move safely into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. If this doesn’t happen, the significant investment already made in building the wildlife crossings will effectively have been wasted. I strongly support the Pittwater Natural Heritage Association’s calls to ensure that our precious wildlife is permanently protected.“

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Pittwater MP Launches Survey Asking For Local Knowledge on Sharks: State Government Announces Further $4.2 million to Improve Shark Safety this Summer + Shark Safety - how to reduce the risk of an encounter with a shark

This investment follows an unprecedented number of attacks over the previous week and the need for better education and community safety messaging on shark behaviour, especially in the lead up to and following significant weather events that can increase the risk of attacks. 

Avalon Beach SLSC closed the beach on Saturday January 10 due to a shark encounter, stating; ‘’Avalon Beach is closed today following a shark that came in to contact with a surfer off Little Av at 7am. It’s a good day for cricket but best to swim in the pool or choose another beach for an ocean swim.’’

Toby Play posted on Instagram: ’Local Paul ‘Bass’ Stanton got bumped. Tooth in the thumb and 2 in the fin. Still 5 fingers. He is fine.’

A12-year-old boy, Nico Antic, who suffered serious leg injuries after being bitten by a shark in Sydney's east on Sunday January 18, passed away in hospital.

In a statement issued on Saturday January 24, his parents Lorena and Juan said they were "heartbroken" to share the news of their son's passing.

"Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was always full of life and that's how we'll remember him," the statement says

"We would like to sincerely thank the first responders and the teams at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick for everything they did to care for Nico. 

"We would also like to thank everyone in the community for their support and kind messages. 

We ask you please respect our privacy during this exceptionally difficult time."

The family said they would not be providing further comment.

The 12-year-old was attacked by what authorities believe was a bull shark while jumping off a rock ledge near Shark Beach.

On Monday January 19 a shark bit an 11-year-old’s board at Dee Why Point. Witnesses say they saw what looked like a bull shark possibly 4 or 5 foot long, but this has been unconfirmed. Fortunately he was unhurt, with the boy’s father, who was paddling back out at the time, able to meet him in the water, where an older bot had come to his aid. The 11-year-old Dee Why local said he was kicked off his board when the shark lunged up then a few bites were taken out of the board - one removing a section of the board entirely. 

Further north on that Monday January 19, Adriaan van der Wallen, at Avalon Beach once again, reported:

''Surfing “Off Rocks” late morning today - A large black fin came towards us, at speed, then disappeared. Several of us saw it. Couldn’t tell what it was but it didn’t surface again. I’m a surfer and keen fisherman, yesterday afternoon two guys caught 4 sharks.''

On the same day, about 6.20pm, January 19, emergency services were called to North Steyne Beach, Manly, following reports a surfer had been bitten by a shark.

Andre de Ruyter, 27, was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid before the arrival of emergency services.

Andre was treated for serious leg injuries by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition. Andre remains in hospital, on the road to healing, but doctors have removed a leg.

All beaches on the peninsula were closed until further notice, with many closed several times since due to an increased monitoring of sharks, including Mona Vale Beach and Manly, Saturday January 31, 2026 - as we go to press.

Pittwater MP Launches Shark Survey

Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby stated on January 20:

''The shark attacks over the last few days have shaken our community.

My thoughts are with the young men and their families impacted.  I want to thank the first responders, life guards, paramedics  and members of the public who heroically came to their aid.

With all northern beaches now closed until further notice as a precaution, I urge all surfers and swimmers to follow the safety advice provided.

I am aware there is growing concern in the community about an increase in shark encounters locally, so I have requested a meeting with the Department of Primary Industries to understand the changing behaviour and numbers of sharks in Sydney.

We have recently had $2.5m further investment in drone surveillance at NSW beaches and I am pushing for more.  I also encourage beach goers to download the Shark Smart App which provides real-time shark alerts and information for NSW ocean beaches.''

See November 2025 report: Jacqui Scruby - Council - Long Reef Boardriders - Maria Psillakis Call for Expanded Drone Surveillance to Improve Safety at Beaches

Ms Scruby welcomed the additional funding announcement on January 25, stating:

''An increase in $4.2m NSW State Government funding to improve shark protection and safety measures including a significantly expanded drone program across the northern beaches, is what I have been advocating for.

It also includes More research on bull sharks, installing shark listening stations in Sydney Harbour and strengthening community education and awareness.

This is in addition to the extra $2.5m allocated in December. Thank you to everyone who has been working together to push for more modern shark awareness and protection measures, including the Psilakas family,'' Ms Scruby said

The Pittwater MP is also keen to hear from surfers, fishermen and the community generally about their views, experience and local knowledge about Sharks in and around Pittwater and has launched a survey for responses.

The Shark Survey is available at: www.jacquiscruby.com.au/pittwater_shark_survey

Residents, along with shark monitoring stations, have been reporting an increase in shark encounters since the Autumn of 2025, with some attributing sharks staying in the estuary and along the peninsula beaches instead of migrating north during cold water seasons to an increase in sea temperatures, driven by climate change.

See March 2025 report: It's a 'Bit Sharky' out there: 5 Tagged Bull Sharks Pinged at North Narrabeen on Same Day - Bull Shark spotted at Bayview

The Shark Management Program, administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and delivered by the Australian UAV Service (AUAVS) – a service arm of SLSNSW – will grow from 50 patrolled locations to 80 under the proposed scope of funding, with 19 new locations across Sydney and 11 regional beaches among those set to benefit from eyes in the sky. 

Under the existing program, drone surveillance at the 50 DPIRD Shark Management Program locations would transition from daily to weekend-only patrols at the end of January until the end of March. However, thanks to the new funding, drone patrols will continue daily at all 80 new and existing locations until the end of the April school holidays. 

The new drone locations across the Manly to Barrenjoey peninsula include:

• The Avalon/Bilgola Headland (covering Avalon, Bilgola and Newport)
• Mona Vale (covering Mona Vale and Warriewood)
• North Narrabeen (covering Turrimetta and Narrabeen)
• Collaroy (covering Collaroy and Fishermans')
• Freshwater Headland (covering Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl)
• Long Reef
• North Steyne (covering North Steyne, Queenscliff and Manly)

Already covered: Palm Beach, South Narrabeen, Dee Why.

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