Confirmed on Monday June 15, the Liberals state Mr. Gencher is an experienced community leader, small businessman and not-for-profit executive who has joined Opposition Leader's Kellie Sloane’s Liberal team.
'Currently serving as the Executive Director of a major international education organisation, he has spent his career standing up for communities, bringing people together and fighting for practical outcomes.'' the press statement reads
Mr. Gencher is an Executive Director of StandWithUs (SWU), an international pro-Israel organisation whose controversies largely stem from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its aggressive tactics against critics of Israel. The obverse is supporters of StandWithUs argue that the group provides crucial resources to combat rising antisemitism, advocates for the rights of Jewish students on campuses, and counters widespread misinformation about Israel.
In Australia StandWithUs has charity status and details its activities as:
'Delivering education programs, workshops, and forums that promoted harmony and reduced harmful behaviours linked to anti-Israel and anti-Semitic prejudice. Providing training and capacity-building to help individuals and communities respond effectively to bullying, vilification, and discrimination.'
'Michael has also served the community well beyond his professional life, including as a Mona Vale Surf Lifesaver and through his long involvement with Neighbourhood Watch, Rotary, the RFS, the Mentors Network, and many of the local sporting clubs that are such an important part of Pittwater life.' the NSW Liberal party communique states
'He understands Pittwater because he lives the same pressures as local families, small businesses, and community groups every day - from the cost of living pressures and stretched services, to traffic and transport frustrations. Michael understands the importance of protecting local character, and will work tirelessly to deliver practical results and protect Pittwater’s strong sense of community.'
Mr Gencher said in the release 'Pittwater had been overlooked by the Minns Labor Government'; “we have seen local roads deteriorate, bus services become less reliable, planning pressures increase, families and small businesses pushed harder by the cost of living crisis”.
“Pittwater needs more than just a complaints desk - we need outcomes delivered and a government that prioritises this community. Our roads are in poor condition, from Pittwater Road and Barrenjoey Road to Mona Vale Road and Wakehurst Parkway; Pittwater’s storm, flood, bushfire, and emergency access preparedness all need urgent attention, as does the protection of our local character, waterways, and open spaces.”
“Having run my own small business for almost two decades, I know the pressure local businesses are under. Small business is part of Pittwater’s social fabric, not just its economy, and it deserves practical support, less red tape and a government that understands what it takes to create jobs.”
“A Sloane Liberal Government will ease cost of living pressures, restore support for families through programs like Active Kids, back small business, invest in local roads and infrastructure, and deliver the services Pittwater needs. My job will be to make sure Pittwater is heard, respected and delivered for.”
However, residents have pointed out bus services have become unreliable due to the privatisation of the same under the prior Liberal government and the low wages now imposed on drivers. Currently drivers have commenced industrial action in an attempt to lift their pay, while the contracts signed by the Coalition, in place until 2030, imposed conditions on the previously a public transport system which saw the cancellation of some services, while you're standing at the bus stop, as a viable option for the contractors.
See report running this Issue week (Sunday June 21): Bus disruptions due to industrial action
Mr. Gencher has also supported a local dog lobby group which wants dogs to be allowed offleash access on all public beaches despite growing frustration in Pittwater with the rise of dog attacks, along with other safety concerns.
See report running this Issue (Sunday June 21 2026): Posties face growing danger as dog incidents reach nine a day: Residents express Growing Frustration with 'Entitled ones' too
After years of talk under the prior government, works on Wakehurst have commenced, see July 2026 Works Update sent in by Transport for NSW this week: Wakehurst Parkway: July Works Notification
The investigation works for Mona Vale West are nearing completion, with works scheduled to commence in 2027.
The cost of living has several factors according to those who study these aspects. On Wednesday 10 June 2026, experts across business and academia gathered for the Melbourne Institute's 'Flash Forum: The Cost-of-Living Crisis'.
Mortgage holders, regional communities and low-income households were cited by speakers as being most vulnerable.
“Real wages have not kept up with inflation… if the Australian economy can’t grow by more than 2% without spurring inflation, it speaks to the productivity issue”, noted Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, which may lend insight into why local bus drivers have commenced industrial action.
The current war in the Middle East and fuel shortages were also key focus points in this discussion:
“Supplier distress becomes household distress when shocks are transmitted unevenly through the chain… policies should monitor supply distress and stabilise essential supply chains such as food and beverage, housing and transport… The goal should not only be to lower inflation, but lower inflation with better resilience, access and equity”, Medo Pournader, Senior Lecturer and Program Director of Master of Supply Chain Management with the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Melbourne, stated.
“There is a strong possibility of fuel rationing in the next few months, particularly if the Straight of Hormuz remains closed and Asian exports tighten, and/or if this results in panic buying or if diesel imports are delayed… in WW2 fuel rationing worked well, but in those days people lived closer to essential goods and services,” Allan Fels said, who went on to acknowledge that rations today would not be met with the same positive sentiment of the past and would be a clumsy administrative task.
Diane Kraal from Monash Business School strongly advocated for alternative tax arrangements for gas and oil exporters, to redirect revenue towards cost-of-living relief while reducing reliance on overseas markets. She noted that Australia earns more in beer tax compared to the tax from our natural resources, and Australians are expecting a fairer return on gas from the international markets.
Numbers - Policies
The Monday press release was followed by another on Friday June 19 which stated the Liberals, if elected in 2027, will deliver a $100 registration rebate for NSW drivers as part of a broader plan to ease the cost of living and reduce the cost of driving.
'Under our plan, individuals will be able to claim a $100 rebate on the registration of a private-use vehicle, with drivers eligible to a rebate on up to two private vehicles. The rebate will be available for 2027 vehicle registrations.' the release states
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said families across New South Wales were being squeezed from every direction and deserved practical support.
"Families are working harder than ever but too many are going backwards," Ms Sloane said.
"Every bill is going up, every trip to the supermarket costs more, and getting behind the wheel is becoming more expensive under Labor.”
"This $100 registration rebate will put money back into the pockets of families and help ease the pressure on household budgets.”
"The NSW Liberals and Nationals have a plan to support drivers. We have already announced our Fuel Price Guarantee, which will require fuel retailers to publicly report and lock in their maximum daily fuel prices, giving drivers greater transparency and confidence before they fill up.”
"Whether it is the cost of fuel or the cost of registration, we are focused on practical measures that make life easier for families."
The NSW Government currently offers a $100 Apprentice Vehicle Registration Rebate for active, first- and second-year apprentices.
However, locals may be just as interested in the NSW Liberals electric vehicle policy and getting free of a reliance on petrol altogether. Nationally, the Coalition opposes specific EV targets and has stated it plans to scrap the Electric Vehicle Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption, if elected a few years form now. At the state level, however, Liberal governments (such as in New South Wales) have historically invested heavily in EV charging networks and fleet incentives to support uptake.
In November 2025 the NSW Liberal Party reaffirmed it remains committed to the state's legislated Net Zero by 2050 target and its energy infrastructure roadmap, though it seeks to re-evaluate specific implementation costs and delays. Heading into the March 2027 election, their core platform focuses on a balanced energy mix, preserving baseload power, and long-term fuel security.
Mr Gencher may also encounter resistance from residents who have signed a third petition to reinstate Pittwater Council. This had been preceded, before the forced amalgamation, by an independent survey which stated 91% of Pittwater residents were satisfied with the overall performance of Pittwater Council and 87% of the Pittwater community did not want to be amalgamated with Warringah.
After the April 30 2024 council meeting Pittwater Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy said (May 4, 2024) she submitted a motion for a demerger poll to be held at the September 14 2024 council election, the cheapest way to administer the vote.
However, then Liberal Councillor, Cr. Gencher, seconded by another Liberal Councillor, Cr. Page, amended the motion to remove the poll, replacing it with a set of steps that would not provide that vote.
These included:
- Receive an urgent briefing prior to the May ordinary meeting on the outcome of an internal preliminary desktop analysis of the financial implications of a demerger of the three former council areas of Pittwater, Warringah and Manly.
- Receive an urgent report at the May ordinary meeting setting out:
- The details of the analysis; and
- A strategy for gathering community feedback on the analysis and the cost of conducting a Poll at the local government elections via ‘Your Say’, including to receive community or other professional analysis undertaken on the Council’s analysis.
- Receive a report, at the June ordinary meeting, summarising the outcome of the community feedback and implications of conducting a Poll.
- Note that, if it so chooses, it can resolve at its June meeting to hold a Poll regarding de-amalgamation or any other matter.
The amendment ended with a statement of the obvious - that councillors could still vote for a poll at a later meeting.
“The crux of the issue was to provide the community with the vote denied to us when we were amalgamated in 2016,” Ms Korzy said.
“It is something that is fundamental to democracy. Here we have an example of a council not prepared to recognise this fact and instead voting for a grab bag of consolation prizes. The problem with Labor’s demerger proposals is that they require amalgamated councils to vote for a poll that threatens their own demise.”
As one resident said later, ‘Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas’.
The Minutes of that May 2024 meeting recorded:
'That Council take no further action with respect to Council resolution 85/2024 (including in relation to gathering community feedback on the analysis, a report to the Council meeting in June 2024 and facilitating a poll at the September 2024 local government elections) as the process of undertaking a poll at the September 2024 local government election does not meet the legislative requirements contained in the Local Government Amendment (De-amalgamations) Act 2024 recently assented to.
VOTING
FOR: Cr Glanville, Cr Grattan, Cr Bingham, Cr Korzy, Cr Gencher, Cr Page, Cr Heins, Cr Ryburn, Cr Crvelin, Cr Robins, Cr Regan and Cr Walton
AGAINST: Cr De Luca
As residents of Pittwater have recently amassed more than enough signatures on another and THIRD petition to reinstate Pittwater Council via the processes allowed under the Local Government Act to present to the NSW Minister for Local Government, with thousands more signing in just the past few weeks, the narrative on this subject over the coming months will recur.
The fact that it was the Liberal Government that forcibly amalgamated Pittwater with Warringah council in May 2016, that the processes denied residents of Pittwater then, and in April and May 2024 council meetings, can now be followed - with that third petition to be laid before the minister this coming July - may come up in discussions with all candidates before March 2027.
See June 14 2026 report: Update: Protect Pittwater’s petition progress
The last time the news service encountered Mr. Gencher was at a public function, an Anzac Day luncheon where a PON photographer was taking photos for local RSL Sub Branches. Mr. Gencher was with a recent former MP for Pittwater whom, in the manner they lost their seat, has caused extreme trauma in this community.
Mr. Gencher, who had joined the Liberal party just a few months prior to this, spoke belittlingly to one of this news service's photographers about taking photos, a joke he and that former MP chortled over - although, after immediately being told by the also attending Patron of that RSL, the Hon Bronwyn Bishop AO 'we don't treat the press that way', both seemed embarrassed.
However, here again the numbers may indicate Mr. Gencher was unaware of what Pittwater knows it likes. The news service has been providing free photography to the Pittwater community, its sports clubs, at events, for surf lifesaving carnivals, for fundraisers, expos, etc., for over 16 years.
Recently a Flickr site was set up as an extension of the old public access photos site where residents could go and download images for their own family albums. The new Flickr site allows high resolution uploads and the same for downloads for residents - it's better for those who want a copy of a picture. Pittwater Online commenced that new site in January 2025. By May 2026, fourteen months later, it has had 2.6 million visitors helping themselves to memories - which works out at 185,714.29 per month or an average of 46,428.5 per week - on just that platform alone for Pittwater's online-happy community.
A problem with others filing paperwork denied Mr. Gencher an opportunity to stand at the 2024 council elections and retain his position, so no further occasions of celebrating him representing the community with civility and distinction have occurred for the news service.
The estimated resident population for the former Pittwater Council area, as of June 2025, is 64,840.
The NSW Electoral Commission states 'The Legislative Assembly District of Pittwater holds 57,715 electors and occupies an area of 191 square kilometres' - Elector data last updated 3 February 2026.
The 2027 NSW State Election, for the Election of the 59th Parliament of NSW, is scheduled to be held Saturday March 13 - which leaves months of time to hear from the Liberal candidate for the seat of Pittwater, Mr. Michael Gencher, on subjects Pittwater residents will want to know his viewpoint on.
The 'contest of ideas' begins.
Screenshot from PON Flickr page