Bypassed as a Teal, Victoria Walker stakes her own claim as an experienced independent reformer

Helen Conway isn’t the only independent claiming inside knowledge of how government works and how to fix it at the next state election. Step forward, Victoria Walker, a McMahons Point resident, who actually sought to be the Teal independent candidate for North Shore, and having been overlooked in favour of Conway, has now decided to run for office under her own steam.

Walker, like Conway, has an extensive CV, particularly in government. Among her many achievements: she says she set up a NSW Education Department Economic and Demographic Planning Unit, was director of the NSW
Parliament Public Accounts Committee and later, its Victorian equivalent, was a consultant to the Queensland Electoral & Administrative Review Commission, was a Senior Director of Performance Audit at the

Australian National Audit Office, and a Director of the Audit Division in NSW Health. Along the way she has also been a tutor and a book editor.

Most recently, she has served as the secretary of the Lavender Bay Precinct Committee and tells the North Sydney Sun she was motivated to run for North Shore because “I think this is a seriously important election and I don’t think either of the major parties are going to implement the reforms that I think are important.”

Walker lists these as reform of State planning and development;
demanding action to address the impacts of climate change; restoring integrity and democracy in government, and ensuring all citizens get a fair go.

Urban planning is one of her biggest bugbears, particularly what she sees as the over-development of North Sydney which takes place under what she characterises as an indifferent local member who “waives away concerns by appealing to the greater good.”

As to why her and not another candidate: “I’m not just virtue signalling. I’m really saying I know how it works and most people don’t. And I know how to try and fix it.”

She says she was encouraged by the positive experience of female independents in Canberra, who she believes have not only been accepted but have made a difference.

When she saw the Teal-linked North Sydney’s Independent advertising for potential candidates to run in North Shore last year, she responded. Walker gave the Sun a detailed rundown of apparently unsuccessful attempts to touch base until she was finally able to meet with NSI.

“We had (a meeting) on the phone and they asked me one question, “How old are you?” It was nothing about policy, nothing about background. They intimated that they wanted me to help their candidate. It was the second call when I finally got onto them to say, ‘What on earth is going on? I want to register. And I’m waiting to hear from you.’”

“And the one thing that I thought was so incredible is one of the women, won’t name names, said to me, ‘Well, we know there’s one key issue in this electorate.’ And I said ‘Good grief, what is it?’ ‘Koalas.’

“This is about back in October or November, some time ago. I think they might have improved their position, their perspective by now. But it was rather shocking.”

(For the record, NSI tells the Sun that community concern about declining koala numbers is integral to why it believes the government needs to do better on climate, environmental protections and native forests.)

“In the interim, they put up Helen Conway, I don’t know how young she is, but she worked for Caltex and nobody’s pointing out the ambiguity of that,” Walker said.

“I wish her well. I don’t mind. The electorate knows what they’re doing,” she added. As for her own candidacy, Walker said: “I have no obligations to a political party, to industry lobbyists or self appointed handlers.”

“I do have the experience and the skills needed to take up the challenge of reform in Macquarie Street’s notorious Bear Pit, and to drive it forward.”

She added: “Over the past months I have attended meetings of residents across North Shore, listening to their concerns and their eagerness for change. There is a huge appetite in both North Sydney & Mosman for reform of the government and parliament, to clean out the stables and make a fresh start.”