Ann Sudmalis

Ann Elizabeth Sudmalis (born 16 September 1955) is an Australian politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Gilmore in New South Wales, since September 2013.^[1]

Early life and education

Sudmalis was born in Milton and trained as a science teacher.^[2]

Career

Political career

Mrs Sudmalis has served as a councillor on the Kiama Council and worked as an advisor to Joanna Gash, the Member for Gilmore between 1996 and 2013. At the 2007 New South Wales state election, Sudmalis contested the seat of Kiama, running against Labor incumbent, Matt Brown. She was defeated, gaining 38% of the two-party-preferred vote.^[3]

Following the January 2012 decision of Gash to retire from politics at the 2013 federal election;^[4] Sudmalis won Liberal pre-selection in April 2012;^[5] and was elected as Member for Gilmore with 52.65% of the two-party preferred vote.^[6]

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: In November 2014 it was announced that the Australian government would be reducing the ABC budget by $254 million, in spite of a pre-election promise by Tony Abbott not to cut the ABC's funding.^[7] The ABC managing director, Mark Scott, later announced where the cuts would affect, one area of which was the ABC's Nowra office. Sudmalis released an open letter to Mark Scott declaring his decision "appalling", "deplorable" and that he was "taking the easy way out" by allowing the Nowra branch to be closed and not targeting more cuts to metropolitan areas, appearing to blame Mark Scott for the effect on her electorate.^[8]

Council Amalgamation issue: At the end of 2015, the NSW Liberal Government proposed the forced council amalgamation between Kiama Council and Shoalhaven City Council. Ann condemned the proposal along with the Liberal State member for Kiama, Gareth Ward. However, at a community meeting in April 2016, she signed a petition that condemned the NSW Baird Government's proposal and would vote against herself and her Liberal state party colleagues (Gareth Ward and Shelley Hancock) at subsequent federal and state elections until the proposal does not proceed. Mrs Sudmalis' signature was removed from the petition.

2016 Federal Election: Ann Sudmalis was re-elected at the 2016 Federal Election for the Gilmore electorate. She suffered a 3.1% swing against her by the ALP challenger Fiona Phillips. She won the electorate by less than 2000 votes and holds the electorate on .7%. This makes it the most marginal federal seat in New South Wales.^[9]

Achievements for Gilmore

$2.3 million was invested to facilitate a regional facility for training and sporting activities, improve the local environment and encourage young people to get fit and healthy with a focus on providing more job opportunities for local youth. The $2.3 million investment included:

• $2 million investment in the next stage of the Dunn & Lewis Centre in Ulladulla leading to employment, training and tourism opportunities.
• $300,000 grant to Shoalhaven City Council for new youth recreation facilities such as BMX tracks and skate park facilities in the region.
• Four Green Army projects with places for almost 40 unemployed young people to gain qualifications and confidence with the community benefiting through environmental assets at the conclusion of the projects. Projects include; Foreshore protection works at Lake Conjola, restoration and protection of the Shoalhaven River along Bolong Road, Jerrara Arboretum and Wetlands Reserve and the Killalea Reserve path/cycle way to Minnamurra and bush regeneration.^[10]
• Keeping the Helicopter Aircrew Training School at HMAS Albatross.^[11]
• Spearheading the National Ice Task force^[12]
• $2,166,366 for Oolong house to continue its programs assisting and rehabilitating people with drug and alcohol related problems^[13]
• $3 million for New South Wales first Youth Detox Facility in Jamberoo to tackle addiction to ice.^[14] Up to 150 young people will be able to break the cycle of drug addiction each year. The facility will open mid 2017.^[15]
• $760,000 for Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation's 'Dead or Deadly' program.^[16]
• The KidzWish Foundation receiving $915,456 to aid the development of a new KidzWish Place. Which will improve access to therapy services for children who are sick, disadvantaged or have a disability in the Illawarra and South Coast. and MIND the GaP (Mental Illness Nowra District - Goals and Prevention), a mental health research and provider facility to be established at the University of Wollongong Shoalhaven Campus, receiving $1,229,554.^[17]

References