Your Northern Beaches Independent Team (YNBIT), also known simply as Your Northern Beaches (YNB), is an Australian political party that contests local government elections for Northern Beaches Council in New South Wales. It was founded in 2017 by former Warringah mayor Michael Regan, who currently serves as a councillor and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
Your Northern Beaches Independent Team | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation |
|
| Leader | Sue Heins |
| Founders | Michael Regan |
| Founded | 20 January 2017 |
| Preceded by | Your Warringah |
| Headquarters | Manly Vale, New South Wales, Australia[1] |
| Ideology | Localism |
| New South Wales Legislative Assembly[a] | 1 / 93 |
| Northern Beaches Council | 7 / 15 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The party states it is based on the "principles of representative democracy and transparent government" and says its members "will maintain their independence".[2]
Since May 2023, the party has been led by Northern Beaches mayor Sue Heins.[3]
History
editYour Warringah
editIn 2008, Regan formed Wake Up Warringah (WUW) for the local government elections on 13 September. At the elections, he was elected mayor and WUW candidates were elected in A Ward, B Ward and C Ward.[4]
Ahead of the 2012 local elections, the party was renamed to Your Warringah (YWP), and Regan was re-elected as mayor with 56.3% of the vote.[5] Six candidates from the party were also elected as councillors.[6]
Your Northern Beaches
editIn May 2016, it was announced that Warringah Council, along with the Pittwater and Manly councils, would be merged to establish the Northern Beaches Council with immediate effect.[7]
On 20 January 2017, Regan formed the Your Northern Beaches Independent Team as a successor to Your Warringah, and registered the party with the New South Wales Electoral Commission.[8]
At the 2017 local elections, YNBIT won a plurality on council, with 6 out of 15 seats.[9] The party retained its six seats at the next election in 2021.[10][11]
Regan was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Wakehurst at the 2023 state election.[12] Following this, Curl Curl Ward councillor Sue Heins took over from Regan as party leader and mayor on 16 May 2023.[13]
On 28 January 2024, Pittwater Ward councillor Michael Gencher left YNBIT to join the Liberal Party. According to the Northern Beaches Advocate, Gencher was one of several YNBIT councillors facing "pressure to stand aside" in favour of candidates aligned with teal independents.[14] Heins told the Manly Observer in response that "if Gencher needs more structure, then he has made the right move".[15] As a result of Gencher's defection, YNBIT lost its plurality on council.[16]
Leaders
edit| No. | Image | Name | Term start | Term end | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Michael Regan | 20 January 2017 | 16 May 2023 | Mayor of Northern Beaches (2017−2023) |
| 2 |
|
Sue Heins | 16 May 2023 | incumbent | Mayor of Northern Beaches (2023−present) |
Notes
edit- ^ Although a member of YNBIT, Michael Regan sits as an independent in the Legislative Assembly.
References
edit- ^ "Local government register of political parties". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Your Northern Beaches Independent Team CONSTITUTION" (PDF). New South Wales Electoral Commission. 12 November 2023. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Smee, Kim (26 September 2023). "Northern Beaches Mayoral vote secures Sue". Manly Observer. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Warringah Council". 2008 NSW Local Council Elections. ABC Elections. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ Smart, Alec (26 March 2023). "Mayor Regan makes history as Wakehurst MP after successful campaign". Manly Observer. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Regan romps home with at least six seats". The Manly Daily. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Northern Beaches Council". Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Former Warringah mayor Michael Regan starts Your Northern Beaches party ahead of council elections". The Daily Telegraph. 20 January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Northern Beaches - 2017 NSW Local Government Elections". ABC News.
- ^ "Northern Beaches council election, 2021". The Tally Room. 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Northern Beaches Council election: Swing to Libs, Greens mayor Michael Regan's independent team". The Daily Telegraph. 4 December 2021.
- ^ "Inaugural Speech". Michael Regan MP. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Councillor Sue Heins elected as new Northern Beaches Mayor". Northern Beaches Council. 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Councillor joins Liberals". Northern Beaches Advocate. 28 January 2024. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024.
- ^ Smart, Alec (1 February 2024). "Power shift in Council chambers as Gencher defects". Manly Observer. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Giglio, Michelle (8 February 2024). "Councillor Michael Gencher defects to Liberals". Northside Living. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.