Former ABC journalist announced as Greens candidate for Heathcote

Northern Illawarra resident and former ABC journalist Nick McLaren will take his first step into state politics after being named the Greens candidate for Heathcote ahead of next year’s NSW election.

Currently held by Labor MP Maryanne Stuart, the seat of Heathcote stretches across communities in both the Illawarra and Sutherland Shire, including Austinmer, Thirroul, Helensburgh, Engadine, Sutherland and Bundeena.

Mr McLaren retired from ABC Illawarra in January and said his desire to create positive change in the community was what prompted him to join the Greens and put himself forward as a candidate.

“Once I retired, I got chatting to some people, I went along to meetings and decided that I liked it,” he said.

“I want to make electricity more affordable in homes, protect the water catchment area, protect the koalas that are still living in the forest and protect the Royal National Park.

“I have done stories about all of these things and now that I know what the issues are, let’s make it better and change things.”

Greens Senator David Shoebridge accompanied Mr McLaren at Little Austinmer Beach on September 29 to formally make the announcement.

Senator Shoebridge said Mr McLaren’s longstanding connection to the region made him a strong local voice for the electorate.

“It’s a genuine privilege to be down here and launching the campaign for Nick, who so many people in the area will already know,” he said.

“He’s been here for the better part of three decades as a journalist hearing the stories of the Illawarra and understanding what matters and I am looking forward to him going from one side of the microphone to the other.

“He's tough and he asks the tough questions and the people of Heathcote would do an amazing service for themselves if they had him in parliament asking tough questions on their behalf.”

Having spent 27 years reporting on issues affecting the Illawarra, Mr McLaren said his journalism background had given him the confidence to enter the political arena and use his experience in a different way.

Rather than reporting on decisions made by politicians, he said he now wanted to advocate for change on behalf of the community.

“I like asking the questions, looking up facts and arming myself with information but now it's more about the ability to change things,” Mr McLaren said.

“Instead of bringing others to account that I’m interviewing, I'm having to bring the state government to account.

“I’m having to ask the state government questions, to get them to change things and to make things better for the people of Heathcote."

The next NSW state election will be held on March 13, 2027, when voters in each district will head to the polls to elect representatives in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

If elected in March, Mr McLaren said making solar energy more accessible would be his top priority as the cost remains a barrier for many households.

“I think it's so achievable, the technology is there but it's just the people who have the finances to afford to do that,” he said.

A participant in the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot, Mr McLaren said he supports community batteries so everybody can tap into solar power.

“Let’s make it affordable for everyone and use some of the electricity for community usage that is currently being wasted," he said.

“Let's put solar on public housing and rentals, it's just a matter of finding a way for people to do it economically and I’m sure there are so many ways we can do that.”

As a father and a surfer, Mr McLaren has been involved with several local sports clubs. He is a longtime member of the Scarborough Boardriders and has supported soccer clubs including Wollongong United, Sutherland Sharks, Wollongong Wolves and Bulli.

His campaign will now begin across the communities that make up the Heathcote electorate.