The seat of Cunningham has been held by Labor since 2004. Photo: AEC.
Cunningham has been held by the Labor Party since it was created in the late 1940s, apart from one term when The Greens’ Michael Organ claimed it.
The current MP Alison Byrnes was elected at the last election in 2022, when the incumbent, Sharon Bird, retired. Sharon won the seat back from The Greens in 2004.
Cunningham stretches from Wollongong’s northern suburbs, south to Windang and takes in part of the Wollondilly Shire Council area.
It was named in honour of Allan Cunningham (1791–1839) who was a botanist on many explorations along Australia’s east coast and is credited with discovering Pandora’s Pass, the Darling Downs and Cunningham’s Gap.
Region Illawarra invited all candidates to submit their details for the following profiles. Candidates who did not respond were Amanda Ivaneza (Liberal), John Fuller (One Nation) and Jess Whittaker (The Greens). Information on these candidates has been sourced from their websites or social media.
Candidates appear in ballot draw order.
1. Alison Byrnes
Party: Labor
Background: The Illawarra has always been my home and I’m proud to have grown up and built my life in such a vibrant, resilient community. I grew up in Woonona, where I attended Woonona Public and Woonona High schools and later earned a Master of Management from the University of Wollongong. For nearly three decades, I worked alongside our community helping people through my work supporting members of parliament, partnering with local organisations, and fighting to make a real difference in people’s lives. It was an invaluable learning experience that taught me how to get things done and deliver real outcomes.
I put my hand up to run for parliament in 2022 because I wanted to make a real difference. I care deeply about people, about creating secure jobs and about protecting our planet. I was inspired by the many great volunteers and leaders in our community and public life who showed that real change happens when we have voices from every part of society – people with a range of life experiences, working together to shape our local area and our nation.
Top five priorities:
- Build on the nearly $1 billion in local initiatives, tax cuts and cost-of-living relief secured over the last three years
- A sustainable future made in Australia. The Illawarra has what it takes to lead Australia’s clean energy and manufacturing future. I’m determined to make sure that local industries, workers, and businesses are at the heart of new opportunities that strengthen our economy while protecting our environment for generations to come
- Creating more secure well-paying jobs and more training opportunities for the region. I’ll keep working to attract new industries, expand apprenticeships and training opportunities, and back the transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing
- Strengthening the care economy in the region to better support aged care, early childhood education, disability services, and healthcare. I’m deeply committed to improving the quality and accessibility of aged care, delivering a better NDIS system for all participants, and ensuring quality early childhood education and healthcare across Cunningham
- A strong public service delivering better local services. A well-supported public service is essential for delivering the services our community relies on. I will continue fighting to ensure our local services are properly resourced, accessible, and responsive to the needs of everyone in our community.
For more information visit Alison’s website, Facebook, Instagram.
2. Alexis Garnaut-Miller
Party: Australian Citizens Party
Background: Lifelong career in human resources, change management and leadership development across diverse industries. Having worked in Asia and UK with multinationals, I bring a unique world view to what is possible for our country. I stood for Cunningham in the 2022 federal election. Citizens Party has made meaningful progress with the regional banking enquiry, public postal bank and future energy directions in the past three years.
Top five priorities:
- Housing availability, affordability and homelessness – Citizens Party will immediately establish a National Public Housing Fund, using deposits in the new Public Postal Bank to fast-track housing solutions
- Mental health provision needs to expand, to make it easier to get support when and where it is needed. There are many under-employed mental health workers and providers who can be better engaged to deliver services with more flexible engagement terms both in-person, on demand and online
- Healthcare access can be improved by paying NSW doctors and nurses a comparable wage. Expanding bulk billing, reducing GP waiting times and adding dental into Medicare will make an immediate improvement
- Employment, financial hardship and inclusion – developing Cunningham into a hub of world-class education, training, free TAFE, trades pathways and advanced manufacturing will bring multiple benefits to this complex problem. Reinvigorating small business employers is also urgently required to encourage pathways to employment and a flourishing region
- Cost of living can be reduced by helping families keep more of their hard-earned money in their pocket, break up the Coles-Woolworths duopoly and restore supermarket competition which will bring down prices.
For more information visit Alexis’ website, Facebook, Instagram.
3. Amanda Ivaneza
Party: Liberal
Background: Amanda is a proud Illawarra local who has lived, worked, and raised her family in the community. With over 15 years of experience in work, health and safety and human resources, she has a proven track record in the resources, financial services, and community sectors.
Amanda is a dedicated advocate for women in leadership. She is actively involved in Women in Mining NSW. She has also led community initiatives as a local school P&C president, securing funding and resources for students. Amanda supports affordable housing solutions and strengthening local businesses. She also backs Australia’s transition to reliable, affordable nuclear energy.
Top five priorities for the Liberal Party:
- Stop the Illawarra offshore wind zone
- Implement a National Domestic Violence Register so police can access and share information about a person’s previous family violence convictions
- Up to $1200 in tax relief
- 25 cents off every litre of fuel
- Cheaper energy.
For more information visit Amanda’s website, Facebook.
4. John Fuller
Party: One Nation
Background: John is driven by a deep concern for the future of Australia and a steadfast belief in restoring unity, integrity, and genuine equality to public life. A proud Australian, John has grown increasingly alarmed at the rise of false agendas, political pandering, and narratives that divide rather than unite.
John is passionate about rebuilding trust in government and giving Australians a voice free from manipulation or fear. He supports One Nation’s mission to protect national sovereignty, ensure secure borders, reduce cost-of-living pressures, and uphold the freedoms and values that define our identity. One Nation is opposed to the offshore wind farm proposal and if elected, we will fight on your behalf to stop illogical projects that threaten our coastline and our communities.
Top five priorities for One Nation:
- Slash electricity bills by 20 per cent by backing cheaper power and nuclear energy
- Halve the fuel excise to cut petrol and grocery prices
- More money in your pocket: higher tax-free thresholds, income splitting for families, and no penalty for pensioners working more
- Dump the beer tax – no more excise on beer and spirits in venues
- Fix healthcare costs: boost Medicare rebates and stop $3 billion a year in Medicare fraud.
For more information visit John’s website, Facebook.
5. Timothy Lavers
Party: Animal Justice Party
Background: I’m a software engineer working at a non-profit organisation that studies the genetics of cancer. I’ve previously worked in government, a big four accounting firm, and a couple of start-ups. My educational background is in science and maths but I’m also very interested in the arts and have a deep love for music.
My wife and I moved to the Illawarra almost 30 years ago and fell in love with the area because of its natural beauty and easy-going lifestyle. We’ve raised our kids here and don’t plan on leaving. I’m standing as an AJP candidate because the party’s principles of kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence align so closely with my own values. I’m somewhat out of my comfort zone being in the public sphere but am inspired to do so by seeing the endless hard work of our state MPs Emma Hurst and Georgie Purcell.
Top five priorities:
- Homelessness: we have people living rough while investment properties are empty
- Climate breakdown: this threatens everything that makes the Illawarra special
- Cost of living: people are struggling to buy healthy food
- Family violence: people are staying in dangerous situations because there are not enough shelters that will take them and their pets
- Tax: we should be taxing extreme wealth, not hard workers.
For more information visit Timothy’s website.
6. Jess Whittaker
Party: The Greens
Background: Wollongong City Councillor Jess Whittaker grew up in Bulli. The Port Kembla mother of two studied science at the University of Wollongong and has been a paramedic for the past 15 years. She is a community representative on the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Plan Implementation Committee and runs a Dune Care group and the Port Kembla Crop Swap.
Top five priorities for The Greens:
- Affordable housing: a cap on rent increases and low-rate mortgages
- Free uni and TAFE: wipe student debt and boost funding to our public schools
- Climate action: no new coal and gas; massive expansion of cheap, reliable renewable energy; stronger environmental laws
- Healthcare: cover dental under Medicare, more mental health services and free GP visits
- Universal free and high-quality childcare and early childhood education.
