Serena Copley (centre) is urging the Kiama community not to ‘reward’ Labor in the upcoming byelection. Photo: Supplied.
A former Shoalhaven councillor whose family has four generations embedded in the community has been revealed as the Liberal Party’s pick to contest the seat of Kiama in the upcoming byelection.
Serena Copley was announced as the Liberal candidate for the seat, pledging to fight for the region’s fair share of infrastructure funding and greater investment in essential services.
“As a former councillor, as a volunteer and as someone who is invested in ensuring local jobs and opportunities for people of all ages, I’ve always believed in stepping up to the challenge,” Ms Copley said.
“I am under no illusion how hard this contest will be, but I’m in it to win and to give the people of Kiama a strong and effective voice in the NSW Parliament.”
Her determination comes from not only being a dedicated community member but also being a grandmother who wants to protect the South Coast’s unique lifestyle and create opportunities.
And she asked voters to consider whether they believe they are better off after two years of Labor being in power in NSW.
“Since Labor came to government, we’ve seen investment in local roads cut, less reliable train services and a reduction in the quality of healthcare,” Ms Copley claimed.
“The Liberal Party has a strong record of investing in Kiama, and it’s important when people ask themselves who’s best to represent them, they look at who has backed our local community. Now is not the time to reward Labor for their cuts and neglect of Kiama.”
She claimed the Labor party didn’t understand regional NSW and ‘local families, households and small businesses are paying the price’.
“Families have seen cost-of-living support like Active Kids cut and Back to School vouchers scrapped, seniors have lost the Senior’s Regional Travel Card, our trains are slower and less reliable and we’re all seeing firsthand the impact of Labor’s cuts to health and hospital funding,” Ms Copley said.
“Labor shouldn’t be rewarded after they have left so many worse off, that’s why I’m asking people to support me and to back in the Liberal team that has a strong record of delivering for Kiama.”
NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman said the Liberals had a proven track record in the region, kicking off projects like the Shoalhaven Hospital redevelopment and new Shellharbour Hospital as well as delivering the new Kiama ambulance station and opening the Kiama Integrated Primary and Community Health Centre.
“Through strong economic management, the NSW Liberals made huge infrastructure investments locally, but Labor is missing in action, offering nothing new, despite the needs of a fast-growing population,” Mr Speakman said.
“We don’t cancel, we don’t cut, we deliver. More infrastructure and better services will always be delivered, and delivered faster, under the NSW Liberals.”
He endorsed Ms Copley as the best candidate to fulfill the needs of the community.
“Serena Copley has lived here for 30 years, worked here and raised her family here.
“She has a proven track record of delivering for her community, as a local councillor, as a volunteer, and in her professional life helping young people into work.
“She will fight for the Kiama electorate and get things done.”
Candidates will now have four weeks to prove themselves to the Kiama community, with other contenders including Labor’s Katelin McInerney, who ran for the seat in the 2023 general election, and Independent Kate Dezarnaulds, who is just off the back of a campaign for the federal seat of Gilmore.
The Kiama byelection will be held on 13 September 2025. It was triggered by former member and convicted rapist Gareth Ward resigning from the position.
