Dear Berowra resident,

I recently sent you a copy of my speech setting out the Coalition's Education Policy. 

If you missed my last update, you can read my full education policy speech here, or watch it here. 

This policy comes at a time where academic results have fallen to our lowest performance on record, despite record Commonwealth funding which has been increasing for a decade. 

I want to thank all those who have written back to me in response. I was particularly grateful to receive a number of responses from teachers and retired teachers. For example:

Gordon, a former teacher, agreed that the modern curriculum "does not leave enough time to teach what used to be fundamental". He said that it was time to "transform" the national system - I agree. 

Trish, a current teacher, told me that she has seen the education system "get worse and worse" over her years in the job. She agreed that "too much screen time" and an overcrowded curriculum are two key challenges in the classroom today. 

Denise, who worked at two boys high schools during her career, "totally" agrees that "current syllabi from kindergarten to HSC need to be revised" to focus on fundamental, foundational skills including literacy and numeracy. 

Kevin Donnelly AM, an Australian educator, writer, and curriculum expert, gave my speech a "10/10" and described me as an "education spokesman actually who gets it". He wrote that our policy is right - that the focus of education policy work must move beyond funding arrangements, that root and branch reform of the curriculum is necessary, and that this reform must begin as soon as possible to lift national results.

This is a policy that is firmly based on the best available evidence, and I am determined to press ahead with something I believe will benefit our kids and our country for decades to come. 

If you have concerns about the state of our education system, or suggestions to improve it, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

I've also spoken in Parliament to acknowledge the people from our community caught in the tragic flooding in Nepal. You can access my full speech in the newsletter below. My thoughts are with everyone who is still awaiting answers following the tragedy. 

You will also find stories about my other work in Parliament in September below, including calling out the Albanese Government for slashing the pensioners' private health insurance rebate, and for ignoring New Line Road.

I've also been attending events and honouring members of our local community who are doing fantastic work to make Berowra and Australia a better place.

In the coming month, I'll be hosting two public Town Hall evenings, and coffee catch up sessions around the electorate. You can find more information about these below. I'd love to see you there. 

Kind regards,

Julian Leeser

Member for Berowra

UPCOMING BEROWRA TOWN HALL MEETINGS

This October, I will be hosting two public Town Hall meetings. These evening gatherings will be an opportunity for the community to come together, discuss the issues that matter most to you, and learn how I can help as Federal Member for Berowra. 

I encourage you to attend if you have questions, comments, or concerns you would like to raise with me and with other locals from across Berowra. It is very important to me that I can take local voices back to Parliament, to represent our community the best I can. 

RSVP is essential to attend. The location will be provided once you have registered. The Town Halls will be held at:

• Kenthurst - Tuesday 20 October, 6:30pm - 8:00pm. RSVP here: Kenthurst Town Hall Meeting
• Arcadia - Thursday 22 October, 6:30pm - 8:00pm. RSVP here: Arcadia Community Town Hall

COFFEE CATCH-UPS IN THE COMMUNITY

If you would like to speak to me in a more informal setting, or have a specific issue that you would like assistance with, I also have a number of upcoming listening posts scheduled to take place at local cafes, with no RSVP needed. 

My team and I can assist with:

• Immigration and visa queries
• Centrelink and social services
• Medicare 
• Aged Care
• NDIS 
• Telecommunications 
• Taxation
• Department of Veterans' Affairs

The dates and locations of my upcoming catch-ups are below.

COMMUNITY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES NOW OPEN

Local Sporting Champions

The Local Sporting Champions grant supports eligible young athletes with the costs associated with attending eligible sporting championships at the state, national, or international level.

If you know a sport star aged 13-18 in our local area, or you are a coach or official, I encourage you to look into the opportunity. 

Applicants can receive $500 or more to support travel to championships and related expenses.

We have had many successful applicants from across Berowra in the past, and I regularly hold congratulatory ceremonies to bring together successful local athletes and celebrate their achievements. 

Applications for this round of the grant close on 31 October 2026. You can apply and find more information about the grant here.
 

Stronger Communities 
 

The Stronger Communities programme provides grants for projects that strengthen and benefit our local community. The programme offers eligible organisations nominated by their Federal MP with up to $20,000 of funding to deliver small infrastructure projects​.

We have had many successful applicants locally, and I want to help your organisation secure funding through the programme too.

 If you think your local organisation is eligible and would benefit from the program, please get in touch with me via email and my team can provide you with an expression of interest form to receive a nomination from me. 

To be eligible for a grant, your organisation must meet the specific eligibility criteria which you can find here.

Please get in touch with my office before 30 October 2026 for a nomination. I look forward to assisting local organisations with participating in the programme. 

NATIONAL STUDENT ART COMPETITION
 

In early 2027, the façade of the Australian Parliament House will be lit up with student artwork as part of the Enlighten Festival, to celebrate 100 years of Parliament in Canberra. 

Year 5 and 6 students from across the country have the opportunity to get involved and have their own drawing displayed as part of the light show. If you are a teacher, parent, grandparent, or carer, I encourage you to share this opportunity with the young artists you know. 

Students are invited to draw something that represents the people, places, plants, animals, and landscapes that makes their region of Australia special.

I look forward to seeing student art from Berowra light up Parliament House next year. 

Submissions are open until Thursday 29 October 2026, and can be made here. You'll also find more information about the program on this page. 

LABOR'S CUTS TO PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

I recently spoke in Parliament about Labor's decision to slash the private health insurance rebate for pensioners.

You may have seen my recent surveys about this issue. Thank you to everyone who responded to tell me how this change would affect them - I took your responses with me to Parliament, and used them to call out the Government for this terrible policy. 

In my speech, I directly quoted more than 30 locals of nearly 2000 who told me how these changes would make their life, or the lives of their friends and family, harder.

The cut to the rebate should be scrapped. The Albanese Government is punishing those who have worked hard, saved, and given back to our country for decades, just when they need access to healthcare the most. 

The Bill passed the House with the support of Labor and some Teal MPs. It is now before the Senate.

It's not too late to add your voice to the conversation. You can complete my survey here and help me call on the government to address this bad decision. 

You can watch my full speech below or read it here. 

CALLING FOR FUNDING FOR NEW LINE ROAD

It recently came to light that more than $6 million was given to the Prime Minister's local golf course, while communities like ours have been waiting years for the upgrades we need under Labor. 

I spoke in Parliament about the growing pressure on New Line Road, and the need for funding to address the traffic, delays, and danger locals are experiencing whenever they need to use the road. 

The Federal Government should put money on the table to help get upgrades to New Line Road moving, and I will keep fighting for this. 

If you want to help me call on the State and Federal Labor Governments to act on New Line Road, I encourage you to sign my petition here.

You can view my full speech below.

STANDING UP FOR AUSTRALIA'S VETERANS

While in Parliament, I met with representatives of the Coalition of Veterans' Voices. The group included former Commandos, Navy clearance divers, Air Force fighter pilots, doctors, and allied health practitioners. 

These veterans shared firsthand stories with me about the challenges ex-servicemen and women and their families are facing, and expressed serious concerns about Labour's proposed allied health cap of $5,000.

Their concerns are entirely justified. For many veterans, allied health care is not a luxury but an essential. Veterans deserve to know their service is valued and that they can access the care they need when they need it. Labor's proposed slash to their health care access went against all of these principles. 

I and my Coalition colleagues stood with veterans from the start, and fought against this Government's proposal. The Albanese Government eventually backed down and scrapped the $5,000 veterans allied health cap, after continued pressure us and from veterans' organisations.

It should never have been introduced in the first place. I will continue listening to veterans and honouring their needs, while this Government keeps getting these issues wrong. 

Thank you to the representatives of the Veterans' Coalition who came to speak to me and share their important perspectives on this issue. 

PREPARING TO WELCOME REZA PAHLAVI TO AUSTRALIA

Berowra is home to the third largest Persian community in Australia. In response to the voices of the local community, I have been leading the calls to the Government to invite Reza Pahlavi to Australia. 

Alongside my Coalition colleagues, I recently attended an online meeting with Reza, to discuss his vision for a free Iran and to represent the voice of Berowra's strong Persian community. 

Thousands of Iranian Australians regard Reza Pahlavi as an important voice for democracy and freedom. I appreciate all the kind messages of support I have received from the local Persian community for my own work making this meeting possible. 

We will continue to call on the Government to heed the Persian-Australian community's calls for Australia to do our part in the transition to a free and democratic regime in Iran. 

We look forward to engaging further with Reza Pahlavi in preparation for his visit to Australia in the coming months.

Hornsby Art Prize Exhibition 🎨🖌️
Over 80 outstanding finalists from this year's Art Prize competition will be on display to the public.
📅Friday 16 October - Sunday 1 November (Tuesdays - Sundays) ⏰ 10am - 4pm
📍Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, 25 Edgeworth David Ave, Hornsby NSW 2077
🎟 Free entry

Multicultural Festival of Lights 💃🏮
Experience different cultures from around the world through performances, food stalls, and activities for kids at this event organised by Hornsby Multicultural Society.
📅Saturday 31 October ⏰ 4pm onwards
📍Pennant Hills Community Centre, 2-4 Ramsay Rd, Pennant Hills NSW 2120
🎟 Free entry

Stonehouse Kitchen Spring Markets 🥄🥗
The Markets will offer fun for the whole family, including market stalls, food trucks, kids' activities and a photobooth.
📅Saturday 17 October ⏰ 1pm - 5pm
📍The Galston Club, 21-25 Arcadia Rd, Galston NSW 2159
🎟 Free entry

Free Guided Bushwalks 🌿🥾
Hornsby Shire Council's experienced local guides lead walks through some of our Shire's most beautiful bushland. Upcoming walks include:
📅Thursday 8 October - Migratory Bird Day Walk Brooklyn - Challenging
📅Thursday 15 October - Turner Trail Berowra Heights - Beginner
📅Saturday 24 October- Tippers and Western Lookouts Bushwalk Cowan - Moderate
🎟 Free (For Hornsby Shire residents only)
📌 Bookings essential
🔗 More information & registration: Guided bushwalks and events | Hornsby Shire Council

COALITION POLICIES

In the lead up to the next federal election, my Coalition colleagues and I have been developing a suite of policies to protect our way of living and fix our economy, while the Albanese Government continues to make things harder for families in Berowra and across Australia. 

Some of our recently announced policies include:

• Ending the illicit tobacco market and smashing organised crime. Read more here.
• The introduction of a Fuel Price Shield to safeguard Australians against major global oil price shocks. Read more here. 
• A guaranteed $1.5 billion to unlock more homes in regional areas and ease the housing crisis by supporting housing infrastructure. Read more here. 
• Introducing new federal laws to defend the Australian flag and protect Australia Day and our war memorials. Read more here.

We will continue creating and developing policies that put Australians first as we approach the next election. I look forward to providing you further policy updates in the coming months, and I'd love to hear from you about our current policies in the meantime. 

You can find the other policies and commitments we have announced in the Coalition's Plan, which you can read in full here. 

SUPPORTING THE NEPALESE AND HINDU COMMUNITIES

In the aftermath of the flooding on the Nepal border, I have been offering my support to our local Nepalese and Hindu communities, many of whom are still waiting for news of missing friends and loved ones. 

In early September, I spoke in Parliament about the floods and the deep impact they have had on our local community. I extended my thoughts and prayers to local families from Cherrybrook and Epping with loved ones unaccounted for in the flooding, and I took the opportunity to acknowledge all those still missing at the time.

I gave two speeches on this topic. You can read the first speech I made here, and you can read the second here or watch it here.

I also want to thank Harris Farm Pennant Hills for hosting a fundraiser barbecue to support Nepal and their own Nepalese staff. The event raised money to contribute directly to Australia's disaster relief fund. Thank you to all the volunteers who took the time to run the stall and show their support.

A GREAT DAY OUT AT THE BEROWRA WOODCHOP

The Berowra Woodchop brings our community together every year for a day filled with competition, fun, and tradition. 

My family and I had a fantastic time visiting stalls, eating great food including the Girl Guides' delicious bake sale, and watching the annual woodchop take place.

The event was also a great opportunity to catch up with local Berowra organisations including Probus, Lions Club, local radio station Triple H FM, the Berowra RSL Sub-branch, and the SES and RFS. 

Throughout the day, I spoke to many local businesses in the Berowra area who generously supported the Woodchop this year, including McGrath Berowra, Community Bank, and Barr Automotive. We discussed how their business have been faring this year under Labor's tax changes, and how I can best support them through my work in Parliament. 

Thank you to the Berowra Apex Club for all their hard work organising and overseeing the Woodchop. We look forward to it every year.
 

CATCHING UP WITH THE WESTLEIGH MAN WALK

Across Berowra we have strong community initiatives that strengthen men's mental health and wellbeing, and I am always proud to support them. 

The Westleigh Man Walk recently held its 100th walk, and I celebrated this milestone with the team in early October. 

The Westleigh Man Walk is a free-to-join event that takes place on Saturdays and offers local men a chance to get together, take a walk through our area, and build connections in the community. It is a fantastic way to build support networks and new friendships while experiencing the natural beauty Berowra has to offer.

I joined the Walk for their 109th meeting, starting from Ruddock Park, and enjoyed a barbecue afterwards to celebrate over 100 Man Walks so far.

I also presented founder Darren McKeon with a recognition award for establishing the Westleigh Man Walk. Thank you to Darren and Geoff Knowles for organising the Walk and inviting me to celebrate with the group, and for presenting me with my own custom Man Walk shirt!

If you are interested in coming along to an upcoming Westleigh Man Walk, you can find more information here.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

It was a pleasure to attend the Upper North Shore Regional Volunteer of the Year Awards at Hornsby RSL and to present the awards for Volunteer Team of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. 

One thing that makes Berowra special is the strength and quality of our local volunteer organisations and their participants. I am always proud to support the individuals and groups who get involved in making our community a better place. 

Congratulations to this year's award recipients, including AASHA Australia, who do great work to support multilingual seniors in our local area and beyond.

You can read more about the yearly Volunteer Awards program here, and about AASHA and their upcoming events here.

Nominations for the 2027 Awards will open in February 2027 - if you know a great volunteer from our local area, I encourage you to nominate them. 

20 YEARS OF COMMUNITY BANK BEROWRA

I recently joined the team at Community Bank Berowra in celebrating a special milestone - their 20th anniversary.

The afternoon provided a chance to dive into the history of the bank and their work in the local area over the years, to look back through their photo archives, and to chat with the staff and supporters that have made the bank's longevity possible.

Community Bank Berowra does great work to support local charities, fundraising initiatives, and community organisations, and hosted a fantastic event to celebrate this milestone. 

I wish them many more years of assisting the Berowra community to come.

CELEBRATING JANMASHTAMI


 

Janmashtami is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar, and I was pleased to celebrate it alongside Sydney's Hindu community at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Precinct in Kemps Creek. 

I gave an address to the community, and joined in celebrations on the joyful occasion marking the birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna.

Thank you to BAPS Sydney for hosting the event, which brought together so many from the Hindu community across Sydney, including locals from across Berowra.

GO4BROKE

It was a pleasure to join Ed Kirk, the founder and president of Go4Broke Berowra, for an early start to this year's fundraiser ride.

Now in its 11th year, Go4Broke is an annual cycling event that raises money to support Lifeline. Participants cycle from Berowra all the way to Broke in the Hunter Valley, across a total distance of 180 kilometres.

I cheered on this year's cyclists as they left from Berowra at 5:30 in the morning for a long day of cycling involving ferry crossings, uphill climbs, and steep downhills. The course requires intense preparation, fitness, and endurance. 

Since its inception in 2016, Go4Broke has raised more than $600,000 for Lifeline in total.

This will be the last year of Go4Broke Berowra, as the Go4 charity expands its initiatives into new locations.

Congratulations to Ed on 11 years of this remarkable initiative, and to everyone who participated this year for getting involved. Thank you also to Community Bank Berowra, a new partner for this year's event, for their support.
 

VISITING THE CAMBRIDGE EPPING

It's important to me to keep in touch with our local seniors and understand the issues that matter to them. I recently visited The Cambridge retirement community in Epping, to meet new residents and update them on my work in the local area and in Parliament.

I took a tour of some of the residents' favourite facilities, including the rooftop garden, the men's shed, the pool and outdoor gathering spaces, and later enjoyed tea and a chance to chat with members of the community. 

In my address to the group, I spoke about the key problems I have been tackling locally, as well as my approach to my two portfolios, Education and Indigenous Australians.

The session concluded with a question and answer opportunity with residents, and a great chance to mingle.

CONGRATULATIONS DR DAWN GRANT-SKIBA


 

Dr Dawn Grant-Skiba is the principal of Warrah Specialist School and does fantastic work in our local area to create learning opportunities and support systems for young people living with disability.

I congratulate Dr Grant-Skiba on being awarded the Lee Casuscelli Excellence in Special Education Award at the 2026 Schools Plus Teaching Awards in Parliament House this month. The Schools Plus Awards recognise educators who go beyond the curriculum to remove barriers to learning, foster inclusion, and strengthen wellbeing, particularly for students facing disadvantage.

The Lee Casuscelli Excellence in Special Education Award honours educator and disability advocate Lee Casuscelli, who sadly passed away this year. The Award acknowledges an outstanding educator who demonstrates dedication, compassion and advocacy for children and young people living with disability, and comes with a generous monetary prize to help Warrah expand and sustain its educational work into the future. 

Dr Grant-Skiba's work at Warrah School, including pioneering an internship program and designing and implementing Warrah’s Transition Program for senior students, has helped to empower young people, expand their educational horizons, and set them up for future success in the workplace and in the community.

I know the school has touched the lives of many families in our local area, and opened doors for young people living with disability.

Congratulations again to Dr Grant-Skiba on this prestigious recognition, and for Warrah's ongoing positive work in Berowra. It was a pleasure to celebrate her achievements at the Awards ceremony on the 15th of September. 

CONGRATULATING GRADUATES OF THE RAISE FOUNDATION
 

The Raise Foundation runs mental health and wellbeing programs at high schools across Australia, including here in Berowra at Asquith and Hornsby High School. 

The Foundation's own counsellors work alongside existing school wellbeing teams to provide students with important intervention strategies to support mental wellness and resilience as they navigate adolescence.

I had a great time catching up with mentors and mentees involved in the program at Hornsby High School, and celebrating with local students who were graduating the program. 

Congratulations to the Foundation for the good work they are doing to support students in our local area, and to all the students who have been involved with the program. 

HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT FOR FAILURE IN CHILD PROTECTION IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN PORT HEDLAND

We have all been seeing the tragic stories coming out of South Hedland about the mistreatment and neglect of Aboriginal children. 

Last week, in my role as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, I joined Federal and WA Liberal colleagues in South Hedland and Port Hedland to hear directly from the local community.

We met with Elders, community leaders, community legal services, youth organisations, women’s services and the local council. I was grateful for their willingness to share their experiences and their knowledge of the community.

They described failures across government services and a lack of coordination that is leaving vulnerable children without protection. In a region that generates enormous wealth for Australia, people told us they feel unseen and unheard by their governments.

The Commonwealth has more than $91 million in current grants and contracts relevant to Indigenous Australians across Port Hedland and surrounding areas, including funding for health care, children and family services, and youth support. The Federal Government clearly has skin in the game, and the Prime Minister’s claim that there are no federal issues or powers involved does not stand up to reality.

Both the Federal and WA Governments must examine how their funding is being spent, whether their programs are working and why children continue to fall through the cracks. I have also publicly called for a coronial inquest into the deaths of the Hawke children so these failures can be properly examined.

I am proud that our visit and my subsequent media appearances have helped put pressure on the Minister for Indigenous Australians to finally agree to visit. The Prime Minister should join her - they need to sit down with the Elders and frontline services, listen to what they are saying, and ensure both State and Federal government act urgently. The safety of Australian children must be their first priority.

ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES IN REMOTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to spend a week in the APY lands in central Australia, where I visited remote Indigenous communities to hear about the challenges they are facing and their local priorities.

Alongside Tom Venning, Member for Grey, I visited businesses, community art centres, schools, families, and healthcare providers servicing remote communities.

We met with local Indigenous elders, teachers, healthcare workers, police, and service providers to discuss what is working and what they need. 

As Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians and Shadow Education Minister, I was especially grateful to talk to schools, principals, and teachers across the APY lands about the strategies that help them support and retain students.

We visited Ernabella Anangu School and Amata School to speak to teachers and students about bilingual education, how learning takes place in their classrooms, and how we can best encourage student success in uniquely remote areas.

The visit was also a great chance to gather insights about my new direction in Indigenous affairs, focused on education, wealth creation, and suicide prevention. 

With significant federal funding going to remote communities, we must ensure that this funding is delivering real, meaningful results for the people living there. I've called for an audit of Federal spending in remote communities, and the Auditor General has listed it in her work plan for 2026-2027. I am calling on her to prioritise an audit of spending in remote communities to ensure it is being allocated and managed properly. 

Thank you to my colleague Tom Venning for accompanying me on this visit, and to the local communities who welcomed me and shared their perspectives. 

MEETING THE RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

One of the key pillars of my direction in Indigenous Australians policy is wealth creation. We know that Indigenous businesses can have profound and transformative effects on wellbeing and outcomes in their communities.

I have said that government should look to remove regulatory obstacles, build investment capability and help Indigenous communities to leverage their existing asset base, including their land, to deliver financing that catalyses growth in Indigenous businesses.

Indigenous peoples have access to potentially extraordinary asset bases through Indigenous title interests, but there are constraints on this land and related assets.

The nature of title sometimes prevents it from being taken into account as an asset that can support financing.

Indigenous peoples and communities should be able to leverage their assets and create wealth from these assets to run businesses, just like the rest of Australian population.

The Responsible Investment Association of Australia does work dealing with similar concerns, and seeks to support meaningful, impactful investment in Indigenous businesses and communities. I met with them recently to discuss their research and priorities in this area.

It was very useful to me to understand the practical and policy work that the Association is doing in this space, and to discuss their vision for greater investment in Indigenous communities and Indigenous businesses. 

SUPPORTING STUDENT EQUITY AND SUCCESS
 

In early September, I delivered an address to the Australian Centre of Student Equity and Success as part of their 2026 Policy Symposium.

I used the opportunity to highlight data about student access to tertiary education, and to explain the Coalition's perspective on the Government's changes to higher education placements and funding.

We will always support genuine student choice and access across the sector, and this is the approach we will maintain in our policy-making process. 

I also outlined my priorities as Shadow Education Minister more broadly, including ensuring falling results and tertiary education completion among boys are adequately addressed, and returning to a strong focus on foundational knowledge including phonics in schools. 

You can read my full speech here. 

IN CONVERSATION WITH UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA

I recently sat down with Luke Sheehy, the CEO of Universities Australia, to discuss universities reform and the future of the sector as part of UA's Solutions Series. 

Universities Australia does important work connecting stakeholders throughout the tertiary sector and scrutinising government action when it comes to regulating universities.

Our conversation served as a good opportunity to speak to Luke about the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 and what it will mean for universities and students, as well as discussing funding, participation and the future sustainability of the sector more broadly. 

You can watch a recording of our discussion here.