Susan Templeman is dedicated to fighting for the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Nepean. First elected as the Member for Macquarie at the 2016 election, Susan had previously contested the 2010 and 2013 Federal elections.
Susan and her husband Ron have lived and worked in the Blue Mountains for more than 30 years, raising their two children there, and have long been active in their local community. Whether it’s championing mental health, infrastructure upgrades or disaster recovery funds, Susan has advocated loudly and strongly, even when a victim of the 2013 bushfires herself.
The Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20 and the devastating floods in the Hawkesbury in 2021 saw Susan on the ground every day with her community; in fire headquarters for morning updates seven days a week, delivering food to firefighters, and organising helicopters loaded with groceries for delivery to communities surrounded by floodwater and desperate for supplies. She has raised alarms about the fragility of the mobile phone network and NBN in the face of these disasters. Susan understands the uniqueness and the challenges of the beautiful natural local environment of the electorate, with the World Heritage National Park and the mighty Hawkesbury-Nepean River system.
Susan secured major infrastructure upgrades for the community as far back as 2010, including the Springwood Hub and Community Theatre and the Windsor Wolves Grandstand. Her work to deliver a new Richmond Bridge began 15 years ago with the first study and road improvements, and the securing of $400 million in Federal funding towards the project.
Susan also secured a Headspace in Richmond in 2024 after 15 years advocating for youth mental health services in the Hawkesbury.
Both before and since becoming a Member of Parliament, Susan has spoken out on issues such as school, TAFE and university funding, support for local businesses and for fairness, and equality and opportunity for the many, not the few.
Originally a political reporter and foreign correspondent for commercial radio, Susan set up her own small business in the early 1990s.
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