Dr Tonia Gray, Professor of Education and former Shoalhaven Councillor, brings over 40 years of electorate experience and a fresh perspective to the Kiama by-election as the Greens candidate.

With strong intergenerational ties to the area, Dr Gray understands the mounting pressures facing local residents.

Her academic background in education and health, combined with practical political experience, positions her to address the critical challenges confronting NSW.

Addressing system-wide failures

“It’s time we had a new, fresh, clean start in Kiama,” Dr Gray declares, emphasising the need to restore integrity and respect for community through active representation in NSW Parliament.

She argues the current government has failed to tackle systemic failures in healthcare, early childhood education, housing affordability, emergency accommodation, and the climate crisis while widening inequality between rich and poor.

As a university professor, Dr Gray recognises NSW’s workforce crisis extends beyond breaking point.

Tonia Gray with NSW Upper House MPs Abigail Boyd (left) and Sue Higginson (right).

Critical shortages of teachers, nurses, and paramedics persist despite years of government warnings.

The 2025 Public Health Report reveals patients waiting longer in emergency departments and for planned surgery, while the Australian Medical Association confirms the health system strains under increased demand and budget cuts.

Practical solutions for local issues

Dr Gray prioritises listening to residents struggling with housing challenges, advocating for increased public housing through Housing NSW.

She proposes transforming Kiama Council’s demolished nursing home site at Havilah Place into affordable housing and hub-style accommodation for rough sleepers, demonstrating practical problem-solving approaches.

Her healthcare advocacy focuses on securing resources for quality service delivery while addressing workforce retention issues affecting both major service areas.

The Kiama electorate is one of the fastest-growing regions in NSW and is forecast to grow by 27% in 2041.

Dr Gray is committed to:

• A midwife-led birthing unit at Shellharbour Hospital as Wollongong Hospital has seven birthing beds and over 2500 babies are currently born every year. How does this add up? It doesn’t.
• Maintaining David Berry Hospital as a public specialist trauma facility and
• Advocating for battery-powered trains connecting Kiama to Bomaderry as a local contribution to the electrification of local communities.

Comprehensive policy framework

Dr Gray’s vision encompasses rapid renewable energy transition with public ownership of key assets, expanded funding for world-class education, public housing, hospitals, and transport services.

She champions protecting natural environments and agricultural landscapes while restoring political integrity through ending dirty donations.

Her platform includes working with First Nations peoples toward sovereignty and meaningful treaties.

Dr Gray argues for local infrastructure supporting population growth, and ending preferential treatment for property developers, gambling interests, and fossil fuel corporations.

Recognition and commitment

Dr Gray’s achievements include an Australian university award as an exemplary outdoor education role model and international researcher recognition in 2019.

Her climate action commitment led her to Antarctica with 80 women scientists for climate advocacy, and raising funds for the Climate Council.

“Moving to a socially just, ecologically sustainable, and clean economic future for us all are my core objectives,” she states, believing that changing Kiama’s representation can transform NSW’s broken leadership model through community-focused governance that prioritises local voices and environmental sustainability over corporate interests.

Please note - this editorial is paid content