Media Release 29 September 2026
Nick McLaren is your Greens candidate for Heathcote in the 2027 state election.
Nick is well known as an ABC multimedia journalist and newsreader with ABC Illawarra News, a position he held for nearly three decades.
He was announced as the candidate today by Federal Greens Senator for NSW, David Shoebridge at a launch in Austinmer in the heart of the electorate.
As well as working as a journalist Nick is a lifelong surfer, a bush care regenerator, cyclist, passionate supporter of First Australians and renewable energy enthusiast.
He has lived in the northern Illawarra since 1998 when he moved from the NSW mid-north coast.
He has also lived in Newcastle, Berlin in Germany and the Snowy Mountains where he has seen first-hand the effects of climate change. Nick grew up in northern Sydney.
“I really want to campaign on local issues like finishing the long overdue Grand Pacific Walk and keeping our oceans clean and safe for all to enjoy while protecting sea life,” he said.
“I want to see more people including renters and public housing tenants benefit from cheap solar and batteries in the home to bring down energy costs.
“Electrify 2515 has made a great start in achieving this but we need to go much further,” he said.
Nick said by voting for him he will advocate to make healthcare more affordable by setting up Public Community Health Centres offering dental and mental health as core services, not an optional extra.
Nick also supports Greens plans to expand public transport and make it free.
David Shoebridge during his visit to the Heathcote electorate said Nick is a natural choice for the region:
“Nick’s great passion for ocean protection, improving active transport and for phasing out damaging forestry practises to help protect wildlife is infectious,” David said.
“I know Nick also wants to have a conversation about phasing out coal mining in the Woronora drinking water catchment because it leads to riverbed cracking and irreparable damage to upland swamps, but it must be done in a way that ensures a viable transition for workers.”
“I look forward to working with Nick throughout the campaign.”
