newy.com.au – Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery will retire at the March 2027 NSW election, bringing to an end five parliamentary terms and almost 20 years representing the electorate.
The Labor MP and Deputy Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly announced her decision on Tuesday, saying she had spent months considering her future.
“Having served for the last 20 years as the Member for Wallsend, and after many months of careful consideration, I have made the decision not to stand as Labor’s candidate for Wallsend in the 2027 election. I will retire at the end of this term,” she said.
“Being the Member for Wallsend and representing this wonderful community has been my honour and privilege.”
Ms Hornery’s path to Parliament began with a childhood in Housing Commission homes at Edgeworth and Windale, before her family moved into rented accommodation in Wallsend and West Wallsend. In her first parliamentary speech in May 2007, she said she had been the first person in her extended family to finish school and undertake tertiary education.
She began working as a teenager and joined a union at 15. She completed teaching qualifications and an honours degree in history through Newcastle Teachers College and the University of Newcastle, teaching English, history and music in public schools in Walgett, Kempsey, the Central Coast and Kurri Kurri. She also became a Teachers Federation representative.
Her work before entering Parliament included community support at Hunter Brain Injury Respite Options and service in the Army Reserves. She received the Newcastle History Prize in 2002 for her honours thesis and served on Newcastle City Council from 2002 to 2008, overlapping her final period on council with her first parliamentary term.
Ms Hornery was first elected to State Parliament on 24 March 2007, succeeding retiring Labor MP John Mills. She became only the third person to represent Wallsend since the electorate was re-established in 1968, following Ken Booth and Mr Mills. Labor has held the seat throughout that period.
She retained Wallsend in 2011 as Labor lost government and suffered major defeats across the Hunter. Wallsend and Cessnock were the party’s two surviving Hunter seats following that election.
Further victories followed in 2015, 2019 and 2023. At the most recent election, Ms Hornery received 63.9 per cent of first-preference votes and finished with 81.8 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote against Liberal candidate Callum Pull.
Her parliamentary career included government and opposition responsibilities. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Minister for Transport shortly after entering Parliament in 2007, moving to the roads portfolio in September 2008 and serving in that position until November 2009.
In opposition, she became Shadow Minister for the Hunter and Shadow Minister for Science and Medical Research in December 2013. The arts portfolio was added in March 2014, and she held those responsibilities until April 2015. Her committee work has covered regional broadband, legal affairs, social policy and public bodies, including chairing the parliamentary committee on broadband in rural and regional communities in 2010 and 2011.
After several periods as a Temporary Speaker, Ms Hornery was elected Deputy Speaker on 9 May 2023. The position involves presiding over proceedings and acting for the Speaker in their absence. She also serves on the Parliament’s Standing Orders and Procedure Committee and Committee on Ageing and Disability.
Her electorate work has included campaigns that put her at odds with her own party’s government. In 2009, she opposed plans to privatise the Wallsend Aged Care Facility, raising concerns in Parliament about the uncertainty facing residents and their families. The government abandoned the proposal in December that year following a community campaign to keep the facility in public hands.
Access to John Hunter Hospital has been another recurring issue. In 2017, she pressed for the return of a shuttle bus after staff reported difficulty finding parking despite paying fees through their wages. The hospital’s park-and-ride shuttle eventually resumed in July 2024.
Flood protection for Wallsend has remained unfinished business through much of her parliamentary career. Following the devastating 2007 floods, Ms Hornery repeatedly sought improvements to Ironbark Creek. When a major channel upgrade was announced in June this year, she said she had pursued flood mitigation across three different governments since 2007.
The announced project involves widening and improving 660 metres of the creek through the Wallsend town centre, including new floodwalls and environmental works. Hunter Water is responsible for delivering the project, complementing City of Newcastle’s bridge upgrades. The June announcement put the expected construction start in early to mid-2027.
In her retirement statement, Ms Hornery thanked community organisations, residents and her past and present staff, saying the electorate had experienced both good and difficult times during her tenure.
“I’m so proud of our community and it’s been a privilege being the local member,” she said.
She said she would continue assisting residents for the remainder of the term.
“I will be the Member for Wallsend up until the election in March. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you require assistance with any State matters.”
Her announcement did not name a preferred successor as Labor’s candidate. The NSW election will be held on Saturday 13 March 2027.
