Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye Throws Hat In Ring For State Politics

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye is making a move toward state politics.

The current Byron Shire Mayor and Greens member has confirmed she is seeking Greens preselection for the 2027 NSW state election.

Ndiaye was first elected to Byron Shire Council in 2016, served two terms as councillor, and was elected Mayor in 2024. A familiar face in local politics, she has built a reputation as a hands-on community advocate with close knowledge of how government works at both local and state level.

If successful, she could be our brand new local MP heading to Macquarie Street. But she is not the only name in the mix.

This comes just weeks after current Ballina MP Tamara Smith announced she would not seek re-election in 2027, after holding the seat since 2015. Her departure opens up one of the region’s biggest political contests in years, with the Greens now needing to choose who will carry the baton in a seat they have held for more than a decade.

Will it be Byron’s current mayor with nearly a decade in local government, or one of the region’s most recognisable outspoken public figures? Could other contenders emerge?

Greens preselection processes are not public, so for now, plenty remains behind closed doors.