If Mick Willing wins at the 2027 election, Camden will be represented by someone who knows his way around the corridors of power in Sydney.
Mr Willing, the endorsed Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Camden, was deputy NSW Police Commissioner in 2021 and was in line for the top job a year later.
During his policing career he was also in charge of the homicide squad and counter-terrorism operations.
“When you look back at the history, the good and bad of anyone’s history, I carried responsibility for a lot of different things over a lot of years, and I am proud to say I’ve been able to deliver things,’’ Mr Willing says when we sit down for an interview at an outside table of legendary Camden café Crème della Crème in Argyle Street.
“Whether it’s in a crisis, or addressing a community issue in whatever part of the state, I think I’ve been able to do that.
“As a senior police officer, I sat at the table of the NSW Secretaries Board, the top of the bureaucracy in state government; I sat in crisis cabinet during Covid; I’ve been around a little bit, too.
“If I was fortunate enough to be elected, I certainly wouldn’t be going into such an environment [to fight for Camden’s fair share] without some background in that area,’’ he says
There’s no doubt that Mick Willing is a high profile candidate, a man who’s been around the block a few times and knows his way around the big end of town.
“One of my strengths is being able to collaborate with people,’’ he says when asked about what kind of leader he is.
“And that’s been proven over the years, whether it was bushfire recovery or working in other environments,’’ he says.
“I’d like to create an environment where people feel they’re working with you, not for you.
“It’s leadership, but you have to work hand in hand with your key stakeholders, and there’s no greater stakeholder here than the people of Camden.’’
Mr Willing, who spent 32 years in policing before retiring, admits that he had often thought about entering politics at some stage.
And yet, for anyone to go from policing, essentially public service, to what these days is described as “bloody politics’’ is a move that does raise eyebrows.
So, the question is, what were you thinking, Mick?
“You hit the nail on the head with that phrase, public service is instilled in me, I’m a country boy, born and bred in Dubbo,’’ he responds.
“I also have the privilege of policing out there as well, I’ve moved around regional NSW and moved back to the city, and done different things.
“The one thing about a policing career is that it’s part and parcel community service and purpose, something that appeals to me.
“I had almost 32 amazing years with the NSW Police, left and went to the private sector and did other things, and the one thing I missed was purpose; getting out and serving, and helping people.
“Getting into politics was on my mind for a long time, and I’ve been approached by each of the major parties, in one form or another,’’ he says.
“Last year I was approached by the Liberal Party through some friends I have, who are quite senior in the Liberal Party.
“And I said no. And then I said no again. And again.
“It could have been more than three times, but ultimately what happened was I met the current Opposition leader Kellie Sloane at a shadow cabinet meeting in Oran Park.
“I knew her from my time in policing when she was a journalist, and she said: we should catch up, and talk about politics.
“She invited me out to lunch a few weeks later, where she said, can I twist your arm.
“I said I was interested, and what I liked about Kellie, and I do like about Kellie, was her authenticity; she is real.
“So she said this is what’s really good about it, and this is what’s not so good about it.
“After saying I’d think about it, I ended up saying “no’’ again.
“Kellie and I had another conversation where she said Mick, you’ve got more to give in public life, I really need you on the team. This was December last year.
“Ultimately, I ended up saying, alright, I’ll throw my hand up, and I was announced, as you know, at the Camden Show.
“Since that time I’ve hit the ground. I enjoy it, I like talking to people, and it feels very similar to being in the police. Getting out and helping people, talking to them, working through problems – it gives me purpose,’’ says Mick Willing.
One thing many people may not know about Mick Willing is that he has been one of us, a local, for almost 20 years.
“I’ve been in the Macarthur area for 17 and a half years,’’ he says.
“My daughters went to school here, my ex wife lives here in Camden, my eldest daughter works literally 50m away from where we are sitting.
“I know the history here, politically, and the different members who’ve been here, I think it’s a seat that deserves more than it gets.
“First of all, on the Labor member, I’ve met Sally and she’s a lovely person, but I do believe that she’s been let down by her own party, her own government,’’ says Mick Willing.
And he says he totally agrees when the South West Voice suggests that Camden, like the rest of the region in outer South Western Sydney, has never got its fair share of infrastructure funding, and what’s needed now is a game changer.
“I couldn’t agree more, you hit on the heart of the issue, such an important growth area, for the country, not just the state, and it deserves better,’’ he says.
“That’s exactly what’s happened for many years, not just the last three and a half years, but many years. Camden’s been taken for granted.
“And I reckon people are sick of the spin, they want authentic leadership, they want to believe that they’ve been heard.’’
Since he was announced as the Liberal Party candidate, at this year’s Camden Show, Mick Willing hasn’t wasted a minute, getting out and about talking to locals about their concerns for the electorate.
“It’s something I haven’t done before, but it’s been an itch I wanted to scratch,’’ he says.
“I said no many times, but I am happy because so far the feedback’s been great, the purpose and the energy I’m getting from it has been pretty good.’’
