Meryl Swanson
MP for Paterson · Australian Labor Party
Pay
- Base salary
- $239,270
- Salary
- $239,270
- Electorate allowance, on top
- not reported
The allowance depends on the division's area.
Registrable interests
the whole registerAs declared on the Register of Members’ Interests, in Meryl’s own words. The register records what an interest is, not what it is worth.
1. Shareholdings
Shareholdings in public and private companies, including holding companies.
- Swanridge Investments Pty Ltd
- Swanridge Super Pty Ltd Swanridge Superannuation Fund (SMSF)
- Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd, Lynas Corporation Ltd, National Australia Bank Ltd, NIB Holdings Ltd
- held indirectly via SMSF
- Swanridge Investments Pty Ltd Swanridge Group Pty Ltd - investment and trustee of Swanridge
- Family Trust
- Commonwealth Bank Shares
- Swanridge Investments Pty Ltd
- Swanridge Super Pty Ltd Swanridge Superannuation Fund (SMSF)
- Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd, Lynas Corporation Ltd, National Australia Bank Ltd, NIB Holdings Ltd
- held indirectly via SMSF
- Swanridge Investments Pty Ltd Swanridge Group Pty Ltd - investment and trustee of Swanridge
- Family Trust
- Commonwealth Bank Shares
- Not appliocable
2. Trusts and nominee companies
Family and business trusts and nominee companies, whether a beneficial interest is held or the member is a trustee.
- Swanridge Family Trust Investment/operates business Principal beneficiary (jointly
- providing agistment and fencing with spouse)
- services.
- Unit holder of operating trust
- Swanridge Family Trust investment/operates business Principal beneficiary (jointly
- providing agistment and fencing with spouse)
- services.
- Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
3. Real estate
Real estate, giving the suburb or area only and the purpose for which it is owned.
- House Buchanan NSW · Residential (owned jointly with spouse)
- Unit Kingston ACT · Residential (owned jointly with spouse)
- House and granny flat Kurri Kurri NSW · Investment (owned jointly with spouse)
- Unit Nelson Bay NSW · Investment (owned jointly with spouse)
- House Buchanan NSW · Residential (owned jointly with spouse)
- Unit Kingston ACT · Residential (owned jointly with spouse)
- House and granny flat Kurri Kurri NSW · Investment (owned jointly with spouse)
- Unit Nelson Bay NSW · Investment (owned jointly with spouse)
4. Directorships
Directorships of companies, and the activities of those companies.
- Director of Swanridge Super Pty Ltd. · Self Managed Superannuation Fund
- Director of Swanridge Super Pty Ltd. · Self Managed Superannuation Fund
- Swanridge Investments · Small Business.
6. Liabilities
The nature of any liability and the creditor concerned. Amounts are not required.
- Home loan (jointly with spouse) · The Mutual
- Investment property loan (jointly with spouse) · The Mutual
- Home loan (jointly with spouse) · The Mutual
- Investment property loan (jointly with spouse) · The Mutual
8. Savings and investment accounts
Saving or investment accounts, their nature and the institution holding them. Balances are not required.
- Investment account (via SMSF jointly with · Macquarie Bank
- spouse)
- Savings account (jointly with spouse) · Commonwealth Bank
- Savings account (jointly with spouse) · The Mutual
- Investment account (via SMSF jointly with · Macquarie Bank
- spouse)
- Savings account (jointly with spouse) · Commonwealth Bank
- Savings account (jointly with spouse) · The Mutual
- Business Account (via Swanridge Investments · National Australia Bank
- Pty Ltd) · National Australia Bank
- Credit Card (via Swanridge Investments Pty Ltd)
9. Other assets over $7,500
Any other asset, excluding household and personal effects, valued over $7,500.
- Perpetual Managed Funds - By Property Securities, Fidelity Australia Equity, Lazards Global List
- infrastructure, MFS Global Equity, OnePath Diversified Fixed Interest (via SMSF jointly held with
- spouse)
- Perpetual Managed Funds - By Property Securities, Fidelity Australia Equity, Lazards Global List
- infrastructure, MFS Global Equity, OnePath Diversified Fixed Interest (via SMSF jointly held with
- spouse)
- Life insurance policy held via SMSF
- Tractor held in Swanridge Family Trust
10. Other sources of income
The nature of any other substantial source of income.
- Income from investments as set out above
- Income from investments as set out above
- Income from operating trust as set out above
12. Sponsored travel or hospitality
Sponsored travel or hospitality received.
- QANTAS Chairmans Lounge Membership (covers spouse)
- Virgin Australia The Club Membership (covers spouse)
13. Memberships
Membership of any organisation where a conflict of interest with public duties could arise.
- Tomaree Business Chamber Member
- Cessnock Performing Arts Centre Member
- Womens Network Hunter Member
- Richmond Vale Rail Trail Inc Member
- Kurri Golf Club Member
- Raymond Terrace & District Historical Society Patron
- Maitland Repertory Theatre Patron
- National Service & Combined Forces Association of Australia Inc
- Maitland Branch - Patron
- Newcastle Golf Club - Honorary membership
- Patron of Maitland and District Cricket Umpire' and Scorers' Association
- Incorporated
- Member of Maitland Regional Art Gallery
- Patron - Maitland Musical Society Inc.
Nothing declared under partnerships, bonds and debentures, gifts, other interests.
1 notification of alteration has been lodged since this statement. They are listed on the original rather than merged into it here, because matching a deletion back to the item it removes would risk misstating the declaration.
Voted consistently for
95% or more of their votes supported these positions.
- increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management
- increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace
- increasing protection of Australia's fresh water
- increasing restrictions on gambling
- increasing consumer protections
- increasing the diversity of media ownership
- decreasing the gender pay gap
- increasing transparency of big business by making information public
Voted consistently against
5% or fewer of their votes supported these positions.
- privatising government-owned assets
- increasing accessibility of government data and documents
- increasing indexation of HECS-HELP debts
- putting welfare payments onto cashless debit cards (or indue cards) on a temporary basis as a trial
- the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
- protecting citizens' privacy
- a same-sex marriage plebiscite
- increasing the initial tax rate for working holiday makers to 19%
Voted both ways
Positions where Meryl’s votes fall on both sides. Each of these policies groups dozens of divisions across many years, including procedural motions and narrow amendments. Follow a link to see the votes.
- 50%more scrutiny of intelligence services & police
- 50%protecting threatened forest and bushland habitats
- 50%increasing investment in the coal industry
- 50%political intervention in research funding grants
- 50%banning mobiles and other devices in immigration detention
- 50%increasing workplace protections for women
Work expenses
all expenses$631,094 claimed over 4 quarters (Jul–Sep 2025 to Apr–Jun 2026), 1.03× the median for NSW.
- Office Administration$310k
- Office Facilities$162k
- Employee Travel$76k
- Other Car Costs$31k
- Travel Allowance$18k
- Scheduled Commercial Transport$18k
How to read this
- They Vote For You groups related divisions into plain-language "policies" and scores how often each member voted with that position. Those groupings are editorial judgements made by the OpenAustralia Foundation, not official parliamentary categories.
- An agreement score in the middle of the range means the member voted on both sides of that policy over time. That is normal: policies aggregate dozens of divisions across many years, including procedural motions and narrow amendments. We deliberately publish no "flip-flop" score, because when we measured it, almost every member qualified — it reflects how the scoring works, not anyone's conduct.
- Attendance excludes periods before a member was elected, but members may be absent for legitimate reasons including illness, parental leave, or official duties. A low rate is not by itself evidence of anything.
- Only members currently serving are included. A vote is recorded against the person, not the seat.
- Work expenses cover offices, staff, travel and communications. Claims are certified by the parliamentarian and administered by IPEA.
- Totals are not directly comparable between members. Electorate size drives travel costs, and ministers travel more than backbenchers. Members are therefore compared against the median for their own state or territory.
- Former parliamentarians — including former prime ministers, who retain certain entitlements — are reported separately and excluded from member comparisons.
- IPEA publishes quarterly and later issues adjustments for administrative errors. Figures for recent quarters may change slightly.
Full record for Meryl Swanson at They Vote For You, licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL). Retrieved 2026-07-31.