Thanks everyone for signing this petition. I'm pleased to let you know Penny Sharpe today announced she would nominated for the casual vacancy. This is the first step towards seeing Penny head back to the NSW Parliament. I've chosen not to close the petition however as it's also addressed to NSW Labor and I'd like to collect as many names in support of Penny returning as possible before they make the decision. Can you help by sharing and asking your friends to sign? Penny Sharpes statement today: Today I can confirm that I will nominate for the Labor vacancy in the NSW Legislative Council created when I resigned to contest the new electorate of Newtown. I will seek the endorsement of the Labor Party to rejoin Luke Foley's team in the Legislative Council. This decision was not my original intention nor my intention after the disappointing result in Newtown. On election night I informed Labor leader Luke Foley that I would not be returning to the NSW Parliament. Luke asked me to take some time to rethink this position and I agreed to do this. The next four years holds many challenges for NSW. There are decisions that will be made that will fundamentally change our state. I have very strong views on how Labor works with the community to respond to those challenges, how Labor should shape a vision for the future and how the Opposition must hold the Government to account every single day between now and March 2019. In the past week I have been overwhelmed by the number of calls & messages I have received from members of the community, members of the Labor Party and many Labor colleagues asking me to return to the Legislative Council. I am grateful for this support and the faith placed in me to be able to contribute as part of a revitalised Labor Opposition and as a Member of Parliament able to work across the Parliament on other issues.