Newsletters 2023

Week 71: A step forward for Human Rights

North Sydney Electorate Office staff visiting the new Services Australia Chatswood office.

Australia's mandatory detention policy for asylum seekers has long been a stain on our international reputation. As of January this year, 1061 people — including 146 children — were locked up in immigration detention facilities, with no indication of when or how they would be released.

Thankfully, that could all change with the High Court this week ruling that indefinite immigration detention is unlawful.

Like many in our community, I have been appalled by how our nation has treated asylum seekers over the years. In 2015, I worked with the 'We're Better Than This' campaign to protest the cruel conditions in which children were being detained, particularly on Nauru and Christmas Island. More recently in Parliament I have used North Sydney's voice to second the Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill 2022, and to draw attention to the Government's inhumane, immoral, and frankly wasteful spending on offshore detention of refugees.

With the latest UNHCR Mid-year Trends Report estimating that there are now a staggering 114 million people displaced by war and conflict, it is clear that we in the lucky country can and should do more to support those in desperate need. Our government has agreed to grant residency to 20,000 asylum seekers next year but that still falls short of the initial promise of 27,000 places. I’m sure many would agree: we are better than this.

Parliamentary sittings resume in Canberra next week and I look forward to continuing to work with the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Human Rights, and with my team on a proposed Royal Commission into Australia’s Immigration Detention Policies.

Over the past few months, my team and I have heard from a number of North Sydney residents who have been affected by lengthy, nationwide delays to Centrelink services, particularly Age Pension claims.

Services Australia is hiring 3,000 additional staff to address these delivery issues. In the meantime, my team has been in regular contact with Services Australia Chatswood, including visiting their new office last week to draw attention to the needs of local residents and advocating for those in urgent need.

If there is anything that we can help you with, please do get in touch.

- KT

WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

SAT 11 NOV

REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMEMORATION SERVICE

WHERE:
Garden of Remembrance. Orchard St and Albert Av, Chatswood

WHEN:
10:30AM

SAT 11 NOV

LANE COVE REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE

WHERE:
Lane Cove Plaza

WHEN:
10:45AM-11:30AM

SUN 12 NOV

KIRRIBILLI MARKETS

WHERE:
Burton St and Alfred St, Kirribilli

WHEN:
8:30AM-3:00PM

IN THE NEWS

North Sydney Electorate Could Be Abolished - In the Cove, 7 November. Local media coverage of the AEC Federal Electoral Boundary Review. Members of the public have until 6pm today (10 November) to submit their feedback on the proposed redistribution. You can make a submission here or read Kylea's submission here.

More media mentions here.

 

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Week 72: This week in Parliament: Mental Health, Social Cohesion and Fair Work Laws

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Week 71: A step forward for Human Rights

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Week 69: Another climate report is out and there's no time for despair

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Week 68: A time for courage and compassion

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Week 67: Now's the Time to Have Your Say on Housing, Superannuation and the Voice

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