Newsletters 2024

This week, we marked World Environment Day: a reminder of both the natural beauty around us, and the urgent need to protect it. A total of 144 new plants and animals were added to the threatened species list last year. In North Sydney, there are 16 species potentially facing extinction, with more at risk from climate change and tree loss.

Like many in our community, I'm disappointed the Government will not deliver on its promise to overhaul our national environmental laws in this term. The Samuel’s Review was a landmark report for our country and it made it very clear that these national laws are currently completely unfit for purpose – they are failing our environment.

To all who have written in on this topic, I hear you and I am absolutely committed to securing a safer, healthier environment for our community, our children and the generations that follow. I will continue to push for stronger environmental laws at federal, state and local levels.

I'm looking forward to the debate on the Nature Positive Bills. At this first stage of that process I will be focusing on ensuring the Environment Protection Australia agency has the legislative framework it needs to function effectively, and that community feedback and engagement is as central to its operations as that of project proponents. Meanwhile, if you haven't already done so, I urge you to please sign Lane Cove councillor Bridget Kennedy's petition to protect trees from vandalism here.

My team and I took on a range of topics in Parliament this week, from the unfair levels of aircraft noise in our area to climate-related financial disclosure, social services, and our dysfunctional National Disability Insurance Scheme.

I shared the difficulties that some in our community have faced in accessing NDIS support, with thousands of highly distressed individuals left waiting for months for a decision on their applications for help. And I called for more support for the 1 in 10 Australians currently living below the poverty line, as Centrelink funding fails to match costs of living and the housing crisis.

Australians deserve a healthy, productive, thriving and inclusive society. But to achieve this we must do more. We must move beyond band-aid solutions and address the root cause of disadvantage; look for ways to ensure economic and social inclusion for all; and provide an adequate social security safety net.

Finally then, we have now been advised by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) that the boundary redistribution for NSW will be announced next Friday (14th June). Please know we will communicate with you as quickly as we can once their preferred model is announced.

Thank you as always for working with me towards the progress we want to see. On Wednesday 12 June, I will be updating the community in more detail about the most recent two parliamentary sitting weeks. Please join us if you can by registering here!

- KT

COME AND MEET KYLEA

WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

⚠️ PACKAGE DELIVERY SCAMS ON THE RISE ⚠️

IN THE NEWS

Nine independent MPs and Greens back UN call for Australia to ban fossil fuel advertising - The Guardian, 6 June. Kylea has welcomed UN secretary António Guterres' call for countries to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies, while warning that governments must also go further in halting the production of fossil fuel products.

Teals consulting with the Environmental Defenders Office for climate advice - The Australian, 4 June. "It’s crucial Australia’s environmental laws actually do the job of protecting the environment for ­future generations," Kylea says of her conversations with the Environmental Defenders Office. “At a time when Peter Dutton’s energy policy appears to be written by Gina Rinehart and the fossil fuel lobby, and Labor’s energy policy by the gas industry, it’s crucial that crossbenchers speak to a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure voices other than vested interests are heard."

Don't Hold Your Breath Waiting for the North Sydney Olympic Pool - The Hornsby-Kuringai Post, 1 June. Kylea says the renovation of North Sydney Pool is a prime example of how not to do an infrastructure project. "The community deserves better and it’s time for all parties involved in this to publicly communicate a plan for re-opening the North Sydney Pool before the end of the year," she says.

More media mentions here.