Newsletters 2024

Week 114: Celebrating progress and pushing for more ambitious policy-making

1. Kylea with Rohan, a Cammeraygal work experience student
2. Kind words from a young constituent

The choices we make today shape the futures of all generations. This week’s events in parliament have proven just that, and while we celebrate progress, we must also continue to push for more ambitious policy making.
In good news, we finally saw legislation introduced that would increase wages for Early Childhood Education and Care workers, something I’ve been pushing for since Day 1 of my time in office.

We also saw HECS reform pass through the House, that would wipe $3 billion from debts owed by 2.9 million university graduates. This is a big step forward, but our work isn’t finished yet. The other cross-benchers and I continue to fight, pushing for amendments on HECS debt indexation timing to mitigate unfair interest charges. Our children deserve the same chance we had to pay off their debts.

On that note, after months of advocacy, I am incredibly disappointed by the Labor government’s decision to proceed with their Better Target Superannuation legislation, without amendments including the indexation of the $3 million threshold or preventing the taxing of unrealised gains. This will hit everyday Australians with self-managed super funds, particularly farmers, and has the potential to embed further intergenerational inequality.

It is this same generation that is also suffering from an unprecedented decline in mental health rates, making access to care and preventative solutions more urgent than ever. I was delighted to host 46 mental health organisations on Wednesday, all gathered in Parliament House for a showcase designed to help parliamentarians deliver these vital services to their communities.

In less positive news, the push for gambling reform continues, while briefings from multiple international players in the environmental, climate, and disaster preparedness sectors, confirm what we know: we’re not doing enough - more ambition is needed.

As a parting thought, this week has also left me questioning who in Parliament is prepared to fight for their communities, rather than their own political narrative. From the October 7 Anniversary Motion to the Liberal National Party abstaining from voting with my amendment to the super bill (only to then make the exact same argument) - when will the major parties move beyond this political game play?

Despite this, it was refreshing to see so many young faces from our electorate in the parliamentary office this week, including prize winners from this year’s Harmony Day Concert and a work experience student from Cammeraygal. Check out my speeches on YouTube here. Let’s see what the last few sitting weeks of the year have in store for us…

- KT

 


 

COME AND MEET KYLEA

LANE COVE ROTARY FAIR

SUN 13 OCTOBER
9:00AM-4:00PM

LANE COVE PLAZA, THE CANOPY & LONGUEVILLE RD

Stop by the TeamTINK stall this Sunday to say hi to Kylea! Enjoy a day of great food, entertainment and community spirit.

CROWS NEST FESTIVAL

SUN 20 OCTOBER
10:00AM-5:00PM

WILLOUGHBY RD, CROWS NEST

Come visit the TeamTINK stall next Sunday and have a chat with Kylea. You'll be in for a day filled with fun, with over 200 stalls and plenty of family-friendly activities!

WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

SAT 12 OCT

NORTHBRIDGE BATHS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

WHERE:
NORTHBRIDGE BATHS

WHEN:
1-4PM

SUN 13 OCT

LANE COVE ROTARY FAIR AND SUSTAINABILITY LANE

WHERE:
LANE COVE PLAZA, THE CANOPY AND LONGUEVILLE RD

WHEN:
9AM-4PM

TUE 15 OCT

PUTTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO WORK FOR BUSINESS

WHERE:
THE ORCHARD HOTEL, CHATSWOOD

WHEN:
12-2PM

IN THE NEWS

'Poor workplace culture in parliament': Kylea calls for a better federal standard ($) - The Australian, 10 October 2024. Kylea speaks out against poor workplace culture in parliament, stating that the government should "...set the standard for the rest of the nation and it’s past time for change."

$3m super tax edges closer to reality - Financial Standard, 10 October 2024. Labor's $3 million superannuation tax has passed the lower house — without important amendments by Kylea that would have included indexation of the threshold and prevented the taxation of unrealised capital gains.

Time for a check-up: hospitals not yet climate ready - AAP, 9 October 2024. Kylea is named among a group of independent parliamentarians who want Australia's hospitals to switch to safer, cheaper clean energy as part of a nationwide health response to climate change.

North Sydney seat abolition confirmed - North Shore Living, 1 October 2024. Local media coverage of the AEC's final decision to abolish the Federal Seat of North Sydney. Read the article on Page 10.

More media mentions here.

See more
of my week

What I’ve been up to on Instagram

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What I’ve been up to on Twitter

Twitter

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Week 120: Demanding more from the final weeks of parliament

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Week 119: On electoral reforms, and loneliness

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Week 118: From climate to the housing crisis, it's time we picked policies over politics

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Week 117: There should be no trick-or-treats in Parliament House

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