Newsletters 2024

Of all the ghouls we've encountered this week, it is the questionable conduct of our political and business leaders that concerns me most.

It was incredibly disappointing to learn this week that it may have been a conflict of interest that stopped the National Anti-Corruption Commission from fairly investigating the robo-debt scandal.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie have both been accused of using their positions of power to secure free airline upgrades, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is under scrutiny for using Hancock Prospecting's private jet. It seems that the running commentary from them all is that if it is declared it’s okay.

This has rightly posed questions across our community. Do these relationships and favours make it harder for those in positions of power to make fair decisions when it comes to regulating those they are charged with overseeing?

From my perspective, I think it would be far easier if those in power simply said no to hospitality or favours from those they are seeking to legislate. Neither the Communications Minister, nor the Shadow Minister, should be accepting hospitality from gaming companies. Neither the Resource Minister, nor the Shadow Minister, should be accepting hospitality from mining companies. And party leaders certainly should not be accepting direct favours from CEOs, Chairs or owners of large corporate entities regardless of what area of industry they derive their wealth from.

With power comes responsibility and our leaders should be striving to be beyond reproach. Transparency is one thing. But accountability and, ultimately, integrity are another and the relationships between big business and our political parties have to always be held in perspective.

Meanwhile, in a development that is arguably far more important than even this debate, the latest State of the Climate report contained yet more another scary news. In it, CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology clearly state that we in Australia have exceeded the targeted 1.5 degrees of warming and that this is already having clear, observable impacts on sea levels, extreme heat, fires, rainfall and cyclones. And yet our government continues to green light new fossil fuel projects, while the NSW State government drags it feet on phasing out compulsory gas connections in new builds. For goodness sake people – please look up!!

We can spend as much time as we want being lamenting the cost of living pressures we are all feeling, or the intergenerational inequity that is rapidly cementing itself in our society – but ultimately, if we do not force our political leaders to fundamentally work to decouple our economy from fossil fuels, we are simply pouring fuel on what is already a roaring fire.

The people of Australia, our children, and the world, deserve better and I will continue to push for faster, stronger action on climate. We cannot allow either of the major parties to go to the next election without clear commitments on a realistic and legislated 2035 emissions reduction target. From my end, I’ll be joining other Community Independents in arguing for at least a 75% reduction. Whether the major parties are able to get their heads around the need for that remains to be seen. If we want a habitable future for our kids, we need more ambition.

Finally, thank you to all who gave up your Sunday to join my team and I at the Deliberative Democracy Forum on Early Childhood Education and Care last week. As with our last forum, I was again really impressed by the way this process is able to bring a diverse group of people – previously unknown to each other - together to discuss and ultimately form a consensus recommendation on important policy area. I can't wait to share the Forum's recommendations more widely — stay tuned!

From here I head to Canberra on Sunday with three out of the next four weeks down there as we finish up another Parliamentary Year. I look forward to reporting back to you all on the discussions and outcomes in early December when I am back on deck at home.

Here’s to being the change we wish to see!

- KT

P.S. The NSW Government's battery incentives are now available! As of today, homes and businesses with existing solar can now apply for a subsidy of $1,600-$2,400 off the up-front installation costs of a battery, and $250-$400 for connecting your battery to a virtual power plant. More information here.

COME AND MEET KYLEA

WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

NEWS AND RESOURCES

Tink shines light on early childhood education - North Sydney Sun, 1 November 2024. Local media coverage of the North Sydney Deliberative Democracy forum on Early Childhood Education and Care. “There is so much more to be done to strengthen our early childhood education and care sector and deliver improved quality, access and affordability," Kylea says. “Informed, community-led discussions such as this one are a vital part of this process. It’s also what our democracy is all about."

Teals call for anti-corruption watchdog reform after robodebt review - The Australian, 31 October 2024. Media coverage of how crossbenchers have responded to findings of a conflict of interest in the NACC's decision not to investigate the Robodebt scandal. “In light of this I think the current commissioner’s position is untenable & I expect both he (and) the government to take appropriate action," Kylea has said.

PM clarifies his position on Qantas flight upgrades ($) - Daily Telegraph, 31 October 2024. In an article about Anthony Albanese's relationship with Qantas, Kylea tells the media the “cozy relationships between big business and our political parties have to end. Our political leaders and ministers should not request or accept gifts from the corporations they are in control of legislating over."

REIA backs bill to recognise housing as a ‘human right’ - REB, 30 October 2024. The Real Estate Institute of Australia and Community Housing Industry Association have called on the federal Parliament to support the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024, which was jointly introduced in both houses of parliament by Kylea and ACT Senator David Pocock earlier this year.

More media mentions here.