Newsletters 2024
Week 118: From climate to the housing crisis, it's time we picked policies over politics
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Community independent MPs call for more transparency into major parties' 2035 climate targets. |
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Donald Trump has won a second term as US president and the world is bracing for change. Global climate efforts are likely to slow as the president-elect winds back the past four years of incentives and environmental regulation. All the while, climate impacts that we are already experiencing will only continue to worsen. We are about to see just how vulnerable climate policies are to political ideology. And with an election of our own looming and dire warnings in the CSIRO's State of the Climate report, we in Australia simply cannot afford to choose politics over science. The climate crisis must stay front of mind as Australia heads into our next federal election. Make no mistake, this isn't just about the risk of bad weather. Climate change plays into almost every other major issue we face today, driving up costs of living by impacting insurance risks and food production; and amplifying existing social inequities. We need to know exactly what any future government will do about the climate crisis, and how. That's why this week, I led a crossbench call for both major parties to come clean and release their emissions reduction targets before the next election. North Sydney has called consistently for faster action on climate and ultimately, based on the science, I'm calling for an emissions reduction target of at least 75 per cent by 2035 on behalf of our community, our children and theirs. Meanwhile, it's been a huge week in Parliament, where I had the opportunity to weigh in on several key issues for many in our community. On Monday, I joined ACT Senator David Pocock, Kate Chaney MP, and a number of our crossbench colleagues in urging all parliamentarians to work together to amend and pass the Government's Build to Rent Bill. Build to Rent is one way we can start ensuring stable, affordable housing for more Australians. Once again, we need to be prioritising people over party politics if we are to truly deliver better outcomes for all. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) has been another major focus lately, and it was good to be able to raise some of our community's concerns. Earlier in the week, I spoke about the urgent need for ECEC sector reform, with workers deserving better working conditions and respect. Later, in Question Time, I continued to press Treasurer Jim Chalmers to commit his government to scrapping the activity test. Every child deserves access to early education and care regardless of where their family lives or how much they earn. You can find out more about our community's position on ECEC reform here. Thank you also to all who have contacted my office to share your views on the Government's proposed misinformation and disinformation laws, which we debated this week in the House. The prevalence of mis- and disinformation is a major threat, undermining trust in public institutions and exacerbating divisions within our society. At the same time, we must not allow such laws to shut down free speech. Ultimately, after working with the Government and Zoe Daniel MP over the past year to amend the Bill and address our communities' concerns, I believe we now have a version that strikes an appropriate balance. You can see what I had to say about the Bill here. I'm glad to be back in North Sydney this weekend and will be commemorating Remembrance Day with our community on Monday. With all that's going on in the world at the moment, I feel incredibly lucky to be living here in Australia, and am grateful to all our soldiers who have fought to defend our country and our values over the years. Clearly, there is much to discuss so if you are able to, please do join me on Zoom this Thursday 14 November at 6pm for our usual post-Parliamentary debrief. Register here — I promise to try keep it snappy! - KT
COME AND MEET KYLEA
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WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY |
NEWS AND RESOURCES |
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Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024 - Speech in the House of Representatives, 6 November 2024. Kylea speaks of the need to strike an equilibrium between safeguarding against disinformation while protecting freedom of speech.
Statement on proposed social media age restrictions - Media release, 7 November 2024. With no evidence that a ban will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of young Australians, the Prime Minister's plan to ban under-16s from accessing social media is yet another example of the government chasing populist headlines over policy substance, Kylea says.
Labor ‘considering a whole range of possible reforms’ on childcare, Chalmers says - The Guardian, 6 November 2024. Kylea has questioned the Government about abolishing the activity test for childcare. In response, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said that the Government is "considering a whole range of possible reforms as part of our commitment to try to get the system as close as we can to something which is a bit more universal."
Better and Fairer Schools Bill 2024 - Speech in the Federation Chamber, 6 November 2024. Kylea urges the Government to increase federal funding of public schools to at least 25 per cent, citing economic research from the Australian Institute and feedback from parents, educators, the Australian Council of Social Service, the Australian Education Union and Save Our Schools.
Fess up! Independents push parties on climate targets - Canberra Times, 5 November 2024. Kylea is one of the independent MPs leading the charge on climate in Canberra on Tuesday, calling on major parties to release 2035 emissions reduction targets before the next federal election.
‘Australians deserve to know’: Independents call on major parties to release 2035 emissions reduction targets - Women's Agenda, 5 November 2024. Crossbenchers have called for both major parties to unveil their 2035 emissions targets before next year's federal election, with Kylea pointing to this week's US election as evidence of just how vulnerable climate change policies can be to political ideology.
Response to Motion on Early Childhood Education - Speech in the Federation Chamber, 4 November 2024. Kylea calls for reform of the Early Childhood Education and Care sector, noting that the North Sydney community wants to see the sector recognised and workers properly valued.
Independents pressure Greens to break housing stalemate after Queensland election losses - ABC News, 4 November 2024. Kylea, ACT Senator David Pocock and several other independents are pressuring the Greens to support the Government's Build to Rent Bill that would create thousands of new rental homes. The bill is currently before the Senate.
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Other relevant posts
Week 122: What a year for North Sydney Schools!
Week 121: How North Sydney keeps on getting stuff done
Week 120: Demanding more from the final weeks of parliament
Week 119: On electoral reforms, and loneliness
Week 118: From climate to the housing crisis, it's time we picked policies over politics
Week 117: There should be no trick-or-treats in Parliament House
Every Friday
Kylea's newsletter hits the inboxes of people right across our electorate of North Sydney. Stay up to date with Kylea's plans and progress as she tells us about her week speaking with people in our community. We'll also highlight the latest community events and initiatives to get involved with.