Newsletters 2025

As Australians, we have the privilege of living in one of the most successful multinational societies in the world, with a wide range of languages, cultures and religions represented throughout our community. All of us have the right to feel safe, to be treated with respect and to participate in society without fear of vilification and discrimination based on our individual characteristics.
There is absolutely no place in this country for discrimination and violence — recent instances of Islamophobia and abhorrent antisemitic attacks included.

That's why this week, I stood in Parliament to back the Government's Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill. The Bill introduces tougher penalties for hate crimes, and expands the protection of existing laws to groups being targeted based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

The legislation is a necessary first step, but it cannot be our only response — we must do more to address racism and hate before it escalates to threats or violence. I will continue to advocate for a more holistic, long-term national antiracism framework, including a national hate crimes database, as well as a national human rights framework that ensures policies are grounded in a common, irrefutable and legislated understanding of minimum human rights for all.

In that vein, "well meaning, but incomplete" seemed to be the state of affairs this week, with both the Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024 and luxury car tax reforms also falling short of their potential.

Scams have had a devastating impact on many in our community and it is past time we modernise consumer protections for the digital age. As I said in Parliament, there are still serious shortcomings in the Scams Prevention bill that need to be addressed, including resourcing of the already stretched ACCC and Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which would take on new regulatory responsibilities, and a lack of clarity around compensation.

Ultimately, in what is likely to be one of the final few sitting weeks of this 47th Parliament of Australia, I would have liked to see evidence of the Government investing in getting key pieces of reform right, instead of rushing through a legislative to-do list with cursory scrutiny.

As Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel put it in her Press Club address this week, we are facing some major global, technological and social issues that have no simple solutions. As a country, what we haven't yet had the courage to properly deal with the issues that we face, and "if we don’t rise to meet these challenges – our legacy to future generations will be one of decline."

Stay with me North Sydney — our work's far from done. As always, if there's anything my team or I can help you with, or if there is a particular issue you'd like to weigh in on, please get in touch. In preparation for our next Deliberative Democracy forum, we're particularly keen to hear your ideas on how we can improve conditions for small businesses — please submit your feedback here by 14 February.

- KT

WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY

IN THE NEWS

Interview with Sydney Breakfast- ABC Radio, 4 February 2025. Kylea speaks with Craig Reucassel about the context behind North Sydney Pool, increasing council rates and calls for a total ban on gambling.

Crossbench and community sector leaders urge parliament to raise income support - ACOSS, 5 February 2025. While the Coalition pursues tax-free business lunches and Labor panders to gambling and fossil fuel company interests, "it’s hard not to see that both major parties have their priorities wrong," Kylea says. "Increasing the rates of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and the Parenting Payment will help boost the economy by ensuring single parents, young Australians and those searching for jobs can afford the basics required for a dignified life."

Billionaires, betting companies and 'dark' donations: 2023-24's political finance data released - SBS, 3 February 2025. Media coverage of newly released Australian Electoral Commission data, showing that major parties received more than $140 million in donations in 2023-24, including significant amounts from gambling companies. In total, about 45 per cent of donations to parties were given without donor information because of weak disclosure laws, the SBS reports, citing Centre for Public Integrity research.

Kylea Tink says North Sydney Council rate rise proposal is untenable, calls for fed, state government intervention - North Sydney Sun, 3 February 2025. Kylea Tink has called for state and federal intervention to mitigate the 87% rate increase proposed by North Sydney Council, linking the proposal to cost overruns on the North Sydney Pool renovation project.

More media mentions here.