Newsletters 2025

Small businesses have long been the backbone of Australia's economy. In our electorate alone there are some 30,000 small businesses that create jobs, drive innovation and provide a wide range of goods and services to the people in our community. But many are struggling. This puts our economy at risk.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, there were fewer small businesses operating in Australia in 2023-24 than the year prior. Rising costs, administrative challenges and workforce issues have had a disproportionate impact on small businesses. If conditions don't improve, we risk "sleepwalking into a big corporate economy", as Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has warned.

Here's where you come in. Next month, I'm convening our community's third Deliberative Democracy forum, this time bringing together a randomly selected, representative group of North Sydney residents to look into how the Federal Government might help improve the long-term viability of small businesses in Australia.

There are many ways we could do this, from simplifying tax and administration, to funding more training, to implementing mandatory quotas for government contracts. And we want to hear from you: What have your experiences been like with small businesses in our area? Do you have an idea that could help?

Please submit your thoughts here by 28 February.

In other news, I've been disappointed by the Albanese Government's failure to deliver its promised genetic discrimination ban. I've pushed hard for this ban, without which geneticists say people are choosing not to undergo potentially lifesaving testing. With parliament unlikely to sit again before the election is called, the Government's delay puts Australian lives at risk. Regardless of the result of this next election, I'm now calling on both parties to commit to passing this ban within the first 100 days of the 48th Parliament of Australia.

Finally, it was good to see many of you at our Getting off Gas cooking event last night and to hear of your plans to remove polluting gas appliances from your homes. While the election looms, and with it the abolishment of our electorate, I remain 100% dedicated to serving our community until the end of this parliamentary term. My team and I will be hosting two more events in the coming month: an Ageing Well seminar on making connections; and my annual International Women's Day Breakfast, which this year will be co-hosted by Warringah MP Zali Steggall. I hope to see you at one of these events, or out and about in our electorate, soon!

- KT

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IN THE NEWS

Genetic discrimination ban stranded by Labor ($) - The Australian, 19 February 2025. The Government is under fire for failing to legislate its promised ban on genetic discrimination. Kylea, who advocated strongly for the ban, says the delay is "not just disappointing, it actually puts Australians’ lives at risk.” She has backed geneticist Jane Tiller's call for called on both major parties to support passing the ban within the first 100 days of the next parliamentary term.

Inside the election spending ‘stitch up’ which blindsided the independents ($) - The Daily Telegraph, 15 February 2025. Media coverage of the Albanese Labor Government's electoral reforms, which was passed last week following a deal struck between both major parties.

National right to housing via legislation a necessary step, lawyers say - Lawyers Weekly, 18 February 2025. A new report from the Human Rights Law Centre, the University of Technology Sydney faculty of law, and the Australian Council of Social Services has called on the government to establish the right to housing through an Australian Human Rights Act. The article Kylea and ACT Senator David Pocock's introduction of the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 in June.

More media mentions here.