Newsroom
How I'm making change from the inside
There is no doubt that there are many ways to try and effect change and in everything I’ve ever done, I’m always exploring new ways to do this.
In this context, in early 2021, I was looking at ways I could make change across the environmental space and I purchased small shareholdings in a number of companies where I felt shareholder activism may be a way to both better understand the entities involved and potentially exert pressure from within to drive in reform.
These companies include Beach Energy, Viva Energy and Transurban and I’ve openly declared these shares as part of the Register of Members Interests.
Viva Energy was chosen as the company owns one of the last two remaining oil refineries in Australia and I was concerned the refinery was not being pushed to produce the highest quality fuel for the Australian market.
Beach Energy was chosen to provide me with insight into how they were proceeding with oil and gas exploration.
Transurban was chosen because I wanted to be across any discussion as it would relate to their role in continuing to expand toll roads. As you would be aware, I have been very public regarding my concerns about the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link and the impact of the project on tree and green space loss, air pollution and traffic congestion through the North Sydney CBD.
In each instance, I have been very vocal in my desire to see change and reform and remains committed to exploring shareholder activism as a way to affect change.
The small amount of dividends I have received in the last 12 months were donated back into renewable energy campaigns or emissions offsetting.
I encourage anyone with the capacity to take such a course of action to also become shareholders in the companies that they wish to see reformed as it is often only from working within that change can be driven.
Other relevant posts
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Kylea has criticised a Government plan to rush new immigration laws through parliament on Wednesday, arguing that "this is what regimes do to communities when they are seeking to have complete control ... they pass laws in the dead of night without their citizenship knowing about it."
Opinion: The way Australia treats refugees shames the entire nation
The New Daily, 1 December 2023
Australia's immigration detention regime goes much further than border protection; effectively punishing those who flee to our country in the desperate hope of refuge, Kylea says.
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Canberra Times, 28 November 2023
Kylea has backed calls for a comprehensive investigation of Australia's long-standing bipartisan immigration detention policy.
Labor faces crossbench revolt over 'rushed' IR laws
The Australian, 27 November 2023
Kylea has asked for more time to consider Labor's "Closing Loopholes" industrial reforms, noting that the community is uneasy with the pace and scale of the proposed changes. Crossbench MPs are arguing that rushing the legislation through the chamber could have unintended consequences on small business and the economy.
Push to limit immigration detention, ban detaining kids
Canberra Times, 27 November 2023
Kylea has introduced a private member's bill to reduce the time the government can hold someone in immigration detention to 90 days, as well as banning authorities from detaining children.
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Sydney Morning Herald, 16 November 2023
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