Kylea shares her week
Week 1: New office location and important advocacy
After a bit of a wait (while the team at the AEC followed the counting procedure through to the very end), it was exciting to attend the declaration of the poll for North Sydney on Friday last week: officially appointing me the new Federal Member for our North Sydney electorate.
I confess there have been a number of surreal moments during this whole experience: from the initial approach from the community to run, through to launching the campaign and definitely election night but this moment - as the results were read for all to hear - took my breath away.
After so much hard work, and the thousands of hours so many people had put in to achieve this result, we are there... and now the next phase of the work we want to do begins.
Once the formalities were complete, we headed over to our new office at Level 10, 2 Elizabeth Plaza, North Sydney, and have subsequently spent most of this past week getting the office up and running.
We have also continued to gather the information we will need to help drive the changes we want to see. With this in mind, I met with the Gas Free Hunter Alliance to discuss their concerns over the proposed gas-fired power plant project at Kurri Kurri, NSW. For more information, see my Insta where we did a deep dive on the challenges associated with this project and the other options that, with a new government, we now have the freedom explore.
At the same time my inbox was flooded with human rights issues: from people appealing on behalf of those being indefinitely detained in immigration detention centres, through to heart wrenching messages from families being imminently deported, and those wishing to see great advocacy and support for Julian Assange (to have him brought home to Australia).
As we knew from the get go, there is so much work to do in this space, and I am excited to add our electoral voice to strong advocacy for better practices in this area. I have already reached out to a number of fellow Members, including our Prime Minister, to draw their attention to our community's ambitions in this area and call for better and, in some instances, immediate intervention.
Next week, I'll be heading to Canberra for what is effectively a week-long process of inductions and introductions. I cannot wait to share what I learn with you all.
It's early days for all of us, but what I can say with full confidence is North Sydney is being seen in a different light already and I am excited to champion the changes you have all made it clear you want to see.
To those families taking time out for school holidays from tomorrow, take care and travel safely.
Here's to being the change we wish to see!
Kylea with Andrew Kaldor, Trine Barter, Katherine Woodthorpe and Suzy Bessell at the AEC Declaration for North Sydney
Other relevant posts
week 23: Cutting vehicle emissions with our new Private Members Bill
Earlier this year, in the months before the election, I promised to develop and introduce a Private Member's Bill that would deliver better, cleaner fuel to Australians and reduce pollution from our cars. That Bill was tabled in Parliament this week.
North Sydney's Reducing Vehicle Pollution Bill will bring Australian fuel quality in line with European standards, reducing the levels of sulphur and aromatics that they can contain.
Week 22: The National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill Passes the House
With just one sitting week remaining for Parliament in 2022, the past week in Canberra has definitely been full of robust debate, constructive discussion and ultimately some landmark legislative developments.
Week 21: What we're doing to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Bill
Our democracy will only ever be as strong as our willingness as citizens to actively contribute to any debate, and just on six months into this role, the capacity for me to truly listen to the many voices of North Sydney as they discuss proposed or needed legislative reform at the national level is without a doubt the most rewarding thing I get to do on a daily basis.
week 20: Speaking out for our community on climate change
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Week 19: Getting IR Reforms Right
This week, I've been looking at the Government's 'Secure Jobs, Better Pay' Bill, a package of Industrial Relations (IR) changes that was introduced in Parliament in Budget week.
Week 18: What the Budget Means for North Sydney
This week, my team and I have been hard at work determining what the newly released Federal Budget means for North Sydney's priorities, and what needs to be done to ensure government initiatives actually deliver the changes that our community wants to see.
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.