Kylea shares her week
Week 1 - The community is standing up
It’s a little surreal to think, this time last week, I was on a zoom meeting with the incredible crew that are at the heart of North Sydney’s Independent still trying to work out how we would begin to reach deeper into our community.
While I had already spoken to Jacqueline Maley at the Sydney Morning Herald like any media story, we didn’t really know how it would go. Jacqueline had been tough. She asked the questions that cut through to why I am running and who I am. Who was “behind me” she asked? To which I explained a community and my conscience. “Why now?” she asked. To which I answered because I honestly believe this community wants us to do better, that our voices deserve to be heard fully in Canberra and I don’t believe they currently are.
The electorate of North Sydney is the second largest in the country. We are a vibrant and diverse community which draws on people from all backgrounds and across all ages. We are thinkers, doers, feelers, leaders and achievers and yet our voice in Canberra is currently lost to a party system that means when North Sydney votes, our vote matches that of Barnaby Joyce.
In the seven days I’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received. People have messaged me, stopped me in the street, shared stories with others – all of which have essentially been communicated as “thank goodness – we finally have an option.”
Some people say we’ve touched a nerve. I think it’s simpler than that. We’ve really just let people know someone’s truly listening – to them. That as an Independent I recognise it’s their voice, their thoughts, their feelings, their ambitions, their concerns, that it would be my job to represent. Without compromise.
It’s a huge responsibility and not one I have stepped into lightly. But now I’m here I just want to say thank you to everyone that has already reached out to declare they’re in. Because at the end of the day, it’s not really my running that matters. It is the fact that our community is standing up and saying we can “do better”. KTx
Recent blog posts
week 23: Cutting vehicle emissions with our new Private Members Bill
December 02, 2022
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
November 25, 2022
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
November 18, 2022
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
November 11, 2022
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Week 19: Getting IR Reforms Right
November 04, 2022
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
October 28, 2022
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.