Community Newsletter

2 September 2024

Building Climate and Community Resilience

The first sitting fortnight in the spring parliamentary program was action packed with some key pieces of legislation including the Future Made in Australia Bill, Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Bill and the Education for Overseas Students Amendment Bill all being debated.

Climate induced extreme weather events are costing us - driving up insurance costs (the latest figures from the Actuaries Institute show 37% increase in mean price since 2022) and fuelling inflation. In Warringah and around Australia there are homes that are at risk of being underinsured or becoming uninsurable – which will have significant financial impacts not just for the households and mortgages, but also for the economy.

This is why I moved a motion that put forward solutions to help Australians cope with the rising cost of living and insurance by better funding climate adaption. I also hosted a round table with key industry experts, insurance and local government representatives and think tanks to look at how we can better address this risk. We know that for every $1 invested in adaptation and resilience building, we get a return of $11, so the time for action is now.

And, as a member of the standing committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, I was also pleased to see the tabling of the Drowning in Waste Report, which highlights opportunities to improve the way we deal with plastics.

Read on for more detail on these and my other parliamentary updates below.

Thank you to all those who made submissions during the AEC’s Electoral Boundary Redistribution Hearing on 14th August. It was wonderful to see so many passionate community members have their say. The AEC will announce the final makeup of the redistribution by mid-October.

And finally, I would like to wish good luck to all the athletes competing in the Paralympic Games in Paris. Congratulations to Warringah local, Mia Lovell, representing Australia in athletics, who collected a Bronze medal over the weekend in the 200m T36 in her Paralympic debut.

We had a fantastic turnout for our climate risk and insurance roundtable with government (including Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones), crossbenchers and industry stakeholders. The roundtable brought together former Deputy Governor of the RBA Guy Debelle and leaders from the insurance sector, finance sector, policy think tanks and organisations. We discussed my private member’s bill to legislate a climate risk framework and the need to increase funding for adaptation to make our homes and communities more resilient and put downward pressure on home insurance. I also moved a motion on the issue in the House the day before the roundtable. At both the roundtable and in my motion, I made clear that I’ve heard from so many in Warringah about the price of insurance skyrocketing in recent years for both homes and business. I’m determined to find a way for us to tackle this huge cost-of-living issue.

We debated the Future Made in Australia Bill which will help supercharge clean energy investment in solar, green hydrogen and critical minerals and fortify our supply chains in the years and decades ahead, and ensure we meet our goal of a net zero economy. I have offered several amendments, in particular to make sure the bill is linked to our net zero commitments and ensure First Nations people benefit from and are properly consulted on the projects that will stem from this new law. I am currently in negotiation with the Treasurer's office about these amendments.

During Parliament, the opposition moved to suspend standing orders to debate the government's approach to issuing visas to people fleeing the war zone of Gaza. During that debate, I stood to address that motion – wanting to bring a human story to that debate about a family I had met who have sought refuge in Australia. There has been much discussion about my response (for and against) from the media, and through calls and emails to my office since.  I spoke to The Guardian about this last week if you would like to hear more about my position on this issue.

I also asked Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke about the Multicultural Framework Review in Question Time, including its importance to social cohesion in Australia. The Minister noted that the framework is an important piece of work to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome in Australia.

Last week, I also welcomed the government’s response to the Climate Change Authority’s Review of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) where it has accepted 24 of the 25 recommendations and is progressing policies to address Australia’s underreporting of methane, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. I have been a strong advocate for Australia to address its underreporting of methane and have met with the Minister a number of times advocating for some of the measures that were announced this week. This is a welcome step forward, but it's crucial that we act with urgency to execute that plan. We also must keep a strong focus on decarbonisation which is why I am pushing for a floor of 75% emissions reduction target by 2035 as we set our next National Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement.

I had the chance to raise the continued cost of living challenges that many in Warringah are feeling, including many who own small businesses and are getting little relief from the government. I again urged the government to speed up the roll out of the Household Energy Upgrade Fund to help households electrify and reduce their power bills.

A law to put the CFMEU into administration was passed during the sitting fortnight and I was successful in having an amendment adopted which means the Minister must follow the administrator's advice about whether to place the union into, or out of, administration. My amendment will strengthen the integrity of this legislation.

I was able to speak on the report that my House committee produced a few months ago called Drowning in Waste. It shows that Australia uses far too much plastic and that we need an updated national plan to deal with plastic waste.

I reiterated my call for greater investment in NSW schools, particularly local schools like Balgowlah Boys that have buildings on-site that are not fit for purpose and well past their use-by date. The state government is also currently undertaking community consultation on merging a number of schools on the Northern Beaches and I encourage those eligible to have their say on this.

The government’s bill to limit international student numbers moved through the House and the Minister for Education was open to further investigating some of the amendments I offered. I have worked with local universities to ensure that the government doesn’t harm this huge contributor to our wider economy.

To view my parliamentary speeches visit my Parliament Updates.
I seek to represent the views of Warringah and welcome feedback. My approach to legislation is on my website as is my Voting Record.

Manly Markets and One Meal Northern Beaches

I was joined at the Manly Markets by the incredible team from One Meal Northern Beaches who are doing an amazing job providing healthy and nutritious meals to vulnerable members of our community. They’re providing around 18,000 meal equivalents per week to people in need across the Northern Beaches and have a dedicated team of about 1,000 volunteers who are making a huge difference.

One Meal is currently collecting donations for its Christmas Hamper appeal and if you’d like to contribute, I have a collection box at my office for non-perishable items.

You can sign up to volunteer here.

Vietnam Veterans Day

It was an honour to join the Northern Beaches Council, and The NSW National Servicemen's Association & Affiliates Inc., Sydney Northern Beaches Sub-Branch commemorations for Vietnam Veterans Day 2024. Held on 18th August each year, Vietnam Veterans Day is held on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. We remember the almost 60,000 brave Australian service men and women who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War.

Dalwood Spilstead Service

The Dalwood Spilstead Service (DSS) in Seaforth has been helping vulnerable families for generations. It provides an integrated parent and child-focused therapeutic and case management service model which is highly effective in improving outcomes for families who have experienced significant trauma.

With recent funding cuts, DSS was at risk of being unable to provide many of these valuable health and welfare support services. However, after much hard work by community members, including a petition with over 10,000 signatures, it was announced last week by the NSW Government that Dalwood has now secured the additional funds it needs from the Northern Sydney Local Health District. Congratulations to everyone who advocated for the continuation of Dalwood’s important services.

NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia

I recently hosted an event in Parliament House with NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia (NECA) to hear from those affected by Von Hippel-Lindau Disease (VHL), a rare genetic disorder that causes recurring tumours. NECA has been advocating for Australians living with VHL to access Belzutifan, a drug that stops tumour growth but has been largely inaccessible due to its high cost.

I’m thrilled to share that the PBAC has recommended listing Belzutifan on the PBS, reducing the cost from $12,000 to $31 per month. This will be life-changing for many in the VHL community. Congratulations to all who advocated for this, especially Warringah’s Crowley family for their unwavering efforts.

2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards

The 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards were recently held at Dee Why RSL to acknowledge those who donate their time, energy and expertise to their communities. I am delighted to share the Northern Beaches Award winners:

• Adult Volunteer of the Year and Northern Beaches Volunteer of the Year: David Lye, One Meal Northern Beaches, for his work to forge a community compost network.
• Senior Volunteer of the Year: Glenn Fisher, Radio Northern Beaches 
• Volunteer Team of the Year: One Meal Northern Beaches Community Cooks. The team of 190 volunteer cooks provide up to 900 nutritious meals each week for One Meal Northern Beaches. The team cooks, cleans, creates menus, trains volunteers and ensures strict health standards. Their work helps to feed the growing number of people sleeping rough or in need throughout the region.

Local Sporting and Local Para Champions Program Applications Open

Applications for Round 2, 2024-25 of the Local Sporting Champions and Local Para Champions Program are now open until 31 October 2024. This program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors participating in state, national or international championships. Successful applicants receive up to $950 towards the cost of attending their event.

NDIS Community Webinar – Tuesday 17th September

Due to the great feedback following our NDIS Community forum last year, we will be hosting another session with Minister Shorten. The online webinar will cover the changes people can expect from the new NDIS legislation and how parents can best navigate the NDIS Early Childhood Pathway. There will be a chance to submit questions ahead of the Webinar.

Register here.

SAVE THE DATE: Warringah Housing Forum – Wednesday 2nd October

I am hosting a Housing Forum at Balgowlah RSL on 2nd October from 6pm - 8pm to address the housing issues and possible solutions in Warringah. If you would like to be sent an invitation to register for this event, please email my office at: [email protected]

Council Elections - Saturday 14th September

Council elections are coming up on Saturday, 14 September. The local Councils are at the forefront of key issues such as climate change, sustainability, inclusion, domestic violence and support for those in need. A progressive Council allows me as the Federal Member to closely collaborate on those issues and achieve the best outcomes for our area. Strong Independent teams are running in all three Councils and I encourage you to find out more by visiting their websites.

Mosman Council – Serving Mosman

Northern Beaches Council
There are two Independent groups:
– Good for Manly
– Your Northern Beaches Independent Team (YNBI)

North Sydney Council – The Real Independents

If you or someone you know is 18 or over and not enrolled to vote, you can easily complete the process online at the AEC.

My friendly electorate office team and I are here to help you, so please contact my office on 99776411 or email me at [email protected] should you need assistance.

Please share this newsletter with your friends and family to keep them updated, or encourage them to sign up here on my website.