Parliamentary Update and Warringah Events
26 February 2025
Working for Warringah
My team and I have returned to Warringah after a productive start to the parliamentary year, engaging with government on local matters and consulting with stakeholders on key national issues.
Wins for the Community
- Stronger Scam Protections: New legislation will better safeguard Australian consumers from scams.
- Childcare Relief: Families will benefit from the introduction of a three-day childcare guarantee.
- Boost for Women’s Health: A long-overdue $500 million Medicare investment will support women’s health, including funding for long-term contraception and menopause care.
- Support for Eating Disorders: The Butterfly Foundation, based in Warringah, has secured a $9.2 million grant to expand support for those affected by eating disorders.
- Sustainable Energy for Manly’s Swim Centre: I was pleased to support Northern Beaches Council’s successful $1.4 million grant for energy upgrades at the Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre. Replacing gas systems with efficient electric heat pumps will eliminate over 1,378 tonnes of CO2 emissions and reduce energy costs by $554,000 per year.
Concerns on Integrity in Politics
- Electoral Donations Bill: The Government struck a backroom deal with the Opposition to change donation laws. While real-time disclosures are an improvement, the changes significantly increase public funding and unfairly advantage major parties over independent candidates.
- Truth in Political Advertising: The Government failed to progress reforms, so I have launched the Ethical Political Advertising Code—a voluntary initiative ensuring campaign claims are credible and truthful.
The Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (CRISP) is now a permanent part of Australia’s humanitarian approach. This initiative has successfully resettled over 500 refugees, thanks to community groups like the Manly Gees, who have helped settle two families here in Warringah. I’ve strongly advocated for this program, recognising its power in providing structured, community-driven support for those in need.
Residents have raised concerns about public transport delays and serious incidents at Northern Beaches Hospital. I will continue advocating for improvements on these issues. I’m working with Michael Regan MP to investigate.
Read on for updates on:
Zali in Parli
Scams Protection Legislation
Everyone has the right to be safe online – but many people in our community have been gravely impacted by the ongoing scourge of scammers. Parliament have passed legislation that will better protect consumers online by holding all companies in the scams ecosystem accountable.
The Bill does not go as far as we would like on consumer protections. However, I did strengthen the legislation by passing amendments to provide better support for victims accessing dispute resolution and redress from scams by placing the onus on the platforms and organisations to provide information relating to scams to victims.
Small Business and the Instant Asset Write-off
We debated the Treasury Legislative Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill, which, among other things, would re-introduce the $20,000 Instant Asset-Write Off for small business for the 2024-25 Financial Year. I’ve urged the government to listen to small business groups and increase the instant asset write off to $50,000 and make it permanent. This is a measure the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, COSBOA and MYOB have argued for.
Childcare three-day guarantee
In good news for families, Parliament debated and passed the childcare three-day guarantee, which will reform the activity test for childcare subsidies to provide working families earning up to $530,000 with at least three days of childcare per week. Although, there is still a way to go to achieve universal childcare – addressing childcare deserts and labour shortages – this is a welcome step!
Electoral Reforms
The Electoral Reforms legislation passed the Senate this sitting week. The impact of the Bill will be an increased entrenchment of the duopoly of the major parties, at a time when the major parties are losing voters.
While the Bill has the bones for meaningful reform, including real-time donation disclosure, caps on donations and lowering the donation disclosure threshold, the Bill miserably failed at providing fair and equal access to participate in elections. It increases public funding per-vote from $3.4 to $5, imposes a spending cap on individual seats while still permitting additional party advertising under a party's banner up to a $90 million national cap to be spent across any electorates (above the $800,000 cap) and creates an additional payment of “administrative assistance funding” to each MP and Senator every quarter amounting to $30,000 per term for MPs and $15,000 per term for Senators and can be spent on things such as conferences, office accommodation, travel, functions and interest payments on loans.
Other Parliamentary Business
I met with Minister Jason Clare to discuss the inadequacy of NSW public school funding and highlighted our students and teachers concerns with the proposed changes to Freshwater High Senior Campus. We also discussed the Solar our Schools campaign from Parents for Climate Action to fund solar panels and batteries for every school and early childhood centre.
I also met with Minister Stephen Jones to discuss genetic testing discrimination amendments. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the government will introduce the Bill this term, however, Treasury is undertaking a consultation on the Bill, which can be found here.
Out and About in Warringah
Crows Nest Community Forum
Last week I hosted a community forum in Crows Nest responding to the questions and concerns of the local residents. Held at the Crows Nest Community Centre, it was a full house with standing room only! We discussed issues from truth in political advertising and renewables to rising council rates and North Sydney Pool. It was a great opportunity to meet constituents from the local area who will soon be part of Warringah. A recording of the event can be found here.
Mosman Community Forum – Monday 17th March
I will be hosting a community forum in Mosman on 17th March. Register here
Sun Run & Cole Classic
It was great to see so many people getting out and active for the Sun Run and Cole Classic earlier this month and raising money for charities including LocalKind, Black Dog Institute, Lifeline Northern Beaches, Ovarian Cancer Australia and more. It’s good to see so many locals and visitors keeping fit, having fun and supporting Warringah community events.
Door Knocking
My team has been busy out in the community door knocking and having conversations on issues from human rights, affordable housing, public transport and the environment.
If you would like to join our amazing volunteer team, please sign up here.
Election Information
As we are in an election year, here are a few important items to consider:
My voting record
You are likely to receive all sorts of fear and smear pamphlets in your letter boxes or social media feeds making all sorts of claims about my voting record. As an independent, I consider each legislation on its merits and always seek to represent the views of the Warringah community.
It’s important to have the facts – you can check my real voting record here.
Enrol to vote
If you are over 18 and an Australian citizen, it is compulsory to vote. Visit the AEC to register or update your details.
Postal Voting
If you are going to be away on election day, you can apply for a postal vote.
Upcoming Events
Clean Up Australia Day Events – Sunday 2nd March
John Fisher Park, Curl Curl 8am – 10am
Join Team Zali at the community clean-up in Curl Curl, organised by the Friends of Curl Curl Lagoon. Many hands might light work! Meet at Park Street Bridge, John Fisher Park, Curl Curl
North Harbour Reserve 4pm – 6pm
Join Team Zali for a much beloved community event: the North Harbour Reserve Clean-Up, now in its 15th year! Let’s come together to keep our beautiful park and our shoreline clean. We’ll focus on cleaning at low tide and aim to remove litter that harms our environment and wildlife.
Join Team Zali to help Clean Up Manly Lagoon organised by the Manly Lagoon Friends.
1 Cameron Ave - Manly Lagoon Park. Bring your own gloves and a bucket if you have one.
West Esplanade Manly 9am - 11am
Join us in your Zali T-shirt to help AUSMAP (Australian Microplastic Assessment Project) with a unique experience sampling our beach for microplastics. Contribute real scientific data to the largest microplastic data set in the country and possibly the world!
Manly Markets - Sunday 9th March
Meet Team Zali at the Manly Markets between 9am – 4.30pm to talk about issues that matter to you and find out how the Electorate Office can help you with issues from social services to immigration
Community Forum in Mosman - Monday 17th March
I will be holding a community forum at Mosman Art Gallery on 17th March from 6.30pm - 7.30pm. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and share your views in the lead up to the election.
International Women’s Day Breakfast - Wed 19th March, North Sydney
I am hosting an IWD Breakfast with Kylea Tink MP, Federal Member for North Sydney at Rydges, North Sydney. The panel discussion will cover gender equality in Australia: our progress to date; risks posed by cultural and political shifts both here and overseas; and what we can do within our own communities to help.
Here to Help
Please contact my office on 99776411 or email me at [email protected] if you need assistance connecting with any of the following services.
- Aged care plans
- Service Australia enquiries
- Immigration and Citizenship Matters
- Congratulatory message for special Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries
- NDIS Arrangements
If you would like to join the team for the upcoming election, sign up here.
Mosman Community Hub
Zali’s Community Hub is now open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm.
Drop in to have a chat with our friendly volunteer team, pick up information on Zali, request a meeting with Zali or find out how to volunteer with Team Zali and get kitted out in merchandise.
1/559 Military Road, Mosman
Please share this newsletter with your friends and family to keep them updated, or encourage them to sign up here on my website.
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