Senator Catryna Bilyk eBulletin #79
Thursday, 24 February 2022
My last eBulletin was sent prior to Christmas, so I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and restful break, even though to some of us it may seem like a lifetime ago!
I can appreciate many people are feeling anxious about the latest outbreak of COVID-19, especially with the difficulties securing rapid antigen tests. Unfortunately, Scott Morrison failed to heed warnings about the need to secure a supply of RATs before restrictions were relaxed. This just adds to a long list of failures in the Government’s handling of the pandemic, including the delays in securing vaccine supply and the failure to establish fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities.
I’ve had the opportunity to return to Parliament for the latest sitting week which was followed by a week of Estimates.
The Government attempted to wedge Labor on religious discrimination but ended up wedging themselves. With the support of the crossbench and five Government backbenchers, Labor secured an amendment in the House of Representatives to protect LGBTI children from discrimination.
This was a humiliating defeat for Scott Morrison who, in an act of petulance, shelved the bill instead of bringing it to the Senate. Labor was always prepared to work with the government on extending Australia’s anti-discrimination framework to cover religious discrimination, provided that doing so did not weaken existing anti-discrimination laws. Sadly, it seems Scott Morrison and the Liberals were more interested in playing political games than delivering genuine anti‑discrimination protections.
The religious discrminition bill was not the only commitment Scott Morrison failed to deliver on in the last sitting week. The Government has still failed to introduce legislation for a National Anti-Corruption Commission despite promising it more than 1,000 days ago and claiming it would be a priority.
Given the long list of scandals the Morrison Government has been embroiled in—including sports rorts, car park rorts, the inflated airport land sale, Angus Taylor’s forged documents, and many, many more—it is no wonder the promised anti-corruption watchdog has been pushed off into the never never. It is abundantly clear that the only way to establish an indpendent National Anti-Corruption Commission with teeth is to elect an Albanese Labor government.
Aged care failures
The Morrison Government was overseeing a crisis in aged care before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but now the pandemic has made the crisis so much worse. Over 700 aged care residents have died of the virus so far this year—more than the entire previous two years of the pandemic. They often die alone without the comfort of their families, while many other residents are not receiving adequate food, water or care because of workforce shortages.
Minister for Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, has refused to acknowledge there is a crisis while 22 reports into the sector to gather dust on his desk. Australians find it particularly galling that the minister refused to front up to a Senate inquiry for a little under three hours to answer questions about his mishandling of the crisis, but instead chose to receive three days of sponsored hospitality at the cricket in Hobart.
I addressed this issue in this 2-minute statement as well as taking note of answers and asked the Minister in question time when he would admit there is a crisis in aged care and resign.
 
Short videos of my contribution on aged care in question time and 2-minute statements/taking note.
Labor’s Toby Thorpe provides fresh outlook for Huon
I wish all the very best to 2021 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year, Toby Thorpe, who is standing as Labor’s candidate for the Legislative Council seat of Huon in a by-election scheduled for May.
I have known Toby since he was a climate change campaigner in high school. Through his work with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and other organisations, Toby has demonstrated that he is hard working, intelligent and an inspirational leader. I have no doubt he would make a great Labor Member for Huon.
Please note—while the division of ‘Huon’ covers the Huon Valley it also includes southern parts of Kingborough. If you live in the Kinborough municipality but are unsure if you’re enrolled to vote in Huon, you can check your enrolment here.
Announcement of Toby Thorpe’s candidacy in The Mercury.
Hobart City Deal delivery at a snail’s pace
Today is the third anniversary of the signing of the Hobart City Deal yet there is very little progress on the Deal’s key infrastructure projects.
I questioned officials from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications in Senate Estimates last week who reported that:
- Detailed design work has not yet commenced on the Bridgewater Bridge;
- A site has yet to be selected for the Hobart Bus Transit Centre;
- Almost $2 million of the $25 million Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor funding has been spent on a report; and
- The Southern Outlet fifth lane is in the ‘consultation’ phase.
This is a prime example of how the Morrison Government’s delivery has failed to live up to the hype of their announcements. In the meantime, frustrated Hobart motorists continue to get stuck in ever-worsening traffic. Click the image below to see some excerpts of my questioning in Senate Estimates.
Cure Brain Cancer inspirations
Thank you to Cure Brain Cancer Foundation for producing a short video documenting my experience with brian tumours, and my advocacy for brain cancer patients. The video also highlights my work raising funds through Walk4BrainCancer and pushing for the establishment of, and chairing, a Senate select committee on cancers with low survival rates.
The video forms part of the Foundation’s ‘Stories of Inspiration’ series and can be viewed by clicking the image below. As a Cure Brain Cancer Ambassador I’ve been proud to lend my support to the Foundation’s cause over more than a decade.
Hope remains to end mitochondrial disease
Much of the last Senate sitting week was spent debating the Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform Bill, also known as “Maeve’s Law”. The bill would allow for a clinical trial of an assisted reproductive technology procedure known as “mitochondrial donation”, followed by a regulatory framework to allow the technique in clinical practice. As explained on the Mito Foundation’s website, legalising this procedure has the potential to eradicate a debilitating condition known as mitochondrial (or “mito”) disease.
As with all issues that deal with the regulation of assisted reproductive technology, Labor senators were allowed a conscience vote on the bill. I have no hesitation in supporting the bill after having the procedure explained to me by representatives of the Mito Foundation, meeting with mito disease patient Shelley Beverley, and having discussions with colleagues including Dr Mike Freelander and former shadow health minister Chris Bowen.
In my second reading speech on the bill, I explained that adoption and fostering may not be options for women with mito disease to become mothers because they are usually excluded by strict health criteria. I also confronted false claims by opponents of the bill that mitochondrial donation will create “three-parent babies”. I noted that a wide range of other ethical and medical issues were explored through two inquiries which I did not have time to address in my speech.
While the bill has not yet passed the Senate, I hope for the sake of mito disease patients and their families that we can return to it as soon as possible.
Meeting mitochondrial disease patient, Shelley Beverley, in November 2020.
Skills and education key to COVID-19 recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a skills shortage which has been exacerbated by the Morrison Government’s all out assault on public education and training. They have cut billions from TAFE and universities, and Australia has 85,000 fewer apprenticeships and traineeships than when the Liberals came to government in 2013.
In an opinion piece for The Mercury, I explained how the Morrison Government had neglected skills and training, and how an Albanese Labor government would would boost skills by providing 465,000 free TAFE places.
Out and about
Visiting the Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin with Julie Collins MP.
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Attending the Annual General Meeting of the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania with incoming president Helen Mulcahy and outgoing president Dario Tomat.
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Attending the Rokeby Neighbourhood Centre’s Christmas luncheon with Dean Winter MP, Julie Collins MP and Centre Co-ordinator, Cate Clark.
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Doing one of my many volunteer shifts at the Kingborough Helping Hands Sharing Tree in the lead-up to Christmas.
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Visiting Kingston Florist and saying hello to its proprietor, Sally Rogers, to promote the Go Local First campaign.
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Signing the AMWU’s pledge to support Aussie Made manufacturing.
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In brief
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Check your enrolment
With a Federal election due to be held this year, it is important that all Australians eligible to vote are correctly enrolled. If you have moved house recently then it is a good idea to check your enrolment.
Visit the AEC’s website here to make sure enrolment is up to date, and use this online form if you need to enrol to vote or update your enrolment.
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eSmart Digital License
The eSmart Digital License+ is an initiative of the Alannah and Madeleine Foundation which helps build digital intelligence in students aged 10-14.
Anthony Albanese recently announced that a Labor government will invest $6 million over three years to develop and deliver the license in schools, and also to rollout the eSmart Junior Digital License+ to 5-9 year olds and the Media Literacy Lab to secondary students.
With Australian kids spending more time on screens and more time online than ever before, these are important tools to help them stay smart and safe online.
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Rapid Antigen Tests should be free
Labor is calling on Scott Morrison to make Rapid Antigen Tests free for all Australians through Medicare. PCR tests are provided free through Medicare so RATs should be too. No Australian should be denied a test because they can’t afford one.
To add your voice to this campaign, sign Labor’s petition online here.
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Find an aged care provider
With an ageing population and increasing numbers of older Australians relying on residential or home-based care it can be tricky to find and compare services. MyAgedCare’s services finder provides an easy way to find and compare services in your location. If you not comfortable finding services online you can also seek assistance by calling 1800 200 422.
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