Senator Catryna Bilyk eBulletin #80
Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Time to end the Morrison Government
There are only 13 days to go until Scott Morrison has to call the 2022 Federal election.
While I take nothing for granted, the sentiment I hear out in the community reflects a mood for change. Many people who voted Liberal at the last election have openly admitted to me that they have changed their mind.
Australians are sick of the lack of action on the issues that matter to them—on climate change, on housing and homelessness, on skilling Australians, on boosting wage growth and tackling cost of living pressures. They are sick of Australia going backwards every time it looks like we’re going to recover from the COVID pandemic, because Mr Morrison failed to build fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities, failed to meet his vaccine rollout targets and failed to secure enough rapid antigen tests.
They are sick of Scott Morrison trying to shift blame and refusing to accept responsibility—“That’s not my job,” “That’s a matter for the states,” “I don’t hold a hose, mate.” They are sick of him confronting every national challenge like it’s a marketing exercise.
They are sick of the constant scandals of this government—sports rorts, car park rorts, inflated land sales, Christian Porter’s hidden donors, Angus Taylor’s forged documents, Barnaby Joyce’s dodgy water deals, and the list goes on and on.
They are sick of the Government using taxpayers’ money as if it’s Liberal Party money.
They are sick of the Government’s steadfast refusal to establish an anti-corruption watchdog that has the scope and power to investigate these scandals.
But this election is not all about the failures of the Morrison Government. There is an alternative.
An Albanese Labor government will be focussed on the future and will stand up for Australians. We have a real plan to boost renewable energy generation, cut emissions and drive down power prices. We have a plan to provide 465,000 free TAFE places. We have a plan to build 20,000 social housing properties. And we have a plan to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission with teeth.
With Labor Leader Anthony Albanese in Hobart.
Scott Morrison’s Budget – a desperate plea for votes
If budgets are a statement of a government’s beliefs and values it seems that all this government believes in is trying to get re-elected.
Instead of a focus on the future, what we have from the Morrison Government is billions of dollars thrown at a fuel excise cut and one-off payments while all the problems get pushed to the other side of the election. Labor agreed to these measures because Australian households desperately need relief now, but we are critical of the Government’s short-sightedness and the absence of long-term solutions in this budget.
Because inflation is high and real wages are going backwards, Australian workers are an average of $1,355 a year worse off. At the same time we have a trillion dollars of government debt and nothing to show for it.
This is not a budget to help Australia meet the challenges of the next decade or the next term of Parliament. It’s a budget to help the Liberals win the next election.
A better future – the Budget Reply
Anthony Albanese’s Budget Reply was about a better future for all Australians.
Mr Albanese spoke about Labor’s plans to:
- Give Australian workers stronger wage growth and more secure work;
- Invest in Australian skills, jobs, and manufacturing so that more things are made here;
- Cut emissions and power bills by investing more in clean, renewable energy;
- Take pressure off the cost of living by helping with housing and child care, and strengthening Medicare; and
- Fix the crisis in aged care.
Included in Mr Albanese’s speech was an announcement that a Labor government would invest $2.5 billion to return dignity to aged care and better support workers. This includes putting a registered nurse in every residential aged care facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This package delivers on recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission that the Morrison Government has failed to act on.
Standing up for Ukraine
Anyone wondering about the origin of my surname may be interested to learn that it is Ukrainian. My father‑in‑law emigrated from Ukraine and my husband, Robert, is an active member of the Ukrainian community. I have also served as co-chair of the Australia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group since my election to the Senate. Because of my family’s ties to the country, Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is a very personal issue for us.
Since the invasion of Ukraine I have been very active in standing up for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian community in Tasmania. I have:
- delivered a video message on Facebook in support of Ukraine when the invasion started;
- spoken at rallies in Hobart and Launceston (a live video of my Hobart speech is available here);
- helped constituents with queries about visas and support for people fleeing Ukraine;
- wrote an opinion piece which was published in The Mercury;
- tabled motions on the invasion of Ukraine and the legal proceedings against Russia over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17; and
- delivered a Senators’ Statements speech as well as a speech on a government motion in the Senate condemning the invasion.
Labor has backed every decision the Australian Government has made to support Ukraine, including the provision of visas and the supply of lethal and non-lethal aid. We have supported efforts to pressure Russia to end the invasion, including diplomatic pressure and targeted economic sanctions.
I welcome Australia’s support for global efforts to seek justice and accountability for the war crimes committed by Russia during the invasion, including the targeting of civilians, as well as the ongoing effort to see justice served over the murder of the 298 passengers and crew of MH-17.
After decades of interference in Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the world is sending a strong message to Russia to take its hands off Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini!
Attending a rally for peace in Hobart with my husband, Robert.
Speaking at the Hobart rally.
Gift card drive for Ukrainians
My office in Kingston Plaza is collecting donations of gift cards or gift vouchers for the Assoication of Ukrainians in Tasmania to include in welcome packs for displaced Ukrainians arriving in Tasmania.
To contribute to this effort, simply drop your gift cards/vouchers off at my office in Kingston Plaza.
I am unable to accept donations of cash, so if you wish to donate cash instead I encourage you to give to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal (see details in the In Brief section below).
The sign in my office window encouraging donations of gift cards/vouchers.
Hobart City Deal stuck in the slow lane
Just last month, the three-year anniversary of the signing of the Hobart City Deal passed. Rather than celebrating this milestone, the Morrison and Gutwein Governments were surprisingly quiet about it. That’s because they’ve comprehensively failed to deliver on almost every commitment under the deal.
My questioning of officials in Senate Estimates revealed that many transport infrastructure projects were progressing at the pace of a glacier. For example:
- Detailed design work hasn't been done on the Bridgewater Bridge,
- There has been no decision on a location for the Hobart Bus Transit Centre,
- After spending close to $2 million on a report, there is still no decision as to what the $25 million funding for the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor will be spent on, and
- The fifth lane on the Southern Outlet is in the 'consultation' stage.
In the meantime, frustrated Hobart motorists continue to spend hundreds of wasted hours in ever‑worsening traffic. Click the image below for some excerpts of my questioning in Senate Estimates.
Questioning departmental officials about the lack of progress on the Hobart City Deal.
Enrolled to vote in Huon? Don’t forget to vote (twice)
Tasmanian Legislative Council elections are scheduled for Saturday, 7 May in the divisions of Huon, Elwick and McIntyre. Just like the Federal election, voting in the Legislative Council election is compulsory, so if you’re enrolled to vote in any of these three divisions you will have to vote twice! (If you’re unsure, check your enrolment online here).
In Huon I’m strongly backing Labor’s candidate, Toby Thorpe. The Huon division encompasses the Huon Valley and southern parts of Kingborough. Toby lives in Huonville and grew up in the Huon Valley, and is well aware of the issues confronting the voters he seeks to represent.
I first met Toby at Huonville High School where his activism started. He has continued to amaze me with his intelligence, energy and leadership skills through which he has become an advocate for climate change action on the national and international stage and Tasmania’s Young Australian of the Year for 2021. He will make a fantastic Member for Huon.
Speaking to Toby Thorpe outside my office in Kingston.
Maeve’s Law passes the Senate
I am proud to have been in the Senate for the historic opportunity to vote to pass of the Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform Bill, also known as Maeve’s Law. I have learnt a lot about mitochondrial (mito) disease through my discussions with the Mito Foundation, Tasmanian mito disease patient Shelley Beverley, and Labor colleagues including former Shadow Minister for Health Chris Bowen MP and Dr Mike Freelander MP.
Mito disease is a potentially life-threatening and incurable genetic condition. The bill, which passed both houses of Parliament in a conscience vote, allows for a two stage process to regulating an assisted reproductive technology technique known as mitochondrial donation. The first stage will be a clinical trial. The second will be allowing the technique in clinical practice, informed by the results of the trial.
Having passed Parliament, the provisions of this bill will provide an opportunity to end mito disease in Australia for good. I gave my second reading speech on the bill in February. You watch excerpts of the speech here or read the entire speech here.
$80 million for truck rest stops
While much of Australia was locked down during the pandemic, our truckies kept Australia moving. They deserve our thanks and respect, but under the Morrison Government they have had to put up with a lack of suitable rest areas.
I have spoken in the Senate on a number of occasions (including August 2014 & October 2018) about the need for improvements to heavy vehicle rest areas as well asking questions in Senate Estimates and writing to the Tasmanian Government about the lack of progress on developing rest areas along major Tasmanian road freight routes. This has also been a major campaign for the Transport Workers Union and my colleague Senator Glenn Sterle, who is a former truck driver.
Despending on what facilities are available, truck rest stops give drivers a chance to rest, check their load, shower or go to the toilet. They are an vital workplace health and safety initiative. As such I am pleased that an Albanese Labor government will commit $80 million to build new truck rest stops throughout Australia.
Out and about
With Labor candidate for Huon Toby Thorpe at the Rotary Club of Kingston’s mega market in Margate.
|
Talking to locals in Kingston alongside Federal Labor Member for Franklin Julie Collins MP.
|
Dropping in to see Iestyn and Nikki at Priceline in Kingston for Thank Your Pharmacist Day.
|
Catching up with Mem Suleyman from the Transport Workers Union in Parliament to discuss the many issues confronting transport workers across Australia.
|
Joining some great Labor representatives in Huonville: Senate candidates Daniel Hulme and Kate Rainbird, candidate for Huon Toby Thorpe and Member for Franklin Dean Winter MP.
|
With Julie Collins, showing our support for Neighbour Day.
|
Joining Senator Tony Sheldon, ACTU President Michele O’Neil and flight attendants to protest Qantas’s stripping of workers’ wages and entitlements. |
Joining students of St Aloysius Catholic College and Principal Eamonn Pollard where I presented Australian and Aboriginal flags to the school. |
In brief
 |
Check your enrolment
With a Federal election soon to be called, it is important that all Australians eligible to vote are correctly enrolled. It is a good idea to check your enrolment now, especially if you have turned 18, are about to turn 18 or have moved house recently.
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. Rolls have already closed for the 2022 Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.
|
 |
Donate to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal
Ukraine is in urgent need of humanitarian aid for injured and displaced people. The Ukraine Crisis Appeal is the largest fundraising effort for Ukraine and is a collaboration between the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Caritas Ukraine.
You can make a tax deductible donation to the appeal online here.
|
 |
Labor’s 2022 Women’s Budget Statement
After nine long years, the Morrison Government has no vision for the future, no plans to address long-term problems and no purpose beyond buying people’s votes.
There is no reason why—more than a fifth of the way into the 21st Century—an economic gender gap should continue to exist. Sadly, since Tony Abbott appointed himself Minister for Women in 2013, Australia has fallen in the World Economic Forum’s gender rankings from 24th place to 50th.
Labor’s Women’s Budget Statement details the Morrison Government’s failures with respect to women as well as their lack of any plans to advance gender equality. You can download and read Labor’s Women’s Budget Statement here.
|
|
|
|
|
