KYLEA TINK MP
COMMUNITY UPDATE: WEEK 34 |
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| Kylea addressing the media at Parliament House. |
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Australia’s soaring cost of living has been much discussed during the year’s first parliamentary sitting fortnight. In the first week, the Reserve Bank raised interest rates another 0.25 points to 3.35%, and in the second, Governor Philip Lowe told Senate Estimates borrowers should expect further rises this year.
Over half of all mortgage holders in our electorate are already under financial stress. With wages stagnant, this stress is set to grow.
At the same time, the one-in-two people who rent in our community are also under pressure. Properties are hard to come by — a constituent recently called my office in tears after being knocked back on more than 50 apartment rental applications in the electorate. With the national rental vacancy rate at a record low of 0.9%, she is certainly not alone in facing this challenge.
On the floor of parliament, I urged all levels of government, Housing Australia, registered community housing providers and the private sector to work together to solve this complex problem because a house is more than a house, it is a home.
A home is fundamental to our wellbeing, and on the occasion of End Youth Suicide Week, I called on the government to take a more nuanced approach to caring for the mental health of young Australians.
In the past year, an unprecedented two in five young Australians has experienced a mental health disorder. At the same time, the government has cut by half the number of psychology appointments young people can access under Medicare. It was the wrong decision and it should be reversed.
This week was not without joy. I felt palpable relief when the government announced it had finally acted to give permanency to refugees on Temporary Protection Visas and Save Haven Visas. My mind turned to the hundreds of people I’ve worked with over the years waking up to the wonderful news that they can finally begin the rest of their lives.
In some ways the government’s decision is pragmatic: these people are by and large already contributing to our economy which is crying out for workers of all kinds. The Labor Party had promised during its election campaign to deal with this stain on Australia’s international reputation, but it has taken a concerted effort from both the community and people within Parliament House to keep pushing the government to deliver. Australia’s cruel treatment of asylum seekers is a human rights travesty felt keenly by me and so many of you.
I have not forgotten the 11,000 people on Bridging or Imminent Departure Visas for whom the fight continues. People like Sahar, an extraordinary young woman from Iran, who spent five years of her childhood on Christmas Island before winning a scholarship to University, only to have it taken away. I am in awe of this young woman and will continue to advocate for Sahar — and others like her — to remain in Australia.
Another citizenship win for our office this week involved the curious case of Matthew Niall, whose citizenship was resumed after we petitioned the Immigration Minister on his behalf. Unbeknown to Matthew, he lost his citizenship years earlier through a quirk of law. His family is over the moon at the news, as are we.
P.S. If you haven't yet registered for our 'Women Leading Change' breakfast, and are able to come, please do! We are holding this event in lieu of International Women's Day and would love to see both men and women there. |
| — KT
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CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY WITH TEAM TINK
SUN 5 MAR
8:30AM-10:00AM
HALLSTROM PARK, WILLOUGHBY
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| Join Team Tink in making our electorate an even prettier and waste-free area. |
| Register |
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STREET MEET
SAT 11 MAR
9:30AM-11:00AM
HIGH ST, WILLOUGHBY
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Drop by to say hello and chat with Kylea.
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WOMEN LEADING CHANGE BREAKFAST PANEL
FRI 17 MAR
7.00AM-9.00AM
THE KIRRIBILLI CLUB |
Join Kylea, Kishaya Delaney, Catherine Fox AM, Julianne Schultz AM and Mariam Veiszadeh for an inspiring discussion about women-led social movements.
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| Get tickets |
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| WHAT'S ON IN NORTH SYDNEY |
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| 18-24 FEB |
| Uluru Statement yarning circles |
WHERE:
Online
WHEN:
Various times throughout the Week of Action |
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| Sat 18 Feb |
| Rotary Crows Nest Market |
WHERE:
Ermest Place Village Green
Crows Nest
WHEN:
9.00AM-4.00PM |
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| Sat 4 Mar |
| Willoughby Uniting Church Trivia Night |
WHERE:
Online - Proceeds will support the Asylum Seekers Centre
WHEN:
6.30-10.00pm |
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| Kylea's Policy Priorities |
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| Urgent climate action led by facts, not politics |
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| This is the critical decade for climate action and the decisions made in the next three years will fundamentally affect our children’s and their children’s future |
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A
forward-focused economy |
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| It’s not enough to be the lucky country – we have to be smart as well. |
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Integrity
in federal
politics |
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| Restore integrity to politics by tackling corruption, dishonesty and discrimination. |
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EQUALITY
AND
RESPECT |
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| Everyone deserves respect and a fair go, no matter their background. |
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| Healthy and productive families and communities |
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| A holistic coordinated vision for Australian families which supports communities across a lifetime and reforms and recharges our health services. |
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