So many in our community are making tough choices about what they can buy and what they must go without. I want to hear your experiences.
I’ve absolutely loved being out on the streets again this week.
Unsurprisingly, many people I’ve chatted to recently have talked about rising costs putting pressure on family budgets. So many have had to make hard choices this year about what they can go with, and what they have to go without.
As well as day-to-day choices about what to purchase at the supermarket, or whether to turn the heating on, there’s widespread concern about housing.
We’re in a housing crisis — a crisis that has left some in our community homeless. Others have moved out of the area because renting or buying is so expensive. For so many more, we cannot see how our children will ever be able to afford to live where they grew up.
I grew up here, and I’m grateful every day that I got to work as a doctor here, start a family here, and now represent my community in Parliament.
Owning your own home is the Australian dream. We have to keep that dream alive, and also support renters to be able to find and afford well-maintained homes.
Every community is different. I want to listen to Kooyong, so I can fight for what our community wants and needs.
The Zoom will be a collaborative workshop — my team and I want to hear directly from the community about how rising prices are affecting you and how you want the government to respond.
Read on for an update on our Voice doorknocking, how I took Labor to task over climate change in Canberra last week, and information about how to request a meeting with me.
10,000 Doors Knocked!
This weekend, we’re going to knock on our 10,000th door for the Voice referendum.
No other community in the country has knocked on more doors for the referendum. We’re leading the country in our commitment to this really important cause.
Our Youth4Voice forum earlier in the week was a great example — 30 keen young people in our community showed up to hear how they could get involved. It’s the type of community work I wanted to continue after the election, and I’m glad we’re able to play an important part in this referendum.
Thank you to each and every one of the almost 400 volunteers who have helped us take this leading role in the ‘Yes’ campaign.
There’s likely just under two months until the referendum now.
Having weathered an organised misinformation storm from the Liberal Party and the No campaign, the referendum is still close enough to be won by either side.
This community knows better than any other what can happen when a grassroots movement of believers stands up and demand change.
The country is counting on us — let’s do our part.
Labor Isn’t Doing Enough On Climate Change
We were promised so much by Labor on climate change at the last election, but we’ve been disappointed by the half-measures the government has taken to date.
On 8 August, 85 doctors from around the country — many from the Northern Territory — turned up to Parliament House, becoming the largest ever delegation of doctors to do so.
They were led by Dr Louise Woodward, a Darwin paediatrician who got in touch with me after her efforts to meet with the Territory Government — to urge caution the fracking of the Beetaloo Basin and the associated development of Middle Arm, a petrochemical project in Darwin harbour — fell on deaf ears.
Middle Arm is a petrochemical plant that, if built, will enable the fracking of the Beetaloo Basin — unleashing a 1.4 billion tonne carbon bomb into the atmosphere.
The Federal Government has earmarked $1.5 billion for the project. Dr Woodward and the Territory doctors were unhappy with the potential health impacts of the project. So, with the Territory Government not listening to her, my team and I helped to bring the fight to Canberra.
We helped Louise organise the single biggest intervention by doctors in climate change to date, helping to sound the alarm over Middle Arm.
Our hospitals and clinics do not have the resources to manage the needs of our communities as it is — what is going to happen as the climate crisis progress?
The 85 doctors met with 45 Members of Parliament, sending them a clear message: the Federal Government must protect the health of our children and grandchildren, and to do so they must stop Middle Arm.
I’ve been a doctor my whole working life and I’ve never seen my colleagues take a stand like this. It’s a significant moment.
Labor would be wise to listen to the experts — scientists and doctors alike.
Communities like ours are watching closely.
Come Have A Cuppa With Me
I thought I’d also just quickly remind you that I’m (almost) always available for a cuppa and a chat at our Hawthorn East office.
If you want to arrange a meeting, email my team ([email protected]) and we’ll find a time.
It’s a great way to get feedback, hear policy ideas, or hear about any issues you have that my team and I may be able to help with.
What’s On With Mon
Our NDIS Forum with NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, which is coming up on 22 August, is now sold out — you can still tune in to the event’s livestream. Click here to find out more.
After our sold-out event last month, I've invited a senior ACCC representative to Kooyong again so that you can learn valuable information on how to both protect yourself from scams, and what to do if you’ve been a victim of a scam. This event will fill up quickly — book your (free) tickets now!
欢迎您参加Kooyong 选区独立联邦议员 Monique Ryan 医生和澳大利亚竞争与消费者委员会 (ACCC) 的高级反诈骗专家一起举办的座谈会，一同学习如何保护自己免受骗局的侵害，以及不幸陷入麻烦时的对策。
I want to hear how rising prices are affecting you, and also want to hear what you think government should do about it. Be sure to RSVP to this Zoom event on August 28 at 7:30pm.
Stay warm through the cold weather, and as always, my team and I are always here to help where we can.
All the best,
