With the 2025 election date announcement just around the corner, the two major parties are running around making huge promises to Australians - while I’ve been out in our community with my team, listening to what people feel and what they need from our government.  

This week, I’ve attended the Andale School in Kew, and seen what children can achieve when they have the best possible educational supports. I’ve hosted a roundtable for young people to speak with the federal Housing Minister about how hard it is to rent or buy a home in Australia. I’ve met with local business and with thought leaders about what they need from the federal government- and I’ve held pop-up offices in Malvern, Armadale, Toorak, Hawthorn, Balwyn, Camberwell, and Kew, to hear from you as well. Plus, I’ve released Additional Comments to the parliamentary committee’s report on nuclear energy.  

Next week I’ll be talking housing, climate and health again with the experts - it would be great to see you at one of the events listed below.

Meanwhile, the political parties are in full phoney campaign mode. This week, the Government pledged $8 billion to Medicare and bulk billing- the Opposition immediately matched it. Our health system does need reform; this funding will help, but it’s plastering over some pretty significant cracks in the system. The Coalition has also come up with a plan to scrap 32,000 public servants as a cost-saving measure - but won’t say which departments will be targeted, or how loss of those public service jobs might impact government services. People affected by Robodebt - or those waiting for Veteran’s Affairs payments, or for passports, or for aged care packages - might have something to say about that plan.  

Meanwhile, the Government is committing to more gas expansion in WA - as is the Coalition – while neglecting to save endangered species. The Government has still not come up with a plan to help households and small businesses electrify, to bring power bills down - while the Opposition wants us to put $600 billion into a nuclear industry which would provide only 15% of our energy needs (plus the Opposition is talking about dropping its 2035 climate target, and sacking public servants who provide frank and fearless commentary) … None of the parties supported the crossbench’s recent moves to help small businesses by increasing their employee numbers or the instant asset write-off – or our call to index income tax brackets - but the Opposition is happy to spend up to $10 billion on tax cuts for business lunches.  

It’s increasing hard to distinguish between the major political parties in Australia. Both are delaying progress on environmental protections and the clean energy transition, while working together to tilt electoral laws in their favour and undermine the community independent movement. They’re pumping the media full of negative stories about minority government, because they’re desperate to retain the status quo.   

The crossbench has never been more important. In the 47th Parliament, independents have held the Government to account. In the 48th, our community voices will only become more important.  

Together, we can make meaningful change, by: 

✅Taking real action on the climate crisis.  

✅Tackling the housing crisis head-on.
 

✅ Making tertiary education affordable again.
 

✅ Strengthening our healthcare system.
 

✅ 
Pushing for evidence-based, sensitive tax reform  

Improving integrity and transparency in government 

The major parties can’t - or won’t – act on these things. We’ll only see real action on these issues with a strong crossbench. We must keep Kooyong independent. And I can’t do that without your help.