Inflation and cost of living pressures are hitting both families and businesses. I have been advocating for measures to relieve the pressure on family budgets that do not fuel inflation further and which are practical and within the government’s means.
For example, I supported the government’s measure to allow people access to two months of prescriptions.
In 2024 I will be seeking your views on solutions from the Mackellar community on measures to increase housing affordability especially for young people and key workers.
If you would like to see how I am advocating for you in my budget submission this year - click here
My key priorities are:
- Reducing the cost of living for families through tax reform and addressing housing affordability
- Solutions to ensure key workers like teachers, nurses and police can afford to live and work in Mackellar
- Helping parents get back into the workforce with universal and affordable childcare
- Eliminating the gender pay gap including necessary legal reform
- Making GP services more affordable through increasing the Medicare rebate, extending the bulk billing incentive and supporting GP practices to be viable
- Making the transition to renewables more affordable for families and low income households
My actions on Cost of Living
- Supported the government’s child care reforms
- Supported the government’s $10bn Future Housing Fund to build more social and affordable housing
- Voted to cap coal and gas prices to tackle rising electricity costs
- Voted in favour of 60-day medicine dispensing to help reduce the cost of medicines and make it easier for people to see their GP
- Advocating for policies that will push down the cost of transition to renewable power and EV vehicles
- Supporting independent colleagues who are advocating for more competition for Coles and Woolworths and scrutiny of supermarket prices
Australia’s taxation system is also in need of serious reform. The 2023 Intergenerational Report outlines the urgent need for reform with future generations facing the task of paying down nearly $1 trillion in national debt, while also funding the important social services our society will rely on as our population ages.
Supporting small businesses and working families so our economy grows, and our community thrives
- Supporting tradies and creating more jobs in trades by incentivising electrification
- Reducing the cost of living for families through tax reform and addressing housing affordability
- Growing local jobs by incentivising households and businesses to electrify and become energy efficient
- Helping parents get back into the workforce with universal and affordable childcare
- Eliminating the gender pay gap including necessary legal reform.
My actions on economic and business policy:
- Led calls for reform of the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) so oil and gas companies pay their fair share of tax – with the government agreeing to a reform of the tax that will net a minimum $2.4 billion
- Moved amendments to the Industrial Relations Bill 2022 to protect small businesses and reduce the risk of unnecessary multi-employer bargaining impacting our small businesses
- Urged the government to expand the definition of small business exempted from its new Industrial relations laws. I want small business defined as up to 50 employees.
- Pushed the Government to fast-track investment in clean and cheap renewables and electric vehicle technology
- Hosted a roundtable for local businesses to meet Industry Minister Ed Husic and learn more about funding opportunities under the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund (NRF).
- Worked to address workforce shortages by advocating for a temporary increase in migration
- Supported cheaper childcare to support parents to return to the workforce
- Urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers to extend the instant asset write-off scheme for small businesses – which was announced in the 2023 Budget
- Voted in favour of more fee-free TAFE places