Memo From Mayo
Welcome to the latest edition of my Memo from Mayo. Unfortunately, despite our steadfast support, the Medevac laws were repealed and we are bracing ourselves for a battle to ensure water continues to flow for the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin. Please read on to learn about some of my work in the parliament and the community.
Fight for the Murray
Centre Alliance notes with disappointment statements being made by the New South Wales Deputy Premier threatening to pull out of the basin plan unless a number of demands are met. These demands include NSW not contributing to 450GL of water recover efforts, the lifting of the barrages, the inclusion of transmission losses as water returned to the environment and not progressing the water sharing plans until after the drought is broken. Centre Alliance supports the SA Government’s characterisation of the NSW’s demands as “irrational” and anticipates the SA Water Minister will resist any attempts to advance them. Centre Alliance will use its position in the Senate to support the SA Government to ensure the upstream states meet their obligations under the basin plan.
Political donation reform
Rebekha Sharkie has introduced a Private Member’s Bill that seeks to place all political donations of $1,000 or more on the public record. The Centre Alliance MP’s Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Lowering the Donation Disclosure Threshold) Bill 2019, if adopted, would set the donation disclosure threshold at $1,000 with no indexation. The current disclosure threshold is $13,800 and the law allows for indexation. “This legislation would complement another Private Member’s Bill I introduced back in September to make political parties and campaigners disclose donations in real-time, within five business days rather than the current notification deadline of 18-months,” Rebekha said.
NDIS Age Discrimination
Anders Halvorsen Chair of ParaQuad, left; Rebekha; Member for Warringah Zali Steggall; petition writers Chris and Bobbie English and supporters at this week's press conference.
Two petitions calling on the Federal Government to eliminate age discrimination of older people with a disability were tabled in Federal Parliament on International Day for People with a Disability, with the support of Rebekha. The written petition was signed by 14,020 people and the electronic petition collected 5,426 signatures and both called for legislative change so older people who acquire a disability after the age of 65 can access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Under the current system, if you are aged over 65 and have not had access to the NDIS previously, you cannot access the scheme even if you are involved in an accident. “The NDIS was established to address the inequitable, underfunded and fragmented disability care system,” Rebekha said. “But we need to be wary of setting up a system that so openly discriminates against those who acquire a disability after they reach retirement age. “If this Government believes Australians are fit and able enough to work long after the age of 65, then the Government should acknowledge that Australians over the age of 65 should have the same access to resources if they acquire a disability later in life.”
Connectivity solutions
A motion congratulating NBN Co on the introduction of the Sky Muster Plus satellite service was lodged in Parliament last week. Rebekha used the opportunity to speak about the NBN "lottery" in Mayo and the internet and mobile connectivity problems faced by some communities and the upgraded 4G solution negotiated by Centre Alliance for Cherry Gardens.
Photo: NBN Co has 10 Road Muster Trucks for deployment to emergency situations to provide satellite internet for communities and emergency services. One visited Canberra last week for a presentation.
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