Welcome to the latest edition of Clark Matters, Andrew’s monthly email newsletter to help keep you abreast of federal politics and what he’s been up to.
First parliamentary sitting coming up in February
The first federal parliamentary sitting this year will take place from February and it’s shaping up to be an extremely busy period with little time before the federal election. Andrew will continue to focus on a range of key issues including housing and the cost of living, environment, gambling reform, asylum seekers, health, animal welfare and integrity within government. Significantly, Andrew will be introducing his Whistleblower Protection Bill. This is an excellent example of how parliament can function – independent MPs taking the lead over the major parties and doing what needs to be done, rather than blindly following party lines.
Cost of living
Everywhere we look we are reading something about the cost-of-living crisis that is plaguing Australian families. And with 23.6 per cent of Tasmanians living below the poverty line and Hobart’s annual rental costs increasing at eight and a half times the rate of CPI, it’s no wonder the cost of living remains at the forefront of people’s minds. There are a range of compounding issues that are exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis including the soaring costs of groceries, increased insurance premiums, high interest rates, and increasing medical and education costs. A particular challenge in Hobart is the dysfunctional public transport system which makes it one of the least affordable cities in Australia for transport, resulting in the average family spending almost 28 per cent of their weekly income on transportation costs. While there is no single solution to these aggregated issues, Andrew will continue to work with all levels of government to find ways to alleviate the immense financial burden facing so many people.
Getting ready for the federal election
The federal election will be held soon, and this is your opportunity to participate in deciding the government our country will have for the next three years. The last possible date the Australian Government can hold a House of Representatives and half-Senate election is 24 May 2025. This timeframe allows for the election to be held before the constitutional deadline for the half-Senate election, which must occur by 30 June 2025. Voting is compulsory so please ensure that you’re enrolled. Andrew will be running again for the seat of Clark and, if you’d like to support him, visit www.supportandrewwilkie.com.
Yours sincerely
