OTHER POLICIES / POSITIONS

I am aware of the wonderful work of the ABA, and the many benefits of breastfeeding. The evidence clearly shows that breastfeeding gives the best health outcomes for mothers and babies, as well as being convenient, economical and great for the environment.. However, as a mother I also know that for many mothers breastfeeding can be daunting, difficult and sometimes impossible, and that the proper support is essential.

It makes sense to fund these services as a high quality, cost-effective investment in preventative health that significantly reduces the burden on our local GPs and emergency departments and will advocate for you in support as the opportunity arises during budget discussions.

I have noted the extraordinary number of volunteer hours already invested by the community, and the ABA’s request for a 40% increase in funding to support the service from 2023 to 2027.

I believe that women need to be able to access abortion safely and equitably.

In fact, in one of my first speeches as a newly sworn-in member of Parliament I spoke about the need for equal access to abortion for all women: Harmonisation of abortion laws across Australia is overdue.

Western Australia has the most draconian approach to abortion, with a review by an opaque panel required after 20 weeks, parental notification required under 16 and issues with consistent access. Abortion is still in the Criminal Code in WA.

I am encouraged that WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson recently announced a public consultation on reforming abortion laws and that the WA government plans to introduce new legislation to Parliament in 2023.

At a Federal level, I support harmonisation across the States on the approach to abortion, ideally in line with the ACT position. There needs to be improved equal and free access, with abortion incorporated into normal healthcare systems, rather than treated separately.

Having a separate MBS item number for surgical abortion will enable accurate data to be gathered, and a new MBS item number for medical abortion will enable better access to safer, earlier abortions and ensure that GPs are appropriately remunerated to support women through a medical abortion.

I am seeking opportunities to support progress on this issue and have met with a number of different groups.

I commend the Federal Government on its recent announcement of a pathway to permanency for around 19,000 refugees living on Temporary Protection Visas and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas across Australia. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has assured me that the eight months since the federal election has been used to ensure that processes are clear, so that refugees can get the support they need to effectively transition to a Resolution of Status visa.

The week prior to this announcement, I shared the story of one such refugee, Jan Ali Haidari, in Parliament. Click here to listen to this speech in the Federation Chamber.

I would like to thank you, as well as the community groups in Curtin and all over the country who refused to accept that this was how we treated people in Australia and kept advocating for and supporting refugees living in limbo. I am proud that I, and other crossbenchers, have kept this issue front and centre for the Government and contributed towards this announcement on behalf of our communities. I will continue to hold the Government to account in implementing this announcement.

There is still work to be done in relation to offshore and onshore detention and our humanitarian intake but today we can take a moment to celebrate that refugees living on temporary visas can start making long-term plans and fully commit to their lives in Australia.

Humanitarian refugee increases in May Budget (02.05.23)

I am keenly aware of the need and the challenges of the current crisis in global refugees. I was heartened by the ALP’s pre-election promise of increasing the government funded humanitarian program to 27,000 places over four years and increasing the community sponsored refugee program to 5,000 places.

However, I am concerned that the budget in October last year did not commit to any additional humanitarian places.

I meet regularly with refugee groups and have worked closely with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre- particularly when advocating for the Federal Government’s action on creating a pathway top permanency for 19,000 refugees living on TPVs and SHEVs. I also meet regularly with Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles MP to raise refugee and asylum seeker issues.

I will continue to advocate for the humane treatment of refugee and asylum seekers. I will keep this issue front and centre for the Government.

I am concerned about the very high cost of upgrading our defence to include nuclear submarines. Like so many people, I have wondered how $368 billion might be otherwise spent in Australia.

I have received a number of briefings from the Minister for Defence, the Department for Defence and Defence Personnel, in which I and other members of the crossbench were able to ask questions on a range of topics, including some of the issues you have raised.

I was told that the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway is primarily required to modernise our Collins-class submarine fleet, which the Government and Opposition believe is required in the changing security environment. The submarine upgrade is part of a broader defence review. The independent Defence Strategic Review report was handed to Government on 14 February. Government has said it will now take the necessary time to consider the report and its recommendations before public comment.

I am aware of community response around the AUKUS agreement, and particularly note your concerns about Australia’s international relationships. I am committed to continuing to speak with experts in this field and speak up in Parliament when I have concerns.

Every year now, debate is reignited on whether we should change the date of Australia Day.

Some argue there are more important issues to address (like the implementation of the Voice) but the date of Australia Day continues to come up, year after year.

Australia Day should be a day of celebration of what we have in common, but it has become a source of division.

Because of this, I believe that the only way forward is to change the date. There are a few reasons for this.

The date is recent

Celebrating Australia Day on 26 January is a fairly recent concept. I was 18 in 1994 when Australia Day started being celebrated consistently on 26 January. 1994 might seem like ancient history for some, but it’s not exactly steeped in tradition, even for a country as young as ours.

The date means nothing for WA

26 January marks the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove and WA was New Holland until 21 January 1827.

The date causes pain

It represents something traumatic for Aboriginal people.

Australia Day should unite the three strands of our culture – our original Indigenous culture, our institutions imported from the UK and our migrant population. Commemorating this date ignores two of them.

Australia Day should make us feel proud

We may not be perfect and self-reflection is important, but we can be proud of our democracy and many aspects of our national identity.

Changing the date will mean we can celebrate what unites us, not what divides us.

I love having a public holiday at the end of summer – just before school goes back, as a last hurrah before the serious bit of the year starts.

So I would propose we change it to the last Monday in January, releasing it from its historical baggage and focusing it on the future and what we have to celebrate together. But I am open to other ideas about an appropriate date.

I look forward, after a successful yes vote in the Voice referendum, to being able to celebrate what binds us together on an Australia Day that is not associated with the painful parts of our history.

I am very concerned about the urgent youth justice issues in Western Australia. As you might have seen, I have recently spoken out and urged the Western Australian government to do more.

Banksia Hill: Independent WA MP Kate Chaney calls on Australian government to step in over Banksia Hill Detention Centre (watoday.com.au)

Kate in the News — Kate Chaney

I have been speaking to the Premier Mark McGowan and the Attorney General Mark Dreyfus to ask them to make improvements to the approach to youth justice, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

In Parliament Question Time on 23 November 2022, I asked the Attorney General to make public a report which contains information about support for raising the age: Attorneys General – Question to the Attorney General: Raise the Age

I have been following this issue for a long time. As a priority, when I was elected, I wrote to Linda Burney, the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, (6 August 2022), expressing my concern about the transfer of children to Casuarina and asking that she work towards finding a trauma-informed therapeutic response to this crisis. We have failed these children.

Minister Burney responded to me, agreeing with the need for long term reform and the important role the Federal Government has to play in preventing young people from entering the criminal justice system. She told me that the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, has spoken to the Western Australian Attorney-General to discuss how governments can work together to reduce the rate of young people entering youth detention.

The WA Department of Justice advised that these young people transferred to Casuarina will be able to access intensive wrap-around services to address their complex needs while at Casuarina. I believe this is not an acceptable way for us to be treating vulnerable and often damaged children.

I believe that early educators are under paid. I supported the Fair Work Australia Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill, which passed both House of Parliament in December 2022, and included the potential for an increase to wages for low paid workers in the supported bargaining stream.

I am also acutely aware of the staff shortages in this industry and supports policies to increase early education jobs.

I will continue to advocate for better conditions for those working in this vital area of our children’s education.

The best way to address energy generation, and to achieve a pathway to net zero, is a challenging and complex issue.

I do not pretend to be an expert in everything and in this area and am consulting widely with industry subject matter experts.

Some advocate for nuclear energy, but there are many who do not. The CSIRO and AEMO’s recent Gencost 2021-22 Report found nuclear energy to be cost prohibitive compared to other renewable energy options and currently not scalable. I am not closed to nuclear energy, but the economics are not currently viable.

Moving forward, I will consider the advice of experts together with the views of Curtin constituents in forming my policy.

Kate continues to advocate for a strong and effective Safeguard Mechanism that will reduce industry emissions and contribute to our pathway to net zero.

Kate, with her independent crossbench colleagues, met with Minister Bowen to discuss crossbench amendments to the Safeguard Mechanism regime. The Government has committed to working with the crossbench

On Thursday, 9 March 2023, Kate spoke in Parliament on the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022. She said she would be supporting amendments to the Bill on tightening the definition and regulation of new entrants; creating a hierarchy of crediting that doesn’t rely on unlimited ACCUs; and improving transparency and accountability.

Kate said:

“Existing facilities that are planning expansions or extensions to their current operations should be treated as new entrants if their expansion will create a significant new level of emissions. We cannot allow current coal and gas projects to continue to expand and explore and emit without regulation…I will also support any amendment requiring new entrants to meet their baselines and targets without the use of ACCUs…

…I support amendments that create a hierarchy of crediting which requires facilities to first show they have taken steps to achieve genuine on-site emissions reduction before they can gain access to the purchase of SMCs or ACCUs to acquit their emissions reduction obligations. If they do use SMCs or ACCUs, I would like to see reporting required to explain why abatement was not feasible.

…I will be pushing for any amendments that improve the transparency and accountability of this Bill. This includes beefing up reporting obligations and improving the appointments process. The review in 2026 will need to take an honest look at whether the mechanism is delivering on our targets.”

You can watch her speech here: Safeguard Mechanism Amendment Bill - 9 March 2023

Knowing the intensity of emissions from methane, Kate also seconded the member for Warringah’s Private Members Motion on 6 March 2023 implementing the Global Methane Pledge.

Kate said:

“As drafted, the Safeguard Mechanism proposal could completely miss the opportunity for actual methane abatement – it would allow companies to buy offsets of carbon dioxide in place of cutting methane emissions. Offsets are not the solution to dealing with such a damaging greenhouse gas as methane. We need actual, rapid abatement and methane capture”.

You can watch her speech here: Global Methane Pledge - 6 March 2023

Regarding the changes to Treasury laws relating to fully franked dividends that are funded by capital raisings and the tax treatment of off-market share buy-backs, I have received a number of emails from constituents with questions about this, which was passed in the House of Representatives on 9 March 2023.

I appreciate the concerns of constituents, especially those self-funded retirees, who rely on these franked dividends and the impacts any material changes to franked dividends would have on their income.

I met with the Minister for Finance and Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Stephen Jones MP to raise constituent concerns and discuss these changes in November 2022.

It appears that the vast majority of shareholders will be unaffected and will continue to receive franked dividends. Neither proposal changes the rules governing the refundability of franking credit or make changes to the imputation system.

Like so many people across the world, I am horrified by the ongoing situation in Gaza.

I know that many people across Curtin share this feeling, with constituents contacting me daily regarding the continued conflict.

The vast majority express extreme distress at the senseless loss of innocent lives and urge me to advocate for an immediate ceasefire.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of life of an Australian aid worker, along with six other aid workers in Gaza killed by an Israel Defence Forces Air strike whilst providing essential aid. I will liaise with the offices of Prime Minister Albanese and Senator Wong as they seek a full and proper explanation from the Israeli government about this incident. My thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of these aid workers. They were trying to alleviate the suffering in Gaza and should have been protected by international humanitarian law.

I am also particularly worried about the Israeli attacks on Rafah - a location where the Israeli government said civilians in Gaza would be safe. Around 1.7 million people are seeking refuge in Rafah and it is unconscionable to escalate attacks in the region.

I continue to meet and correspond with Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to advocate for:

• Australia to call for an enduring ceasefire,

• the release of all remaining hostages,

• an increase in humanitarian funding,

• compliance with international and humanitarian law (including abiding by the ICJ interim rules), and

• public condemnation of any breach of these laws.

Minister Wong recently wrote to me acknowledging my previous correspondence on this issue and the joint letter from me and the crossbench sent 29 February 2024. Minister Wong informed me that the Government is using Australia’s voice to advocate for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, as demonstrated by its vote at the United Nations. The Government is also using its voice to express Australia’s serious concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, and that international law must be upheld as well as advocating for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages by Hamas.

Further, Minister Wong set out the Government’s increased commitment of an additional $21.5 million in humanitarian assistance which will bring Australian’s total humanitarian contribution since this conflict began to $52.5 million. This is in addition to the $20.6 million funding already provided to UNRWA. This additional aid includes:

• the supply of 140 Australian Defence Force aerial delivery parachutes for use in humanitarian assistance airdrops by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates;

• $4 million to UNICEF to provide urgent services;

• $2 million to the new mechanism of the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza to facilitate expanded humanitarian access to Gaza.

As previously notified by the Government, it will resume funding UNRWA, disbursing $6 million to its flash appeal following confirmation of a new funding arrangement with strict conditions such as staff neutrality and confidence in supply chains.

To date, I have spoken publicly about this conflict sparingly due to the potential to further disrupt social cohesion here in Australia, but I have spoken about these issues at community events and responded to emails from constituents. Australians of all backgrounds should feel safe and free on our shores without fear of being subject to racial slurs or vilification. I condemn any antisemitic or Islamophobic language directed as a result of this conflict to those living in Australia.

I acknowledge that atrocities have been committed against Israeli civilians by Hamas, and that the response from the Israeli government has taken an unacceptable toll in civilian lives in Gaza. Both have resulted in women and children suffering disproportionately.

I acknowledge that nothing I can say will satisfy those who believe the Israeli government’s response constitutes genocide on the Palestinian people or those who fear for the ongoing existence of the State of Israel.

As a civil and tolerant nation, we must hold tightly to the democratic values that enable diverse and pluralist communities. I urge the Government to do everything it can to uphold these values, to promote respect and compliance with international law and to unite Australian communities.

Kate Chaney MP

As at 27 March 2024

I am aware that this is an important issue to people in Curtin and am representing your views in Canberra.

Recently, I joined other Australian parliamentarians in signing a letter to the Attorney General of the United States of America requesting the end of the extradition proceedings against Mr Assange. This letter further detailed that Australian public opinion on this matter clearly supported calls for Mr Assange to be brought back to Australia after being effectively incarcerated for more than a decade in one form or another.

As you may have seen in Question Time on 1 December 2022, the Prime Minister stated publicly for the first time that he has raised the issue of Julian Assange’s ongoing legal actions with representatives of the United States government and has advocated for these matters to be brought to a close.

I am a member of the Parliamentary group “Bring Julian Assange Home” which continues to advocate for more action to support Mr Assange.

I met with Julian Assange’s wife, Stella and his lawyers in Canberra on 23 May 2023.

I will discuss with the other crossbenchers how they can further advocate for Mr Assange.

I have been contacted both by Curtin constituents who support the continuation of this industry, and by those who do not.

I acknowledge that there have been significant improvements in the live sheep export trade in recent years. I also understand that Western Australian sheep farmers will be the most affected by the Federal decision to phase out exports.

Both before and after the 2022 Federal election, the Albanese Government committed to phasing out live sheep exports within 5 years. Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to end the trade. I note that he has also repeatedly stated that there is no plan for closure of the live cattle trade.

As you are no doubt aware, the Government announced the appointment of an expert panel to advise on the timeline and mechanism of this phase out. This panel has representatives from both industry and animal welfare groups. The Government has acknowledged that the views of Western Australians will need to be heard in this process and that the industry will not end during this term of government.

The panel released an “Update from the independent panel consulting on the live sheep export by sea” on 27 July 2023 after considering submissions from all stakeholders including farmers, exporters and related businesses. The panel aims to present recommendations to Minister Watt by 30 September 2023.

I have consistently stated that if the Government continues on its stated path to end live sheep export, the industry, including farming families and rural communities, will need to be provided with an appropriate transition period. I will continue to ensure Western Australians interests are considered in this process.

I support Zoe Daniel’s call for a judicial inquiry into media diversity in Australia. The quality of our democracy depends on us having robust institutions, including diverse and fearless media. Media concentration in Australia is second only to Egypt and China, according to a 2016 global study.

In this context, an inquiry should look at the level of concentration and the effectiveness of the self-regulation approach currently taken in Australia, including determining whether the Australian Press Council and the Australian Communications and Media Authority are fit for purpose.

Here is the link to my full speech in support of the call for a judicial inquiry: Media Diversity

The Government’s response to this call for an inquiry is that we know what is needed so we don’t require another inquiry. I will continue to advocate for action in this area and urge you to continue to hold government to account on delivering reform on media diversity.

I suspect it will require significant public support to get any movement from the Government.

I believe it’s a natural progression for Australia to become a republic. I have no doubt there will be further conversation about this now that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away.

At this point my priority is supporting a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous voice to Parliament but I would support further conversations about Australia becoming a republic in due course.

In taking a position on this issue, I have considered what I think is best for the country, and the interests of my electorate. As a new MP, I don’t have a historical position on this issue with which I need to be consistent – my position can be based on what I think is the right decision now.

Australia is in a very different position now to where it was when the Stage 3 tax cuts were proposed. Our debt is double what it was pre-Covid, with a structural deficit (estimated to be 2%) built into our budget. We have seen no significant economic reform for a decade and we face significant costs in aged care and the NDIS to ensure that we can be assured of an acceptable level of care if and when we are in a vulnerable position.

12% of constituents in my electorate are in the group of people who will most benefit from the Stage 3 tax cuts (receiving more than a 4% increase). For 75% of the people in my electorate, the impact is little or nothing (less than a 2% improvement), including 42% of people for whom the cuts deliver no benefit.

So a relatively small proportion are set to benefit, even in a wealthier electorate like Curtin.

On balance, I don’t think it makes sense to go through with the Stage 3 cuts right now. Other than budget repair, there are a lot of things this government could achieve with the money realised for the Stage 3 tax cuts which amounts to $243 bn over the next 10 years.

We do need to reform our tax system. We rely too heavily on income tax, which creates a disproportionate burden as our population ages. We need to review consumption tax and simplify our system to reduce red tape. I would back a broader review of our tax system, revisiting the >100 recommendations made by Ken Henry more than a decade ago, only a few of which have been implemented.

I recognise that the Government is in a tricky position – it made a commitment to these tax cuts while in Opposition and doesn’t want to break that commitment.

But my electorate told me they wanted longer term thinking in policy development and I think a longer term review of tax reform makes more sense than a tax cut for a part of our community who will do ok without it.

I appreciate the concerns some constituents have raised. I understand that changing the ‘goal posts’ when people have been working towards retirement and expected outcomes is upsetting and can make people angry.

I have received strong opinions from constituents on both sides of this change.

The arguments in favour of the change are:

The purpose of superannuation is for saving for a dignified retirement. Tax concessions are appropriate only where they support this purpose.

The proposed change only affects earnings that relate to the proportion of the balance that exceeds $3m. In other words, tax will be still only be payable at the concessional rate of 15% for earnings on the first $3m, and at the rate of 30% beyond that.

For balances under $3m, the effective rate paid by retirees is typically closer to 7% to 8%, allowing for franking credits and capital gains tax discounts.

This change affects only 80,000 people nationally, or 0.5% of Australians with superannuation accounts.

The vast majority of people even here in Curtin are well below the $3m threshold, with average balances highest in Cottesloe/Peppermint Grove ($507,000) and lowest in Daglish/Shenton Park/Subiaco ($289,000).

Most people affected (59,000 of the 80,000) are of retirement age, so they can restructure their financial affairs before the change comes into effect in 2025 if they can find a more tax effective approach than the new rate of 30% for the proportion of their balance that exceeds $3m.

The arguments against the change are:

People have made financial decisions based on the current tax treatment.

Any change to superannuation makes the system less predictable and therefore disincentivises people from making voluntary contributions.

This change will only raise $2bn in revenue (probably less as people change their behaviour).

Some people have raised integrity issues based on the fact that this change was not disclosed before the last election. I don’t see this as a significant change in policy, given it only affects 0.5% of superannuation account holders and that the Government is delaying the change until after the next election.

On the balance of the arguments listed above, at this stage I am likely to support the change.

There are a number of issues that will need to be fleshed out in the consultation process with the superannuation industry and other stakeholders, such as the appropriateness and practicality of taxing unrealised gains as part of the change and indexation of the $3m threshold. I encourage you to share your views as part of that consultation process – I will comment on these in Parliament if they haven’t been addressed through the consultation process.

More broadly, we have work to do on long-term tax reform, which has stalled over the last 15 years. As our population ages and changes, there will be increasing demands on government expenditure to provide health, aged care and pensions. The structure of our tax system needs to be prepared for these changes. A broader review would be preferable to a piecemeal approach that ends up focusing on what is being lost rather than the necessary trade-offs being made.

The Henry Tax Review (published in 2010) identified more than 100 areas of reform, including over-reliance on income tax, reviewing the royalties we earn from our natural resources and bringing consumption tax in line with other jurisdictions. I will continue advocating for a long-term approach to economic reform.

I hope that my rationale for supporting this change is clear, as well as the areas where I am seeking more detail. Please continue to engage with me on this issue as more information is presented over the coming months.

I am very concerned about the rise of vaping, especially as she I have teenage children of my own. And from the number of emails and calls received from constituents, it seems like this is a concern shared by many in the community.

I recently proposed a motion in Parliament calling for stronger restrictions on the importation and distribution of vaping products. I urged the Minister to take urgent action to implement a federal ban on all unprescribed e-cigarettes regardless of nicotine content, impose stronger border control regulations on vaping products and to update federal anti-tobacco advertising laws. You can hear my full speech here.

I have met with a number of health and policy experts to understand the magnitude of the problem and some possible solutions. Evidence is emerging that current federal regulations are not adequately meeting the aim of preventing children and adolescents from accessing vaping products, while supporting access to products of known composition and quality for smoking cessation with a doctor’s prescription. Children are accessing vaping products in high numbers, and many adults are accessing vaping supplies on the black market, rather than through lawful supply channels with a prescription from an Australian registered doctor.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which regulates vaping products, has recently conducted a public consultation. The public submissions to this consultation will inform discussion with Government about reforming vaping regulations to reduce the ability for children and adolescents to access vaping products.

I will be following this closely to ensure your voices are heard.

OTHER POLICIES / POSITIONS

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