SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
It probably goes without saying that the past month has been incredibly busy!
With Parliament not sitting for a few weeks, I have been enjoying being out in the community holding mobile offices and hearing first hand about the issues that matter to you.
Locally in Bennelong, and then in Canberra, the new Government brought together businesses, unions, government and the broader community at the Jobs and Skills Summit to find common ground on our big economic challenges and come to a consensus on solutions.
At both events, I was struck by the willingness of all those in attendance to participate. The energy in the room was pretty remarkable and a genuine sense of people coming together.
As the Summit wrapped up, we announced that the Albanese Government had agreed to 36 immediate initiatives including:
- More fee-free TAFE places
- More social and affordable housing
- A $4000 income credit for working Age Pensioners
- Improving workplace bargaining to get wages moving
- Addressing skilled labour shortages through migration and addressing local skills shortages
And over the weekend I returned from another busy week of parliament, where the Albanese Government’s landmark Climate Change Bills passed both houses.
This is an incredible step for our country. It means that Australia’s emissions reduction target of 43 per cent and net zero emissions by 2050 are now officially enshrined in legislation.
Unfortunately due to the rescheduling of Parliament, my inaugural speech has been postponed until Monday 26 of September (just after Question Time – approx 3.20pm).
Lastly, with the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second, a historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service have come to an end.
Her Majesty was the only reigning monarch to ever visit Australia and it was clear from her first trip that she had a special place in our hearts. We honoured the late Queen during a moving memorial on the national day of mourning, in Canberra on Thursday.
As always, if you have any issues, ideas, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me either via email jerome.laxale.mp@aph.gov.au or 02 9869 4288.
Yours for Bennelong,
Jerome Laxale MP
Member for Bennelong
UPCOMING MOBILE OFFICES
I’m holding a few mobile offices in October, and will confirm once new dates are added. The first two are locked in for West Ryde and I hope that you will have the chance to drop by for a chat.
Paying tribute to her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
On behalf of the citizens of Bennelong, I passed on our thanks for her service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
BENNELONG COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
Reminder: Applications for the sporting grant close at the end of this month.
The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial support for coaches, officials and competitors aged between 12 and 18 participating in state, national or international championships. Each grant ranges from $500 to $850 depending on factors such as travel distance to their competition.
Young athletes participating in a Sports Australia endorsed state, national or international competition or competing as an official Australian team member are eligible to apply for the Local Sporting Champions grant.
The grant is open for applications until the 30th of September 2022, 11:59 pm.
Any sporting organisations or individuals who are interested in applying for the Local Sporting Champions Grant can do so by applying online, or they can contact Madelaine Knight at my electorate office on (02) 9869 4288 or via email at madelaine.knight@aph.gov.au
BENNELONG COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
We are looking for local community members with a background in community leadership and participation to join the Bennelong Community Committee.
The Bennelong Community Committee will work alongside Jerome Laxale MP, Member for Bennelong, to assist in selecting and assessing community organisations for federal grants.
Some of the committee’s further responsibilities will include keeping records of committee decisions and reasoning, developing lists of community organisations to be invited to apply for a grant and considering grant EOIs against volunteer needs and community priorities.
Please fill out the following form or contact Madelaine Knight at my electorate office at (02) 9869 4288 or via email at madelaine.knight@aph.gov.au if you have any further questions or need additional information.
BENNELONG NEWS BULLETIN
An exciting addition to the change is our new Bennelong News bulletin! This is an opportunity for local community groups and businesses to share events, meetings and notices with the people of Bennelong.
If you have anything you believe deserves highlighting in our window, please drop by my office and the team can put it up
MY FIRST SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT
I am honoured to be able to share my first speech to Parliament with you this coming Monday the 26th September at 3:20PM.
Please tune in if you can, and if you are unable to, I’ll post a link on my social media pages for you to be able to view following.
The 8th of September was the historic day that the Climate Change Bill was passed through both houses and became law. This is the first time in our history, that we have legislated emissions reduction target enshrined in law, with an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.
I recently had the pleasure of hosting the Bennelong Jobs and Skills Roundtable.
It was great to hear directly from workers and industries about how we can increase wages, create secure jobs, fill our skills shortage and promote fairness and opportunity for all Australians 🇦🇺
I was then able to present some of those ideas, issues and solutions to the National Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra
OUT AND ABOUT IN BENNELONG
九月10日，我在#EastwoodPlaza和大家一起度过了一个愉快的中秋节。中秋节是很多国家的传统节日，他们组成了Bennelong丰富的文化生活的一部分。吃月饼，点花灯，庆中秋，在场的大家其乐融融。
Despite being booed twice (for confessing that my son played for a local rival, and that I was a Leeds united fan), I had a great time in Tiger country celebrating 70 years of the Epping Eastwood Tigers FC over the weekend.
Former Tiger and Commonwealth Bank Matildas Leigh Wardell was a guest of honour as was Premier League winner Robbie Slater. Congrats to Graham Christy for winning the Stuart Harris award for best player in the over 35s.
70 years as a club is a mighty feat. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who made it happen. Here’s to 70 more.
It was great meeting with Jenny, Megan and Estelle who run the incredible organisation Ryde Area Supported Accommodation for Intellectually Disabled I look forward to working together over the next 3 years to improve NDIS housing options in Bennelong.
Thanks to the Olivieri family from Top Ryde tailoring for suiting me up with my first tux for this year’s parliamentary midwinter charity ball! Top Ryde Tailoring & Formal Wear Hire opened in 1960 after the family arrived from Calabria in 1952. This year they’re celebrating their 70th anniversary in Australia.
If you’ve had a covid test at Macquarie before, it’s probably from Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology! It’s truly amazing to see the work and operations that happen behind the scenes at the labs in Macquarie Park. Thanks for showing me around!
I recently had the pleasure of attending SAFAL Fest 2022. First starting in 2017, SAFAL is an annual event celebrating the rich and diverse arts and culture of the South Asian region comprising the nations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The best bit about our diversity in Bennelong is how we encourage one another to share our culture of origin, while also being proud to be living right here in Australia. Congrats to all involved.
During my time as a Councillor and Mayor, I used social media to connect and engage with our local community. I’d like to extend that level of service to my new role as your federal MP.
