2024-04-30
Actions on the issues of anti-AUKUS, Palestine, NDIS reform and fair pay and conditions for teachers
By Senator Jordon Steele-John
April has been a busy month across my portfolios of health, disability, foreign affairs, peace and nuclear disarmament. With every conversation I have, no matter the topic, the issues are clear, the government is not listening to what the community needs.
I began the month by bringing the Senate to WA to hear from the community about the opposition to AUKUS. It was great to be joined by my colleagues Dorinda Cox and David Shoebridge, as we heard from the conservation and peace movements in WA about the need to stop AUKUS.
We followed up the Senate Inquiry hearing with a town hall event in Coogee where we discussed the issues surrounding the AUKUS pact directly with the community. It’s clear many of us are concerned about the likelihood of nuclear waste accidents in the biodiversity hotspot Derbal Nara/Cockburn Sound, and there are so many ideas of what the $300 billion budget of AUKUS would be better spent on that would benefit the community directly. It’s becoming clearer by the day that the community wholeheartedly rejects nuclear submarines and AUKUS, but the government continues to not listen. I will continue to fight to keep WA nuclear free.
Next up in April was my community barbeque at Banks Reserve, which was a roaring success. We shot an amazing campaign video (I can’t wait for you all to see it) and got to spend time talking about some really big issues. The consensus was that people are struggling with the cost of living and feel that major party politics are out of touch and are making decisions that only benefit fossil fuel corporations. Thanks to everyone who made it along, and I’m already excited for the next community barbeque!
I was honoured to attend the Run for Palestine in Perth on the 20th of April. The event, organised by the Palestinian Community of WA, raised funds for Olive Kids, a charity dedicated to helping children in war-torn Palestine. We must not forget that people continue to die every day in Palestine due to Israeli attacks. Over 33,000 have died, and millions have been intentionally displaced, subjected to starvation, dehydration and disease. The Albanese government continues to sell weapons to the State of Israel that are used to level Gaza, while refusing to sanction Prime Minister Netanyahu or support the case at the International Court of Justice. The community is demanding justice, and it’s time the government delivered.
At the end of March, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 was released by the Government. I’m pleased that this bill has been referred to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for an inquiry. As part of the committee, I look forward to hearing from the community about what changes they would like to see made to the bill. Many in the community are concerned about how this bill will change the NDIS, including the impact on choice and control, changes to reasonable and necessary, and the increased powers this bill will give the NDIS Minister. If you’d like to submit to the inquiry about what you would like to see fixed in the NDIS, you can do so here, submissions close on the 17th of May 2024.
It was a privilege to make it along to a Housing Protest in Perth CBD, on the same day the government refused to end no-grounds evictions in WA. People in WA are being forced to live on the street, because they simply cannot afford to rent. Since the protest, the rental affordability snapshot has shown that only 31 rentals across the country, or 0.1% were affordable on the Disability Support Pension, 3 rentals were affordable on JobSeeker, and none were affordable on Youth Allowance. It’s time to end no grounds evictions, and enact a national rent freeze, now.
I also joined the WA Teachers Strike, led by SSTUWA, to march in solidarity with teachers who were striking for increased pay, smaller classes, more funding for students, better working conditions and improved permanency pathways. Our teachers, and our students, deserve better.
To end on a happy and exciting note, this month we announced our incredible candidate for the seat of Perth, Sophie Greer! I’m so excited that our movement has such an excellent candidate for such an important seat. If just 1 in 10 people vote Greens for the first time, we’ll turn Perth Green! Our federal election campaign is well and truly underway, and I’ll be out doorknocking in May. If you’d like to volunteer, you can check out the events page.
I look forward to catching up with everyone soon, we have a whole host of community events on the horizon.
Header photo: At the Run for Palestine, Perth, 20th April 2024.