With just 24 hours to go, the referendum on 14 October will be a defining moment for our country.
While it is deeply disappointing that what could have been an opportunity to come together as a country has been turned into a divisive, hurtful and highly political fight, fuelled by fear and misinformation, we are focussed on having as many meaningful conversations as we can until polling day.
These one-on-one chats are what will help people go to the ballot box informed and empowered in making their decision.
Thank you so much to everyone who has volunteered so far on pre-poll, for phone banking, door knocking and a host of other events.
I’ve been attending a number of Voice events including the final leg of Michael’s Long Walk, Pat Farmer’s Run for Yes, a terrific event in Braidwood, the National Walk for Yes, our community BBQ in Gungahlin and even an event in Orange.
I was proud to vote “Yes” yesterday to the request from this continent’s First Peoples for recognition in the form of a Voice. It’s the form of constitutional recognition an overwhelming majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support. It’s both symbolic and deeply practical.
Up until now, politicians have failed to implement policies that close the gap - why would we keep doing the same thing and expect a different result? When things are broken, you try to fix them. This is an opportunity to do that and move forward as a nation.
However you vote, please make your choice based on facts, not fear.
Here are loads of resources on my website you can read here.
Keep the AIS in Canberra
This week we saw disappointing news that there is a live discussion within the Government about whether to move the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to Brisbane.
As the Nation’s Capital, Canberra has been the proud host of the AIS for over 40 years.
I have been calling on the Government to immediately rule out moving the AIS and instead focus on revitalising the long-neglected precinct, so that it can continue to foster new generations of high-performance athletes that make Australia proud on the world stage.
FOI documents reveal that revitalising the AIS in Canberra would be the most cost-effective option. The only reason to move the AIS would be a political one, and I have asked the Government to respect the ACT - and our community - and confirm that this institution will continue to call Canberra home.
I wrote to the Infrastructure and Sport Ministers earlier this week to restate my position and remind them of the strong arguments in favour not only of keeping the AIS in Canberra but of making the urgent infrastructure investments needed to reestablish its stature as one of the world’s leading elite sporting facilities.
If you feel the same, I would urge you to reach out to our ACT MPs and let them know that you want the AIS to stay in the ACT.
Big legislative debates
Parliament goes back on Monday and we will be dealing with a few really important pieces of legislation including the Family Law Amendment, Higher Education Support Amendment and Infrastructure Australia Amendment bills.
During the break, as well as work on the Voice campaign, I’ve been busy working on a bunch of senate committee inquiries as well as being involved in a number of community events.
I travelled to Newcastle this week to speak at a community town hall about the urgent need for more ambitious climate action. Rising Tide is planning Australia’s biggest climate nonviolent direct action with a blockade of coal export ships in November.
When the human and environmental impacts of our changing climate are being felt so acutely here and across the world, it’s negligent for our government to continue to approve new and expanded coal and gas projects. It has to stop.
While I was in Newcastle I saw the awesome work being done to accelerate our transition towards a renewable energy future - and the high skill, high paying jobs being created.
Industrial relations
I’ve also been to Sydney, Melbourne and Launceston participating in Senate Committee hearings on the Government’s new industrial relations omnibus bill “Closing Loopholes”.
This is a huge bill that makes some big changes and I want to take the time to properly consult, listen and work through any unintended consequences.
In the meantime though, there are some simple parts of the bill that can and should be carved off and dealt with now, that’s why together with Senator Lambie, we’ve released four private senators bills to do just that.
Things like making sure our first responders can more easily access workers compensation for PTSD injuries sustained on the job don’t need to wait until next year; they have the support to pass the parliament now.
In addition to the hearings I’ll be holding another roundtable to consult on the more complex parts of this legislation in early November.
Water
Water reforms are another huge and hotly contested piece of legislation coming before the parliament. The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 proposes some significant changes to the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Yesterday I held two roundtables with farmers, irrigators, environmentalists, scientists, first nations groups and water economists. Understandably, there was a lot of passion in the conversation, and water policy is a complex and difficult area of policy. I was grateful to hear from some of our leading experts on the changes that are needed to make sure reforms deliver for our first nations, landholders and the environment.
With the legislation set to come before the senate later this year, there will be an inquiry held by the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, in which I will be actively engaged.
One focus for me will be increasing inflow into the upper Murrumbidgee River. Currently less (at times much less) than 10% of the Murrumbidgee's natural inflow from the catchment above Tantangara Dam is directed into the river. In 2019, this meant that the river ran dry. This represents a significant risk to water security for Canberrans, and needs to be addressed before the coming El Nino event.
Reform of federal environmental laws
Our federal environmental laws are broken. Three years ago, a comprehensive review of the laws by Professor Graeme Samuel AC found that Australia is in a trajectory of environmental decline, and the laws to protect it are not fit-for-purpose and failing.
This week we saw yet another example of this failure. The Federal Court found that our environmental laws do not require the Environment Minister to consider the impact of huge new coal mines on climate change. Despite the fact that climate change represents one of the largest threats to the environment.
The time for reform is now, and while progress has been slow, early consultation has commenced. I’ve been working hard with our leading lawyers and scientists to work through solutions. I will continue to work for strong and ambitious reforms, and look forward to engaging with you when an exposure draft of the legislation is released.
Feral horses inquiry
This afternoon, the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee tabled the report from its eight-month long inquiry I established with support of the government and the greens into the impacts and management of feral horses in the Australian Alps.
Mismanagement of feral horses in NSW has created significant issues for the ACT. Dealing with feral horses crossing into the territory creates extra management costs, and risks damaging our water quality and the iconic Namadgi National Park.
You can read my comments about the report here and I thank everyone who participated and the committee members and secretariat for their hard work on this issue. The ecological health and biodiversity of this critically important region is something that matters deeply to many Canberrans.
Cost-of-living
With cost-of-living pressures continuing to intensify, I joined with other crossbenchers to call for two new tax changes that would accelerate the electrification of rental properties across Australia.
We are asking the government to introduce:
- A tax incentive for landlords that allows landlords to instantly write-off the cost of replacing gas
appliances with more efficient electrical alternatives. - A tax simplification to make it easier for people in apartments to access rooftop solar.
This would reduce energy bills for people who rent by between $514 and $1,594 each year (when the above upgrades are combined). You can read more about the policy here which has also been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Showcasing the nation’s capital and small business
When parliament goes back next week I will be hosting a parliamentary breakfast together with the Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender and NSW Senator Maria Kovacic putting the spotlight on procurement, productivity and current priorities for small business. We’ll hear from some great local businesses and give them the opportunity to speak directly to government and decision makers about what they need not only to survive but to thrive in an increasingly high-cost and heavy regulatory environment.
In partnership with the Member for Bean, Dave Smith and National Capital Attractions we will also be having the first ever Best of the Capital Region Showcase. With support from our national collecting and cultural institutions, local artists, producers and a range of others, we will be showing off what makes our city so great and so much more than “the bubble”.
Upcoming events
UC Aitken memorial lecture
On Monday 30 October I will be delivering the annual UC Aitkin Lecture (formerly Don Aitkin Memorial Lecture) from 5.45pm at the James Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia.
It’s a free event and everyone is welcome. I’ll be talking about what it means to be citizens of the land.
Modern Australia has benefited from this continent's extraordinary mineral and ecological wealth, and landscapes managed for tens of thousands of years, creating ‘ the lucky country’. The decline in landscape health and biodiversity over the last two centuries threaten our way of life and the people and places we love.
What does it mean for us to live like this is truly home, like we are here for a long time? And what will it take to do this before our ‘luck’ runs out? How do we reimagine the future and develop a land ethic that builds on First Nations knowledge and the latest science to address our shortcomings, repair and safeguard our future?
Town hall
Our next community town hall will be held on 1 November, with a BBQ from 5.45pm and formal proceedings running f from 6.30pm to 8pm at The Abbey (O'Hanlon Pl, Nicholls).
This will be our last community town hall for the year so if there’s anything you want to raise or discuss, please RSVP using the above link and come along. I’d love to see you there.
Mobile office
Our next mobile office will be 24 November at Red Brick Espresso (4/31 Curtin Pl, Curtin) from 9am - 11.30am. These events have been a great chance for me to sit down with Canberrans and have an informal chat about what matters most to them. If you’re keen for a chat over coffee, please swing by.
Community notices
Call for Better Renting Summer Researchers
Better Renting is looking for 'Renter Researchers' to sign up to track the temperature in your home over winter. We'll use data and input from Renter Researchers to document the impact of substandard homes on renters, getting this evidence into the media and in front of decision-makers. This is part of the 'Healthy Homes for Renters' project and will help to build political support for minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties.
This is especially important for the coming summer. It's going to be really hot and tough for renters, and so it's especially important that we work together to document these experiences and amplify a call for change.
Find out more and sign up here.
Big Wig fundraising for Canberra Hospital
On Friday 27 October I will be abseiling down a building at Canberra Hospital to raise much needed funds.
Funds raised enhance the health response for those who find themselves unwell and needing healthcare and helps all patients from babies, children, teens to adults and the elderly, from those having treatment for cancer or chronic illness, to those recovering from injury, the vulnerable amongst us, and people nearing end of life. Funds also support the wellbeing of frontline teams, important research, refurbishments, and programs to support patient care.
I know times are tough and budgets are stretched but if you can support this fundraising effort please go to https://www.canberrahospitalfoundation.org.au/fundraisers/davidpocock
Parliamentary wrap up
Looking back on the last sitting fortnight in September, there were a few big milestones worth re-capping.
The government FINALLY agreed to hold a senate inquiry into the Middle Arm gas processing hub on Darwin Harbour following huge and sustained advocacy from the community and the crossbench.
Submissions close on 31 October with the committee due to report early next year. You can make a submission by sending it to [email protected].
I caught up with Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer on his review which will look to recommend community engagement improvements for renewable energy infrastructure projects. This review is something Dr Helen Haines MP and I negotiated with Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
I was fortunate to host Major Glass from the ADF for a week and also launch the Australia Institute’s 2023 Climate of the Nation report.
I also supported the establishment of a senate inquiry in arrangements in our airline industry. The inquiry found a chronic lack of competition that is hurting consumers. We feel this most acutely here in Canberra with higher airfares and the highest route cancellation rates in the country. You can read more about recommendations from that committee here.
With the Housing Australia Future Fund passing parliament, we’re turning our attention to what else needs to happen in the face of our housing crisis. I hosted a briefing with leading expert Dr Chris Martin for parliamentarians on what will be Australia’s first national housing and homelessness plan, currently under development.
Finally, I was really proud to welcome back the Heart2Heart walkers who on 28 September finished their 2700klm trek from the centre of Australia to Parliament to raise awareness and encourage more urgent action from government to support first responders’ mental health. All 14 recommendations from a 2019 Senate Inquiry: The people behind 000: mental health of our first responders need to be implemented as an urgent priority. These people put their lives on the line everyday serving our community, it’s time we stepped up and did more to support them.
Best,
David