Memo from Mayo 27 April 2021
Welcome to my latest Memo from Mayo. It has been a welcome break from parliamentary sittings in Canberra but a busy month in the electorate with Anzac Day commemorations, mobile electorate offices on the South Coast and Kangaroo Island, a visit from the Prime Minister to announce an exciting recycling project at McLaren Vale and many meetings and engagements out in the local community. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my recent work in Mayo.
Anzac Day
Rebekha and her team took part in services, vigils and other events held across the electorate to commemorate Anzac Day 2021.
"What a difference a year has made and how fortunate we are as a nation to be able to gather together in a COVID-safe way to reflect on Anzac Day and to honour our servicemen and women," Rebekha said.
"Peace and hope for a better life are gifts our servicemen and women have given us.
"While Anzac Day has rightly focused on the centenary of WWI in recent years, I think the time has come to remember all areas of conflict where Australian servicemen and women have played their part."
You can read Rebekha's reflection on Anzac Day here.
Veterans Royal Commission
Rebekha has welcomed a recent announcement by the Prime Minister that the Government will hold a Royal Commission to examine veteran suicide.
“Many in my community and across Australia believe that a Royal Commission was the most appropriate path forward, and I share that view,” said Rebekha, Centre Alliance’s Veterans Affairs Spokesperson.
“They have taken their time, but the Government has finally listened to the voices of veterans and their families who wanted a thorough and independent investigation."
You can read more on Rebekha's website here. More information about the Commission is available on the Department of Veterans' Affairs website.
NDIS Changes Paused
Rebekha has hailed the Federal Government’s decision to pause the roll-out of mandatory assessments for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants as a prudent and compassionate move.
“For the past six months I have been hearing from people living with disability, their advocates and service providers, who were gravely concerned that the NDIS was about to change for the worse,” said Rebekha, Centre Alliance’s Spokesperson for Disability Services.
“I welcome the recent announcement by Minister Linda Reynolds to shelve the roll-out to wait for the outcome of current trials. That is a prudent decision and one that I hope will allow for genuine and meaningful consultation with people with disability and their representatives."
You can read more on Rebekha's website here.
$5M for Recycling Plant
A $5.35 million Federal grant will extend the development of a 'best-practice' household recycling facility for the Fleurieu Peninsula and Southern Suburbs.
The Community Development Grant Programme funding was announced earlier this month by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who toured the facility site at McLaren Vale with the Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, Federal Member for Boothby Nicolle Flint and the Mayors of Onkaparinga, Marion and Holdfast Bay Councils.
When completed, the 'Southern Materials Recovery Facility' will process at least 31,000 tonnes a year of yellow bin recyclables sourced from the Onkaparinga, Marion and Holdfast Bay Councils.
The additional Federal funding will enable the facility to escalate recovery to 62,000 tonnes a year to service other regional councils and nearby commercial businesses.
You can read more on Rebekha's website here.
Powering Communities Program
Not-for-profit groups in Mayo can apply for Federal funding to improve their energy efficiency practices and technologies under a new grant program.
“Mayo and every other electorate in the nation has been allocated $67,700 under the Powering Communities Program to share among community organisations who want to reduce their energy consumption and their carbon footprint,” Rebekha said.
“This funding can assist clubs and not-for-profit organisations to install solar and/or batteries, undertake audits of their energy consumption, do feasibility studies of energy systems and invest in energy monitoring and management systems.
In Mayo, Expressions of Interest for the program close at 5pm on Friday, June 18.
More information on Rebekha's website here.
Local Disaster Resilience Program
Rebekha has called on the Australian Government to set aside at least $10 million in the upcoming Federal Budget to fund a Local Disaster Resilience Program.
The Member for Mayo raised the funding with the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, during a recent meeting in Canberra after writing to the Minister earlier this year.
“One aspect that is missing from the $2 billion set aside for the National Bushfire Recovery fund is funding for smaller scale, practical projects that are community-initiated and delivered by communities to meet particular needs they have identified themselves,” Rebekha said.
You can read more on Rebekha's website here.
Sausage Sizzle & Kangaroo Island Visit
Rebekha recently hosted a sausage sizzle at her Victor Harbor office to catch up informally with the community during a day of face-to-face appointments with constituents on the South Coast.
The barbecue event was the latest in a series of Mobile Electorate Offices being held across Mayo in the past six months, including meetings at Strathalbyn, Hawthorndene, Yankalilla, Myponga, McLaren Vale, Willunga and Aldinga.
After the South Coast event, Rebekha boarded the ferry at Cape Jervis to spend a few days on Kangaroo Island.
Mobile Electorate Offices were organised at Parndana, Kingscote and Penneshaw and Rebekha visited a range of local businesses including Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, Western Kangaroo Island Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve, Kangaroo Island Fresh Garlic, Locklands Pastoral Seed Potatoes and Kauppila Builders.
"Communities on the Island and in the Adelaide Hills are making progress with their rebuilding process after the Black Summer Bushfires. We can continue to help them by visiting and supporting local businesses," Rebekha said.
Rebekha spoke about her trip to Kangaroo Island with Jennie Lenman from Radio 5MU. You listen to the podcast here.
Sex Discrimination Laws
Rebekha has welcomed the Government's commitment to making MPs and judges subject to sexual discrimination laws.
The commitment was made earlier this month by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the new Attorney General Michaelia Cash when they endorsed the recommendations from the Human Rights Commission's 2018 Respect@Work report and announced a range of legislative and regulatory reforms to address workplace sexual harassment.
One of the reforms was addressing the existing discrepancy in the Sex Discrimination Act where MPs, judges and other statutory appointees are not clearly protected from, or liable for sexual harassment in their workplace.
Rebekha recently supported a Private Members' Bill introduced by the Member for Warringah Zali Steggall to amend the Sex Discrimination Act to ensure sexual harassment is illegal in all circumstances.
You can read more on Rebekha's website here.