Hi Allegra,

We are coming to the end of the year and I know everyone is ready for a break.

It’s been a big, productive year. But it's also been a hard year for many in our community with the effects of increased antisemitism and the Bondi Junction attacks still reverberating.

I want to thank everyone who has been in contact with me in 2024. Everyone who emailed, dropped into my pop-up offices, came to see me at events, or stopped me in the street. It has been wonderful meeting you all.

I love our community. I’m honoured to represent it. And I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.

This year, we’ve worked hard to drive national policies that back Australia’s potential and deliver what we want for Wentworth.

Below are some highlights of what we have achieved together already.

Cost of living relief

• $3 billion in student debt relief for over 3 million Australians– delivering around $1,200 in savings for the average graduate.
• 80,000 new secure rental homes – through changes to the Build to Rent scheme negotiated by the Crossbench.
• $1 billion to support home electrification– helping 110,000 households with energy upgrades.
• Increased commonwealth rent assistance– as well as stronger protections for renters that will soon become law.
• Expanding access to the single-parent payment – to help struggling families, in addition to $4.7 billion in funding to help those fleeing domestic violence.

Smarter ways to a stronger economy

• Tax Reform Green Paper– that sets out the urgent need for long-term reform, based on my discussions with economists, business leaders, and our community.
• Stopping taxation of unrealised gains - to ensure Wentworth start-ups have access to the funding they need to grow.
• Skilled migration reform– making it easier for Wentworth businesses to bring the best and the brightest to Australia.
• Standing up for start-ups and small businesses – securing important protections from new industrial relations laws and advocacy to increase the definition of a small business from 15 to 25 employees.

Accelerated action on climate change

• Stronger climate legislation– with tougher laws to crack down on pollution from Australia’s biggest emitters.
• Efficiency standards for new vehicles– to cut car emissions by 60% by 2030, lower fuel bills by up to $1,000, and boost EV take-up.
• $1 billion to support home electrification– helping 110,000 households with energy upgrades.
• Improved nature laws –including proper assessment of big projects’ impact on water resources, and a new market to increase investment in nature protection.
• Lowering emissions – On track to meet our 43% emissions reduction target by 2030.

A fairer more inclusive society

• An end to ‘jobs for mates’ in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal – so that important decisions about your life are made by people who are properly qualified for the job.
• A National Anti-Corruption Commission– to help crack down on corrupt conduct by politicians and public officials.
• An Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission– to help change the culture in Canberra and hold politicians to account for wrongdoing.
• Australia’s first antisemitism envoy – who I will continue to work with to address the alarming rise in antisemitism, especially at universities.
• Inclusion of our LGBTQ+ community in the census – finally recognising our wonderful diversity and helping to deliver better services for the community.

2025 plans

For me, the focus for 2025 is continuing to support our community's values and drive those in a national arena.

This includes:

• Driving long-term economic reform that is needed to drive prosperity.
• Helping young people get ahead by addressing housing and reducing the tax burden on working people.
• Continuing progress on climate action and protecting our environment.
• Progressing a kind and inclusive society including protections against vilification and hate speech.

Thanks so much for a fantastic and productive year. I know 2025 will be even bigger!

School book prizes

One of the highlights of my job is joining students and their families at end-of-year school assemblies. This year, I’ve attended 17 of them — I wish I could've been at more, but many overlapped!

I’m especially proud to be awarding the Emerging Leader Prize to students who are demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities. It’s inspiring to see young people stepping up and making a difference.

The three books I’m giving this year:

1. How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald.
2. No Silly Questions by Sam Koslowski and Zara Seidler.
3. Man Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

End-of-year celebrations with our Nippers

Our Surf Clubs do such an incredible job at fostering community and keeping our beaches safe. It was a pleasure to see this in action down at Bondi on the weekend joining the Bondi Bathers Nippers for their end-of-year Christmas celebration which included Santa with a 6 pack!

The beach was absolutely rammed on Sunday morning - and it was just incredible to see over 400 kids out there from Bondi Bathers and more up the beach from North Bondi.

Securing funding for local organisations

It has been fantastic to help secure funding for so many local Wentworth organisations.

In 2024 we have helped secure federal funding for many incredible organisations.

Organisations including Bondi Icebergs, Easts Rugby, Holdsworth Community Centre, Bondi Beach Cottage, Kids Giving Back and many more have all received vital funding to help them continue doing their work.

Volunteer grants now open!

Eligible non-for-profits are now available to apply for the 2024/25 volunteer grants.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available. So read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines and then complete and submit an Expression of Interest Form to my office by 5pm on Wednesday 22 January 2025.

If you require a hard copy Expression of Interest form, please get in touch with our office on 02 9327 3988.

From my family to yours, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy Chanukah and a healthy and happy holiday.

See you in 2025!

Allegra Spender MP