5th February - Your Values. Your Voice in Canberra. - Allegra Spender

Hi Allegra,

Federal parliament is back after the recess and so I wanted to let you know about my priorities for 2025.

Over the summer, I’ve been speaking with hundreds of people across our community, consulting with experts, and developing the policies that can deliver a better future for Wentworth.

You’ve told me to fight for a smarter economy, for climate action, and for a kinder community. That’s my focus.

As an Independent, I’m accountable to you – not a political party. That means I’m free to work with both sides for what’s right, and I’m free to stand up against what’s not. It means I’m free to tackle the tough issues and focus on the long term – not just the next election. And it means I will always vote based on the values of our community.

Click the links below to find out more about how I’m taking action on your priorities and what our plans are for the future.

You’ve told me to fight for:

Lower living costs
A smarter economy
Climate action
A kinder community
Integrity in politics

Join me at the launch of my 2025 campaign!

I would also love to invite you to the launch of my re-election campaign! Join me and some special guests to hear more about my policy areas and why we need to keep Wentworth Independent.

RSVP here!

Thank you for trusting me to represent our community. Your ideas, concerns, and hopes shape my work in parliament.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out - if it matters to you, it matters to me.

Warm regards,

Allegra

Lower living costs

DELIVERED:

I’ve spoken to so many people across our community who are struggling with the cost-of-living. Some of the measures I’ve championed to support those most in need include:

Wiped $3 billion in student debt for over 3 million people – delivering around $1,200 in savings for the average graduate.
Helping deliver 80,000 new secure rental homes – through changes negotiated to the Build to Rent scheme.
More than $1 billion to support home electrification – helping 110,000 households lower their bills through energy upgrades.

FUTURE PLANS:

I’ll continue to advocate for measures that put downward pressure on inflation today, whilst permanently reduce price pressure in future, including:

Lower income taxes – so young working people can earn more and get ahead.
Reduce the cost of renting and home ownership – by sharpening incentives for housebuilding; switching-out stamp duty; and creating a new industry regulator to get the CFMEU under control.
Permanent energy bill relief – with more help for renters and homeowners to get solar, batteries, and energy upgrades.
Lower childcare costs – to take the pressure off families.
Keeping a lid on student debt – to stop young Australians from falling behind and getting rid of the ‘Job Ready Graduate’ scheme.

Read more on my website.

A smarter economy

DELIVERED:

Our economy has been stuck in a rut and we need real reform to boost productivity and growth. As a member of parliament’s Economics Committee, my focus has been on:

My Tax Reform Green Paper – that sets out the urgent need to lower income taxes, incentivise business investment, and tilt the scales in the housing market towards home ownership.
Stopping taxation of unrealised gains – which will ensure start-ups in Wentworth retain access to funding they need to innovate and grow.
Standing up for start-ups and small businesses – by securing important protections from new industrial relations laws.

FUTURE PLANS:

A stronger future depends on building a smarter economy. My priorities are to:

Reforming our tax system – to lower income taxes, boost business productivity and innovation, restore intergenerational equity, and support our climate transition.
Making Australia the best place to start and grow a business – by making it simpler to employ people by raising the threshold for defining a small business to at least 25 employees, and making it easier to raise funds.
Improving infrastructure spending – through my Better Value for Taxpayers Bill.
Restoring fiscal discipline – to help bring down inflation and interest rates, with a Charter for Budget Honesty.

Read more on my website.

Climate action

DELIVERED:

We’ve made progress to help protect our environment for future generations, with our electricity system now at 40% renewables. I’m proud to have helped deliver:

Climate Progress – We are now on track to meet our 43% emissions reduction target and we have tougher laws like the Safeguard Mechanism to crack down on pollution from Australia’s biggest emitters.
Efficiency standards for new vehicles – to cut new car emissions by 60% by 2030, lower fuel bills by up to $1,000, and boost EV take-up.
More action on nature protection – including increased investment via a new Nature Repair Market, stopping fossil fuel exploration at PEP-11 and properly assessing big projects’ impact on water resources.

FUTURE PLANS

But there’s still a long way to go and we are not moving fast enough. That’s why I’m focused on:

Accelerated action to meet and beat our 2030 target – delivering energy security this decade and protecting our environment for future generations.
Set an ambitious but achievable goal of up to 75% emissions reduction by 2035 – in line with the advice from the Climate Change Authority.
Seizing Australia’s superpower potential – by speeding up clean energy approvals and creating the jobs and industries of the future.
Getting serious about nature protection – by fixing our broken environmental laws, ending native forest logging, and taking global warming into account in environmental assessments.

Read more on my website.

Kinder community

DELIVERED:

It’s a privilege to stand-up for the values of our vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community here in Wentworth. I’m proud to have helped deliver:

New ombudsman to keep women safe on university campuses – as well as 26 weeks paid parental leave with superannuation paid on top, and $4.7 billion in funding to help those fleeing domestic violence.
New antisemitism envoy – who I will continue to work with to address the alarming rise in antisemitism.
LGBTQ community included in the census – finally recognising our wonderful diversity and helping to deliver better services for the community.
A leading electorate nationwide for community refugee sponsorship – as well as permanent protection for nearly 20,000 refugees who were left in limbo by the last Coalition government.

FUTURE PLANS:

Whilst some politicians are seeking to divide us, I want to build a fairer, kinder, and more united Australia. I’m focused on:

Stronger protections against antisemitism and for LGBTIQ+ people – with new laws to criminalise serious vilification and hate speech, as well as to stop LGBTIQ+ students and teachers from being kicked-out of school because of their sexuality.
Equality, safety, and respect for women and girls – including by fixing the flaws in the Leaving Violence Payment and reducing the impact of exacerbating factors by banning all gambling ads.
Compassionate treatment of refugees – including ending the uncertainty for eight thousand asylum seekers living in limbo for a decade and banning detention of children.
Take action on mental health, particularly for young men – with increased national funding and a local pilot to improve services in Wentworth.
Continue pushing for a new public high school – to improve educational options for Wentworth families.

Integrity in Politics

DELIVERED:

The election of a record-number of independents has started to change the culture in Canberra. I’m proud to have helped deliver:

A National Anti-Corruption Commission – to help crack-down on corrupt conduct by politicians and public officials.
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.
An Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission – to help change the culture in Canberra and hold politicians to account for wrongdoing.

FUTURE PLANS:

There is still a long way to go to restore integrity and trust in politics, and put an end to the major parties’ cosy duopoly in Canberra. I’m working to:

Ban all gambling ads – to help protect all Australians from gambling harm.
Increase transparency over the National Anti-Corruption Commission with more public hearings – and safeguard our democracy by putting an end to lies in election ads and making sure people know who’s donating money to political candidates before they vote.
A new Whistleblower Protection Authority – so that people who expose wrongdoing are protected, not put in jail.
End the bad behaviour in parliament – because Australians deserve better than the shouting, heckling, and abuse that politicians deliver in Question Time.