Hi Vicky,

We've just wrapped up a sitting fortnight in Canberra with some really significant updates for our community. But first, I wanted to write to you about the recent speculation about the future of community independents and whether that could include a new party.

I got into politics because our community was being taken for granted. I believed we deserved someone in Canberra who wasn't encumbered by party shenanigans or political games - someone who would listen to experts and the community, look at the evidence, and work constructively across parliament to deliver a prosperous, fair and safe country where we look after our environment and each other. That is what most of you tell me you want too.

Lately I've been talking with fellow community independents about how we can collaborate more effectively on the issues where our communities' interests align. But these are conversations, not commitments - I genuinely want to hear what you think. Wentworth is who I represent in Canberra, and that will always be my priority.

Wrap up from Parliament

Tax reform

I have been pushing for tax reform since I was first elected to Parliament.

This sitting week, the government's proposed tax changes from the budget were debated in parliament. After putting forward amendments, I made the difficult decision not to support the bill. I want to be clear about why.

I support the goal of rebalancing the tax system - that means reducing taxes on wages and paying for it by reducing concessions on assets. I support restricting negative gearing to new homes. These are important for fairness in our tax system, and to allow every generation to thrive. But I had two serious concerns with what the government proposed:

First, the government is raising $77 billion in new revenue with no commitment to returning it to Australians as income tax cuts. If we want working Australians to actually get ahead, we need to cut the tax they pay on every dollar earned. The $250 offset is not enough.

Second, the indexation model for capital gains tax risks reducing incentives for innovation and risk-taking. We do need to reduce the CGT discount so we tax capital and wages more closely - but we also need to drive risk-taking to grow our economy and create new businesses and jobs. The government’s current model doesn’t get that balance right and they have themselves admitted the system doesn’t work for parts of the economy like startups and low capital businesses, but the legislation didn’t address these problems.

I put forward four amendments to fix these issues, including one which gave all money raised back as income tax cuts and one which excluded active businesses from the CGT legislation. Instead of showing they were willing to make this legislation better, the government rejected all four - as well as every other amendment put forward by crossbenchers and the opposition - and used their majority to push the bill through the House in a week. I was very disappointed by this. If reform doesn't have broad support it won't stick, and the next government will simply undo it. That helps nobody.

But this is not the end of it. The bill now goes to a Senate inquiry where I hope the current issues with the changes are addressed. I would like to be able to support this reform in the future as we know the status quo isn't working.

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with me on this - I have spent four years fighting for tax reform and I am not stopping now. Please keep the feedback coming.

AUKUS - Australians deserve transparency

I raised a Matter of Public Importance calling on the government to be transparent about the mounting risks to the AUKUS submarine program. The US is failing to produce submarines at the required rate, and the government has agreed Australia will not receive any new Virginia-class submarines - with no clear justification that this serves our national interest. The government keeps reassuring Australians that everything will be fine, but as I said in parliament: hope is not a strategy. Australians deserve honesty about the real risks and a clear plan for how our national security interests will be protected. Watch my full speech here.

Gambling reform - the government must go further

The government released its exposure draft on gambling advertising reform - an early version of legislation put out for public feedback. It falls well short of what is needed. The Murphy Review made 31 recommendations on tackling gambling harm; this draft barely addresses three. Among those ignored are a total ban on gambling advertising and a ban on inducements like bonus bets and boosted odds - tools deliberately designed to prey on people most vulnerable to harm. Allowing this to continue is disgraceful. I asked the Minister for Communications directly why these inducements were left out and did not receive an answer. Watch my question here. I will keep pushing.

A shoutout to Wentworth's volunteers

Earlier this month was Volunteer Appreciation Week and I was delighted to give a speech in parliament recognising the incredible breadth of volunteer effort that makes Wentworth the community it is. You can watch the full speech here.

Come along to Politics in the Pub!

On June 16^th, I’ll be hosting a Politics in the Pub in Paddington. Please come along for a drink and a chat - I'd love to see you there. Spots are limited so RSVP now.

Community News

Happy Pride Month!

June is a wonderful celebration of our rainbow community and the joy of being who you are. Last weekend, I had so much fun launching Pride Fest at Qtopia Sydney. With over 300 events this year - trivia, karaoke, film screenings, floristry, line dancing and more - I recommend you check out the program and get involved.

Building connection across our schools in Wentworth

Recently I joined students from Kincoppal Rose Bay and Emanuel School for Kids Breaking Bread - a wonderful initiative started by four local mums who wanted to create stronger ties between communities through their children. Students from Years 3 and 4 came together to make breads that symbolise community within Jewish and Christian cultures, building friendships along the way. As co-founder Anna put it: "The children are actively learning and embracing the similarities in our different cultures." If you're a parent or educator, please look into bringing it to your school - reach out at [email protected].

We also recently held the final session of our student-led social cohesion initiative, bringing together nearly 50 Year 11 and 12 students from 17 schools - private and public, single-sex and co-ed. The goal was simple: to build genuine connections across school communities and give young people the tools to engage respectfully across difference. Watching them connect with each other was a real highlight. Students identified the challenges, shaped the solutions, and have helped plan social cohesion programs for Year 8s across our schools, the roll-out for which will start in the second half of this year.

Artist in Residence - Parliament House

Parliament House is seeking its next Artist-in-Residence, open to visual artists at any career stage. This is a fantastic opportunity and I really encourage any of our talented artists in Wentworth to apply. Applications close 16 June - full details here.

Clean energy programs in the Eastern Suburbs

There has been a lot of good news lately on the clean energy front - renewable generation is growing, emissions are coming down, and the transition is gathering real momentum. If you want to find out what programs are available to help Eastern Suburbs residents make the switch, take a look here.

My First Speech competition

The My First Speech competition invites Year 10, 11 and 12 students to write a 3-minute speech on a topic they're passionate about, imagining themselves as a newly-elected MP. The winner from each year group wins an expenses-paid trip to present at Parliament House. Entries close 20 July - click here for more info.

There have been lots of updates over the last few weeks that I’d love to hear your thoughts on, so please get in touch with my office if you have any questions, concerns or feedback. I want to hear from you.

Warmest,

Allegra Spender MP