North Sydney independent MP Kylea Tink reflects on first 75 days in office

North Sydney federal MP Kylea Tink has reflected on her first 75 days representing the electorate of North Sydney after dethroning former Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman at May’s election.

North Sydney federal MP Kylea Tink has reflected on her first 75 days representing the electorate of North Sydney after dethroning former Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman at May’s election.

The independent MP says she is pushing forward with delivering the promises she made to voters in the lead-up to polling day through policies addressing issues including climate change and integrity in politics.

Ms Tink was one of eight so-called ‘teal’ candidates elected at the federal poll – representing one of 16 crossbench MPs and a record number of 58 women in the House of Representatives.

She said her achievements to date have included advocating for action on climate change and a push to deliver legislated vehicle and fuel efficiency standards in Australia.

“The climate legislation that passed in the first two weeks and the amendments the crossbench pushed for were significant,” she said.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink alongside fellow independents Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel.

“I’ve also been pushing for vehicle and fuel emissions standards (and) we’ve started planning for the federal seat of North Sydney to become one of the first urban net zero emission zones in Australia.

“We’ve been able to have a community battery confirmed in Cammeray and the next step is to engage with local councils, state members and mayors on the process.

Ms Tink was sworn in on July 26.

“We’ve also engaged the community around the job summit by surveying the community to get people’s feedback on employment, training and skills in North Sydney.

“The national anti-corruption legislation we’ve been advocating for will also have significant impact including through the powers of the commissioner.”

Since being elected, Ms Tink has also used parliament to question major infrastructure projects on the north shore including the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link projects which she called to “be suspended until the community can be sure that all viable alternatives have been explored” and potential impacts mitigated.

She said she has also uncovered through Labor that there was no federal funding allocated for the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Kylea Tink was elected at May’s Federal poll.

“The absence of such funding, I would suggest, further challenges the very basis of the project,” she said

Outside the ‘Canberra bubble’, Ms Tink said her whirlwind first days have included meeting with residents on the north shore and listening to local issues.

“In the electoral office we’ve opened up 700 cases (from constituents) focusing including issues about immigration, environment, the NDIS and foreign affairs and we’ve been able to get an outcome for 75 per cent of those.

“Being able to get those outcomes on a local level has been amazing.”

Ms Tink said she was confident independents could still enact change during the current term of parliament, despite Labor’s majority in the House of Representatives.

“I think we’re having a massive impact in a very short period of time,” she said. “For instance the first draft of the climate bill compared to the final bill that went through the house was significant (and) there’s no doubt the bills were improved through consultation with the cross bench.

“The government is consulting the crossbench on legislative reform and they’re coming to us and seeking input There’s so much about this job that is such an opportunity and responsibility but the thing I’m most overwhelmed with is being able to effect change at a national level and at the same time achieve outcomes for the electorate.”