In 2020, Scamps became involved in politics, co-founding the "Voices of Mackellar" group, and was chosen as the Teal independent candidate for Mackellar. At the 2022 federal election, she was elected with 52.5% of the after-preferences vote after a campaign that focused on climate change, integrity, and respect for women.
In 2019, Scamps co-founded the Our Blue Dot environmental movement, which campaigned for waste reduction and reduction of carbon emissions.[15]
2022 election campaign
In 2020, using the "kitchen table conversations" model previously employed by former Indi independent Cathy McGowan, Scamps and four like-minded locals created the "Voices of Mackellar" group.[16][17] Scamps left Voices of Mackellar in January 2021, and created Mackellar Rising, a group designed to find an independent candidate.[16]
Backed by Climate 200, as well as a large grass-roots local campaign, Scamps announced her candidacy as an independent for the 2022 Australian federal election in December 2021.[18] She was one of the 23 independents who ran. Scamps is classified as a Teal independent, as she was one of a group of independents at the 2022 federal election supported by Climate 200.[19] Her campaign focused on the issues of climate, integrity and gender diversity.[20] Scamps has stated that she became motivated to stand for election when she received a survey from the incumbent LiberalMember of ParliamentJason Falinski, which omitted climate change as an issue important to Mackellar residents.[16] Scamps has also said that Julia Gillard's Misogyny Speech inspired her to enter politics.[21]
Scamps' campaign was primarily community-funded, as she received A$1,558,960 from 828 separate donors to her election campaign, and spent A$1,216,746.[22]
In early May 2022, fake election posters were placed around Mackellar, falsely claiming that Scamps was a member of the Australian Greens.[23]
In July 2022, Scamps announced she would introduce a bill to parliament to prevent public servants and politicians being appointed to public offices based on personal connections, rather than based on skill.[26] In March 2023, Scamps tabled it as a private member's bill entitled "Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2023 ('Ending Jobs for Mates Bill')".[27] The bill was written with the support of the Centre for Public Integrity.[28] Scamps stated the bill specifically targeted appointments such as Kathryn Campbell's appointment as an advisor on AUKUS, with an annual salary of A$900,000.[29]
In August, Scamps called for a parliamentary investigation into the secret appointment of Prime Minister Scott Morrison to several ministries.[30] In September, Scamps introduced a motion to the House of Representatives, proposing that the Parliament recognised climate change as a health emergency.[31] Scamps also stated in Parliament her support for lifting the Medicare rebate to increase the number of General Practitioners (GPs), stating "Not enough GPs are being trained because the stagnant Medicare rebate was not enough to attract them, especially when other medical specialties are better remunerated."[31]
2023
In February, Scamps called for federal recognition of the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides carried out by the Ottoman Empire.[32] In June, Scamps introduced a private member's bill to Parliament entitled "Healthy Kids Advertising Bill 2023".[33] The bill proposed to ban advertising of junk food on television and radio between 6 am and 9:30 pm, and a blanket ban on online advertising of junk food.[33] Scamps' bill was publicly supported by fellow Teal MP Monique Ryan, the Australian Medical Association, Dietitians Australia, the Cancer Council, the Food for Health Alliance, the Public Health Association of Australia, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the Heart Foundation.[33][34] In response, the federal health minister Mark Butler met with Scamps and announced a A$500,000 feasibility study on restricting junk food marketing to children.[33]
In August, Scamps joined with Ryan to criticise government legislation allowing companies to store carbon dioxide emissions in undersea repositories in international waters. Scamps described the proposal as "a colossal attempt at greenwashing".[35] In October, Scamps introduced a private member's bill to the House to expand the existing "Water Trigger", requiring the federal environment minister to assess gas fracking projects for risks of damage to local water resources.[36] Scamps' bill was seconded by fellow teal Zali Steggall.[36]
Scamps supported the unsuccessful campaign to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which was voted upon in the October 2023 referendum. She spoke at a number of public forums discussing the importance of the referendum succeeding.[37][38] In October, Scamps called for a parliamentary inquiry into the harmful effects of gambling advertising on young people.[39] She was supported by the Greens as well as MPs Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel, Monique Ryan and Andrew Wilkie.[39] On 17 October, Scamps voted for a resolution in parliament that condemned the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[40] The Greens proposed an amendment to the resolution, adding a statement that said Parliament also condemned "war crimes perpetrated by the State of Israel, including the bombing of Palestinian civilians".[40] Scamps supported the amendment, but it was not successful.[40] The resolution passed with the support of the government, opposition, and several crossbenchers.[41]
In November 2023, Scamps led a campaign to ban native forest logging in Australia.[42] She was supported by former environment ministers Robert Hill and Peter Garrett, all other federal teal independents, Senator David Pocock, environmental advocacy groups, and other state and federal parliamentarians.[42] Scamps also assisted the Mona Vale Surf Club in her electorate to apply for a Commonwealth grant to purchase a beach-accessible wheelchair.[43] Her office subsequently ran a free grant-writing workshop to instruct community organisations in applying for government funding.[43]
2024
In February 2024, Scamps called for the Australian government to restore funding to UNRWA after it was withdrawn in January, and for there to be an immediate ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.[44][45] In response, on 5 March, former Speaker and Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop stated on Sky News Australia that Scamps was "part and parcel of the antisemitic movement". Bishop apologised and withdrew her comments a week later.[46]
^Mallon, Bill; Hymans, Richard; Johnson, Dave. "Olympic Games Qualifying Standards"(PDF). Track & Field News. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^Chapman, Ric (1 March 1992). "Clark in selection dilemma". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 84. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^White, Gary (11 March 2022). "Doctors in politics". Australian Medical Association (NSW). Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
^ abAttwooll, Jolyon (6 September 2022). "New MP makes plea for more GPs". Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
^Cohen, Dale (24 September 2023). "Yes draws a crowd". Northern Beaches Advocate. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
^Cohen, Dale (27 July 2023). "Scamps backs Yes campaign". Northern Beaches Advocate. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
