Sophie Scamps is an Australian independent politician, general practitioner, and former athlete.
31 Facts About Sophie Scamps
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Sophie Scamps completed her higher education at the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and University of Oxford.
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In 2020, Sophie Scamps became involved in politics, co-founding the "Voices of Mackellar" group, and was chosen as the independent candidate for Mackellar.
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Sophie Scamps was born on 15 March 1971, and grew up in Turramurra, New South Wales.
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Sophie Scamps's team achieved the 1992 Olympic qualifying standard of 3:38.00 in that race, but Scamps was not ultimately selected by Athletics Australia to start any races at the 1992 Olympics.
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Sophie Scamps studied Medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1995.
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In 2019, Sophie Scamps co-founded the Our Blue Dot environmental movement, which campaigned for waste reduction and reduction of carbon emissions.
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Sophie Scamps left Voices of Mackellar in January 2021, and created Mackellar Rising, a group designed to find an independent candidate.
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Sophie Scamps was one of the 23 independents who ran.
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Sophie 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.
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Sophie Scamps's campaign focused on the issues of climate, integrity and gender diversity.
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Sophie Scamps has stated that she became motivated to stand for election when she received a survey from the incumbent Liberal Member of Parliament Jason Falinski, which omitted climate change as an issue important to Mackellar residents.
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Sophie Scamps has said that Julia Gillard's Misogyny Speech inspired her to enter politics.
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Sophie 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.
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In early May 2022, fake election posters were placed around Mackellar, falsely claiming that Sophie Scamps was a member of the Australian Greens.
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In July 2022, Sophie 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.
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In March 2023, Sophie Scamps tabled it as a private member's bill entitled "Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2023 ".
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Sophie 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.
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In February, Sophie Scamps called for federal recognition of the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides carried out by the Ottoman Empire.
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In June, Sophie Scamps introduced a private member's bill to Parliament entitled "Healthy Kids Advertising Bill 2023".
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Sophie 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.
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Sophie Scamps described the proposal as "a colossal attempt at greenwashing".
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Sophie Scamps supported the unsuccessful campaign to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which was voted upon in the October 2023 referendum.
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Sophie Scamps spoke at a number of public forums discussing the importance of the referendum succeeding.
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Sophie Scamps was supported by the Greens as well as MPs Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel, Monique Ryan and Andrew Wilkie.
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On 17 October, Sophie Scamps voted for a resolution in parliament that condemned the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
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In November 2023, Sophie Scamps led a campaign to ban native forest logging in Australia.
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Sophie Scamps 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.
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Sophie Scamps assisted the Mona Vale Surf Club in her electorate to apply for a Commonwealth grant to purchase a beach-accessible wheelchair.
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In February 2024, Sophie 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 Gaza war.
31.
Sophie Scamps' family hosted a family of Ukrainian refugees from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.