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Today the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are taking another important step in building Australia’s future, announcing $1 billion to better connect Western Sydney to the word.

Jointly funded by both governments, the project will upgrade Fifteenth Avenue to create a critical transit corridor from Liverpool to the new Western Sydney International Airport.

Over 22,000 vehicles per day travel along the congested two-lane Fifteenth Avenue, with around 8 per cent of those being trucks. Liverpool City Council predicts a significant increase in housing in the areas immediately around Fifteenth Avenue, which could see as many as 63,000 additional people living there by 2041.

Fifteenth Avenue will connect the new Bradfield city centre, the new Metro, and the airport, enabling multi-modal travel including fast and easy public transport along the route.

It will also unlock jobs and housing in key growth areas and provide better access to education and opportunities for Sydney’s growing west.

Western Sydney is the fastest growing region of New South Wales, and this funding is part of both governments’ ongoing investment in the future of the region. This adds to existing major investments in Western Sydney, including the $10.4 billion Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport, $2 billion M12 Motorway, $1 billion Mamre Road Stage 2 Upgrade and $800 million Elizabeth Drive – Priority Sections Upgrade.  

The Australian and NSW governments are each committing $500 million to this project.

The Australian Government is investing nearly $18 billion towards transport infrastructure projects in Western Sydney. 

For more information on projects funded under the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“My Government wants Western Sydney to be a gateway to the rest of the world.

“We want it to thrive as the engine room for jobs, economic growth and opportunity.

“This half a billion dollars’ worth of new funding from the Australian Government is part of our commitment to delivering more resilient infrastructure for all Australians.”

Premier of NSW Chris Minns:

“This critical investment is a game changer for Western Sydney that will connect thousands of jobs at Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis with Liverpool.

“We promised to deliver fifteenth avenue and I’m very proud that together with the Albanese Federal Government – we are delivering this project.

“The Aerotropolis has the opportunity to transform Western Sydney and this road link is critical to delivering the jobs of the future in Australia’s fastest growing region.

“Without this critical road we couldn’t deliver the growth and jobs the Aerotropolis has the potential to deliver.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“We’re connecting Sydney to Western Sydney, and Western Sydney to the world, by investing in infrastructure that will boost jobs, unlock housing, and shape the way we live. 

“From Liverpool to Parramatta, Bankstown to Cabramatta, we’re not just building roads, we’re building Australia’s future.”

NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car:

“Together with the Commonwealth Government, the Minns Labor Government is committed to building better communities in Western Sydney and connecting our local community.

“We are investing in the suburbs where the former Liberal National government allowed development to occur but failed to deliver essential roads and infrastructure.

“We are ensuring the necessary investments to improve access to the new airport, which is a key part of Western Sydney’s economic future.”

NSW Minister for Roads John Graham:

“The jobs and investment being brought by Western Sydney Airport will be squandered if Fifteenth Avenue remains a two-lane road from a time gone by.

“With this substantial investment in the road infrastructure of Western Sydney we are building a highway to economic opportunity.”

Member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley:

“I have been advocating for an upgrade of 15th Avenue for more than 15 years from the time that Austral Housing developments were approved by Liverpool Council and the NSW government.

“Now with the opening of the Western Sydney Airport less than 2 years away, it has taken a Federal and State Labor Government working together to deliver the much needed upgrade.

“More than 10 years of Liberal governments did not recognise how important this upgrade was, and it has meant that residents have been putting up with long delays in traffic jams because development has far outstripped the road network upgrades.”

Today I announce the appointment of three highly qualified individuals to lead Australian posts in Brussels, Belgrade and Lae.

I am pleased to announce the following appointments:

• General (Rtd) Angus Campbell AO as Australia’s next Ambassador to Belgium
• Mr Peter Truswell as Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia
• Mr Brenton Kanowski as Australia’s Consul-General in Lae.

Australia’s representatives overseas prosecute our national interests and through their diplomatic engagement help uphold the norms and rules that have underpinned decades of peace and prosperity.

General Campbell will also serve as the Ambassador to the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Luxembourg. His experience as Chief of the Defence Force from 2018 until 2024 will help deepen Australia’s peace and security cooperation with NATO, both in the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific.

I thank the outgoing ambassadors and consul-general for their contributions.

Today I will depart for the United States to attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington DC.

The invitation to attend is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States and I look forward to representing Australia.

The United States is our vital ally, closest global partner, and most important strategic relationship. The US is also Australia’s most significant economic partner and, together, we continue to boost each other’s prosperity.

While in Washington DC, I will meet with members of the Trump Administration and Congress.

I look forward to discussing how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our cooperation.

The Foreign Ministers of India and Japan will also attend the inauguration. I look forward to engaging with my Quad counterparts. We share an unwavering commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

The Australian Greens will raise PhD stipends to the national minimum wage as part of their higher education policy launching in February. 

Currently, PhD students live off stipends that are often below the poverty line, despite contributing to crucial research and innovation. 

As part of the broader higher education policy package, the Greens will:

• Increase the full-time base Research Training Program annual stipend to the national minimum wage which is currently $47,626 
• Expand paid parental leave to PhD students, regardless of employment status 

Lines attributable to Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Higher Education: 

“PhD students deserve so much better than being abandoned to the poverty line. This situation is unacceptable—raising RTP stipends to at least minimum wage and access to parental leave entitlements is long overdue, yet Labor refuses to act.

“It is a real indictment on our higher education system that PhD students are forced to skip meals, take up exhausting night jobs or rely on their partners’ wages to be able to survive while doing their research. It’s no wonder less and less people are enrolling to do a PhD.

“On top of such low stipends, PhD students are cruelly locked out of the government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme, punishing those who dare to start a family. This is an outrageous oversight that exposes Labor’s indifference to young researchers and future academics.

“The gendered impact of stipends cannot be ignored. Having started my PhD in my thirties with two young kids, I could not have completed it without the support of my husband. 

“Not only are PhD students being put at risk by these poor conditions, but also the research, workforce and innovation future of Australia. Investment in PhD students is an investment in all of society.

“The Greens are committed to delivering positive change for students and researchers. We will keep fighting for PhD students to receive liveable stipends, parental leave, and the dignity they deserve.”

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The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We acknowledge that these lands were stolen and sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Responding to new seat-based polling showing an overwhelming majority support ending native forest logging, the Greens have called on the PM to work to close logging loopholes in our environment laws when Parliament returns in February.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens spokesperson for the Environment, Senator for South Australia:

“Time is up for native forest logging. Australians want the chainsaws and the bulldozers to stop.

“An overwhelming majority of voters want to close the loopholes that allow our native forests to be logged and bulldozed. 

“Labor would be wise to listen to the voters rather than the logging and mining lobby, and work with the Greens to protect nature for good. 

“When Parliament returns in February the Prime Minister will have a choice: work with the Greens to protect our forests, or ram through his government’s laws that allow the logging of critical habitat to continue with Peter Dutton.

“We can end these logging loopholes before the election if the PM is constructive and willing to protect the environment. I urge the PM to respect public opinion and protect the environment instead of selling out to the logging and mining lobby. 

“From inner city Brisbane seats to regional Tasmania, a majority of voters want to end native forest logging. It’s popular and it’s the right thing to do for nature.

“An area of forest the size of the MCG is logged and bulldozed every 2 minutes in Australia with wildlife like the Koala, the Swift Parrot and the Greater Glider hurtling towards extinction due to the destruction of their native forest habitat.

“Saving forests from logging is good for the climate, good for wildlife and good for the community.”

Senator Nick McKim is Greens Spokesperson for Forests & Senator for Tasmania:

“Polling confirms what we already know: people overwhelmingly want native forest logging to end.”

“Labor and the Liberals are ignoring massive public support for protecting our forests, backing the corporations destroying them instead.”

“If Labor doesn’t get on board with ending native forest logging, it’s going to cost them votes at this election.”

“The Greens have been fighting to defend native forests for years because it’s vital for tackling the climate and extinction crises. It’s time the major parties caught up with the people they claim to represent.”

Polling found majority support for ending native forest logging across 5 federal electorates:

Brisbane – 74%

Griffith – 76%  

Eden-Morano – 60%

Richmond – 72%

Lyons – 58%