Category: Australian News

Today Leader of the ACT Greens Shane Rattenbury, alongside Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens, Jo Clay have launched a measured yet ambitious big corporations tax to safeguard essential services from being cut in this upcoming Budget.

Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury said the announcement will provide a pathway for the ACT Government to ensure the next budget does not cut essential services just to balance the books.

“In the last few months, we have seen the Labor Government rake up a $387 million overspend on the health budget and indicate they will need to make tough decisions to manage future spending.

“In the context of a budget that is pushing at the sides, and a national crisis in essential services like housing, healthcare and transport–we need a plan to fund the things Canberrans really need, right here, right now.”

The Greens plan announced today would introduce a new taxation threshold, for corporations with an Australia wide payroll of over $200 million a year, like Coles, Woolworths and the big banks – raising $107 million every year.

“Companies that operate in our city and make billions in profits, like Qantas and Wesfarmers, should be paying their fair share of tax. But instead, they’re raking in massive profits while Canberrans struggle with the cost of living,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“In just the first half of 2025, Woolworths pocketed a $1.7 billion profit—while a record number of Canberrans are turning to food banks because they can’t afford to eat. The contrast couldn’t be starker.”

Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens and Spokesperson for Finance, Jo Clay said the move will save services from being cut and help the government to fund more things Canberrans really need, like health and housing.

“Too many people are facing homelessness, sacrificing meals to feed their kids, or skipping medical appointments. We can’t afford service cuts when people in Canberra are already struggling,” Ms Clay said.

“Taking services away from our community is not good economic management – it increases disadvantage and pushes more people into crisis.

“We just saw the government need more money for the hospital because people cannot get affordable care before they reach an emergency. Balancing the books won’t work if you’re hurting the people you’re supposed to represent and kicking costs down the road.

“If the ACT Labor Government truly believe they are progressive and practical, then they will tax the corporations making billions in profits off everyday people in Canberra and redirect that into the services people need and want.”

Today’s announcement pushes upcoming changes to the ACT’s payroll tax to be more ambitious, fair and ensure the services people in Canberra want and need are actually funded.

The policy will not impact small or medium sized businesses. It will ensure the largest and most profitable corporations in the ACT are paying their fair share in tax.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Commissioner, Paul Brereton, attended at least 18 formal Defence functions in his uniform as a Major General since his appointment as NACC Commissioner in July 2023, according to budget estimates responses provided to Greens Senator Shoebridge today. 

Defence’s $55 billion budget, and the repeated procurement scandals inside the organisation, mean it is a prime target for the federal anti-corruption watchdog.

The answers to questions on notice detail how NACC Commissioner Paul Brereton maintains extensive ongoing military commitments, including an honorary Major General rank and Colonel Commandant role, raising serious questions about potential conflicts of interest. 

The responses show not only has Commissioner Brereton attended multiple military functions in uniform, accessed defence facilities, but he also successfully petitioned the Chief of Army to allow him to retain his Major General rank and entitlements despite hitting the statutory age limit. This was all at the same time as he has been tasked with independently investigating Defence in his role as NACC Commissioner.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Defence and Justice, said:

‘What these answers make clear is that every time Commissioner Brereton puts on his Major General uniform he is actively putting himself into the Defence hierarchy and subject to the lawful direction from Defence leadership.

“As recently as June last year Commissioner Brereton personally asked the Chief of Army for a favour, to keep his uniform and his position as a Major General, and we would never have found this out if we didn’t force these answers out of him.

“It’s such an obvious conflict of interest when the head of the NACC is seeking favours from Defence leadership at the same time that he is meant to be fearlessly investigating serious corruption inside Defence.

“These answers show Commissioner Brereton repeatedly going to swanky dinners and formal functions with Defence, in fact he has attended an ADF event nearly every month since heading up the NACC.

“Commissioner Brereton’s position is increasingly untenable. The NACC needs to be beyond reproach and have the full trust of the public. 

“Playing military dressup and seeking favours from Defence, while being tasked with investigating them, breaks trust with the public and shows a serious lack of judgement.”

The Australian and Victorian Governments’ North East Link project continues to forge ahead with two massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) relaunching from Lower Plenty Road to continue their journey towards Bulleen.

Earlier this year, TBMs Gillian and Zelda both broke through the earth into a 30 metre deep box at Lower Plenty Road, which will soon create a vital interchange point for the North East Link project.

Recently, the TBMs also relaunched to excavate the remaining stretch of the 6.5 kilometre tunnels to Bulleen to build Victoria’s longest road tunnels.

The TBMs are 15.6 metres in diameter and 90 metres long, and have each travelled 1.6 kilometres – or about 40 per cent of their total journey – collectively installing more than 16,000 concrete segments that were made locally in Benalla.

Construction will continue at the Lower Plenty Road site to build the entry and exit ramps to the tunnels.

Space equivalent to five MCGs will be developed into the new Borlase Reserve parklands along Banyule Creek, returning green space to the community.

Major upgrades along the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road are ongoing, with foundation structures being built to connect the freeways to the tunnels.

Crews also continue works to realign Bulleen Road onto its permanent alignment, with these works expected to be completed later this year.

More than 8,000 people are currently working across the North East Link project, with 10 per cent of work hours being delivered by apprentices, trainees and cadets.

The project is set to create more than 12,000 jobs in total.

The North East Link tunnels, M80 Ring Road Completion and Eastern Freeway Upgrades are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments and will be complete in 2028.

The project is expected to slash travel times by up to 35 minutes, and take 15,000 trucks off local roads.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“This is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Victoria’s history – creating thousands of jobs and transforming the way people move across Melbourne.

“Infrastructure projects like this help people to move more quickly and more safely around their communities, reducing commute times and reducing traffic on local roads.”

Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan

“This project has been talked about for 60 years – we’re getting on and building this missing link to get families home sooner and trucks off local roads.”

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

“This project will change the way people move through the North East of Melbourne, supporting the efficient flow of freight and ensuring that journeys are faster and safer for commuters.”

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams

“The North East Link will slash travel times by up to 35 minutes and take 15,000 trucks off local roads every day.”

The Australian Greens have urged the Albanese Government to urgently lift income support recipients out of poverty and put an end to the punitive ‘mutual’ obligations program.

Re-appointed Greens Social Services spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne urged the government to prioritise raising the rate of income support, given the focus on domestic violence prevention by Minister Tanya Plibersek.

As Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody has said: “Raising JobSeeker and related payments to liveable levels in the federal budget would help lift about half a million women out of poverty. Bolstering women’s economic security is crucial to giving them the means to leave and remain free of violence.”

Australian Greens spokesperson for Social Services, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Raising the rate of income support is a moral, economic and social necessity. Every day that the rate is not raised is another day of unconscionable suffering for those below the poverty line.

“Minister Plibersek has said that she wants to focus on women and reducing domestic violence while she holds the portfolio of social services. If that is true, nothing would improve women’s safety and security more than raising the rate of income support above the poverty line.

“Labor’s own economic advisory committee has called on them to raise the rate. Labor knows this is the right thing to do. Any politician who thinks the current rate is adequate should try to pay rent, eat, and generally survive on $20,000 per year.

“I also strongly urge the Government to end the brutal and wasteful mutual obligations system.

“Australia’s current system of privatised employment services and mutual obligations is a labyrinthine system of ticket clippers, including donors to the Labor party. It’s preposterous and it needs to come to an end.

“The minister could switch off the mutual obligations meat grinder with a snap of her fingers. I’d strongly encourage her to do so.”

Queensland Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne was reappointed to the following portfolios:

• Primary & Secondary Education
• Social Services (incl. Government Services & Employment Services)
• Older Australians
• Transition, Regional Development & Northern Australia
• Sport

The Greens have cautiously welcomed the deferral of the major parties’ Aged Care Act to 1 November, which will provide a brief reprieve for older people facing increased fees to access aged care. 

Labor previously joined forces with the Coalition to block Greens amendments that would have stopped older people being slugged more for their care and created criminal penalties for bad providers, a reform Labor promised before the 2022 election.

Greens spokesperson on Older People, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“There are serious questions for the new minister to answer, including how much more older people are going to have to pay for aged care? 

“Costs are going to go up for older people because of these changes, and while a deferral is welcome, we need to see a plan from the Minister to protect older people – because right now, there is none. 

“Under the reforms passed by Labor and the Coalition, many older people will now be required to pay more without any enforceable rights to quality care.

“The Royal Commission offered a blueprint to reform a broken aged care system by putting the rights of older people at its heart, but Labor instead teamed up with the Coalition and the for-profit aged care industry to pass new laws that will bolster the bottom lines of providers at the expense of older Australians.

“Despite all of the shocking witness testimony about the appalling treatment many older people have suffered in this broken market-based system, Labor is simply doubling down.

“If greater reliance on a user-pays model is the answer, then we’re asking the wrong questions. Older people aren’t commodities. It should be an obligation of any moral society for the Government to guarantee high-quality care for all. 

“The Greens will continue to push for a phasing out of for-profit providers and for an aged care system that puts the rights of older people first.”

The Victorian Greens have condemned the Labor Government for failing to fund the operation of 28 high-security crisis units for women and children fleeing family violence – leaving them empty during a worsening housing and domestic violence crisis.

Despite $7.8 million in federal funding for construction, the State Labor Government refused to provide the $3.9 million needed to run the units in 2025–26. The Sanctuary model, run by Safe Steps, has a 98% success rate and saves the state money compared to using motels.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Family and Domestic Violence, Anasina Gray-Barberio: 

“It’s unconscionable that in the middle of a family violence crisis, Labor refuses to fund crisis units that could save lives.

They can find nearly a billion dollars for prison beds, but not a fraction of that to protect women and children fleeing violence. What kind of cruel priorities are these?

Every night these units sit empty is a night someone sleeps in fear. That should haunt every person in Labor who was responsible for this decision. They should be ashamed.” 

The Greens look forward to working constructively with Treasurer Jim Chalmers to make sure the proposed tax on the superannuation accounts of the wealthiest Australians is as strong and fair as it can be.

“Over time Australia’s superannuation system has become less about providing a dignified retirement for working people, and more of a vehicle for wealth accumulation. This needs to change,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“The Greens want to ensure that very wealthy Australians pay their fair share of tax, so that governments can do more to support people who need it.”

“Obviously we have not yet seen the legislation or regulations that Dr Chalmers intends to introduce.”

“We look forward to constructive discussions with the Treasurer to make sure the legislation is as strong and fair as it can be.”

“We have no intention of negotiating through the media or giving a running commentary on those discussions.”

Greens Deputy Leader & spokesperson for Anti-Racism Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the Albanese Government’s establishment of the Office for Multicultural Affairs, which will sit within the Department of Home Affairs, stating that it highlights the neglect of anti-racism.

Senator Faruqi said:

“The Australian Human Rights Commission has called on the government to commit to a whole-of-society anti-racism agenda, but the Government continues to bury its head in the sand.

“Skindeep versions of multiculturalism put the onus on communities to shut up, get along and be grateful when anti-racism requires those with power, like politicians, to stop harming the marginalised. 

“Suffice to say, any office that sits within the Home Affairs Department, with its racialized border control regime and over policing communities of colour, will undermine anti-racism work. 

“Just this week, we saw neo-Nazis openly gathering in Melbourne with their sickeningly racist calls. The need for dedicated, well-resourced anti-racism work has never been more urgent.

“The national anti-racism framework must be fully funded and implemented as a matter of priority and urgency.

“The major parties deliberately neglect, and deny racism while hiding behind whitewashed tokenism. All this does is bury the truth, harm the marginalised and entrench white privilege.

“The Greens are the only party with an anti-racism portfolio, and the only party with a plan to build an anti-racist country.”

The Albanese Government must act in response to the US abusing its veto power on the UN Security Council by being the sole vote against a ceasefire and aid motion for Gaza.

The US vetoed the resolution proposed by all 10 non-permanent Security Council members that sought an immediate ceasefire, to allow aid to enter Gaza and the return of hostages. The final vote was 14-1 in favour, but lost due to the US veto.

Tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces as part of the ongoing genocide, with a series of killings of people lining up for food aid occurring over recent days. 

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson on Defence and Foreign Affairs, said: “Fear of Donald Trump must not gag the Albanese Government at this time. The Albanese Government has been taking its talking points from the US throughout the genocide, this has got us no closer to peace. 

“The most meaningful response to the US veto would be for Australia to join the growing list of nations imposing direct sanctions on the Israeli war industry. 

“The sanctions regime imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine provides a ready template. This includes sanctions on critical military resources such as aluminium and armoured steel and an immediate halt to the two-way arms trade.

“The far-right Netanyahu government has shown that it can just brush off the stern letters and concerned statements that have flowed from the Albanese government these past 18 months. 

“Meaningful action right now would include the cancellation of the $1 billion arms contract with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems as part of ending the two-way arms trade.
 
“Unfortunately, we have seen the Albanese Government time and time again try to appease the US instead of being a force for peace in the world. This must stop now.”

On World Environment Day, the Minns Labor Government is proud to announce the Nungatta feral predator-free area in South-East Forest National Park is now complete, providing a safe-haven for some of NSW’s most vulnerable native species.

Covering 2,000-hectares, the project will protect more than 13 threatened native species such as the eastern pygmy-possum, yellow-bellied glider and powerful owl and allow for the reintroduction of up to nine locally extinct mammals.

A 25-kilometre-long feral-proof fence now surrounds the area, following the completion of works. It is patrolled at least three times a week, with additional patrols after storms or fires.

More than 40 remote cameras are constantly monitoring the area, to detect any potential incursions by feral animals such as feral cats or foxes.

The Minns Labor Government is proud to see the completion of Nungatta, which one of ten feral predator-free areas established by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the first of its kind on the South Coast. It was chosen from more than 35 potential sites due to its suitable habitat for reintroduced species.

The critically endangered smoky mouse became the first species to be reintroduced into the area, in September 2024. Since then, 79 smoky mice have been released and ecologists recently detected the first juvenile smoky mice known to be born in the area.

The long-footed potoroo, eastern bettong, eastern quoll and New Holland mouse are expected to be reintroduced in the coming years.

Feral predator-free areas are a critical tool in preventing further extinctions and promoting the recovery of species most at risk of predation by feral cats and foxes. Across Australia, feral cats alone are estimated to kill more than 1.5 billion native animals every year.

The program represents one of NSW’s most significant threatened species restoration initiatives, and is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and NPWS.

For more information on feral predator-free areas visit the Feral predator-free areas project web page.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“The opening of Nungatta demonstrates the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to protecting andrestoring our environment, including native animals and their habitats.

“The team at National Parks along with the Saving our Species program has already successfully reintroduced the critically endangered smoky mouse, and with the fence now complete, Nungatta will be a safe haven to even more threatened species.”

Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland:

“We are proud to host one the state’s ten feral predator-free areas, which is the first of its kind on the South Coast of NSW. This area of bushland was chosen because of its suitable habitat for reintroduced species.

“It’s wonderful to know this safe area will help bring locally extinct species back to this corner of the state.”