Category: Australian News

In response to statements from the Treasurer tat the Budget will see wages go backwards for another two years and paid parental leave measures will also be delayed, the Greens say the government was delaying cost of living relief while making room in the Budget for Stage 3 tax cuts for the wealthy.

“Labor is spending over a quarter of a trillion dollars on Stage 3 tax cuts for politicians and billionaires while delaying cost of living relief for everyday people,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Labor’s budget gives Clive Palmer a $9,000 a year tax cut but makes everyday people wait years for a pay rise and cost of living relief.

“Axing the Stage 3 tax cuts would free up room in the Budget for immediate cost of living relief, like dental into Medicare and free childcare.

“Telling everyday people to wait years for a wage rise and cost of living relief is unacceptable. 

“Labor must axe the Stage 3 tax cuts and the billions in subsidies to coal and gas corporations and deliver immediate cost of living relief by getting dental into Medicare and making childcare free.”

The budget Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down tomorrow will be a test of Labor’s willingness to put the Australian people first.

Budgets are statements of a government’s priorities and tomorrow, this new Labor government’s true intentions will be exposed.

In a rapidly changing economic environment, Labor must use the budget to deliver a coherent plan to deal with the current cost of living crisis which is very real and painful for so many Australian families.

In the short term the government must:

1. Build upon the strong position the government has inherited from the Coalition and not deteriorate the bottom line. Labor has inherited the lowest unemployment rate in decades, economic growth over three per cent, and an improving budget bottom line. A high-taxing, high-spending traditional Labor budget will only make the Reserve Bank’s job harder next Tuesday.
2. Put downward pressure on inflation and interest rates without increasing taxes. The government should heed the calls of stakeholders and the community to commit to the Coalition’s tax to GDP cap of 23.9 per cent to put a speed limit on spending and include a plan to return inflation to within the Reserve Bank’s target of two-three per cent. The government’s budget cannot respond to growing cost of living pressures with increased taxes.
3. Deliver relief to supply side pressures in the economy by increasing productivity and participation. The government must reject changes to industrial relations that will start a wage-price spiral and damage the productivity of our struggling small and family businesses.
4. Avoid breaking promises made to the Australian people at the election to bring down power bills by $275, to implement the stage three tax cuts in full, to bring down the cost of living and to increase real wages.

In the medium term, the government must grow the economy and contain spending to reduce pressure on the Budget and adopt pro-growth policies that support innovation, enterprise, and reduce red tape.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the government’s first budget must make hardworking businesses and households a priority.

“Prices on just about everything are going through the roof. Australians are feeling it at the grocery checkout, in their power bills, at the fuel bowser, when they go out for a meal and when they’re buying furniture,” Mr Taylor said.

“The Treasurer must avoid the temptation of handing down a traditional big spending, big taxing budget that puts Labor’s big government agenda front and centre. A budget like this will only make the current cost of living crisis worse.

“Australians need Jim Chalmers to stop complaining about the challenges of this economy and instead deliver a plan to support Australians through this cost of living crisis.

“If the Treasurer can deliver on these priorities we will back him in. If not, we will hold him to account.”

Shadow Minister for Finance Jane Hume said tomorrow’s budget will be a test for Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher.

“Will the budget deliver a plan to bring down the cost of living while not adding to inflation, or will they continue to have no plan for the economy and the Budget?” Senator Hume said.

“This must be a budget that finally sets Labor’s fiscal policy and economic policy moving in the same direction as the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy.

“Labor inherited an enviable set of economic circumstances. The test for Labor is whether they will use this to deliver for the Australian people, or whether they will squander it.”

The NSW Government will continue to play a leadership role across important environmental policies, including work to develop a national framework that puts a value on biodiversity.
 
At the first meeting of Environment Ministers since April 2021 in Brisbane today, NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said NSW is well placed to contribute to this critical work.
 
“In NSW, we’re leading the way nationally in our work to recognise natural capital,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“It is human nature to protect what we value, and natural capital is a key focus in NSW, setting us on a path to better value nature and biodiversity, and in doing so, conserving it for future generations, while rewarding those who make a positive contribution to our environment.
 
“In NSW, we’re already developing a suite of natural capital programs that make the economic cost of environmental impacts visible, the price of restoration certain, and the value of conservation both accurate and assured.”
 
Ministers also discussed the Australian Government’s commitment with nearly 100 nations to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, also known as ‘the 2030 pledge’.
 
In response, NSW will establish a panel of eminent Australians to provide advice by mid-2023 on how NSW can contribute to that national goal in a manner that is equitable, science-based and cost-effective, and optimises environmental, social and economic benefits for communities across NSW. 
 
“This is an ambitious target that will need to be considered by every jurisdiction, and I’m looking forward to further consultation with the Australian Government and my fellow Environment Ministers,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“NSW has a strong track record of protecting land in perpetuity, and I will ensure that any national level agreements capture the significant protections we’ve already delivered on our public and private estates.
 
“For example, 10.2 percent of the landmass in NSW is protected as part of the national parks estate, or through in-perpetuity private land conservation agreements, which is a fantastic achievement.”
 
Ministers considered strengthening protections for threatened species, and NSW reconfirmed its eagerness to share its nation-leading programs with other jurisdictions, including the Saving our Species program, and commitment to zero extinctions in the national parks estate.
 
“Ministers agreed to accelerate national efforts to prevent new extinctions, including through a NSW proposal to assess and develop emerging technologies for feral cat control,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“We know feral cats kill more than two billion native animals every year, as well as costing an estimated $6 billion annually in human health and livestock impacts.”
 
In relation to plastic bans, Minister Griffin supported a greater focus on alignment between states on the ban of plastic items, including the type and schedule of items for phase out and the need to coordinate research.
 
In relation to reducing waste and recycling, Mr Griffin presented a paper to progress better tyre recycling options to mitigate the social, economic and environmental impacts of waste tyres.
 
NSW also strongly supported the commencement of work to establish sufficient processing capacity for problem waste generated from renewable energy infrastructure and related industries.
 
“We need a nationally consistent effort and approach when it comes to waste and recycling and push towards a circular economy, especially with waste that is currently difficult to recycle,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“The NSW EPA is already delivering a $10 million Circular Solar program to reduce the landfilling of solar panels and associated batteries and increase recycling.
 
“Through the program, we’ve already provided funding to eight projects that will deliver more 10,000 tonnes of annual recycling capacity.”
 
NSW welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to responding to the Samuel Review recommendations by the end of 2022 and further consultation with states and territories on its response.

Light Horse Park will be transformed into a beautiful riverside recreational park in the heart of Liverpool thanks to the $5 billion WestInvest Fund.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean, Minister for Western Sydney David Elliott and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman today announced almost $28 million in WestInvest funding for Liverpool City Council to help deliver the $36.7 million Light Horse Park Embellishment and Upgrade project.
 
Liverpool City Council is contributing $8.9 million towards the project.
 
Mr Perrottet said the Light Horse Park Embellishment and Upgrade project would significantly improve amenity and safety for locals and visitors.
 
“This project will redevelop the foreshore to create an accessible, safe and welcoming park and construct a building to provide vital community services,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
Mr Kean said the park will become a key location on the river for local events and provide a place for people to exercise, play and relax.
 
“The city of Liverpool is built adjacent to the mighty Georges River, but Light Horse Park is hard to access and underutilised. WestInvest will bring this important riverside park back to life,” Mr Kean said.
 
Mr Elliott said the refurbished park will provide important connection pathways and points between the foreshore, Liverpool CBD and the railway station.
 
“This important project will not only provide greater access to the river but also make it easier for the community to move around the local area,” Mr Elliott said.
 
Mrs Tuckerman said the revitalised park would support the nearby residents, many of whom live in apartment buildings.
 
“This park will become a much-loved destination for the many families with children living in apartments in the surrounding area,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
 
Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons said she is proud of the NSW Liberal and National Government’s continued investment in Liverpool.
 
“This investment will help to bring life back into an underutilised area and provide another place for families and young people to enjoy,” Ms Gibbons said.
 
“Our commuters will also benefit from a safer, more connected and pleasant walk to the station.”
 
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the project would provide a cool space for the community to gather on hot summer days.
 
“With this investment the millions of people who call western Sydney home will have an amazing place to play and enjoy for generations to come. The kids of the east have Bondi and now the kids of the West will have Georges River and Lighthorse Park,” Mr Mannoun said.
 
As part of the WestInvest Fund, $2 billion was reserved for priority Community Projects. This included $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in West and Southwest Sydney, with each local council eligible for between $20 million and $35 million, depending on population size.
 
Announcements on other LGAs will be made soon.
 
The $5 billion WestInvest program was made possible by the Government’s successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy.
 
A further $1.6 billion from the $2 billion Community Project Grants is available to local community groups.
 
A total of $3 billion is also set aside to deliver transformational projects that will benefit local communities, led by NSW Government agencies.
 
To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

Australia and Japan have signed a new partnership on critical minerals to help build secure supply chains for critical minerals, which are crucial elements of clean energy technologies needed to help both countries meet net-zero commitments.

The new Critical Minerals Partnership was signed by Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King and Hirohide Hirai Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, during the Australian visit of Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida.

The partnership will establish a framework for building secure critical minerals supply chains between Australia and Japan, and promote opportunities for information sharing and collaboration, including research, investment and commercial arrangements between Japan and Australian projects.

The partnership will support the further development of Australia’s critical minerals sector, to ensure Japan has the supply of critical minerals required for its advanced manufacturing sector.

Minister King said the new partnership underlined the ongoing strength of Australia’s deep ties and ongoing trade relationship with Japan and would build on existing trade supply chains.

“This new partnership will be a welcome boost to Australia’s critical minerals sector and will help Australia further develop its abundant reserves of critical minerals which will ultimately help both countries achieve their emissions reductions targets,” Minister King said.

“The partnership will help to open up more foreign investment in our critical minerals sector, and will increase collaboration between our two counties on the development of critical minerals.”

Australia has some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals, including rare earths, which are crucial components of clean energy technologies such as batteries, wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels and hydrogen electrolysers.

Minister King said the partnership was a natural progression of Australia’s long-established role as a stable and reliable supplier of minerals and energy to Japan, and underlined Australia’s growing role as a global supplier of critical minerals.

“The new partnership will help drive the development of Australia’s critical minerals sector and promote more foreign investment into crucial projects which will mine, develop and process these essential minerals,” Minister King said.

“The Australian Government is working with our international partners, state and territory governments and industry to position Australia as a world leader in exploration, extraction, production and processing of critical minerals.

“These resources not only support Australia’s standard of living, they will pave the way to a clean energy future for Australia, for Japan and for the world.”

The October Budget will deliver on the Albanese Labor Government pledge to jointly fund a world-class Aboriginal Cultural Centre for Western Australia.

The Commonwealth is partnering with and matching the McGowan Labor Government’s commitment to this important project with each Government contributing $50 million after jointly funding the feasibility study.

A Terrace Road site as the preferred location has been chosen primarily for its connection to the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan), Heirisson Island (Matta Gerup) and Kings Park (Katta Koomba), all places of cultural significance to the Noongar people.

Planning for the project with extensive engagement is underway with Aboriginal people and communities across WA, under a Cultural Authority Framework.

This Framework is embedding Aboriginal-led community engagement and cultural decision-making processes in the development and ongoing operation for the centre.

This extensive state-wide consultation with Aboriginal people and communities will help shape the vision and key functions of the centre.

The centre will be an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living culture and share it with the nation and the world.

As a centre of global significance it will celebrate the diversity of WA’s Aboriginal communities.

The Albanese Government is committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full and the Prime Minister has outlined a possible question and amendment to the constitution for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

A referendum on The Voice will be held in this term of Government.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:

“We committed to delivering $50 million for the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and as promised, that money will be in this week’s Federal Budget.

“An Aboriginal cultural centre is an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living culture and share it with the nation and the world.

“My Government remains committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, and will hold a referendum on the Voice to Parliament in this term of Government.”

Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians said:

“The world class Aboriginal Cultural Centre will be built on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people.

“It will provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate Indigenous culture and promote a deeper understanding for visitors from across the county and the globe. “

Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Member for Perth said:

“This is the big, visionary project that Western Australia needs.”

“This funding ensures the Federal and State governments can work together to deliver a major cultural and tourist attraction for all Australians.

“It is now time for private and philanthropic contributors to get behind this project.

“I encourage all Western Australians to think on how we design and build this visionary addition to Perth’s skyline.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced the Commonwealth Government has committed $6 million towards this year’s Western Australia Telethon fundraising appeal.

Telethon is an annual televised fundraising appeal in Western Australia and is broadcast live for 26 hours.

Now in its 55th year, over the past five decades Telethon has raised more than $457 million for sick and disadvantaged children.

The funding supports medical research, children’s hospitals and critical services for children with a disability. Key beneficiaries include the Telethon Kids Institute, a medical research institute based at Perth Children’s Hospital, WA Child Research Fund and Lions Eye Institute.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Telethon is a Western Australian institution and it was an honour to attend today and announce the Commonwealth’s contribution to this worthy cause.

“Just a few weeks ago I met Emily and Ari, two of this year’s Little Telethon Stars, and I was blown away by their enthusiasm and excitement despite the individual challenges they have faced.

“Telethon wouldn’t happen without the generosity of Western Australian’s who dig deep every year.

“Thank you to the organisers and volunteers, Little Telethon Stars Ari, Emily and Leo, the WA Government, and businesses and the Western Australian community for donating to this very special cause.”

The Framework Agreement between the European Union and Australia, which provides a platform for closer collaboration across our full strategic relationship, enters into force today.

The Agreement has now been ratified by Australia, the European Union and all EU member states, after being signed in 2017.

Today is a significant milestone, as the Agreement will help advance negotiations of an Australia-EU Trade Agreement and pave the way for closer collaboration on key bilateral and multilateral issues.

These issues include climate change and the environment, sustainable development, human rights and democracy, education, culture, research and innovation, trade and investment, tourism, and security.

Our partnership with the EU has never been more important.

Australia and the EU are united in our response to Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. We continue to work together to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and hold Russia accountable for its actions.

We cooperate closely in the Indo-Pacific to promote a region that is peaceful and stable, governed by accepted rules and norms, and where all countries and peoples can cooperate, trade and thrive.

The EU is Australia’s third largest trading partner and second largest source of foreign investment. Enhanced links will contribute to energy security and facilitate investment in renewable energy and the development of secure and sustainable critical minerals supply chains.

Australia particularly welcomes the opportunity to work even more closely with the EU on addressing the climate crisis. We share an unwavering commitment to ambitious domestic and international action to implement the Paris Agreement, support energy transitions and climate resilience globally.

The Greens welcome the announcement this week that the government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill will include new rules to end pay secrecy clauses to stop employees from discussing how much they get paid, something the Greens have previously sought to legislate for.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Pay secrecy has been an ongoing contributor to the gender pay gap.

“Abolishing mandatory pay secrecy is what my 2015 Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill proposed, and we are glad that the new Government has now adopted that approach. 

“Employment contracts that insist on pay secrecy have been used to hide the gender pay gap. Removing employee pay gag clauses will create a more level playing field for women in the workplace.

“However, this move is not the panacea to close the persistent gender pay gap. The latest gender pay gap stats released yesterday show we need to ensure women-dominated occupations are remunerated in a way that better reflects their value to society. 

“The easiest way to close the gender pay gap is to pay women more. The government could legislate for above average wage increases over 10 years in women-dominated industries, which would provide a much-needed boost to women’s economic security and ensure we can attract and retain staff in these critical sectors.  

“The Workplace Gender Equality Agency should also be given more powers to tackle gender inequality in the workplace, including preventing companies who are not working to reduce their pay gap from getting government contracts, and requiring organisations to report on the volume of sexual harassment complaints (including actions taken) and use non-disclosure agreements.

“We welcome this first step, but women still have to work an extra 60 days to earn the same average salary as men, and the gender pay gap won’t close just because workers are allowed to talk about it,” concluded Senator Waters.

The Greens say coal workers and communities deserve a National Energy Transition Authority in Tuesday’s budget in the wake of Queensland and Victoria announcing plans to bring forward the closure of coal-fired power plants.

Greens spokesperson on Industry, Transition and Regional Development Senator Penny Allman-Payne says the workers and community members she recently met with in the Latrobe Valley, Hunter region and her own hometown of Gladstone were unanimous in their support for the urgent establishment of a National Energy Transition Authority.

Senator Allman-Payne introduced the Greens’ National Energy Transition Authority Bill to parliament in September. It has been referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics which will report on 14 March next year.

Greens spokesperson on Industry, Transition and Regional Development Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“Recent announcements by Queensland and Victoria show that Australian governments are finally calling time on coal-fired power. But we can’t afford to let the transition to a renewable energy economy happen in a disjointed and haphazard way.

“We need a national body to help coordinate and fund this potentially national-building transformation. The Greens’ National Energy Transition Authority would work with communities, workers, unions, energy companies and governments at all levels to plan the pipeline of clean energy projects, and ensure a bright future for former coal workers and regional communities.

“I’ve met with many of these workers and communities and they all say the same thing. The ground is shifting rapidly under their feet, they can see the writing on the wall and they want the government to help them plan their futures.

“We know from similar energy transition bodies in Europe that if you plan the transition, workers can move into new well-paid jobs, be redeployed through industry-wide pooling or benefit from early retirement.

“The Greens are ready to negotiate with Labor to deliver a National Energy Transition Authority. We know that there is support in the Parliament for it, and we know that coal communities are keen to see it happen.

“The clock is ticking. The government needs to show that it’s listening to workers and regional communities by establishing a National Energy Transition Authority in next week’s budget.”