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The Australian Government welcomes the historic visit to Australia from 18 to 24 September of His Majesty King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga as we strengthen our partnership and shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific.

Today, His Majesty and Australia’s Governor-General, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC, alongside Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Dr Taniela Fusimālohi and Australia’s Attorney-General the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, witnessed the signing of a statement of intent that commits Australia and Tonga to elevating our bilateral partnership with a comprehensive and enduring agreement known as Kaume’a Ofi.

Kaume’a Ofi means ‘close friends’ and signifies warmth, trust, mutual respect, dependability and shared values.

Australia and Tonga will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber Cooperation to support the two countries to protect national security, manage cyber threats and harness emerging technologies.

Their Majesties’ visit to Australia demonstrates the importance of our bilateral relationship and depth of the cultural and personal connections between our two countries spanning 200 years.

The visit will celebrate our strong defence ties, scientific innovation in heath and rich connections across faith.

Tongan diaspora will travel from around the country to attend a church service in Sydney, led by Reverend Charissa Suli, a daughter of Tongan immigrants who became President of the Uniting Church in Australia last year.

His Majesty will recognise Tongan Australians who helped in the 2022 Hunga-Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano disaster with Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga and Coronation Medals.

Her Majesty will also lend her support to Australian researchers in the fight against cervical cancer.

Massive hole in modelling – Labor’s low ambition target excludes costs of more fires, floods and heatwaves  

While Minister Bowen has said today that a target over 70 percent carries ‘unacceptable environmental, social and economic costs for our country’, the very modelling he is relying on to inform his targets does not factor in the costs of climate impacts from the Government’s own National Climate Risk Assessment.

That Risk Assessment found the following was likely at just 2C of warming:

• 1.5 million Australians at risk of sea level rise making their homes and communities unliveable¹
• Rolling disastrous weather events
• Heat deaths surging by over 200% in cities like Sydney and Darwin²
• Hospitals pushed to the brink
• Hundreds of billions wiped from the property market over the next 25 years³
• Higher insurance bills, failing crops and higher grocery prices
• Mass extinction

¹Climate Risk Assessment Overview page 22

²Climate Risk Assessment Overview page 35 – figure 4

³Climate Risk Assessment Overview page 31

On pg. 14 of the CSIRO modelling, commissioned by the CCA, that the Government is relying on to dismiss further ambition lies a critical caveat:

“However, it should be noted that this analysis does not account for the benefits of avoided climate change impacts in either scenario.”

It is unclear how the Government can stand by this modelling which fails to include the costs of 1.5, 2 or even more degrees of warming.

The modelling can be found online here: 

Modelling Sectoral Technology and Emissions Pathways to 2035 and Net Zero Emissions – Final Report PDF (11 MB)

Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters:

“The more we look at the modelling behind this utter failure of a climate target, the more it shows it was crafted to appease the coal and gas industry.

“The government’s modelling fails to ask the question: what will be the cost of 1.5 million people losing their homes to sea level rises? What will be the cost of hospitals unable to see patients due to cascading catastrophic weather events? What will be the cost of crop failures on the price and availability of food? 

“How can the government wave around modelling that doesn’t address the cost of climate breakdown, when their own advice says this is what’s coming?

“The climate target is an utter failure which doesn’t account for the cost of climate change because it was written to appease the coal and gas industry.

“What a farce – the minister’s laughable claim this morning that a target over 70% would carry ‘unacceptable environmental, social and economic costs’ is because his model deliberately ignored the cost of climate damage.

“Labor is using selective modelling to justify their pre-determined low climate target all because they want to keep their coal and gas donors happy. 

“Labor’s cynical attempt to mislead the public on the ambition of their climate targets takes the public for fools. 

“Low ambition to appease the coal and gas corporations means ignoring the costs of more fires, more floods, more heatwaves and more extinctions.

“A truly ambitious target would be based on science and based on the avoided cost of disasters – and would entail ending coal and gas exports that are putting us all at risk.

“Labor are too captured by the political donations from coal and gas corporations that they have prioritised polluters’ profits ahead of a safe climate future for everyday Australians and nature.”

“We have existing, affordable technologies that ClimateWorks says could deliver over 85% emissions reduction and, with the Greens, Labor has the numbers in parliament to be truly ambitious on climate.”

New laws will be proposed by the Greens in the NSW Parliament in October that would make people responsible for keeping their cat safely at home and give Councils the discretion to regulate and enforce cat containment measures in priority areas. The proposed law will be introduced after WA joined the rest of Australia in acting to keep cats from killing native animals. NSW is the only state in Australia that has not acted to protect the hundreds of millions of native animals that are killed by wandering cats every year, with 65% of the community wanting action to contain cats.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said:

“The failure of the NSW Government to act on cat containment is a tragedy for the environment, and is now a national embarrassment. We are now the only state that hasn’t addressed the extinction of native animals as a result of wandering pet cats,”

“Protecting our precious and threatened native species is the primary driver for us taking this step, but the truth is that irresponsible cat owners that allow their animals to roam free and unsupervised are not taking care of the animals that they have a responsibility to care for,”

“Our plan is twofold and acts to protect animals and empower Councils to work for their community. We intend to create a responsibility for cat owners, to ensure that the cat is kept on the same premises where it is cared for with food, water and shelter. We also want to see Councils given the authority to make decisions about priority areas in their communities where people can be required to take action to prevent cats from wandering,”

“This approach recognises that native animals and the cats that prey on them should be kept safe from one another, as well as giving enforcement powers to Councils that can be scaled up and down as necessary to prevent cats from wandering into neighbours’ yards, nature reserves or anywhere else where there is a problem,”

“The Minns Labor Government has intentionally avoided this politically tricky problem, and have prevented evidence based recommendations from being included in Parliamentary reports. Our message to them is, if you won’t take this step – we will,”

“These laws could be passed as early as October this year, as long as the Government and Opposition stand up for the 65% of the community who are crying out for this type of reform. Our proposal does not immediately create massive obligations for NSW or Councils, but it will finally give Councils the tools to do their job,” Ms Higginson said.

Outline of Draft Law

The proposed legislation seeks to:

Amend the Local Government Act 1993 to allow Councils to make orders on defined areas within the Local Government Area that would require an owner or occupier to take action as necessary to prevent a cat from escaping from premises on which the cat is kept.

Failure to comply with this order would be an offence with a maximum penalty of 8 penalty units or $880.

Amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 to require that a person in charge of any animal, including cats, must not without lawful authority intentionally release an animal from the premises where it is kept unless the animal is accompanied by the person.

This would be in addition to the requirement for a person in charge of an animal to ensure the animal is provided with food, water, and shelter.

A breach of this section would be an offence with a maximum penalty of 8 penalty units or $880.

Today, we’re announcing Australia’s next step in acting on climate change and seizing the economic opportunity before our nation.

The Albanese Labor Government has accepted the Climate Change Authority’s independent advice and will set our 2035 climate change target at a range of 62% to 70% reduction on 2005 emissions.

This is an ambitious but achievable target – sending the right investment signal, responding to the science and delivered with a practical plan. It builds on what we know are the lowest cost actions we can deliver over the next decade while leaving room for new technologies to take things up a gear.

According to the best available analysis the majority of the reductions for Australia to reach the initial stages of our 2035 climate change target range can be achieved through actions in five priority areas, building on our existing policies. These are:

• Clean electricity across the economy: more renewable electricity generation, supported by new transmission and storage (including household batteries)
• Lowering emissions by electrification and efficiency: our New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, supporting consumers switch to EVs and improving energy efficiency
• Expanding clean fuel use: establishing a low carbon liquid fuels industry and supporting green hydrogen
• Accelerating new technologies: through Future Made in Australia investments, and innovation support through ARENA
• Net carbon removals scaled up: enabling land holders to earn money for eligible carbon storage and a robust ACCU scheme

In addition to help meet the target, the Albanese Labor Government is today announcing we will deliver:

• A new $5 billion Net Zero Fund in the National Reconstruction Fund, to help industrial facilities decarbonise and scale up more renewables and low emissions manufacturing
• $2 billion for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to continue to drive downwards pressure on electricity prices
• $1.1 billion to encourage more production of Clean Fuels here in Australia
• $40 million to accelerate the roll out of kerbside and fast EV charging across our suburbs and regions
• $85 million for frameworks and tools to help households and businesses understand and improve their energy performance
• $50 million for sports clubs doing their bit to decarbonise and drive climate action

The global shift to clean energy represents one of the biggest economic transformations since the Industrial Revolution – and it presents Australia with an enormous economic and jobs opportunity.

Today the following documents to support the Australian Government’s 2035 climate target are available.

• The Net Zero Plan and six supporting sector plans: The Net Zero Plan outlines how the Australian Government will meet Australia’s net zero target. The sector plans outline the opportunities and challenges across the economy as we decarbonise towards 2050, the key policy levers the Government is using and where future emissions reduction potential is seen.
• The Treasury’s economic modelling: This modelling assesses the economic opportunities from the global net zero transformation for Australia and shows an orderly path to net zero supports more jobs and investment, higher wages and living standards, and a bigger economy. The Treasury modelled two orderly net zero scenarios consistent with our government’s approach and 2035 targets and a Disorderly Transition Scenario.
• The Climate Change Authority’s advice: This advice, informed by CSIRO modelling, considers the climate science, economic and national interest in advising the Government on Australia’s 2035 target, as well as examining emerging technology and future opportunities on the road to 2050.
• Our Nationally Determined Contribution: This reflects our international obligation and signals to the world Australia is ready for investment. This document will be submitted as Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), consistent with our obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Australia is not alone in acting on climate change – with around 80% of global GDP covered by national net zero commitments.

Global investment in clean energy projects is set to rise over USD $2 trillion – we want to grow this, and Australia’s share in it.

This is the right target to protect our environment and secure our prosperity and to create jobs and economic growth for our nation.

The Government’s sensible, practical approach means our exporters, farmers and key industries will be able to compete and succeed in the world and our environment will be safe for future generations.

Vitally, this target range balances what the Commonwealth can achieve with existing policies and technologies, and what the country could achieve with a whole-of-economy and whole-of-society effort. A range enables greater ambition, recognising how quickly technology can change and the potential for even greater emissions reduction in the next decade.

We know every effort to tackle emissions today will help avoid the worst impacts of climate change in the future.

This range will see Australia halve its emissions compared to current levels. It is in line with global efforts to limit dangerous global warming.

We are not the biggest polluter or the biggest economy but our commitment to action on climate change matters. It matters to our neighbours, it matters for our economy and it matters for the country that we pass on to our children.

The Coalition strongly rejects Labor’s economy-wrecking 2035 emissions reduction target, a fantasy that rests on flawed assumptions and cannot be believed.

It cannot be believed because it assumes the government achieves its 2030 target, which experts have overwhelmingly said it will not.

Worse still, Labor is withholding the cost of its 2035 plan from the Australian people, and refusing to reveal the economic impact on households, businesses and regional communities. 

We have seen this horror show before. Labor announced its 2030 target, produced glossy modelling, and promised the world. 

In reality, it delivered a trifecta of failure: costs went up, reliability went down, and emissions flatlined.  

Under this disappointing Labor government Australians were promised a $275 cut in their power bill, instead they are up $1,300. 

The government promised emissions reduction but they are stuck at 28 per cent below 2005 levels – exactly where they were when the Coalition left office. 

On these promises, Australia cannot and should not trust this government to deliver on its promises.

Climate change is a global problem, and it demands global action. Australia cannot make a difference on its own, but we must play our part. The Coalition will always support sensible action to reduce emissions.

But interim targets must be grounded in reality, achievable in practice, and protect household budgets, jobs, and industry. Labor’s new target does none of these.

The only guarantee of this announcement is declining living standards and higher costs for households and small businesses, which is what we have seen under this government despite their previous modelling.

In the global fight for capital, Australia needs to attract investment and strengthen our sovereign capability. 

That cannot be done with targets that lack credibility, that don’t outline the cost, and that put our competitiveness at risk.

The Coalition will oppose any attempt to legislate Labor’s 2035 target.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has no faith in his own promise to bring down power prices.

When asked today when bills will actually fall and by how much, he refused to answer.

Instead of standing by his plan, he dodged, deflected and smeared.

That is not the confidence of a leader who believes in his policy, it is the behaviour of a disappointing Prime Minister who knows his word cannot be trusted.

What Australians do know is power prices have not come down by $275 as promised by Anthony Albanese, instead they’re up $1,300.

Incredibly today Energy Minister Chris Bowen claimed that the Climate Change Authority’s advice, that there would be a 20 per cent reduction in household energy prices within the decade, or $1,000 annually “was not a political commitment.”

He did this because he knows the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) gave evidence to a senate inquiry last year that it could make no guarantees on lower prices with more renewables.

This is advice the Government is basing its entire emissions policy on yet Minister after Minister have refused to back its claim on power prices.

The truth is Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen have lied to Australians before and now they have no confidence in their new fantasy.

If they had confidence in their plan they would tell Australians how much it was going to cost and put a dollar figure on what it will do to power bills.

As the Prime Minister jets off overseas once again Australians will be left with the bill and left disappointed in the years ahead.

Newcastle Museum has unveiled a sneak peek of its next major exhibition and there’s one minor difference to the items on display – their size. 

From a scaled-down cityscape made for the movies, to a model train 160 times smaller than its life-sized inspiration, Model Newcastle provides a chance to discover the big stories told by little things. 

City of Newcastle Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning Julie Baird, Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge and City of Newcastle Head of Exhibitions & Cultural Collections David Hampton take a sneak peek at the installation of the Model Newcastle exhibition, which opens at Newcastle Museum on 27 September.

The exhibition, which opens on 27 September, delves into the intricate world of models and miniatures, featuring items from the Museum’s extensive collection alongside treasured creations on loan from the community. 

City of Newcastle Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, said Newcastle Museum plays an important role in telling stories of and for the people of Newcastle. 

“Models and miniatures are tiny worlds with big purposes that can explore the past, imagine the future and transport us anywhere in between,” Ms Baird said. 

“This exhibition has been a labour of love for all those involved, from the local and international designers, artists and makers whose craftsmanship is on display, to Newcastle Museum’s own Cultural Collection and Exhibitions team, who have worked tirelessly over many months to plan and produce a truly engaging exhibition. 

“From historical replicas to imaginative creations, all these little things have big Newcastle stories to tell as they spark joy and curiosity in audiences of all ages.” 

The exhibition includes collections of objects that reflect five distinct themes. 

Views of the City features models and miniatures with an architectural focus including one of Australia’s best model railways, Newcastle 1899, which depicts the Newcastle Railway Station precinct at the turn of the century. This theme also incorporates a model of the former Newcastle Workers’ Club, used during the coronial inquest into the 1989 earthquake.

Modelling the Imagination explores models made for entertainment, film making, and as an expression of creativity, such as a 3D-printed mechanical fish tank created by former Newcastle Herald cartoonist Peter Lewis, and the fantastical puppetry collection of one of Australia’s top marionette performers, Murray Raine.

Scale Engineering features replicas of engines and locomotives that have been scaled down in every detail, including how they work. Visitors will marvel at the expert creations of the Lake Macquarie Live Steamers Association, which is one of the longest running model societies in Australia having been active for more than 70 years.

On the Water taps into Newcastle’s marine history and features a variety of model ships, boats, ferries and tugboats including those created by the Newcastle Marine Modellers Association, which has been operating in the Hunter for more than 40 years.

It also includes a scale model of one of the world’s most famous sailing ships, the Cutty Sark, which visited Newcastle three times at the end of the 19^th century. The model was painstakingly built over 40 years by Peter Sharp, whose fascination with the history of Newcastle Harbour was sparked during his career with the Newcastle Water Police. 

Big Skills Miniaturised examines Newcastle’s legacy as a centre for manufacturing, drawing from the Museum’s extensive collection of apprentice pieces and demonstrator models. These were often used as part of the competency assessment of apprentices or by craftspeople as an opportunity to demonstrate or practice their skills.

There’s also plenty of hands-on, family-friendly fun at the exhibition, with a series of dollhouses inspired by civic landmarks and a miniature railway track to enjoy, as well as a chance to experience film making techniques using a post-apocalyptic model city created by Jack McGrath and the University of Newcastle.  

Lord Mayor Dr Ross Kerridge said the Model Newcastle exhibition captures the stories of Newcastle’s past, present and future. 

“Models and miniatures have been used for generations to entertain, educate, investigate and explain,” Cr Kerridge said.

“While many spring simply from the joy and creativity of their makers, others have a more practical or serious purpose, such as the Sugar Babe doll that helped to teach children with diabetes how to inject insulin and was used at the John Hunter Hospital.

“This is a fascinating exhibition with multigenerational appeal, which is sure to educate, inspire and delight visitors of all ages.” 

Model Newcastle: Big Stories, Little Things has been created by Newcastle Museum with support from the NSW Government through Create NSW.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 27 September and runs through until February 2026. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for concession, $5 for children aged five to 16 years, with children four and under free. Family tickets for two adults and two children can be purchased for $25. 

For more information and to book your tickets visit the Newcastle Museum website.

City of Newcastle has turned its focus underground as part of a new milestone in its landmark affordable housing project on Hunter Street.

A development application (DA) has been lodged to enable the investigation and remediation of any former mine workings located underneath the 4,125 sqm site known as Rail Bridge Row.

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Asset Advisory Committee, Cr Declan Clausen, said this work is essential to stabilise the site in advance of future construction and follows a range of site investigations.

“Much of our city sits above former underground mines, a reminder of our city’s industrial past. By securing the ground beneath us, we’re working for the future of inclusive, affordable living on the Rail Bridge Row site,” Cr Clausen said.

“Early site assessments, as well as remediation work undertaken in recent years on nearby sites suggests there may be former mine workings from the Dudley Coal Seam present underneath the Rail Bridge Row site.

“This DA will allow us to gather more detail on the site and enable us to remediate any workings that are located, as part of a comprehensive mine grouting and verification plan, which has received approval from Subsidence Advisory New South Wales

“Subject to approval of the DA, remediation works are anticipated to begin in March 2026 targeting the Dudley Coal Seam, which is located approximately 25 metres below ground level.

“Comprehensive Aboriginal and European heritage assessments have also been conducted in recognition of the site’s cultural and historical significance, to ensure no heritage items would be impacted by future excavations or mine grouting work.”

The Rail Bridge Row site was purchased by City of Newcastle from Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation in 2020 and is earmarked for a multi-storey mixed-use development, that will provide affordable housing units alongside ground-floor retail.

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Housing Affordability Working Party, Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk, said the project could pave the way for similar developments in the future at other City of Newcastle sites.

“This bold affordable housing project is another significant step forward in City of Newcastle’s work to ensure housing in every part of our city supports a flourishing and diverse community, with access to jobs and amenity and transport networks, for people of all incomes,” Cr Adamczyk said.

“With submissions for a Community Housing Provider to act as development partner currently under review, these foundational works send a clear signal to our community and potential future partners of this local government’s commitment to doing everything we can to foster a more accessible, inclusive and affordable housing system.”

The Rail Bridge Row site is located at 280 Hunter Street and stretches from Brown Street to near the intersection of Darby and Hunter Streets, opposite the Crown Street light rail stop.

Visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/rail-bridge-row for more information.