Month: July 2025

The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears.

The position of the Australian Government is clear: every innocent life matters.

Every Israeli. Every Palestinian.

This conflict has stolen far too many innocent lives.

Tens of thousands of civilians are dead, children are starving.

Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored.

We call on Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law.

This includes allowing the United Nations and NGOs to carry out their lifesaving work safely and without hindrance.

Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned.

Australia condemns the terror and brutality of Hamas and we reiterate our call for the immediate release of the remaining hostages.

We continue to support all international efforts to facilitate a ceasefire, recognising that an immediate and permanent ceasefire gives the best hope of bringing hostages home and easing the agony of their loved ones.

Australia is proud to have strongly supported the creation of the modern state of Israel.

Then, as now, the global community envisioned two states: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.

Recognising the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own has long been a bipartisan position in Australia.

The reason a two state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it.

Australia is committed to a future where both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples can live in peace and safety, within secure and internationally-recognised borders.

Until that day, every effort must be made here and now to safeguard innocent life and end the suffering and starvation of the people of Gaza. 

Millions of Australian workers will have their penalty and overtime rates protected under new legislation introduced to parliament today by the Albanese Labor Government.

Our number one focus is continuing to deliver cost of living relief for the Australian people.

We want people to earn more and keep more of what they earn – this protects that for millions of Australians.

The Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 will prevent variations to awards that would reduce or remove an employee’s penalty rates or overtime rates.

Penalty rates and overtime rates are an essential feature of the award safety net and should be protected.

Protecting a fair minimum safety net of terms and conditions of employment is crucial for workers who are award reliant and low paid.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Our number one focus is continuing to deliver cost of living relief to Australians.

“Protecting penalty rates for millions of workers is an important part of that – making sure Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth:

“If you rely on the modern award safety net and work weekends, public holidays, early mornings or late nights, you deserve to have your wages protected.

“This legislation will prevent award variations from reducing or removing penalty and overtime rates. It will ensure the wages of around 2.6 million modern award-reliant workers are protected.

“Millions of hard-working Australians rely on penalty rates and overtime rates to keep their heads above water, which is why this Bill is so critical and should receive the support of both the Opposition and the Greens.”

The Albanese Government has awarded a further 40 grants to support Australian businesses and back Australian jobs.

These latest grants, totalling over $17.3 million, will deliver priority defence capabilities, support local manufacturing and strengthen Australia’s sovereign defence industry.

Awarded under the $170 million Defence Industry Development Grants program, these grants will fund projects that enhance Australia’s defence manufacturing capabilities, export competitiveness and technical skills development. 

These additional grants build on the 58 grants announced in May 2025 and continue delivering on the Albanese Government’s commitment to grow Australia’s defence industrial base.

The newly funded projects will support jobs and innovation right across the country and help businesses scale up and modernise manufacturing in areas critical to Australia’s sovereign defence capability.

The projects include six that are funded by the Australian Submarine Agency at a total value of $3.6 million to uplift Australia’s industrial base and support the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program.

The competitive DIDG program provides matching grants of up to 50 per cent, and it is continuously open to receive applications from eligible defence suppliers until 2028.

More information on the Defence Industry Development Grants program can be found at: Defence Industry Development Grants Program.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“We are backing Australian businesses and backing Australian workers to deliver the capabilities our Defence Force needs – now and into the future.

“From the west coast to the east coast, the Albanese Government is building a stronger and more resilient defence industry by investing in Australian innovation, skills and manufacturing.

“I look forward to visiting many of these businesses in the years to come and seeing their work up close and in action.”

The latest grant recipients include: 

Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream

·      ANCA Engineering Solutions (Vic) will receive $1,000,000 to acquire state-of-the-art equipment for precision manufacturing, electromagnetic compatibility testing, and vibration analysis to manufacture critical systems including uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) launchers and Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle suspension units.

·      Griffin Marine Services (WA) will receive $1,000,000 to acquire fabrication and welding equipment, including robotic welding, laser cutter, pulse welding machine and computer numeric control (CNC) press brake, to support Ghost Shark serial production capability.

·      HIFraser (NSW) will receive $1,000,000 to procure capital equipment to manufacture valves to supply defence maritime systems.  

·      KBE (NSW) will receive $1,000,000 to procure a multi-axis CNC milling machine, multi-axis CNC turning machine, coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and tooling equipment to enhance manufacturing efficiency and meet the increasing demand for Ghost Shark components.  

·      Ronson Gears (Vic) will receive $1,000,000 to procure next-generation cylindrical grinding and vertical lathe systems to manufacture highly specialised gear componentry for the defence sector, including the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile and Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

·      Veem (WA) will receive $1,000,000 to acquire a multi-axis CNC machine capable of machining valves, propellers and other critical components required for nuclear-powered submarines (NPS) and other naval vessels.

·      Veem (WA) will receive $1,000,000 to procure a 3D sand printer capable of printing moulds required for the casting of propellers, valves and other critical components for NPS, Ghost Shark and other naval vessels.

·      Fleet Space Technologies (SA) will receive $999,457 to acquire advanced capital equipment for satellite manufacture, assembly, test, and inspection.   

·      Alfatron (Vic) will receive $987,000 to acquire next-generation automated printed circuit board (PCB) production capabilities to enhance the capacity and quality for manufacturing PCBs within Australia.

·      Bale Defence Engineering Systems (NSW) will receive $928,160 to procure a fibre laser cutter, CNC brake press, hydraulic guillotine, and overhead gantry cranes to manufacture components for guided weapons programs.

·      Aerobond Defence (SA) will receive $837,456 to acquire equipment and tooling for guided munition canister manufacture.

·      Nupress Tools (NSW) will receive $715,370 to procure 5-axis machinery and automation components to establish an advanced manufacturing cell to enable fast and compliant production for guided weapons parts.

·      Hargrave Industries (NSW) will receive $610,203 to procure an automated conformal coating machine for applying aerospace and defence grade protective coatings to PCB for use in extreme conditions across multiple defence platforms.

·      Carbonicboats (NSW) will receive $585,049 to acquire capital advanced manufacturing, testing and quality control equipment to scale up the production of next-generation Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms for autonomous systems.

·      Baker & Provan (NSW) will receive $550,651 to procure a CNC lathe with milling capability to manufacture components for the Hunter Class Frigate program.  

·      Aurora Labs (WA) will receive $544,333 to procure two multi-5-axis CNC machining centres for high precision capabilities for the manufacture of turbines and 3D-printed components linked to guided weapons and autonomous systems.

·      Berkeley Engineering Group (NSW) will receive $452,547 to procure a CNC multi-capability lathe turning machine and robotics to manufacture guided weapons components.

·      Rosebank Engineering (Vic) will receive $359,130 to acquire capital equipment to establish a wire arc additive manufacturing capability, material property testing and analysis for conformance to United States Navy requirements.  

·      Halliday Engineering (NSW) will receive $318,077 to procure welding and precision engineering equipment to increase the production capacity and precision of components for naval and land systems.  

·      Bauer Engineering-Manufacturing (Vic) will receive $268,477 to procure a high-speed 3-axis CNC vertical machining centre to improve capability, efficiency, precision, control, and cost-effectiveness of manufacturing components critical to the continuous naval shipbuilding and Collins class submarine sustainment.

·      Australian Aerospace Engineering (NSW) will receive $258,082 to acquire aircraft spray paint booth, non-destructive testing and composite repair equipment enabling local repair and overhaul of over 86 helicopter components for the ADF’s Black Hawk and Seahawk fleets.

·      Thornton Tomasetti (WA) will receive $154,466 to acquire capital equipment to establish an underwater explosive test for testing and qualification of equipment to the highest shock levels specified for the AUKUS submarine and surface ships in the Royal Australian Navy.

·      Marcel Pacific (WA) will receive $94,520 to acquire manufacturing equipment to upscale the production of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) that leverage advanced robotics, sensors, and AI to support AUV programs and sovereign capability in undersea technology.

·      Engine Protection Equipment (WA) will receive $56,947 to acquire a purpose-built hydraulic hose manufacturing and testing cell for the production of high-pressure flexible hoses for land and sea systems.

Exports stream 

·      Currawong Engineering Pty Ltd (Tas) will receive $250,000 to procure a 5-axis CNC milling machine to increase manufacturing capability of electronic speed controllers to meet rising demand from the aerial vehicle market.

·      Hargo Engineering Pty Ltd (Vic) will receive $250,000 to acquire advanced CNC lathe and CMM machine to enhance the manufacturing capability of their coupling nuts and connector shells for the aerospace and defence sectors.

·      Tectonica Pty Ltd (Vic) will receive $250,000 to procure equipment to enhance the production of the integrated soldier worn Bantam system to support export opportunities.

·      Mack Valves Pty Ltd (Vic) will receive $113,044 to acquire an advanced CNC lathe to manufacture complex valve components in larger volumes to support export opportunities in the US.

·      Rojone Pty Ltd (NSW) will receive $49,999 to achieve AS9100D certification to overcome existing export barriers to access defence markets in US and Europe for communication cables.

Skilling stream 

·      Halliday Engineering (NSW) will receive $210,555 to upskill workforce in priority technical skillsets aligned with sovereign manufacturing.  

·      The International Centre for Complex Project Management (ACT) will receive $42,428 to deliver a complex project management training course for Australian defence businesses. 

·      A.W. Bell (Vic) will receive $36,692 to upskill key staff in defence project management, metrology and metallurgy for defence programs.

·      Rubicon Associates (Vic) will receive $7,257 to upskill its workforce in the proficient use of marine engineering design software to support naval shipbuilding and sustainment programs.

Security stream 

·      Silentium Defence Trading Pty Ltd (SA) will receive $75,332 to uplift physical security and data access controls to meet Defence security requirements.

·      Sayfa Pty Ltd (Vic) will receive $70,451 to uplift physical security and enhance security governance to meet Defence security requirements.

·      Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium Pty Ltd (NSW) will receive $67,142 to uplift security governance to meet Defence security requirements.

·      Phasor Innovation Pty Ltd (Vic) will receive $65,289 to uplift cybersecurity controls to meet Defence security requirements.

·      J3Seven Pty Ltd (Qld) will receive $39,057 to uplift cybersecurity controls to meet Defence security requirements.

·      SOIO Pty Ltd (SA) will receive $35,501 to uplift cybersecurity controls to meet Defence security requirements.

·      Supacat Pty Ltd (Vic) will receive $25,519 to purchase and install physical access controls and security cameras to meet Defence security requirements.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP and Secretary of State for Defence the Rt Hon John Healey MP to Sydney for Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN).  

Australia and the United Kingdom have a deep and enduring partnership, grounded in our shared history, values and interests. 

This will be the second AUKMIN since the election of the Starmer Government and an important opportunity to deepen our cooperation in key areas of our partnership. 

AUKMIN 2025 will bring renewed ambition to our diplomatic and defence cooperation to address emerging challenges and to shape our shared future together, including in the Indo-Pacific. 

On Sunday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will join their counterparts in Darwin to see this cooperation firsthand, with the deployment of a United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group to Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.  

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles MP: 

“The United Kingdom is a critical partner for Australia. We continue to work closely together, including through the AUKUS partnership, to address shared strategic challenges in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. 

“We are seeing a very real example of how this works, with the first visit by a United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group to Australia since 1997.  

“I look forward to discussions in the coming days to advance our enduring relationship.” 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong: 

“Australia and the United Kingdom are longstanding friends and partners. In these uncertain times, we are strengthening and modernising our relationship to advance our shared interests.  

“We take the world as it is – but together, we are working to shape it for the better. 

“From building defence capability and boosting economic resilience, to standing up for human rights, advancing gender equality, and defending the international rules and institutions that protect us all.” 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP and Secretary of State for Defence the Rt Hon John Healey MP to Sydney for Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN).

Australia and the United Kingdom have a deep and enduring partnership, grounded in our shared history, values and interests.

This will be the second AUKMIN since the election of the Starmer Government and an important opportunity to deepen our cooperation in key areas of our partnership.

AUKMIN 2025 will bring renewed ambition to our diplomatic and defence cooperation to address emerging challenges and to shape our shared future together, including in the Indo-Pacific.

On Sunday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will join their counterparts in Darwin to see this cooperation firsthand, with the deployment of a United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group to Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles MP:

“The United Kingdom is a critical partner for Australia. We continue to work closely together, including through the AUKUS partnership, to address shared strategic challenges in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

“We are seeing a very real example of how this works, with the first visit by a United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group to Australia since 1997.

“I look forward to discussions in the coming days to advance our enduring relationship.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong:

“Australia and the United Kingdom are longstanding friends and partners. In these uncertain times, we are strengthening and modernising our relationship to advance our shared interests.

“We take the world as it is – but together, we are working to shape it for the better.

“From building defence capability and boosting economic resilience, to standing up for human rights, advancing gender equality, and defending the international rules and institutions that protect us all.”

The NSW Government has invested $700,000 to support homegrown arts and cultural productions to tour to 36 regional towns across NSW.

Audiences of all ages in towns across NSW – from Bellingen to Albury, Cowra to Cobar, Balranald to Queanbeyan and beyond – are set to enjoy some of the state’s best performances, plays and exhibitions when new productions are toured in the year ahead.

It is expected more than 76,000 people will enjoy one of these tours, a number of which are taking full advantage of newly restored and refurbished cultural spaces, such as Leeton’s Roxy Theatre, Deniliquin’s Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre and award-winning Mudgee Arts Precinct.

Through the Regional Arts Touring funding program, the NSW Government supporting regional touring projects – ranging from First Nations led theatre, children’s shows and puppetry workshops, dance performances, museum exhibitions, as well as musical and spoken word performances.

Forty per cent of the successful projects funded were developed by regional artists.

The changes to Create NSW’s Regional Arts Touring program have resulted in funding for a broader range of recipients that engage priority areas including Western Sydney and regionally-based productions; visual art and museum exhibitions; and small tours from emerging individual artists.

This tour funding will enable ten successful productions, and sixty talented NSW artists and arts workers creatives, to take their exceptional shows and exhibitions on the road. For some recipients, this funding fulfils the dream to tour their work for the first time, including Northern Rivers dancer Max McAuley and writer/performer Mandela Mathia, both presenting their debut work.

More details on the Regional Arts Touring funding program can be found here. 

Minister for the Arts John Grahamsaid:

“Touring is vital for artists and arts organisations to engage new audiences, and for the artists and arts workers to gain important professional development and employment opportunities.

“For audiences, impact of regional touring is immeasurable. The opportunity to see acclaimed productions and cultural programs, the chance to hear new stories – or stories that reflect your own lived experience can captivate imaginations, and inspire communities.

“Access to arts and culture contributes to vibrant and connected communities. It’s important that regional and remote communities have opportunities to enjoy cultural experiences.”

Create NSW Executive Director Kerri Glasscocksaid:  

“Create NSW is thrilled to support the delivery of so many extraordinary, homegrown arts and cultural productions and programs to communities across regional NSW. Touring is vital for ensuring groundbreaking arts and cultural experiences are accessible in regional and remote communities, and that artists from emerging to established can extend the reach of their work.

“These are not just stories from the city heading to the bush – this round includes incredible work developed and made in regional communities that are now able to be shared across NSW.”

Meagan Gerrard (Gamilaroi / Wailwan) and Alex McWhirter – Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporationsaid:

“Through powerful truth-telling, Secrets of Dawn honours Coota Girls Survivors and all Stolen Generations Survivors who, despite efforts to eradicate First Nations people and culture through assimilation, have resisted and persisted through truth telling, healing and self-determination.”

“Created, directed and co-curated by Meagan Gerrard (Gamilaroi Wailwan), Alex McWhirter and co-curated by Dennis Golding (Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay), the Secrets of Dawn exhibition features historical photos and content from Dawn Magazine, published by the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board from 1952 to 1968, and candid interviews from Coota Girls Survivors.  With this funding for the Secrets of Dawn exhibition tour, Meagan and Alex aim to share this healing and truth-telling experience to Coota Girls Survivors and other Stolen Generations Survivors, their families and descendants, broader First Nations communities across NSW, and non-First Nations supporters across Wiradjuri, Awabakal, Gumbaynggirr Country and other regional galleries”

The Minns Labor Government will invest $12.5 million as part of the 2025–26 Budget to create the NSW Take Off Fund to secure more flights and grow the visitor economy across the state.

The NSW Take Off Fund will support NSW’s efforts to boost airline seat capacity by 8.5 million seats over the coming years, ensuring the state remains competitive in the global race for air routes and visitor markets.

The funding will provide financial and marketing support to international and domestic routes that commit to launching new or additional services into NSW.

This announcement is the latest in a series of targeted aviation initiatives that have already delivered major wins for the state, creating more than 25,000 jobs of which 15,000 were direct jobs.

Through previous initiatives including the Aviation Attraction Fund and the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, the Minns Labor Government’s strategic aviation investments are delivering results across all three of NSW’s international gateways — Sydney, Western Sydney and Newcastle.

Sydney Airport has locked in new routes to major aviation hubs in Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) and Shanghai (Juneyao Air), and boosted capacity on routes to India, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) just last month confirmed Air New Zealand will run flights to Auckland from mid-2027, joining Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar as early airline partners, and supporting WSI’s goal of reaching 10 million annual passengers.

Newcastle Airport has secured new routes to Perth (Qantas) and Denpasar (Jetstar) ahead of its new international terminal opening later this year.

More information including the criteria for the fund and opening date information will be released in the coming weeks.  

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper:

“This is how we grow our visitor economy — by increasing airline capacity and unlocking new international markets for NSW.

“The NSW Take Off Fund builds on the wins we’ve already delivered. In the last year alone, we’ve helped secure new routes from Auckland to Western Sydney, from Denpasar to Newcastle, and from Istanbul and Shanghai to Sydney.

“More seats mean more visitors, and that means a stronger tourism sector, stronger regions and more jobs. This fund will ensure NSW remains a top destination for travellers and a top partner for airlines around the world.”

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said:  

“This new round of aviation funding will help unlock flight capacity and welcome more international visitors to Australia’s premier gateway.  

“I congratulate the Minns NSW Government and Destination NSW for their vision and commitment to supporting aviation, which is fundamental to achieving the ambitious goals of the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy.  

“Aviation is a cornerstone of Sydney and NSW’s prosperity. Every dollar invested into aviation attraction at Sydney Airport generates a $9 return, with a typical international service supporting 1,200 full time jobs and delivering $130 million in annual economic benefit.

“We look forward to working with Destination NSW and new and existing airline partners to further elevate Sydney as Australia’s leading international tourism destination.”    

Western Sydney International airport CEO Simon Hickey said:

“We’re talking to more and more airlines each week that recognise the benefits of flying into Sydney’s new 24-hour international gateway when we open next year.

“This investment from the government will strengthen those discussions and help bring greater connectivity for Australia’s global city, which means more choice for travellers and a more vibrant tourism economy, creating growth and terrific job opportunities across the industry.”  

Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said:

“The NSW Take Off Fund demonstrates the NSW Government’s continued commitment to growing aviation capacity across the state and we welcome its potential to support important regional gateways like the Hunter.

“With our international terminal fully operational from August, we are working closely with Destination NSW to deliver on our promise to be the airport our region deserves and secure new international services that will boost visitation and deliver lasting benefits to the Hunter region and beyond.”