Month: September 2025

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has called on universities to respect the overwhelming mandate of their students and end all partnerships with weapons companies, following the results of a historic national referendum on Palestine.

More than 5,000 students across roughly 20 campuses voted in the first National Union of Students (NUS) referendum in the union’s four-decade history. The grassroots referendum passed two motions almost unanimously: censuring the Australian government for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza, and demanding universities cut ties with weapons manufacturers.

In February, Senator Mehreen Faruqi introduced a Bill requiring universities to disclose and divest from any partnerships with dirty industries, including weapons manufacturers, gambling, fossil fuel and tobacco companies.

Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and Spokesperson for Tertiary Education:

“For the first time in decades, thousands of students have spoken with one voice, demanding that their universities stop profiting from war, militarism and the machinery of genocide. University leadership cannot ignore this.

“Students have given their universities a clear, democratic instruction: end the dirty partnerships with the weapons companies profiting from Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

“Universities exist to serve the public interest. They shouldn’t be getting into bed with arms companies and helping to sanitize their reputations.

“History will not be kind to those who ignored this moment — University Vice-Chancellors must cut the bloody ties now or forever wear the shame.

“Students across the country have issued a historic censure of the Albanese Government for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza. This is a wake-up call from the next generation, and the message is clear: sanction Israel, stop the two-way arms trade, and end the complicity.

“When thousands of students, in the first national referendum of its kind, vote almost unanimously to condemn the Government’s role in war crimes, it cannot be ignored.

“In light of this historic result, the Albanese government must back the Greens’ bill forcing universities to be transparent and cut ties with dirty industries—whether weapons, fossil fuels, or gambling—so our institutions serve the public good, not corporate profiteers.”

The Home Affairs (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 was rammed through today by the Liberals and Labor, following revelations that the secret agreement with Nauru signed by the Albanese Government will cost $2.5 billion. 

In a rushed hearing last night, it was made clear that this Bill would impact tens of thousands of people, denying them natural justice, and the secret Nauru Memorandum of Understanding signed last week will cost billions. 

The Department of Home Affairs could not even confirm if the Nauru MOU made reference to the Refugee Convention. This is despite the Nauru President David Adeang saying that Nauru’s long-term goal is to remove people back to the country they fled, in clear breach of the Convention. 

Under this law, the Minister can direct a woman who is escaping domestic violence to get a passport. When she rightfully is fearful that doing this would require her to meet her abuser, this law prevents her from even informing the government of this fact. Instead, she either puts herself in danger by obeying the Minister or goes to jail for trying to protect herself.

This law also allows the Government to forcibly remove people to Nauru (and any other third country with which there is an agreement) with no natural justice considerations. 

Labor refused to allow submissions from the public at the hearing into the Bill last night. However, the Greens tabled a series of submissions from the public to ensure they are on the record, which can be accessed here. 

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Immigration, said: “There are no depths Labor won’t explore to outflank the Coalition on the right on immigration. 

“The cornerstone of our entire legal system, natural justice, has just been smashed by the Albanese Government.

“Mandatory detention, offshore detention, preventing people who sought asylum by sea from resettling, a Trump-style travel ban and now laws that can deny natural justice, this is Labor’s legacy. It’s a legacy that deliberately undermines multiculturalism and fairness. 

“When Labor makes laws that say some people who were not born here are denied basic legal rights, that feeds the far-right extremism we saw at anti-immigration rallies over the last weekend. 

“Australia should be treating our neighbours with respect, not bribing them to become a 21st-century penal colony. 
“The Pacific can see how Australia bullies and bribes its neighbours. 

“Failing to treat our neighbours as friends and equals comes at a cost, and is a long-term threat to Australia’s political and moral leadership in the Pacific.”

The Greens have reacted to the government’s announcement regarding compensation for Robodebt victims, warning of future pain and cost unless Labor takes their obligations under social welfare law seriously and stops punching down on poor people.

The Targeted Compliance Framework, which operationalises the Government’s enforcement of mutual obligations, has been subject to inquiry by the Commonwealth Ombudsman and a commissioned report by Deloitte due to widespread issues with payment cancellation and IT issues. 

The damning Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report last month found over 1,000 welfare recipients had their welfare payments unlawfully cancelled by the automated system over two years.

As the Anti-Poverty Center has identified, nearly 350,000 payment suspensions were issued just in the first quarter of 2025, affecting more than 280,000 people out of the roughly 800,000 who had requirements during the period. 

Last week, the Greens and crossbenchers joined in Parliament to introduce a bill to force the Government to implement the outstanding recommendations from the Robodebt Royal Commission, including a six year limit on debt recovery. The Department currently holds welfare debts dating back to the 1970s.

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

“It’s good news that Robodebt victims will be getting more compensation, but it sure would be cheaper and easier for everyone if the government would stop ignoring the law and punching down on poor people.”

“No amount of compensation can undo the pain and the harm caused by cruel treatment of  poor people that sends them into crises and in some cases to take their own lives.

“The last time the Greens asked in Estimates, neither the Minister nor the Department could confirm the current welfare compliance system is lawful. Millions of payments are suspended every year under this potentially unlawful system, with little process or oversight. 

“The Greens have a Bill in parliament right now.  Labor could implement the outstanding Robodebt recommendations including the six year limit on debt recoveries, and to stop the rampant suspension of welfare payments which takes life-saving funds out of the hands of over a hundred thousand people each month. History will repeat itself until they do.”

Just one day after Labor was spectacularly forced into a backflip by the Greens, Opposition and the crossbench over its stubborn refusal to address the aged care waitlist, a new independent report has smashed Labor’s aged care reforms and calls the entire system into question.

The Inspector-General of Aged Care report has unequivocally said that the Government’s aged care reforms will not deliver the change recommended by the Aged Care Royal Commission four years ago.

The report has sounded the alarm on growing fees and co-payments, raising the prospect of older Australians being forced to forgo the care that they need due to cost. 

The Greens have long supported an end to the ‘rationing’ of aged care, which has led to the current aged care waitlist.

Greens spokesperson for older people Senator Penny Allman-Payne has called on the government to come clean on how much older people will pay under the new system; and as the report has called for, to immediately commission independent modelling on the impact of aged care fees and co-payments on the ability of older people to access the care they need.

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

“This is a shocking wake up call for supporters of the new Act. This report has warned of a two-tiered system, where aged care increasingly becomes about the care you can afford rather than the care you need. 

“I am scared stiff for older people under this new system. 

“We have just managed to drag the Government to deliver more home care packages, but this report shows that there is a co-payment tsunami about to break on the older people in this country. 

“The financialisation of aged care is terrifying.

“Labor needs to come clean about how much older people will pay under this new system and whether they will be able to access care.

“As the report calls for, the Government must immediately commission further independent modelling of the impact of co-payments on wait times, hospital bed block, and access to care, and they must not hide the findings like they have done throughout this entire process. 

“Now more than ever, we need transparency for older people.”

“The inquiry I chaired had to fight tooth and nail for every scrap of information. I am warning the Government now that the Greens will do the same again if we have to, to expose this aged care debacle.”

Extracts from the Aged Care Royal Commission Implementation Report 2025: 

“The Royal Commission recommended the government create an entitlement to aged care. The government chose not to accept this recommendation and therefore the new Act retains a rationed system: the new Support at Home program will eventually aim to achieve average waiting periods of 3 months. This is not the model of timely access to care that the Commissioners called for.” – page 7

“However, in this report, the Inspector-General queries whether particular reforms will have the inadvertent effect of both prejudicing access for those who need it most and potentially creating unnecessary expenditure at the tertiary level of aged care.” – page 7

“The Inspector-General shares the fears of stakeholders that the manner in which co-payments and other aspects of the reforms have been structured, could potentially both prejudice equity of access to care and create inadvertent cost blow in other areas.” – page 28 

“It must be said that co-payments are contrary to the Royal Commission’s intent. While the Inspector-General understands the reality of the budget constraints, she holds genuine fears that the manner of implementing co-payments may set up a scenario where vulnerable older Australians will forego care: either because they cannot afford it or because they are worried about the cost. This will be a keen area of monitoring for the Inspector-General going forward.” – page 8

“…the current government funding model sees funding primarily focussed on clinical care, with ‘non-clinical care’ subject to significant co-payments. This leaves open the possibility that those with the least means will end up receiving the lowest level of care due to their inability to fund the co-payments, despite their entitlement to high quality care under the Act.” – page 8

“However, from the primary legislation alone, there is a clear case for some concern. Outstanding recommendations from the Royal Commission are not being delivered. The transformational change Commissioners envisaged has not been delivered to date and will not be delivered by the Act. As outlined in Chapter 4, stakeholders and the Inspector-General are anticipating a range of unintended, and intended but undesirable, consequences to become evident following the Act’s commencement.” – page 51

“Stakeholder dissatisfaction and uncertainty with the new co-payment requirements has been one of the most striking features of the consultation process for this report. As one submission put it, co-payments will result in the Act ‘establishing, if not outright endorsing, a system where continuity of care is increasingly tied to one’s ability to cover out-of-pocket costs and co-payments. Rather than ensuring equitable access, such a framework risks marginalising those who cannot afford to bridge the financial gaps’. Such a notion was ‘never part of the Royal Commission’s vision.’ – page 29

Groundbreaking technology which will help improve the way services are delivered for people across NSW will be enabled through a new Office for Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Office for AI within Digital NSW in the Department of Customer Service will help drive and coordinate the safe, strategic adoption of AI across the NSW Government.

It will set robust standards and provide expert advice to support best practice use of AI in helping to enhance public sector productivity and ensure the technology and its use are trustworthy for the community.

The new office will also build AI literacy across the public service to ensure agencies feel confident to incorporate the technology into solutions with tangible outcomes, like a recent trial of smart school zone signs in the Hunter which respond to vehicle behaviour in busy pedestrian areas.

Building on a strong foundation of data governance and compliance, NSW is taking a significant step forward in harnessing AI and its transformative capabilities.

While Generative AI (GenAI) is expected to contribute around $115 billion to the Australian economy by 2030, the dedicated office will help identify and limit risk in order to maximise potential benefits.           

The Government also plans to release an updated AI Assessment Framework later this year, following a partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The Office for AI has been established for an initial two-year period, reflecting the rapid changes in this evolving technology area. Its work will complement the role of the existing AI Review Committee which reviews high-risk AI projects being proposed by the NSW Government.

From 3 September, the AI Review Committee will be chaired by an independent member, Edward Santow,  Co-Director, UTS Human Technology Institute and Former Human Rights Commissioner for Australia.

The Government has also appointed seven new committee members:

• Dr Alex Antic (Faculty Head of AI Strategy at UNSW Canberra)
• Professor Nicholas Davis (Co-Director, UTS Human Technology Institute)
• Dr Kylie de Boer (Board Chair and Non-Executive Director Westmead Fertility Centre)
• Howard Elliott (litigation strategy advisor and expert witness)
• Ajoy Ghosh (Non-Executive Director, Amnesty International Australia)
• Lisa Schonstein (Group Chief Privacy Officer for QBE Insurance)
• Rodney Smith (Assistant Commissioner, State Intelligence Command, NSW Police).

To see the full list of AIRC members visit: www.digital.nsw.gov.au/policy/digital-assurance/ai-review-committee

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Artificial intelligence is increasingly part of our everyday lives and as a government we need to make sure it is used responsibly and provides clear benefits for the community.”

“The new Office for AI will not only lead NSW’s use of AI but will set the roadmap on how to safely and responsibly incorporate and manage emerging technologies for more effective delivery of government services in the future.”

Government Chief Information and Digital Officer Laura Christie said:

“This new function within Digital NSW positions the NSW public sector to drive use of AI and harness its benefits across departments and agencies and for the people of NSW.”

“We are building on our strong foundations to drive the trustworthiness and use of these new technologies which will change the way we support customers across the state.”

Chair of the AI Review Committee Edward Santow said:

“I welcome the opportunity to serve as independent chair of the NSW Government’s AI Review Committee, which plays a key role as part of the guardrails for the use of AI across the public sector.”

“I look forward to working with the new members who bring a wealth of experience and help ensure the Committee is well positioned to advise on how to deliver safe, responsible and effective AI projects across NSW.”

The Minns Labor Government is investing in regional services to support young people facing disadvantage. Down The Track has been awarded $1 million to provide young people in Central West NSW with practical hands-on support and employment opportunities to have the best chance at success.

The program has been operating since 2016 in the regional communities of Lake Cargelligo and Murrin Bridge, west of Parkes.

Down The Track helps young people affected by complex issues such as domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol use, or who are disengaged from school. The programs it provides include:

Back to Basics: Giving young people practical help to transition into the next phase of their lives, including setting up bank accounts, obtaining birth certificates and gaining their driver’s licence.

Trackin’ Good: Providing education and skills training, including hospitality and agricultural courses such as sheep shearing, to improve young peoples’ confidence and address skills gaps in the local community.

Helping Hand: Connecting young people to services and wellbeing support that help them to re-engage with the education pathways of their choice.

Down The Track has secured funding of $1,050,000 over five years, under the Community and Family Support program, which invests in a range of early intervention initiatives to improve outcomes for young people, their families and communities. An estimated 90% of Down The Track’s clients are Aboriginal.

This funding aligns with the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing commitment to divert young people away from the justice system.

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington announced the funding boost during a visit to the region on Thursday.

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“Down The Track has offered early intervention, mentoring and support for almost a decade, helping young people in Lake Cargelligo and Murrin Bridge to find stability and get ahead.

“The young people helped by these programs have turned their lives around by building skills, gaining confidence and becoming job ready, because Down the Track has had their back.

“By investing in Down the Track, the Minns Labor Government is not only investing in young people, but also their families, their communities and the future.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“This is fantastic news for Down The Track and the Lake Cargelligo community.

“Larn and her team at Down The Track do some amazing work with local youth and it has had a real impact in the town.

“They deliver a range of prosocial programs that have helped many young people develop practical skills and gain useful experience. It’s not complicated, Down The Track provides practical skills and assistance that helps young people get on track. The more we can do that, the more young people we will see become contributors to their community.”

Larn Masterson CEO of Down The Track said:

“This ongoing funding is a gamechanger for Down The Track and our local community. It allows us to increase our support for young people, build more pathways to employment, and bring real stability to our work.

“Most importantly, this funding lets us focus on what matters most – creating opportunities for young people that wouldn’t otherwise exist here in Lake Cargelligo.”

10,000 motorists a day have a new southbound route to the city via the Cahill Expressway from tomorrow, when a new 46-metre vehicle underpass opens under Mount Street at North Sydney, the Warringah Freeway Upgrade milestone delivered by the Minns Labor Government.

The underpass will provide a dedicated citybound connection for motorists travelling from the Warringah Freeway to the City East, Airport and Eastern Suburbs, reducing congestion and making journeys safer and more reliable for the community.

The Warringah Freeway is an enabling project for the Western Harbour Tunnel, the first new harbour crossing in 30 years being delivered by the Minns Labor Government. Together they will create a game-changing link between Sydney’s north, west and airport precincts.

The underpass will remove the need for thousands of buses and general traffic to weave and merge, when the dedicated southbound bus lane opens next year, giving bus users a direct and uninterrupted journey down the freeway to the city.

To get to the Cahill Expressway, drivers will need to keep left on the Warringah Freeway and take the newly opened section of the Kirribilli exit (Alfred Street North) to access the Mount Street underpass. Signage will guide drivers.

Motorists who miss the turn off should continue to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and detour through the CBD, via the Grosvenor Street exit, Bridge Street and Macquarie Street to the Eastern Distributor.

The digging of the underpass was unique for this project. Advanced mining technology in the shape of a remote-controlled, unmanned, hard rock continuous miner, was used to carve through sandstone and rock, excavating more than 3,000 cubic metres. The method was used as it minimises noise, reduces disturbance compared to other means and was faster than traditional rock hammering.

The underpass was built ‘upside down’ next to live traffic lanes using a technique where the roof of the new structure was built first. This meant pedestrians were still able to use Mount Street while the tunnel was excavated, rather than having to detour.

The Warringah Freeway is one of the busiest roads in Australia, with around 250,000 vehicles and 150,000 bus passengers using it each day.

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The infrastructure being completed on the Warringah Freeway Upgrade is coming thick and fast.

“The Mount Street underpass is the latest, vital piece of the Warringah Freeway puzzle which will help to make the Freeway more reliable and efficient, and an easier and safer road to drive on. More than 10,000 cars a day will use the underpass and take advantage of the benefits it will deliver.

Patients at Wollongong Hospital can now access a new and upgraded Medical Ambulatory Care (MAC) Unit at the hospital, as part of a $21.9 million investment from the Minns Labor Government to enhance health services and infrastructure at Wollongong Hospital.

The new MAC Unit, which opened to patients in June, provides care to members of the community following an emergency department stay or hospital admission.

This may include blood and immunoglobulin transfusions as well as complex infusions to assist and manage symptoms of acute medical conditions including various gastrological, renal and neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Kidney Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

The MAC Unit has been relocated to Level 8 in Block C, enabling the Transit Lounge to be expanded into the former location on the Ground Floor (Hospital Street).

The Transit Lounge provides a safe area where medically stable patients can wait comfortably before being discharged to their place of residence, transferred to another facility, or are waiting for an inpatient bed to become available. Transit lounges help to free up acute care beds while ensuring patients receive all the necessary care and support they require.

The expanded Transit Lounge will enable our staff to better support increased demand in services by improving the flow of patients and providing more timely access to beds.

In addition to these works, a new MRI and CT scanner and supporting infrastructure will also be delivered at the Wollongong Hospital and is expected to be completed in 2026.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering for the people of the Illawarra and surrounding areas with new and improved health services and facilities, supporting essential care to help patients avoid unnecessary waiting times.

“This new MAC Unit will provide a wide range of services for patient treatments such as infusions, blood transfusions, consultations, and diagnostic tests.

“This is one of several upgrades at Wollongong Hospital to help our region’s busiest hospital continue to provide care for the community, now and into the future.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“The completion of the new MAC Unit has enhanced patient care and enabled the expansion of the busy Transit Lounge so we can get people back to their homes and families sooner.

“The Minns Labor Government continues to invest in Wollongong Hospital. These upgrades are in addition to a new CT scanner and MRI, roll out of safe staffing levels for the ED and a commitment of $220 million in the June Budget.

“As the Illawarra’s population continues to grow the government will continue to invest in health infrastructure and the Illawarra’s health workforce.”