Month: November 2025

Australia’s top scientists, innovators and educators have been recognised in the 2025 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. From redefining air quality science to advancing quantum cybersecurity, and this year, for the first time, honouring the deep knowledge systems of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this year’s recipients highlight the diverse talent driving Australia’s scientific excellence and inspiring the next generation. 

Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska, whose pioneering work in the study of air quality provided vital insight in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Her work has redefined the science of air quality and reshaped policy advice to vastly improve how the world mitigates health risks of air pollution. 

Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation: Dr Vikram Sharma, recognised for translating Australian research in quantum science into world-leading cyber security solutions. In 2008, Dr Sharma founded QuintessenceLabs in Canberra, a leader in Australia’s growing national quantum industry. 

The inaugural recipient for the Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems: Professor Michael Wear, a Malgana Traditional Custodian of Shark Bay (Gutharraguda) in Western Australia. Professor Wear is recognised for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s livelihoods through the respectful practice of Aboriginal knowledge systems for Sea Country conservation and sustainable commercial activities. He is the founder of Tidal Moon, Australia’s first Indigenous-owned and led sea cucumber fishery and marine restoration enterprise. 

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools: Mrs Paula Taylor for transforming STEM education in ACT primary schools. Mrs Taylor brings to the classroom innovative, real-life learning experiences that engage students of all abilities and inspire a lifelong passion for science. She has worked with more than 10,000 students and 480 classroom teachers in her role at the ACT Education Directorate’s Academy of Future Skills. 

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools: Mr Matt Dodds. The award recognises his creative teaching methods to equip students from rural areas and diverse backgrounds with the STEM knowledge and skills they need to thrive in their futures. Mr Dodds has dramatically increased the number of female students studying physics at Glen Innes High School in NSW and inspired many students into further STEM study and careers.  

Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: Professor Yao Zheng has received the This is in recognition of Professor Zheng’s groundbreaking work to produce clean hydrogen directly from seawater, helping to accelerate Australia’s green hydrogen industry in the transition to net zero. 

Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year: Dr David Khoury. Dr Khoury is recognised for using applied mathematics to translate scientific research into actionable evidence. These outcomes have guided drug development for malaria and vaccine policies for COVID-19 and mpox.  

Prize for New Innovators: Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo for developing novel and accessible medical technologies, including ultrasound-based technology to aid cannulation and solutions to help prevent heart disease. He is driven by his vision of a world where no life is lost because healthcare was too complex, too late or out of reach.  

The achievements of all 2025 prize recipients can be found at industry.gov.au/PMPrizes 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Each year the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science highlight our country’s exceptional achievements. 

“Australia is a powerhouse of science, innovation and research which has a global impact – as is evident by the recognition of the work of Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska.  

“I congratulate and thank Professor Morawska for her incredible work over many years which influenced how Australia and the world mitigated risks associated with COVID-19. 

“I extend that congratulations and thanks to all recipients.” 

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres

“Science, research, and innovation are core to the Albanese Government’s vision for Australia.  

“Congratulations to all recipients and nominees for their incredible work contributing towards better outcomes in Australia and globally. 

“Science and research are essential to Australia’s future economic growth, and teachers like Paula Taylor and Matt Dodds ignite a passion in our young people to pursue a career in STEM – paving the way for a skilled workforce of the future.” 

The Albanese Government has delivered a key milestone in Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine program with the establishment of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator.

The new statutory Agency is responsible for the effective regulatory oversight of Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion capabilities, providing independent assurance that the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection are upheld.

The Albanese Government is pleased to announce Mr Michael Drake as the inaugural Director-General of the new regulatory Agency. 

Mr Drake brings to the role technical expertise and a decade of maritime regulation experience, including most recently as the Executive Director of Operations with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and before that 15 years in the Royal Australian Navy where he served primarily in Australia’s Collins class submarines.

Commencing with over 70 trained staff, the new Agency has been working closely with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Commonwealth authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, to ensure a smooth transition of regulatory oversight.

The new Agency is headquartered in Canberra and has a presence across the country as well as overseas. With personnel embedded in the United States and United Kingdom, the Agency’s workforce harnesses a broad range of skillsets to make independent and informed regulatory decisions.

Over the coming years, it will continue to expand its footprint in Western Australia and South Australia.

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations 2025, relating to licensing facilities and materials for activities related to naval nuclear propulsion, have been made following extensive consultation, including formal public consultation in July 2025.

Subsequent regulations will focus on future phases of the optimal pathway including Australia’s acquisition and operation of Virginia class submarines and the construction and operation of Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines.

This new regulatory framework is underpinned by the highest international nuclear safety standards, drawing on more than 70 years of safe nuclear propulsion practices in the United States and United Kingdom, tailored to Australia’s operating environment. 

Relevant licences issued by ARPANSA, including in relation to the Controlled Industrial Facility at HMAS Stirling, will now transition to the new Regulator. 

ARPANSA will continue to provide scientific and technical support to the new Regulator, and the two Regulators will work together to support consistent nuclear and radiological safety across Australia’s military and civilian activities.

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity within the Defence portfolio, and is established under the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Act 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“Today marks another important step in the delivery of Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

“This new Agency will play a key role in ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety and stewardship.

“I congratulate Mr Drake on his appointment as Director-General, and commend everyone involved for the work they have done to deliver a fit-for-purpose legislative and regulatory framework.”

Director-General, Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator, Mr Michael Drake:

“I am proud to be leading the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator and recognise its important role in delivering Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

“The agency brings expertise from across Australia and internationally, with a clear mandate to deliver independent, evidence-based regulation.

“We are committed to working with all Australian stakeholders and our AUKUS partners to uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection.”

The NACC has announced that Commissioner Brereton will no longer participate in consideration of Defence referrals. They did this in a statement on its website on the afternoon of Friday 31 October announcing that Commissioner Brereton “has decided that he will not participate in consideration of any referrals which involve the interests of any Defence or ADF individual or unit that is or comes before the Commission, regardless of whether it might reasonably be perceived to involve a conflict”. 

The NACC goes on to say “The Commissioner is taking this step, although it is unnecessary from the perspective of properly managing actual or apparent conflicts, solely in an endeavour to recentre the focus on our important operational and educational work.” 

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Justice and Defence Spokesperson said:

“This is a ‘major-general’ backdown from Commissioner Brereton who, up until now, tried to stare down the growing public revolt over the conflicts of interest.

“In a show of contempt for transparency the NACC only disclosed this major development with a website post put up after 5pm on Friday night. There’s a name for this, it’s called, “putting out the trash.”

“This announcement leaves so many unanswered questions:

– Why is Commissioner Brereton still a Major-General in the ADF?

– What happens to all the defence referrals he has been working on, and making decisions on, until now?

– Why is Commissioner Brereton being paid over $800k a year not to work on defence referrals?

“Defence, which is embroiled in a series of multi-million dollar procurement scandals, is one of the largest customers for the NACC which had over 120 Defence referrals as at April this year. 

“It is not just that the NACC’s statement came late on a Friday night, so too did the Government’s tabling of the NACC Annual Report which was over two weeks late.

“Astoundingly, given the serial failures of the NACC Commissioner Brereton to deal with conflicts of interest in his own role, the NACC says conflicts of interest is one of its three main corruption prevention themes.

“Corruption complaints concerning conflicts of interest are also identified in the NACC annual report as major elements of its ongoing work.

“It remains untenable for Commission Brereton to stay as the NACC Commissioner given his repeated failure to deal with his own conflicts of interest.  

“This latest step only highlights the damage he has done to the NACC’s public standing.

“Anti-corruption agencies should be modelling best practice, not cynically making significant announcements late on Friday afternoons.

“The Albanese Government needs to act and, if Commissioner Brereton will not leave of his accord, bring the matter before the Parliament for a decision on his future,” Senator Shoebridge said.

The Department of Defence has reportedly quietly issued an email to Australian defence manufacturers stating that they can no longer directly export to Israel.

This is a victory for the peace movement and shows the impact of the growing public revolt with Australia’s continued two-way arms trade with Israel.

Correspondence reported by The Nightly, sent to select defence companies from Defence Export Controls, said that a new condition is being imposed on them that prevents “approved goods” from being sent to Israel.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, said:

“This is still a real victory for those millions of Australians who have been calling, organising and marching for peace and justice in Gaza.”

“After two years of growing public opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza the Albanese Government has been forced to act.

“This was not announced by Labor or Defence, it has been disclosed through journalists doing their job and uncovering the truth.

“More work needs to be done to clarify the exact reach of this latest development but it does not look like it will impact weapons parts for the F35 fighter jet going from Australia to Israel.

“The Albanese government still says all decisions to send F35 parts from Australia to Israel are made by the US government and US weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

“This change also leaves open the possibility of Australian weapons manufacturers washing their weapons and parts to Israel through the US under AUKUS pillar 2.

“Having been forced to take this first step, we now need to push for a complete two-way weapons ban with Israel.

“The government cannot cherry-pick which weapons to send into a genocide, ending the two-way arms trade with Israel must mean ending it all.

“The Greens will keep working alongside our friends in civil society to force Australia to comply with international law and basic humanity.

“We do this because it is right and we do it because it is working.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded a successful visit to the Republic of Korea for the 2025 APEC Summit.

From 29 October to 1 November, the Prime Minister met with major partners to strengthen Australia’s trade and investment.  

APEC is a key platform for advancing inclusive, sustainable growth.  75 percent of Australia’s global trade is with the member economies of APEC.

Leaders endorsed the Gyeongju Declaration which advances shared objectives under the Summit’s three priorities, ‘Connect, Innovate and Prosper’.

The Declaration aligns with Australia’s focus on strengthening trade, driving innovation and promoting sustainability, and reaffirms leaders’ shared resolve to build a resilient Asia-Pacific.

The Prime Minister attended the APEC Business Advisory Council Dialogue to engage with Asia-Pacific business leaders and promote Australia’s forward-looking economic agenda.

The Dialogue fosters cooperation between governments and the private sector to shape policies that promote regional integration and innovation.

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Albanese and the President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung held a bilateral meeting.

Australia and Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) upgrading our bilateral trade and investment partnership – to increase collaboration and attract high investment in priority sectors, like climate and clean energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, defence and space, advanced manufacturing, health and biotech, education and agribusiness.  

Australia is also investing $7.5 million towards projects under the Australia–ROK Green Economy Partnership Arrangement on Climate and Energy – to invest in clean energy technology and boost supply chains.

While in the Republic of Korea, the Prime Minister paid his respects to fallen Australian soldiers at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, and commemorated the 75th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in the Korean War.

The Prime Minister also visited the POSCO Pohang Steelworks where he met with POSCO Holdings Chairman and CEO Dr Chang In-hwa, and highlighted Australia and Korea’s longstanding trade and investment ties, as well as maturing cooperation on critical minerals and technology to develop green metals. 

During APEC the Prime Minister met with the leaders of multiple countries, including Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America and Vietnam.

Prime Minister Albanese

“One in four Australian jobs depend on trade, while 75 per cent of Australia’s trade is with APEC member economies – which is why this engagement is so important.

“When trade flows freely, Australians benefit – from lower costs at the checkout to more secure jobs.

“Through APEC, Australia is working with our regional partners to support economic resilience and deliver stronger outcomes for the Asia-Pacific.

“I thank President Lee for the successful hosting of this year’s APEC Summit.”

The Minns Labor Government has delivered 243 new public and affordable homes over the past three months in New South Wales, with another major redevelopment now underway in Western Sydney as work continues to address the states housing and affordability crisis.

It follows the largest net increase in government-built public and community homes in over a decade, with 1,711 new social, community, and affordable homes delivered in FY2024-25, the first year of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program.

This brings the total to 1,954 new homes built in just 15 months, putting NSW on track for another record-breaking year of public housing completions and means almost 3000 more people now have a safe place to call home.

This is in sharp contrast to the previous Liberal National Government, who oversaw a net reduction in public housing when in government taking the states supply from 110,805 in 2014 to 95,765 in 2023.

Between 2017 and 2021 while 2,257 social homes were delivered, that paled in comparison to the 3,269 they sold off.

Major Villawood Redevelopment Underway

Continuing this work construction is now underway on a 1.5 hectare site in Villawood, transforming a long-vacant block on Kamira Avenue into a vibrant mixed housing community featuring around 360 homes, plus green space, retail and commercial areas.

Under the former Liberal National Government, this site would have been downsized to just 55 social homes, reducing overall supply.

The Minns Government’s plan restores and expands the area with all 145 units built in Stage 1 dedicated to social housing. 

Construction has also started on two smaller nearby neighbourhood-scale projects that will deliver an additional 16 new homes in Villawood.

While this progress is historic, the Government recognises there is more work ahead to rebuild the public housing system and restore supply after a decade of cuts and neglect.

Last year, the Minns Labor Government announced the largest investment in housing in the state’s history, through the $6.6 billion Building Homes for New South Wales package. This included:

$5.1 billion to deliver over 8,400 new social homes, at least 50% of which will be prioritised for victim survivors of domestic and family violence.

A world leading presale guarantee to fast track construction and increase housing supply.

The largest planning reforms in a generation, establishing the Housing Delivery Authority and prioritising well-located homes near public transport.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“Every one of these homes means a family off the waitlist and into a place they can finally call their own. For too long, people have been stuck waiting while properties sat vacant or plans went backwards. We’re changing that by getting on with building homes that people need.

“Almost 250 homes in a quarter and almost 2,000 in 15 months. We’re not just talking about numbers on a spreadsheet; we’re talking about real homes that are life-changing for those in need.

“We’re building homes at a scale NSW hasn’t seen before. It’s real progress but it’s not job done, we’re only just getting started. 

“This redevelopment in Villawood is about more than just bricks and mortar, it’s about building a stronger, more inclusive community. By delivering a mix of diverse housing, we’re creating opportunities for people from all walks of life to live, grow, and thrive together.

“We’ve said time and time again that for people to grow and thrive, we need to deliver high-quality homes alongside transport, close to shops, schools and local services. This project ticks all those boxes.”

Member for FairfieldDr David Saliba said:

“It’s fantastic to see work finally underway on this site after it sat vacant for so many years. This redevelopment is a welcome and long-overdue transformation that will bring new life, new homes, and new opportunities to the Villawood community.”

“This redevelopment will help families have access to safe, secure, and modern housing.”