Author: admin

There’s nothing more humiliating than the Australian Prime Minister seated on the floor taking foreign policy advice from a cleric.
 
So-called “moderate Muslims” at Lakemba mosque violently accusing the Australian government of supporting “genocide” should be a wake-up call that dangerous Islamic radicalism is hiding in plain sight, according to Family First.

 
“The truth is that no genocide has occurred in Gaza, but thousands of Gazans tried to commit one on October 7, 2023,” Family First National Director and New South Wales Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton said in response to the wild scenes at today Australia’s biggest mosque.
 
“Women were raped, 1200 innocent people brutally murdered and hundreds taken into terror tunnels as hostages.
 
“It is alarming that Muslim leaders do not have the moral compass to see this and that they continue their victim blaming.
 
“Israel has waged a war of self-defence and continues to do so against Islamic extremists in Lebanon and Iran.
 
“The only attempted genocide has been via calls to kill Jews ‘from the river to the sea’ and to ‘globalise the intifada’,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“Australian politicians have lacked the courage to forcefully and respectfully tell the truth to Muslim leaders and their partners in the radical left. That truth is that Israel has committed no genocide.
 
“By all means critique Israel’s battle tactics but even that must be in the context of the existential threat Israel faces from Islamists who are trying to destroy it.
 
 “It’s time the lies about ‘genocide’ stop because lies are fuelling hatred and violence in Australia, as we saw with Bondi and now with today’s violent scuffles in a mosque in the Prime Minister’s presence.
 
“We do not want foreign hatreds playing out in our nation and pressuring our government to take unconscionable policy positions against an ally like Israel.
 
“What is more humiliating than the Australian Prime Minister sitting on the floor taking foreign policy advice from a cleric?
 
“Australia’s Muslim leaders need to realise that the Islamists of Hamas and Iran were the aggressors on October 7 and it is their on-going bloodlust for Jews that has destabilised the Middle East.
 
“There would be no civilian casualties if Gazans had not tried to invade Israel and commit genocide after decades of using international aid money to build military terror tunnels.
 
“Political courage to confront Australian Muslim leaders with this truth is what is needed for social cohesion in our nation,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“I’m sure the majority of Muslim people just want to get on with their lives and enjoy being Australian. Ancient hatreds should be left behind.”
 

Today people relying on poverty-level Centrelink payments will receive an insulting “increase” due to legislated indexation, a mechanism used to calculate new payment rates based on past CPI changes.

As the government celebrates its generosity for delivering on legislated requirements, the cold reality is that the maximum that will land in our bank accounts is a pittance that leaves us further behind*:

• the JobSeeker payment will change by $7.55 to $408.75 a week
• Parenting Payment will change by $9.80 to $533.15 a week
• the Disability Support Pension will change by $11.10 to $600.45 a week
• Commonwealth Rent Assistance will change by $2 to $109.70 a week for people who live alone. CRA for people in share houses will change by $1.34 to $73.14 a week.

Poor people are utterly exhausted by 4 years of Albanese government “no-one left behind” rhetoric and boasting about so-called “increases” to Centrelink payments. In reality, legislated indexation lags behind inflation and does not reflect the real increase in living costs for many people in poverty.

Over the same period, we have suffered relentless price hikes across every essential item, from housing costs to energy bills, transport to groceries. For example, energy bills increased 22 per cent in the past 2 years, while the Albanese government handed over $5 billion in subsidies to price gouging energy companies whose profits soared. In the past two years, indexation has seen the JobSeeker payment change from $385 to $409 a week – or about 6 per cent.

Indexation is not an increase.

As the flow on effect of war bleeds through the economy and the RBA continues to punish people for reasons beyond our control, action must be taken to stop companies profiteering from crisis at the community’s expense.

The Antipoverty Centre is calling on the government to:

• Increase all Centrelink payments to at least the Henderson poverty line and work with welfare recipients to understand what payment rates should be for us to live a decent life.
• Directly invest in buying and building high quality public homes, and upgrades for neglected housing stock.
• Abolish negative gearing for property investors and capital gains tax discounts.

Tax breaks for the wealthy should be dealt with at this budget, but more must be done to reverse out-of-control inequality and fund essential supports that address high living costs and benefit us all such as public healthcare, housing, education and welfare.

Antipoverty Centre spokesperson Jay Coonan said:

Time and again this prime minister has failed to rise to the occasion. What does he want to be remembered for?

People are hurting a lot right now and what we need is to have some faith restored.

We need the government to stop hiding behind powerful lobby groups and muttering about consensus, while concentrating all the power and decision making in the hands of a tiny few who choose timidity over ambition.

If the prime minister doesn’t have the courage to help people out in our time of need he will only fuel more division and resentment.

The community is crying out for bold changes that will reduce inequality and the damage done by high living costs. No more corporate subsidies, no more tightly targeted policies, no more kicking the can down the road.

The things we are asking for are not as complicated as politicians want us to believe: increase Centrelink payments to ensure we can all live a decent life, invest in public housing to bring down housing costs for everyone, and abolish the tax breaks that go to people who profit from the rest of us suffering.

Crisis support and counselling services

If you need support you can seek guidance, counselling or crisis help from the below organisations or talk to someone you trust.

• Suicide Call Back Service – general: 1300 659 467
• Roses in the Ocean – peer support: 1800 777 337
• SANE Australia – general: 1800 187 263
• 13YARN – for First Nations people: 13 92 76
• National Counselling and Referral Service – for disabled people: 1800 421 468
• Headspace – for young people: 1800 650 890
• QLife – fo LGBTQIA+ people: 1800 184 527
• Full Stop – for people who have experienced sexual harassment and assault: 1800 385 578
• Embrace Mental Health – multilingual service: embracementalhealth.org.au
• MensLine – for men: 1300 789 978
• Brother to Brother – for First Nations men: 1800 435 799
• National Debt Helpline – assistance with negotiating reductions for overdue bills and debt: 1800 007 007

Today we will host New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters MP and Defence Minister Judith Collins KC MP for our annual Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN 2+2) in Canberra.

These dialogues are an opportunity to shape our cooperation to respond to the demands of our region, including how we strengthen our Alliance.

Australia and New Zealand have a uniquely close bond and are working together across a range of foreign affairs, defence, economic and cultural interests.

In the face of growing strategic challenges, working in partnership with New Zealand to strengthen regional stability and energy security has never been more important. 

In addition to the 2+2 meeting, the Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting and Foreign Ministers’ Consultations will also be held in Canberra.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Collins will also visit the Australian War Memorial in recognition of our enduring ANZAC spirit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles:

“Australia and New Zealand are fundamentally aligned across the challenges we face and are working together to advance our shared interests and those of our region.

“We are strengthening our defence partnership to become an increasingly integrated Anzac force in support of our shared interests and our common values.

“I look forward to discussing how we can further strengthen our defence and security Alliance.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“Australia and New Zealand’s relationship is built upon generations of deep friendship, democratic values and a common outlook as Pacific countries.

“The trans-Tasman relationship is more important than ever as we work with our Pacific neighbours to respond to global developments and create a more peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

“We extend a warm welcome to our Kiwi counterparts – I look forward to discussing how we can deepen our cooperation to advance our shared interests and those of our region.”
 

Greens MLA Laura Nuttall will today move a motion calling for a $20 million annual funding increase and greater funding security to community organisations that provide essential services to the Canberra community.  

 “Everyone knows that we’re in a cost of living crisis, but right now the government is failing to support the organisations who help those most in need”, said Miss Nuttall. 

“So many Canberrans are struggling and need help, and the government leaves it to the community sector to provide this support. But right now this sector simply doesn’t get the funding or funding security they need. 

“Organisations which provide things like food relief, mental health and homelessness support, family, domestic and sexual violence crisis services and services run by and for women, LGBTIQA+ folks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with a disability are supporting more Canberrans who are increasingly dealing with more complex issues.

“But right now, they’re forced to do so with insufficient funding, meaning they often have to choose which key services to cut.

“Too often, community groups are also held back by a lack of funding security. We’ve heard genuine fear from community organisations who don’t know if their contracts will be renewed until the last possible minute. 

“Systemic underfunding also has a brutal impact on the workers, who pour their heart and soul into helping people at the toughest point in their lives, and do so without the pay and protections of their peers in the public sector.

“That’s why my motion calls on the government to seriously consider providing a $20 million funding boost to the sector every year over the forward estimates. It calls on the government to account for the real costs of delivering these services, to ensure decisions on funding renewal are made at least 6 months in advance, to seek parity between community and public sector workers’ protections  and to make sure the community sectors’ buildings are climate-resilient and disaster-proof. 

“While many see Canberra as a wealthy city, the reality is that many are only one missed paycheck or rent or interest hike away from needing to rely on the community sector for help.” 

The Greens have secured support across the Legislative Assembly to ensure the next climate change strategy is fit-for-purpose, and to increase funding in the next budget for environment groups in the territory.

On Tuesday afternoon the Greens also won support to ensure that Canberrans who would struggle to afford the shift to renewable energy will not be left behind, making this a leading priority in the territory’s ongoing transition to clean power.

Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury:

“Over the past year, Labor has dragged its feet on delivering a credible strategy to cut emissions in the territory. Thanks to the Greens, we now have the clearest picture yet of what the next climate strategy will actually include, and it sets a much higher bar.

“But Labor saying they’ll do it is one thing, delivering on promises is another entirely, and Canberra deserves action, not just words.

“The ball is now firmly in Labor’s court.

“The Greens have given them a nudge, and secured agreement that supporting environmental groups and helping Canberrans who can least afford the transition will be considered in the next budget and climate strategy.

“We want them to listen to what the community has been asking for and consider their duty of care to future generations, and their enabling of fossil fuel companies to quietly buy social licence with sponsorships and advertising.

“The Greens have now set the bar Labor has to reach to show if they’re serious about real climate action. Canberrans are counting on us to push for a clean, fair future, and the Greens are not backing down.

“The motion that passed today also emphasises the need for Labor to make sure the next phase of climate action is not a challenge for individuals alone.

“Governments and industry need to fix big systems to make it easy for our community to cut emissions and live a good life amid climate change impacts.

“That means tackling one of our biggest sources of emissions – transport – by accelerating the shift away from petrol cars, expanding electric vehicle charging, and making it easier for people to get around by public transport, walking and cycling.

“It also means planning properly for the phase-out of fossil fuel gas, investing in climate adaptation and disaster readiness, and being honest about the ACT’s broader climate footprint, including all the indirect causes of polluting greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ active inflation agenda has ensured that the trajectory of interest rates is upwards while the rest of the world is headed downwards”, said Shadow Treasurer, Tim Wilson today.

Mr Wilson’s comments follow the announcement of the Reserve Bank of Australia today to increase rates by a quarter of a percent from 3.85 per cent to 4.1 per cent.

“Twelve months ago the Treasurer said Australia had turned the corner on inflation and interest rates, but ABS data shows that the Treasurer doesn’t understand that by pouring debt petrol on the inflation fire he is stoking it”, Mr Wilson said.

“The Treasurer will blame international factors, but Australia’s inflation problem was reported in the December data from Canberra, not March in Tehran”.

“Jim Chalmers’ job was to put out the inflation fire, by keeping it alight it means Australia will be doubly hurt”.

“Australians are living the consequences of the Treasurer’s inflation denial. When Australians pay their mortgage or go to the supermarket, they feel the consequences of Jim Chalmers’ active inflation agenda whether he acknowledges it or not”.

“The rest of the developed world has experienced declines in inflation and interest rates, Australia is a standout in having rates rising before the outbreak of the Iranian conflict”.

“Under Jim Chalmers, living standards have gone backwards, uniquely in the developed world. And with inflation outstripping wages, and costs continuing to rise Australians don’t have to ask if they’re getting poorer – they’re living it”.

“With the Federal Budget less than two months away, Australians are getting poorer and the only response from Jim Chalmers is inflation, higher interest rates and new taxes”.

“Australians desperately need hope, and that will only come with a change of government that stops pouring debt petrol on the inflation fire”, Mr Wilson said.