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The Albanese Government is taking an important step as part of Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. 

Today, public consultation has opened on the regulatory framework that will underpin Australia’s Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator. 

This is another milestone occurring under the AUKUS partnership, a core pillar of the Albanese Government’s national security policy, creating more than 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years. 

This consultation allows for the development of a framework that will ensure the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection are applied across the nuclear-powered submarine program. 

The consultation period will run from 2 July to 30 July 2025, with key stakeholders and the Australian public invited to provide input. 

The draft regulations focus on licensing the facility and material activities necessary to support work associated with the current stage of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program. Regulations for submarine-specific activities will be developed at a later stage.

The new Regulator and supporting regulations will build upon Australia’s strong nuclear stewardship credentials, while drawing on the experience of our AUKUS partners to deliver international best practice in nuclear safety. 

The Regulator will operate within a national regulatory system that supports the safety of people, the public and the environment, and will be established on 1 November 2025.

That system includes Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Commonwealth’s existing radiation protection and nuclear safety regulator, and the Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO), who regulate nuclear safeguards and nuclear security, as well as the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Comcare, the Defence Seaworthiness Regulator, and appropriate state and territory government regulatory organisations who have broader safety and environmental protection roles.

Information about how to view the regulations and submit feedback is available at https://defence.gov.au/annpsr-consultation.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“The Albanese Government is committed to the highest standards of nuclear safety and stewardship, as we continue to progress the AUKUS pathway at pace.

“This important period of public consultation will help inform the first Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations.

“These regulations are an important part of our approach to building a fit-for-purpose legislative and regulatory framework for Australia’s future conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines.”

• Joint Statement

The text of the following statement was released by the Secretary of State of the United States, the Foreign Minister of Australia, the External Affairs Minister of India, and the Foreign Minister of Japan.

01 July 2025

Washington DC, United States

We, the Secretary of State of the United States, and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan met in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025, to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. We underscore our commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. As four leading maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, we are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region. We are committed to a region where all countries are free from coercion and strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.

We discussed the opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific and how to further harness the strengths and resources of the Quad to advance peace, security, and prosperity, working with our regional partners. To ensure the Quad’s enduring impact, we are pleased to announce today a new, ambitious, and strong agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. Through this renewed focus, we will sharpen the Quad’s ability to leverage our resources to address the region’s most pressing challenges.

As we advance our shared objectives for the region, our cooperation with and support for ASEAN and its centrality and unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific-led regional groupings, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) remain unwavering.

We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of the freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous maneuvers by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea. These actions threaten peace and stability in the region. We are seriously concerned by the militarization of disputed features. We emphasize the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We affirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, and reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016 is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

We are deeply concerned about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals. This includes the use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals, certain derivative products, and mineral processing technology. We underscore the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains. Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security.

We condemn North Korea’s destabilizing launches using ballistic missile technology and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UNSCRs, and we urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs. We also express grave concern over North Korea’s malicious cyber activity, including cryptocurrency theft and use of workers abroad to fund North Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. We will continue to support efforts to address contraventions of North Korea-related UNSCRs. We urge all UN Member States to abide by their international obligations under the UNSCRs to implement sanctions, including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel. We express deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime. We reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

We remain deeply concerned by the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its impact on the region. We call on the regime to adhere to its commitment to a ceasefire, and call on all parties to implement, extend and broaden ceasefire measures. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEAN’s efforts, including calling for the full and effective implementation of the Five Point Consensus in seeking an inclusive, durable, and peaceful resolution to the crisis. We call on all parties to allow safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. We are also concerned about the impact of the crisis on regional security and the spread of transnational crimes. We are committed to fighting cybercrime and online scam operations.

The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured. We call for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UNSCRs, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.

In the face of these challenges, we are proud to announce today key initiatives that the Quad is advancing to strengthen maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and support humanitarian assistance and emergency response across the Indo-Pacific. We are launching today the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, an ambitious expansion of our partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains. We continue to deepen our cooperation on maritime law enforcement cooperation through regional training initiatives, maritime legal dialogues, and Coast Guard cooperation. We plan to host the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year to strengthen shared airlift capacity and leverage our collective logistics strengths to respond to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently, providing support for regional partners. We also plan to launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this year. We continue to coordinate rapid responses to regional disasters and collectively contributed over USD $30 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the earthquake that struck central Myanmar in March 2025. We will continue to counter foreign efforts to push false narratives and interfere with Quad interests in the Indo-Pacific.

As the Quad continues to evolve, our four democracies remain committed to deepening our cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and ensuring our cooperation has an enduring impact on the region’s top challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. We look forward to the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India later this year and the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted by Australia in 2026.

The Greens have welcomed the historic final reports of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and called on the Allan Labor Government to adopt all 100 recommendations, after Labor ignored or rejected around 85% of Yoorrook’s interim recommendations.

Today the Government tabled Yoorrook’s third and final report, Yoorrook for Transformation, and its public record of colonisation in the state, Yoorrook Truth Be Told. 

Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell thanked all Commissioners for their more than four years’ of work recording vital evidence, as well as witnesses for delivering often devastating testimonies. Yoorrook’s final report covers both areas for immediate reform, such as self-determination and education, as well as transformative proposals for the Treaty process.

Ms Sandell called on Labor to finally walk the talk and commit to all 100 final recommendations, after the Government fully accepted just 6 of 46 urgent reforms from Yoorrook for Justice, a 2023 interim report into child protection and criminal justice systems.

While some justice reforms may be negotiated through Treaty, Labor outright rejected three: strengthening the Victorian human rights charter; raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14; and creating a presumption of bail for all but the most serious offences. 

The Allan Labor Government even rushed through knee-jerk bail laws against Yoorrook’s recommendations, leading to record-high imprisonment of First Nations Victorians.

New figures from Corrections Victoria shows the overall prison population increased by 9.7% in the 12 months to May 2025. But this number is almost twice as high for Indigenous Victorians, at 18.8%, and is more than five times as high for Indigenous women at 51.6%. 

Shockingly, almost two-thirds (65%) of Indigenous women in prison are now being held on remand without any finding of guilt, nearly all for minor offences. 

Yoorrook’s final reports were delivered to the Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria last week.

The Greens strongly support legislation which would allow the First Peoples Assembly’s work to continue in an ongoing way – advocating for solutions put forward by First Nations Victorians themselves.

Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell: 

“All Victorians will benefit from better understanding Victoria’s true history and its enduring impacts on First Peoples.

“It takes bravery for Aboriginal Victorians to come forward and share stories about what their families endured through colonisation – and I also thank everyone who opened their hearts to hear these stories and think about how we can walk forward together for a better future.

“The Greens stand ready to work with the Victorian Government to deliver the solutions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are calling for. 

“I urge the Premier to finally walk the talk and adopt all the Yoorrook recommendations in full – instead of ignoring or rejecting them like Labor has done in the past.”

Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Katherine Copsey MLC:

“The Greens call on Labor to accept all recommendations of the Yoorrook Justice Commission – including the 85% of previous recommendations that Labor initially put in the too hard basket.

“Labor’s knee-jerk bail laws have already put a record high number of unsentenced First Peoples in prison – particularly Aboriginal women who are languishing in prison without even going to trial yet, often for non-violent crimes.

“Indigenous Victorians, especially Indigenous women, pay the price for punitive ‘tough on crime’ changes to bail – when violent crimes are overwhelmingly committed by non-Aboriginal men.”  

As of this week, the ACT has become the only state or territory in Australia to raise the age of criminal responsibility fully to fourteen, diverting Canberra’s children away from the harm of gaol towards critical support services.

This reform was introduced by Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury when he was Attorney General in 2023, and is a clear example of the change that has been achieved with Greens in the balance of power in the Assembly.

Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury:

“This is a momentous week for young people, advocates for change and the government because as of Tuesday, children under the age of fourteen are no longer being diverted away from the support they need to live a fulfilling life.

“All evidence shows that children come in contact with the criminal justice system because of challenging life circumstances such as complex trauma, poverty, neglect and unaddressed mental or physical health problems.

“The reality is, punishing kids for the hardship they’ve faced only causes more harm. Because of this, we know that prison is no place for a child. At times of need, young people deserve care, safety, and support, not a jail cell.

“This reform is another clear example of the ACT Parliament, with the Greens in the balance of power, leading the nation with the kind of bold, progressive change we need to create a fairer and more just society.

“In the coming days, the Greens will be closely examining government funding for support services to make sure young people get the help they need to get their lives back on track—and aren’t being left to fall through the cracks.

“So far, we’re glad to see that vital support services like the Safer Youth Response Service have been funded to expand to 24/7 support so that young people can be diverted away from the criminal justice system at all times.

“However, the Greens have heard some concerns from stakeholders, and
as a result will be investigating in the coming weeks throughout the estimates period, to ensure the government is properly funding essential services

“This is a victory for the artistic and wider community that had the courage to stand up to the cowardly lobbying of sections of the right wing media, conservative politicians and others whose prejudice sought to tear down a great Australian artist.

“The reinstatement of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia’s artistic team for the Venice Biennale is a win for freedom of artistic expression but it highlights just how much of a farce this whole situation has been.

“Today’s decision is a vindication for all those who stood up for Khaled in the artistic and wider community. We have been completely vindicated and those who had the courage to stand up for Khaled should be congratulated.

“This is the right end to a very sorry saga but it’s a terrible day for the board and CEO of Creative Australia who have disgraced themselves throughout this ordeal.

“It is clear that the leadership of Creative Australia needs a clean out in order to rebuild trust within the artistic community and the Australian public.”

Tens of thousands of frontline community services workers will receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise as part of the Minns Labor Government’s 2025-26 Budget.

The pay rise is the result of a Budget decision to provide $122 million of additional funding to Non-Government Organisations so they can pay the increase in the minimum wage for community services workers. It follows the Fair Work Commission’s annual minimum wage determination.

Those receiving the pay rise include crisis accommodation workers, counsellors, social workers, youth workers and legal officers working for organisations with relevant NSW government contracts.

A typical community service worker is $57.29 better of per week after this year’s minimum wage decision. In total, their wages are 202.22 higher after the Minns Government’s responses to Fair Work decisions in its first three budgets. Around 80 per cent of these workers are women.

The contracts relate to services delivered on behalf of Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Health, Department of Education, Department of Customer Service and the Rental Bond Board.

The increase follows the 2025-26 Budget’s record $1.2 billion investment in the state’s child protection system. The child protection package includes a 20 per cent increase in the foster carer allowance, as well as funding for more, better trained public sector caseworkers.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to getting real wages moving, having reached multi-year agreements with more than 60 per cent of the public sector workforce and delivering real wages growth for the first time since 2019-20, after abolishing the Coalition’s unfair wages cap.

Real wages:    

• Have grown 1.2% under the Minns Government since March 2023.
• Fell by 1.2% under the former Liberal Government.
• Are expected to grow by an average of 0.4% per year over the coming four years to June 2029.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“We are making sure crisis workers, counsellors and youth workers get the pay rise they deserve, while their employers can get on with grappling with some of our toughest social challenges.

“As real wages begin to grow again in NSW, this $122 million funding injection will make sure real wages grow for community service workers too.”

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington:

“This is about supporting the people who support our communities.

“These workers provide vital support to children, families, and vulnerable people – often in times of emergency and crisis.

“This pay rise is an important step in valuing that work, because communities thrive when our frontline staff are properly supported.”

Cara Varian, CEO of the NSW Council of Social Services:

“NCOSS welcomes the NSW Government’s decision to increase funding to reflect the rising costs of delivering essential social services for communities across NSW. 

“Reliable, sustained indexation is vital to ensure social services organisations can continue to support people and communities in need.

“We look forward to working with the NSW Government to build on this step by implementing their reforms, which will provide funding certainty for the social service sector across the state, such as an evidence-based approach to calculating indexation.” 

Angus McFarland, Australian Services Union NSW and ACT Secretary:

“These workers deserve a decent pay rise to keep up with cost of living and to support their own families.

“The 3.5 per cent boost to funding of NGOs in NSW is welcomed by the ASU as the union for these workers.

“This funding injection will mean that service providers can pass on the minimum wage increase for award workers without impacting services or jobs in the industry.

“It also provides the recognition that these workers deserve for their work supporting others in our community.”