Author: admin

Today I announce the recipients of the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program (ACDGP) for 2023-24, which promotes Australia’s vibrant creative sector and First Nations experience and expertise internationally.

The Program also aims to deepen bilateral partnerships, strengthen Australia’s reputation as a modern, diverse nation, and build people to people links internationally.

Promoting the vital role that First Nations stories play in Australia’s art and culture is a priority for the Program and Revive, Australia’s National Cultural Policy. This year five First Nations applicants received grants.

I congratulate the 11 successful grantees, including the following projects:

• A Pacific Tour of Burrbgaja Yalirra 2 by dance company Marrugeku to build connections through workshops and tell histories of migration, relocation, cultural adaption and survival.
• Ngulmiya Nundhirribala will perform and collaborate with leading Indonesian musicians in Jakarta, Ubud and Makassar.
• Australian filmmakers will be able to show their work in Germany, Denmark and Iceland, at the Down Under Film Festival.
• Outdoor screen projections of urban ecological futures by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology will feature in Hong Kong.
• Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands artists and educators DEM MOB spoke and performed at the 2024 International Indigenous Summit in Toronto, Canada in June.

There has been a surge of interest in representing Australia on the global stage, with a record 229 applications received, the highest number of applications in the Program’s history.

Further information on ACDGP can be found on the DFAT website.

US President Joe Biden announced that a new AUKUS agreement has been signed with Australia that contains secret “political commitments”.

This new AUKUS deal supersedes the previous agreement formulated under the Morrison Government, which entered into force in February 2022.

Attached to this new agreement is an undisclosed “Understanding” which covers the approaches the respective governments will take to the new agreement and provides “additional related political commitments.” These additional political commitments have been kept secret.

The new agreement will allow for the transfer of naval nuclear propulsion plants and other equipment, including equipment needed for the disposal of naval nuclear propulsion plants.

The agreement also expressly protects US intellectual property, including the prevention of information, material or equipment going beyond “the jurisdiction” without the consent of the US.

There is also a provision in the agreement that will allow the UK and US to intervene in the arrangements between Australia and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Senator David Shoebridge Greens Spokesperson on Defence said: “Joe Biden has just announced that there is a new AUKUS agreement, and told us how our own government has made secret “political commitments” that go alongside the new AUKUS deal.

“The silence from the Albanese Government on this is deafening, Australians should not have to find out from Washington what our own Government is doing.

“What is so damaging to the Albanese government with this new deal that it has to be kept secret from the Australian public? There are real concerns the secret understanding includes commitments binding us to the U.S. in the event they go to war with China in return for getting nuclear submarines.

“AUKUS 2.0, which now comes with a secret side deal, is driving us further into the US war plans with China.

“People are rightfully concerned about US war plans, about the US nuclear weapons in Australia and about losing independence over our military. Albanese making secret political commitments to the US only fuels those fears.”

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs said: “This new AUKUS pact puts into writing what so many in our community already knew, it signs Australians up to the next half-century of US foreign policy and undermines Australian national sovereignty in favour of US strategic interests.”

“The fact that the Albanese government would make secret political agreements with any country let alone one potentially about to re-elect Donald Trump is abhorrent. It will destabilise our relations with our Pacific neighbours and the world.”

“The Albanese government’s cowardice to not even acknowledge these agreements with the Australian people and instead let the news be announced via the United States shows an utter lack of respect or regard for the community every MP in this country is elected to serve.”

“In the last 50 years, the US has overseen illegal bombings of Cambodia and Laos, supported fascist coups around the world and brought Australia into two senseless wars in the Middle East that killed millions. Anthony Albanese seems content to sign every Australian up for Act 2 which could very well include Donald Trump.”

New documents have revealed that the NSW Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe, defied the advice of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and her own Department to keep the coal fired Eraring power station open beyond its planned closure date in 2025.

Greens MP and spokesperson for Climate Change Sue Higginson said “These documents confirm the information we had been provided about the direct intervention by Penny Sharpe to Eraring at the expense of prioritising the pipeline of new renewable projects. This evidence stands in stark contrast to the public posturing that the Minns Labor Government has taken in relation to carbon emissions reduction and Climate Change,”

“It is apparent that the Minister has directly manipulated the independent process that AEMO uses to determine the energy needs in NSW. It has given a false primacy to the importance of coal fired energy in NSW and has come at a cost of $450 million to the state and will make the legislated targets of 50% reduction by 2030 impossible,”

“When the Minister announced the Government’s emissions reduction targets last year, the alarm bells rang. They were trying to implement targets that were no better than the former Government and resisted all attempts to strengthen their signature climate laws. This resistance now makes more sense,”

“It is difficult to identify a single concrete step that the Minns Labor Government has taken to mitigate or adapt to the changing climate, despite having an Opposition and Crossbench that is prepared to work with them on stronger climate action,”

“The refusal to end native forest logging, or to make climate ready changes to the planning system, are moving NSW backwards on our climate readiness. This $450 million gift to the coal industry is not the only betrayal by this Government on climate, but it does seem to be the most secretive and it’s extremely problematic,”

“We have worked hard to try and help the Government and NSW. From their climate laws to other opportunities to reduce emissions and to prepare the community for the harsh realities of our future. Now we have this proof that the Government seems to be working against their own commitments and the best interests of NSW. To say I’m disappointed is the burning understatement of the century,” Ms Higginson said.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Senator for SA, Spokesperson for Environment:

“Reports that the Albanese Government have signed a secret AUKUS deal with the US are deeply concerning. The Albanese Government wants to legalise dumping nuclear waste from the US and the UK here in Australia.

“Labor need to come clean and guarantee that South Australia will not become a nuclear waste dumping ground for the US and the UK.

“South Australia has long been the target for a dangerous nuclear waste dump and Labor need to clearly rule it out before the election.

“Between Labor’s nuclear subs and Peter Dutton’s nuclear power obsession, the Greens remain the only party in South Australia fighting to protect our nuclear-free state.”

The Albanese Government have once again shown Australian families they care more about politics then tackling rising cost of living pressures and inflation.

Today’s announcement on child care wages is further proof that Labor is all about spin, not substance. It is abundantly clear that the Albanese Labor Government does not have a meaningful plan to restore the Australian way of life.

Labor has bypassed the independent Fair Work Commission process all at the behest of their union masters. Labor has traded away billions of dollars for a cap on child care fees that only lasts twelve months. This deal offers no real relief to Australian families who can’t afford child care or are struggling to find a child care place.

If child care fees grow at the 4.4 per cent cap over the next year, by the time of the election, out of pocket expenses will have increased by over 8 per cent under Labor – so much for cheaper child care. Families can plainly see that any benefits from Labor’s policies introduced in 2023 have been eroded ever since.

The Coalition wants to see higher real wages for all Australians, including hardworking childhood educators. But the key to meaningful wage increases is to bring down inflation and boost labour productivity.

The Prime Minister’s claims of up to $155 per week pay increase fails to take into account the ongoing cost of living crisis which will see around half of these nominal gains eroded by inflation. In December 2025, next year beyond the election, when this policy comes into full effect is when inflation is forecast by the RBA to once again jump up to 3.7 per cent – thanks to the Albanese Government.

The Treasurer has previously been caught out using nominal wages, not real wages, to claim Australian’s are better off. Labor does not learn – it continues to spin.

Working Australians have seen their living standards collapse under Labor because of soaring costs. Labor’s failure to break the back of inflation means hardworking families are paying higher prices, higher interest rates and higher taxes for longer.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said this policy announcement was another empty promise from a Prime Minister who is out of touch and out of his depth.

“All educators do incredibly valuable work for our communities. Of course we would like them to have better pay.

“But today’s announcement from the Prime Minister shows he doesn’t understand why Australians are under so much cost of living pain: Labor’s homegrown inflation.

“As the Reserve Bank Governor noted this week, government spending is adding fuel to the inflationary fire. That means inflation, and therefore interest rates, will stay higher for longer.

“The latest ABS Living Cost Index tells us that cost have soared by over 18 per cent for working families since Labor came to power.

“We have also seen real wages for employees fall by 9 per cent and living standards by 8 per cent.

“Australians are suffering immensely because of Labor’s economic mismanagement. Things will not get better until inflation has been beaten.”

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Angie Bell said early childhood educators deserve better than this Labor Government who continue to use them as a political football.

“Early childhood educators do an incredible job caring for and educating our youngest Australians, but the reality is that this policy is a pre-election sweetener, and an effort to appease Labor’s union paymasters,” Ms Bell said.

“Labor promised families cheaper child care, and yet 12 months on and out of pockets costs have increased by 8.4 per cent, and there are still no new places for regional Australians suffering from no access.

“What happens in two years when the 15 per cent has been paid and the cap on restraints is lifted? It’s Australian families who will ultimately foot the bill.”

The cost of living crisis is getting worse for Australians and the Albanese Government’s inability to manage the economy and their reckless spending is hurting families and businesses around the country

Today’s announcement is just another example of Labor delaying until after the election. After more than two years of promises they do not have a real plan.

Australian families deserve better than Labor.

True to form, the Albanese Labor Government has continued its weak response to the CFMEU’s infiltration by bikies, gangland and underworld crime figures with rookie workplace relations Minister Murray Watt thinking a deal with the Greens will fix the mess.

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Senator Michaelia Cash said it was clear from Mr Watt’s press conference that he is collaborating with the Greens.

“It appears Murray Watt is collaborating with the Greens to write the legislation that is likely to preserve John Setka’s legacy and influence,’’ Senator Cash said.

“The Greens have never been able to bring themselves to condemn John Setka or the CFMEU so why would the Government go to them on this legislation?’’ she said.

“The Coalition has not been briefed by the Government on this legislation. Shadow Cabinet and the party room will consider this in the usual way when we have been given the detail.’’

“Murray Watt is all talk. He’s been a proud cheerleader for the CFMEU for many years and is now pretending he’s getting tough on them,’’ Senator Cash said.

“The Albanese Government needs to introduce legislation to deregister the CFMEU when Parliament returns next week,’’ she said.

“They also need to admit their abolition of the ABCC has been a disaster and should immediately commit to reinstate the ABCC with increased powers to police the industry,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Anything less would add to the already weak response this Government has had to the crisis engulfing the CFMEU,’’ she said.

“The Albanese Government is desperately trying to fix a problem they created when they abolished the ABCC,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Murray Watt was the one who proudly pushed this disastrous policy through the Senate and he also led the charge that blocked the previous Coalition Government’s Ensuring Integrity Bill, which would have directly combatted registered organisations and individuals operating outside the law,” she said.

Saline shortages in hospitals across Australia have reached disaster levels, it has been reported today. But what is Anthony Albanese’s Health Minister actually doing to protect our supply?

Saline IV bags are absolutely critical to the emergency healthcare provided to patients in Australian hospitals, but doctors are being forced to ration supplies of this essential fluid as shortages escalate.

Amongst this worrying crisis, Health Minister Mark Butler has been completely silent on the action being pursued by the Albanese Labor Government to ensure patients are able to receive the healthcare they need by guaranteeing saline supplies.

Last week, the Minister told ABC Adelaide radio that he does not believe ‘there has been any interruption to activity’ as a result of these shortages, but the advice being given to doctors in every hospital around the country makes it clear it is having a serious impact on our health system.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that, following these extremely concerning reports, the Health Minister must immediately stand up and assure Australians that their Federal Government is acting on this crisis.

“What does a ‘Future Made in Australia’ actually mean if the Albanese Government cannot even guarantee our supply of saline, which is essential to the operations in our health system.

“With it now reaching disaster levels, the Government must urgently commit to a nationally-coordinated response to the shortage of IV fluids.

“The Minister cannot hide behind the TGA on this issue. It is a matter of national importance,” Senator Ruston said.