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Minns Labor Government’s new bulk-billing initiative to support bulk-billed GP visits statewide

The latest bulk-billing statistics from the Commonwealth Department of Health show that most families and households in NSW live in areas which have bulk-billing rates above the levels set out in the Minns Labor Government’s new bulk-billing initiative.

The package will protect bulk-billing by providing a new, ongoing rebate to clinics for contractor GPs that meet the bulk-billing threshold, of 80% of services in metropolitan Sydney, and 70% in the rest of NSW.

According to Medicare data, the primary health networks which cover Western Sydney, South Western Sydney, along with the Nepean Blue Mountains area, all have bulk-billing rates above those thresholds.

Primary health networks covering the Hunter New England and Central Coast, South Eastern NSW, Western NSW, Murrumbidgee and North Coast also have rates bulk-billing rates above the thresholds.

The NSW Budget $189 million investment will support ongoing high levels of bulk-billing at clinics in these areas, while encouraging bulk-billing at clinics in other regions.

Families and households from Bulli to Badgerys Creek, Charlestown to Chullora, and Granville to Gosford will benefit from the Minns Labor Government’s Bulk-Billing Support Initiative.

The initiative is building healthier communities and easing cost-of-living pressures on families and households. Without these measures, doctors told the NSW Government hundreds of clinics would close and other doctors would be forced to bill patients up to an additional $20 per visit.

Announced in the 2024-25 NSW Budget, the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative will protect the cost of seeing a GP for families and households and reduce the strain on emergency departments.

NSW Health estimates that a 1% decrease in bulk-billing equates to around 3000 additional emergency presentations.

Under the initiative, all GP clinics will have past unpaid payroll tax liabilities for contractor GP wages waived. This will save hundreds of clinics from closure.

The launch of the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative was immediately welcomed by peak bodies the Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP) and Australian Medical Association (AMA).

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We are providing an incentive for GPs statewide to bulk-bill their patients.

“We know people have been cutting back on healthcare because of affordability.

“Our measure helps with cost-of-living pressures felt by families and households across the state.

“Helping people see their GP keeps them healthier, meaning fewer presentations to our busy emergency departments.

“Incentivising GPs to bulk-bill patients is part of our plan to build a better NSW.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Free healthcare is supposed to be the birthright of every Australian. But until the Albanese Government recently increased payments to GPs, bulk billing rates had been in freefall.

“Now the Minns Labor Government is addressing the uncertainty faced by GPs over payroll tax obligations.

“Our solution to this – for clinics with GPs who qualify – is not an amnesty, not a moratorium, but a full rebate.

“Because we prefer GPs to spend more time with their patients than with their accountants.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Once again, our government is taking action to clean up the mess left by the Liberals and Nationals, after sitting on their hands for 5 years.

“We know that the federal Coalition’s freeze on Medicare rebates has coincided with a significant decline in the availability of bulk-billing.

“As a result, NSW hospitals are shouldering the burden with emergency departments under record pressure.

“But the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative which will foster greater access to a GP, and in turn relieve pressure on our busy hospitals.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said:

“The Liberal-National Government had years to address this issue and it’s taken a Labor government to clean up their mess and safeguard bulk-billing in NSW.

“The former Liberal-National Government’s failure on this issue particularly impacted regional and rural GP clinics. In providing a targeted rebate for those clinics, we can protect primary care for families and households across regional communities.

“For the first time, the NSW Government is making a direct policy intervention to support bulk-billing.”

Primary Health Network	Bulk-Billing Rate
South Western Sydney	93.7%
Western Sydney	93.1%
Nepean Blue Mountains	90.7%
Western NSW	82.2%
Murrumbidgee	79.8%
North Coast	79.1%
Central and Eastern Sydney	77.1%
South Eastern NSW	76.3%
Hunter New England and Central Coast	72.0%
Northern Sydney	70.5%

Leader of Opposition – Budget in Reply speech

Mark Speakman

Leader of the NSW Opposition

I begin by acknowledging the Gadigal of the Eora nation and all the traditional owners of all the lands in our various electorates.

Mr Speaker, this is a Budget which fails NSW.

This is a bad Budget, from a bad Government.

This is a Budget where the Government will collect far more revenue than any government in the history of NSW.

Yet this is a Budget that doesn’t offer a cent for new cost of living support.

This is a Budget where the Government has lost control of the finances.

This is a Budget that risks our economic security – delivering more deficits, more debt and all but decimating our Triple A credit ratings.

How on earth has this happened?

Here’s how. Before the election, the Premier said his union wage deals wouldn’t cost the people of NSW a cent – and would be fully offset by productivity savings. Instead, he’s broken that absolutely critical promise, costing the Budget already over $9 billion and potentially another $6 billion on top of that.

The Premier’s broken promise means that, even though this Government is raking in record revenue, there’s no new cost of living support and there are cuts to schools, hospitals, other frontline services and infrastructure.

The Premier’s broken promise means:
• More pressure on stretched family budgets.
• More pressure on renters and first-home buyers.
• More pressure on schools – with school budgets cut.
• More pressure on hospitals – with emergency departments overwhelmed; and support for the dying cruelly cut.

Yet the Government hides behind smoke and mirrors – taking no responsibility and blaming everyone but themselves.

This is a Labor Budget through and through.

More taxes.
More deficits.
More debt.

Financial mismanagement and squandered opportunities.

I’ll now address:

Briefly, the budget position which this government inherited, then:
The government’s claims about GST revenue cuts.
The revenue windfall which the government has received.
What the Government’s broken promise on the funding of union wage deals is costing the taxpayer.
What the Government’s budget mismanagement means for the future state of NSW finances.
What the budget mismanagement means for cost of living support.
What the budget mismanagement means for health, education and other frontline services.
What the budget mismanagement means for housing.
What the budget mismanagement and lack of vision mean for future infrastructure, and finally
Some concluding remarks.

THE INHERITED BUDGET POSITION

So let’s start with the budget position which this government inherited. The Government likes to talk about the past – so let’s set the record straight.

At the end of 2018-19, the Budget showed a $4.2 billion surplus and no net debt.

Notwithstanding the once in a lifetime COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented natural disasters that followed, the outgoing government left a budget signed off by the independent Treasury Secretary as being back in the black by 2024-25, with ongoing surpluses after that.

Complaints from those opposite about the State’s debt reek of hypocrisy – Labor supported every measure delivered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, and supported infrastructure programs financed through debt.
Despite the challenges, NSW retained two AAA credit ratings.

GST REVENUE

Now let’s turn to the Government’s claims about GST revenue.

Of course we agree the current GST distribution system is unfair to NSW. For decades NSW has subsidised medicant states and territories. The rip off should stop.

But this is not the cause of the Government’s mess. The Government certainly seems to claim it is.

The Premier has said:
“the government has little room to offer any major cost of living relief, due to unprecedented cuts to the revenue the state was expecting to receive from Canberra. ”

This claim is farcical when you look at the size of the GST revision and the other revenue more than offsetting it. John Kehoe in The Australian Financial Review rightly identifies a big forecasting error by this Government as the secret reason behind the claim.

The Government blames Canberra for an alleged $11.9 billion GST rip-off.

But the Budget Papers instead confirm “Over the four years to 2027-28, GST revenue has been revised down by $6.2 billion”. The State’s percentage share of the GST cake fluctuates year by year. It’s fallen – but once you allow for the growth in the size of the overall cake, the Budget Papers accept that the downward revision in the erroneous forecast is $6.2 billion, not $11.9 billion.

REVENUE WINDFALL

And the Budget Papers say that this GST revenue revision, and other revenue reductions, will only be partial offsets for increases in land tax revenue, transfer duty revenue, certain Australian government funding and mineral royalties.

The take from State taxation will grow over four years under this Government from $39.7 billion in the 2023 financial year to $53 billion in 2027 – an increase of 33% – or over $3500 per household per year.

Forecast total revenue over the four years to 2027-28 is now expected to be $10.7 billion higher than forecast at the 2023-24 Half-Yearly Review.

As The Australian Financial Review editorialised after the Budget, “the truth is that NSW doesn’t have a revenue black hole”.

Or, to paraphrase another commentator’s observations, into slightly more Parliamentary language, this Government has been hit in the backside by a revenue rainbow.

UNION WAGE DEALS

But this revenue rainbow isn’t being used for debt reduction, or more funding for schools or hospitals, or new cost of living relief – instead it’s been handed over to Chris Minns’ union masters.

Before the election the Premier said his union wage deals wouldn’t cost the people of NSW a cent – not a cent. They’d all be funded by productivity offsets.

This was an absolutely critical promise, at the core of budget management, but the Premier has betrayed the people of NSW and broken it.

The Premier has handed the keys to the Treasury over to his union masters.

Not a cent in productivity offsets has been identified. Instead there’s already reveals a $9.5 billion for this broken promise.

But that figure and the Budget don’t provide for any further wage deal beyond 10.5% over three years.

Yesterday the Minister for Industrial Relations was asked in Question Time:
“Police are demanding wage increases of 25 per cent; nurses and midwives, 15 per cent; rail workers, 36 per cent; and firefighters, 20 per cent. The budget provides for 10½ per cent over three years. Is 10½ per cent the upper limit of what those unions can hope for?”

She replied:
“We have made an offer of 10.5 per cent as a baseline to negotiate”.

We know that there’s a further $6.4 billion in union demands that sit unfunded and unaccounted for in this Budget – a massive liability our state simply can’t afford.

The Government still won’t come clean on the true cost of its union wage deals.

Instead of doing what it promised at the election – namely, to fund wage increases from productivity offsets – this government has used its revenue windfall to fund union wage deals and squandered its golden opportunity to maintain and improve cost of living support, to maintain and improve health and education services and infrastructure, and to support home seekers and small business.

FUTURE STATE OF NSW FINANCES

The Government’s financial mismanagement means more deficits and more debt as far as the eye can see. The Government will add over $11.5 billion in deficits over the next four years. Net debt is expected to grow from 11.9% of Gross State Product now to 14.2% in June 2028.

Because of the Government’s mismanagement, interest expenses are forecast to grow at 9.1% a year for four years.

This will take interest payments to $8.6 billion for 2027-28 – more than double the $4.2 billion paid under the previous government in 2022-23.

The Government’s mismanagement means NSW faces the severe risk of losing its prized AAA credit ratings.

COST OF LIVING SUPPORT

What does the government’s budget mismanagement mean for cost of living support?

Households right across NSW are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The cost of electricity is up.

The cost of groceries is up.

Rents and interest repayments are up.

But this Budget confirms what we knew, namely that the Government has no plan to address the cost of living crisis.

Not a cent for new cost of living support – and a shameless attempt to window dress, as some sort of new cost of living measure, a welcome decision not to collect payroll tax from doctors in circumstances when it’s never been collected before.

It would be comical, if it weren’t so insulting.

But we know who’ll foot the bill for the Government’s failures.

Families and households across NSW will pay the price – as they have already under this Government:

Active Kids, slashed.
Creative Kids, slashed.
First Lap, slashed.
Energy relief, slashed.
Back to School vouchers, axed.
Regional Travel Card, axed.

All programs we would have kept.

This month the Premier wrote about the impact social media is having on children – something that we all worry is having long-term adverse impacts on your state’s children.

The Premier said:
“Research has found that kids who spend more than three hours per day on social media are twice as likely to experience poor mental health, depression and anxiety. ”
And he went on to say, correctly:
“We have to ask whether this is a healthy way for kids to grow up and mature into healthy adults. ”
If only there were something the NSW Government could do to get kids off the screens and into healthy and active lifestyles.

In 2022, the last full year before Labor took the axe to Active Kids and stopped publishing the data, over 1.3 million Active Kids vouchers were created.

We would and, if the Government were serious about children’s mental health, it would, immediately restore Active and Creative Kids and support families in encouraging healthier and active lifestyles.

And then there’s the greater tax take from households – as mentioned, over $3500 per household per year by 2027.

Our state deserves better.

HEALTH, EDUCATION AND OTHER FRONTLINE SERVICES

What does the government’s budget mismanagement mean for health, education and other frontline services?

Health
For health, Labor’s cruel cuts mean that we’re going backwards for the second year in a row.

At the time of last year’s Budget, Australian Medical Association (NSW) President Dr Michael Bonning, said:
“At a time when the health sector and medical services need an urgent investment of cash, this budget provides almost nothing.”

Traditionally governments increase health investment, this Government has effectively slashed it, when health inflation is taken into consideration.”
He continued:
“It is the people of NSW who will suffer. This means less access to emergency departments, less urgent surgery and non-urgent surgery …”

Labor’s cuts are hitting palliative care, frontline services, and emergency departments, including in regional NSW.

The most recent Bureau of Health Information data show a hospital system under immense strain because of existing Labor’s cuts.

People are waiting longer to be seen and their health is at risk.

Labor’s cuts have seen:

March quarter elective surgeries performed down 6.6% from the same quarter last year and down 13.9% on the December 2023 quarter.
The proportion of patients spending less than four hours in emergency departments (EDs) the lowest since recording in 2010.
A 16.9% increase in the number of people leaving emergency departments without treatment.

AMA (NSW) President Dr Kathryn Austin described this as a “catastrophe waiting to happen”. She said:
“The NSW health system is straining under the weight of increased demand and complexity at a time when budgets are being slashed…

“The Minns government announced a surgical taskforce to reduce elective surgery wait times, but the funding had already been put in place by the Perrottet government. Now the Perrottet government’s funding program has ended elective surgery numbers have fallen dramatically.

These figures reflect a system which is experiencing continued downward decline under the Minns Government.”
She called on the Government to “immediately reinstate critical health funding and stop putting politics and photo opportunities before the health of our state.”

So what’s the Government done in response? Cut health spending – yet again.

AMA (NSW) Vice President Dr Fred Betros says that the 2024-25 health budget:
“Falls below actual health CPI meaning that after health inflation this is an effective loss.”

He says:
“As a surgeon in Western Sydney there is little comfort in this budget for my patients and for thousands of the sickest patients across NSW.”

and

“This is bad news for anyone on the elective surgery waiting list ….”

Education
This is a Budget of smoke and mirrors – no more so when it comes to education.

The Government has embarked on a so called ‘infrastructure blitz’, a blitz that saw less funding than had been allocated by the former Liberals and Nationals Government.
In fact it provides less funding than the Budget handed down last year.

The Treasurer’s claim that $1.08 billion is a “record” pipeline for maintenance and minor capital works is simply wrong.

The Liberals and Nationals in our last Budget allocated $1.3 billion to support the same types of projects.
So what we have here is a cut of $220 million to our schools.

Cuts that mean schools have less money to spend on facilities for our kids.

This is on top of Labor’s decision to rip $150 million out of public school budgets mid-way through the year, forcing school principals to cut staff and programs to find savings.

The Budget Papers show a cut this year of $196 million (or 7.5%, even before inflation) in non-staff operating expenses for school education. As with health, total expenses are cut in real terms.
The Government has lost control of the Budget – and our children are paying the price.

Other frontline services

The Government is also making real cuts across the board to spending on other frontline services.

For example the Budget Papers show cut this year in non-staff operating expenses of $181 million for Police and $101 million for Fire and Rescue.

HOUSING

What does the government’s budget mismanagement mean for housing?

We welcome the Government’s announcement of new social homes – including priority homes for victim-survivors of domestic violence, a welcome addition to the Core and Cluster investment by the Liberals and Nationals.

But given the Government’s revenue bonanza, it’s the least they can do.

Let’s put an end to Labor’s deception about Opposition policy, which Labor peddles to hide its own failures. We support ramping up housing supply in metropolitan and regional NSW, we support greater density and we recognise that transport hubs will commonly be the best place for it. But, with State Government targets for each local government area, and with appropriately strict time limits and sanctions, you should first let communities have a say in how and where in their local areas they want that density delivered.

This is a government of grand announcements and little follow through.

Last year with great fanfare the Premier announced housing targets of 75,000 per year for five years – yet within months he’d thrown in the towel. We need an explicit estimates and targets from the Premier about numbers of annual completions going forward.

Ramping up supply down the track is welcome, but in a crisis you’d expect immediate action. House prices and rents are determined not just by supply, but also by demand. Easing demand is something that can be done far more quickly. But the Premier refuses to stand up for NSW, take on Anthony Albanese and demand further cuts to immigration to ease demand. If the Queensland Labor Premier can do it, so should Chris Minns.

But this sort of failure seems to be part of the Premier’s DNA. It’s not just immigration. He also won’t pick up the phone to Anthony Albanese on the GST revenue or federal infrastructure funding cuts. If the Premier won’t even pick up the phone to the Prime Minister, how we expected him to fight for NSW households?

We reiterate our offer to work with the Premier on a bipartisan approach to Canberra on immigration.

Returning now to supply, despite the rhetoric, and the targets – the Premier leads a Government whose arrogant one-size fits all approach is failing.

We’ve seen housing approvals go backwards by 11%.

We’ve seen supply held back by a new $12,000 housing tax on every new home.

We’ve seen a lack of funding to support essential infrastructure required to drive development.

We’re still waiting for the outcome of the land audit.

We’re still waiting for this Government to deliver on their rental reform.

And this Budget will only make matters worse.

The Budget reveals yet more taxes on homes and properties right across NSW.

The decision to freeze indexation of land tax thresholds is a tax grab by stealth.

The last thing you do in a housing and cost of living crisis is to push up taxes on property owners – which will be passed on as even higher costs for renters and struggling small businesses.

It’s a desperate tax grab because this Government has lost control of the Budget and handed the keys over to their union masters.

The Property Council’s Katie Stevenson says:
“Subjecting even more Mum and Dad investors to land tax will not reduce rents or provide urgently needed new housing – in fact it will do the opposite, it will act as a brake on housing affordability.”

The Real Estate Institute’s Tim McKibbin says removing indexation would have “severe ramifications” for commercial tenancies in particular:

“Given the high cost of holding a residential property, adding to the tax burden will only place additional pressure on investment returns, leaving landlords two undesirable options. ”

And the result?

“They can either pass the extra cost onto tenants or sell their investment property, taking more homes out of an undersupplied rental market.”

Make no mistake – the land tax grab will drive more people out of housing – and is a direct result of this Government’s budget mismanagement.

You can increase social housing, but overwhelmingly the main driver of housing supply is private investment, which has to be financially viable.

The Government’s announcement of targets and rezonings is the easy part.

You can announce all the targets and up-zonings in the world, but they won’t produce more housing unless it’s financially feasible to build, but the Government continues to increase fees and charges that is crippling the financial feasibility of new housing projects.

You can also throw all the money in the world at creating infrastructure tsars and worthwhile speeding up of approvals – but if it’s too expensive to buy and build, it won’t matter.

The Property Council says the Government’s recently released new housing targets for Sydney, the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast “will remain a pipedream without fixes to the delivery pipeline”.
Its research tells us that recently introduced residential taxes and charges would make the construction of up to 50,000 new homes financially unfeasible for homes built west of Homebush over the next five years.
Instead of squandering the revenue bonanza like the Government, we would have used it to help home buyers and renters in NSW.

We would have removed the burden of stamp duty on young people, by reintroducing the First Home Buyer Choice program – again arrogantly abolished by this Government.
We would have provided stamp duty exemptions for older people looking to downsize, to free up larger homes for families.
We would have established a program of at least $2 billion, funded through the windfall stamp duty that this Government squandered, to support local councils meet and beat their housing targets. This Government was too arrogant to engage constructively, dismissing the idea – yet months later announce a similar program with a paltry $200 million – a drop in the ocean that’s an insult to local councils and a reflection of no money in the kitty because it’s been diverted to union wage claims.
We’d keep indexing the land tax thresholds.
And we’d be easing taxes and charges that are making developments unviable.

Our offer remains – for the Government to work constructively with us to solve the housing crisis – rather than their failing approach which is making matters worse.

LACK OF VISION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Because of its utter financial incompetence, this government is borrowing more, but building less.

The Government has announced no new major projects. The infrastructure revolution will soon be over.

Once the infrastructure pipeline left by the Liberals and Nationals dries up, infrastructure investment falls off a cliff.

By 2027-28, total infrastructure investment will be almost 12% less than this year, plus the effect of inflation.

In transport the fall will be 34%, health 36%, education 41%, plus the effect of inflation.

The Government has no vision for infrastructure and will be failing commuters, patients and students – and failing to build the infrastructure we need to support the extra housing that the Government claims it wants.

CONCLUSION

Mr Speaker – this Budget lets the people of NSW down.

It’s a bad Budget – and the Government is to blame.

A Budget out of control – but a Government unwilling to take responsibility for its decisions.

A lot of blame – but no vision.

Targets – but no plans.

Record revenue – but not a cent in new cost of living support.

Higher taxes – but cuts to schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

None of the government’s attempts at smoke and mirrors,
None of its cherry picking of individual projects,
None of its ribbon cutting on Coalition projects can disguise the government’s cuts to investment in health, education and infrastructure.

The people of NSW deserve better.

We’ll hold this bad government to account.

And instead of a government focused on Labor mates in Canberra or on union masters in Sussex Street, we’ll offer a responsible alternative government focused squarely on delivering for the people of NSW.

Delivering under the Australia-Papua New Guinea Bilateral Security Agreement

Today, following the 30th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum, we announce a package of new initiatives to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s internal security and law and justice priorities.

The initiatives, to be delivered under Australia and Papua New Guinea’s Bilateral Security Agreement, include:

support for PNG’s legal system to help PNG investigate and prosecute financial crime;
investments in programs to improve access to justice for young people and remote and regional communities;
support to make PNG’s correctional facilities safer and more secure.

We will deliver additional support for stability in the PNG Highlands, including a new program to help PNG improve weapons management and a partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

We will also provide further assistance to PNG in ‘non-traditional’ security areas, such as cyber, biosecurity, and to address gender-based violence.

These initiatives will be funded from the $200 million committed by Australia to support PNG’s internal security priorities through our landmark Bilateral Security Agreement, announced by Prime Ministers Albanese and Marape in December 2023.

In recent months, we have made progress on delivering on our ambitions for our bilateral security partnership, including through:

commencement of construction on new police housing in Port Moresby and Mount Hagen;
additional Australian Federal Police support to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) on recruitment, training and forensics;
RPNGC Officer Cadet placements in the Queensland Police Service in Far North Queensland;
a new Police Patrol Vessel to enable the RPNGC to conduct long-range patrols of sea borders.

In addition, our flagship Australia-PNG Law and Justice partnership is expanding from five to seven PNG provinces and regions, strengthening service delivery and access to justice for Papua New Guineans.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia and Papua New Guinea are working closely together to advance our shared priorities and ensure a peaceful, stable, prosperous Pacific.
“These new initiatives further strengthen our security partnership and deliver on our commitments under our landmark Bilateral Security Agreement.”

Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP:

“I was pleased to commission the Police Patrol Vessel Minigulai yesterday, which is just one example of how Australia is stepping up to strengthen PNG’s policing capabilities.
“Already this year we have broken ground to start delivering on a $37 million initiative to build police housing to help RPNGC get more police on the ground across PNG.
“The AFP continues to work closely with the RPNGC, including to recruit qualified senior officers, train police prosecutors and uplift forensics capability.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“We’re working with the Government of Papua New Guinea on their priorities, including strengthening the legal and justice system.
“The packages we announce today will help build capacity across PNG’s legal system to investigate and prosecute cases and improve access to justice in remote and regional communities.”

30th Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum Joint Communiqué

The 30th Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum was held in Port Moresby on 19 June 2024 and was co-chaired by the Hon. Justin Tkatchenko MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea and by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia.
Other participating Ministers for Papua New Guinea were: Hon. John Rosso, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands, Physical Planning, Urbanisation and Immigration; Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph (MD), MP, Minister for Defence; Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, MP, Minister for Internal Security; Hon. Pila Niningi, LLM, MP, Minister for Justice and Attorney General; Hon. William Duma, MP, Minister for Public Enterprise & State Investments; Hon. Jelta Wong, MP, Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources; Hon. Simo Kilepa, MP, Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change; Hon. Sir Ano Pala, LLB, ISO, CMG, OBE, MP, Minister for National Planning; Hon. Timothy Masiu, MP, Minister for Information and Communication Technology; Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, CMG, MP, Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Treasury and Caretaker Minister for Finance; and Hon. Lucas Dekena, MP, Minister for Education and Caretaker Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and Sports.
Other participating Ministers for Australia were: the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence; the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Attorney-General; Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister for Emergency Management; the Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Cyber Security; the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific; and, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade, Assistant Minister for Manufacturing.
Ministers welcomed the 30th PNG-Australia Ministerial Forum as a marker of the relationship between close neighbours, friends and equal partners. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP), and to ensuring the relationship continues to grow to reflect contemporary opportunities and challenges. They endorsed the second CSEP Action Plan agreed between senior officials at the 30th Papua New Guinea Australia Senior Officials Meeting on 29 November 2023.
Australia expressed condolences to the people of PNG and extended sympathies to those impacted by the landslide in Enga Province. Ministers acknowledged the work of the PNG National Disaster Centre and Enga Provincial Administration, and the valuable and rapid support provided to the impacted communities by the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF), in responding to the landslide. PNG Ministers extended their gratitude to Australia for always being the first respondent to any natural calamity and for its deployment of AUD2.5 million in humanitarian assistance for emergency supplies, support for humanitarian partners and the deployment of a 17-member Disaster Assistance Response Team. Ministers agreed to continue deepening linkages between Australian and PNG disaster response agencies, including for capacity building.
Ministers noted the significant achievements since the 2023 Ministerial Forum, including exchange of Prime Ministerial visits in both countries. They welcomed the signing of the landmark Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) by Prime Ministers Albanese and Marape in December 2023. Ministers committed to take forward outcomes from the 2024 Annual Leaders Dialogue.

CSEP Pillar 1 – Strong Democracies for a Stable Future

Ministers acknowledged the two countries’ shared commitment to functional and accountable democratic systems. PNG welcomed Australia’s ongoing support for PNG’s electoral reform priorities, as recommended by the Special Parliamentary Committee on the 2022 National General Election and endorsed by the PNG Parliament.
Ministers recognised that because their security interests are shared including by virtue of geographic proximity, decisions taken by one country affect the security of the other. Acknowledging their countries’ enduring interest in the stability, security, prosperity and resilience of each other, Ministers welcomed progress towards entry into force of the BSA. They committed to completing their respective domestic processes for entry into force this year, and undertook to work closely together to implement the BSA, including through the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Security and the Bilateral Security Dialogue. Ministers reiterated their commitment to continuing to work together to respond to current and emerging security challenges by maintaining and enhancing bilateral cooperation and their security partnership in accordance with their respective constitutions and national laws.
Ministers reiterated the need to prioritise gender equality, to further expand the gender and social inclusion partnership, and to address family, sexual and sorcery accusation related violence. Ministers welcomed progress on Australia’s five-year investment, PNG Women Lead, to support the expansion of women’s leadership in PNG and to combat gender-based violence.
Ministers reflected on Australia and PNG’s longstanding and proud history of contributing to collective Pacific security responses, including in support of the Biketawa Declaration and Boe Declaration on Regional Security, demonstrated when personnel from both countries worked side by side during the 2024 Solomon Islands general election and the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. They looked forward to building stronger regional response capabilities in consultation with other Pacific island countries, including in policing through the Police Recruit and Investigations Training Facility and the Pacific Response Group initiative. Ministers welcomed PNG’s leadership in the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), and hosting of the Joint Heads of Pacific Security meeting in 2025.
Ministers welcomed deeper cooperation under the BSA, including the rapid implementation of the AUD200 million support package announced by Prime Ministers in December 2023. They noted progress underway to support PNG’s law and justice and internal security priorities, including the scaled-up Australia-PNG Law and Justice Partnership, commenced in January 2024.
At the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Internal Security and Law and Justice (19 June), Ministers agreed ‘full-circle’ law and justice initiatives that will support PNG’s judicial, prosecutions and corrections systems, and improve access to justice for young people, and rural and regional communities. They welcomed Australia’s support for PNG authorities to address violence in PNG’s highlands provinces, including improving armoury record management for weapons stockpiles and to assist people affected by violence. Ministers also welcomed rapid progress on non-traditional security areas of cooperation in line with the BSA, including investments to improve climate resilience, cyber and biosecurity capacities and capabilities, address gender-based violence and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Ministers noted the value of the current policing partnership including enhanced cooperation on policing infrastructure, capability, leadership and prosecutorial training for the Royal PNG Constabulary (RPNGC). Ministers welcomed early progress on the construction of new housing for police recruits in Port Moresby, with further housing to be built across 10 provinces. Ministers acknowledged the significance of working together in supporting policing operations in the Pacific region. Ministers agreed to improve cooperation and coordination across policing and law and justice institutions, avoiding conflicts between mandates and providing necessary resources and training to assist PNG to meet its internal security priorities and to strengthen its anti-corruption institutions, strengthen its anti-money laundering efforts and counter-terrorism financing regime, combat transnational crime and address other regional security threats.
Australia reiterated its long-standing position that Bougainville’s future political status was a matter for PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to resolve. Australia would continue to support the post-referendum process and stood ready to provide additional assistance upon request.

CSEP Pillar 2 – Close Friends, Enduring Ties

Ministers reflected on the shared historical and cultural connections which have brought the nations together in a unique partnership, including the thousands of years of engagement between Papua New Guineans and the First Nations peoples in Australia, including as embodied by the Torres Strait Treaty.
Ministers welcomed the deepening engagement and continuing goodwill between Australia and PNG, including Prime Minister Albanese becoming the first foreign leader to address Papua New Guinea’s Parliament in 2023, Prime Minister Marape becoming the first Pacific leader to address Australia’s Parliament in February 2024, and the Prime Ministers’ trek along parts of the Kokoda Track in April 2024. Ministers welcomed updates on joint initiatives to mark PNG’s 50th Anniversary of Independence in 2025. Ministers warmly welcomed plans to increase the number of volunteers to PNG under the Australian Volunteers Program over the next year, with volunteers deploying to Port Moresby, Lae, Buka and Goroka.
Ministers noted Australia’s commitment to implement a First Nations approach to foreign policy and the inaugural visit to PNG by the Australian Ambassador for First Nations peoples in October 2023 to attend the World Indigenous Business Forum hosted by PNG. Ministers welcomed the fostering of further collaboration between Papua New Guineans and First Nations peoples in Australia, including in trade and investment, climate, sports, health, gender equality, and arts and cultural activities.
Ministers shared PNG and Australia’s aspiration for PNG franchises in the National Rugby League (NRL) and National Women’s Rugby League (NRLW) recognising sports’ ability to unify people and deepen the friendship between the two countries. Ministers welcomed Australia’s support including an investment of $5 million in the PNG NRL bid Academy program to support talent pathways for young Papua New Guineans playing rugby league.

CSEP Pillar 3 – Economic Partnership for Prosperity

Ministers welcomed the progress to ensure a mutually beneficial Australia-PNG Economic Partnership, following Leaders’ commitment to explore ways to boost economic growth and resilience, business ties, trade and investment. This included expanding First Nations opportunities as displayed at the World Indigenous Business Forum hosted by PNG in 2023. Ministers noted that officials are finalising the PNG-Australia Free Trade Agreement Feasibility Study which will assess the economies of both countries and explore possible new trade arrangements to boost trade and investment.
Ministers welcomed the valuable input of the two business communities, represented by the Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Council and the Business Council of Papua New Guinea, and delegates at the annual Australia-PNG Business Dialogue on 19 June 2024. Reflecting the significant role of business and industry, and the importance of Australia’s AUD26 billion worth of investments in PNG (2023), Ministers encouraged the business communities to consider the opportunities that PNG offered, including in downstream processing of agriculture, fisheries and forestry products, and the green economy. Consistent with the agreement in 2011, Ministers agreed senior officials and senior business representatives from both countries would meet ahead of the next Australia-PNG Business Dialogue to discuss and advise on opportunities and challenges in the business relationship.
PNG welcomed Australia’s support for its priorities around the 13 year Budget Repair Plan. Ministers noted Australia’s cumulative budget loan support since the pandemic of over AUD2.5 billion, or PGK6.2 billion, linked to PNG’s own economic reform agenda. PNG is expected to repay PGK510 million in interest and principal of this vital budget support in 2024. With the declining need for budget support due to budget repair, Ministers agreed to examine if there were other ways of supporting PNG’s fiscal reform efforts. Ministers welcomed PNG’s ongoing commitment to its IMF Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility Program, noting that PNG’s commitments on debt sustainability through this program are important when considering the large pipeline of infrastructure financing proposals.
Ministers welcomed ongoing cooperation on critical infrastructure investments including AUD200m of infrastructure delivered this year, and Australia’s commitment to over AUD2 billion of infrastructure investment delivered through the PNG-Australia Economic Partnership (transport, telecommunications, electrification, social infrastructure and State-Owned Enterprise reform) and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility (ports, energy, telecommunication and roads). The AIFFP pipeline includes approximately AUD1 billion in grants and loans to support major capital projects in ports (AUD621 million), roads (AUD76 million) and electrification (AUD306 million) across PNG. Ministers welcomed the recent PIF Leaders agreement to the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles, reflecting the importance of ensuring infrastructure investments are climate resilient, support local jobs and employment, and are sustainably financed.
Ministers agreed on the importance of assessing the foreign investment, economic viability and security implications of infrastructure proposals as part of critical infrastructure proposals and agreed to work together to build stronger investment screening structures that encourage foreign and domestic investment that is economically viable and secure. Noting increasing challenges associated with digital infrastructure, Ministers agreed to share greater information about critical infrastructure risks and to provide further capacity building in PNG including to Treasury, the Investment Promotion Authority and other relevant agencies to support the establishment of the investment screening structures. Ministers agreed on the importance of strong competition in both wholesale and retail telecommunications to increase private sector investment, reduce costs for businesses and consumers, and increase service reliability in PNG. Ministers also agreed to cooperate to strengthen PNG’s public procurement processes, particularly in tendering.
Ministers highlighted progress on agricultural cooperation and recognised strong biosecurity systems and protocols as an essential prerequisite for boosting agricultural trade. PNG welcomed Australia’s commitment to a biosecurity twinning program between Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and PNG’s National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Agency (NAQIA) and support for the construction of a PCR laboratory at NAQIA to enhance biosecurity testing. Ministers recognised the importance of effective domestic and international agricultural supply chains in supporting food security and creating export opportunities.
Ministers welcomed the achievement of all visa-related commitments made at the 29th Ministerial Forum. PNG welcomed Australia’s processing of at least 75 per cent of completed Papua New Guinean visitor visa applications within 14 days. PNG welcomed Australia’s establishment of the new Pacific Service Centre including the re-establishment of a visa processing capability in PNG with resources to facilitate and expedite visa processing and the improved and streamlined biometrics collection processes and arrangements. Ministers welcomed work to further streamline online visa lodgement arrangements for regular PNG travellers. Ministers noted that speedy and efficient visa arrangements would help enhance health, education, labour, business and investment pathways.
Ministers welcomed Australia’s new Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) initiative for Pacific island countries and the opening of the inaugural PEV ballot on 3 June 2024. Ministers noted the importance of expanding opportunities for Papua New Guineans to enter the Australian labour market. Ministers agreed to cooperate to ensure integrity and minimise fraud or other compromises of their visa systems.
Ministers committed to growing and strengthening PNG’s participation in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, recognising the benefits for the PNG economy and communities and Australian employers. Ministers agreed to officials implementing a Joint Action Plan to Scale Up Labour Mobility reaffirming the two governments’ commitment and outlining concrete actions to advance PNG’s labour mobility objectives, including by strengthening PNG’s labour sending systems and its supply of labour and building demand for PNG workers, including through targeted skills investments. Ministers agreed officials will provide Ministers with six-monthly progress updates.

CSEP Pillar 4 – Strategic Cooperation for Security and Stability

Ministers agreed that defence cooperation remains a vital pillar in our bilateral relationship. Ministers committed to deepening cooperation across the land, air and maritime domains, as well as continuing to work together on defence and security infrastructure, equipment, and capabilities. Both sides welcomed the PNGDF’s inaugural participation in the RAAF’s Exercise Pitch Black and the second iteration of bilateral Exercise Wantok Warrior in 2024. PNG welcomed Australia’s gifting of twelve up-armoured Land Cruisers, Australia’s conduct of Operation Render Safe in East New Britain and Bougainville, and Australia’s support to refurbish the Air Transport Wing Hangar in Port Moresby. Ministers welcomed Australia’s commitment to the ongoing sustainment and maintenance of the Lombrum Naval Base.
Ministers agreed that the Defence Cooperation Program be jointly reviewed to ensure defence cooperation continues to focus on building PNG’s sovereign, independent capabilities, infrastructure and developing interoperability between the PNGDF and ADF. They agreed to explore opportunities and ways to deepen defence-to-defence and departmental ties.
Ministers reaffirmed the ongoing close cooperation to address crime and safety issues impacting Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the Blue Pacific, consistent with the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security. Ministers welcomed the new MoU on Police Cooperation, and the exchange of information signed between the AFP and RPNGC in April 2024.
Ministers welcomed ongoing collaboration on joint border agency cooperation initiatives, including the gifting of PV Minigulai to enhance the security of the two countries’ common borders in the Torres Strait and broader resilience.
Ministers acknowledged progress under the MOU on Cyber Cooperation between Australia and PNG, including engagements in PNG by Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology in May 2024. Ministers committed to cooperating on cyber security, cyber resilience and crisis response, including deployments of Rapid Assistance to Pacific Incidents and Disasters (RAPID) teams at the request of PNG. Ministers noted the international increased risk of cyber-attacks and recognised that cyber security settings and decisions on critical digital infrastructure impact national security.
Ministers welcomed Australia’s support for PNG’s digitalisation agenda and adoption of cloud-based data solutions to improve cyber resilience, including funding for the development of a government cloud roadmap, scoping for the establishment of a PNG National Cyber Coordination Centre and planning for the next phase of PNG’s National Cyber Security Centre.
PNG welcomed Australia’s update on the bid to host the 31st UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP31) in 2026 in partnership with Pacific countries. Ministers reiterated the commitment to work together to advocate for the bid. Ministers welcomed the launch of Climate FIRST, a new climate change investment aimed at increasing PNG’s access to global climate-financing and Australia’s foundational contribution to the Pacific Resilience Facility, which is expected to lay the foundation to attract investment by other countries.

Ministers welcomed Australia’s enduring development partnership with PNG, with an estimated AUD637.4 million in total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to PNG in 2024-5. Ministers acknowledged the importance of resolving taxation issues to ensure efficient and effective use of Australian ODA, including through Designated Aid Status Certificates in compliance with respective treaty commitments and domestic processes.
Ministers discussed bilateral priorities to be included in the Australia-PNG Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029, including their alignment with goals set out in PNG’s Vision 2050 and Medium-Term Development Plan IV and its emphasis on socio – economic development at the sub-national levels. Ministers acknowledged the extensive and valuable consultations on the Development Partnership Plan to date, and the opportunity presented through this process to drive deeper development cooperation and positive outcomes in health, education, climate, inclusion and protection of marginalised groups, embedding of First Nations perspectives, and empowerment of women and girls.
Ministers emphasised the transformative opportunities available to PNG through quality education and affirmed that PNG’s own budget prioritisation of education remained critical to achieving a knowledge-based economy. Ministers welcomed Australia’s commitment to scale-up its education investment in PNG. Ministers celebrated the progress of the Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) program.
Ministers agreed on the importance of funding cost effective interventions to improve education outcomes in PNG as identified by the World Bank’s Papua New Guinea Economic Update May 2024: Invest in your Children. Ministers recognised the importance of increased financing in the education sector to support PNG’s goal of accessible, affordable and quality education for all in its Medium-Term Development Plan IV, and noted the two countries’ strong track record of collaboration on improving education outcomes. Ministers noted progress on co-badging Australia Awards as the Somare-Whitlam Awards in 2025 to commemorate PNG’s 50th anniversary of independence and design of a short course on the PNG-Australia relationship.
Recognising the role of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in increasing and upskilling workers in PNG, and supporting labour mobility pathways to seize domestic and international economic opportunities, Ministers welcomed the updated PNG-Australia Joint Statement of Intent on TVET in PNG. The Joint Statement, signed by Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific and PNG’s Minister for Higher Education reaffirms the two countries’ shared commitment to improving TVET outcomes, and reflects our research partnership and enduring ties for human development and economic prosperity. Ministers welcomed the joint commitment to biennial progress reports on implementation of the Statement at future Forums.
Ministers discussed the wide-ranging cooperation between PNG and Australia in the health sector, a partnership that includes training, service delivery, infrastructure, and systems strengthening in all 22 provinces. Ministers welcomed Australia’s agreement to fund the construction, and provide ongoing commissioning support, for the Gware Wing of ANGAU Hospital – building on Australia’s significant earlier investment to redevelop the hospital.
Ministers welcome deepened engagement on issues of democratic governance and service delivery. Building on more than 20 years of collaboration, the Churches Partnership Program is continuing to support Churches improve their capacity to deliver crucial health and education services, with a focus on community resilience, institutional capacity and policy advocacy.

CSEP Pillar 6 – Near Neighbours, Global Partners

Ministers reiterated their responsibility, as the most populous members of the Pacific, to invest in regional peace, security, and economic resilience. They underscored the pre-eminence of Pacific-led and owned regional architecture, and acknowledged the critical role of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in setting and implementing the regional agenda through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Ministers acknowledged the importance of Australia and PNG working together to reinforce Pacific unity and encourage Pacific consensus through transparent and inclusive decision-making in regional forums.
Ministers acknowledged the value of investing in Pacific-led responses to Pacific security challenges and in cooperation that enables the Pacific to meet its security needs as envisaged by PIF leaders. They commended the established practice of Papua New Guinea and Australia helping each other, and others in the region, at times of crisis.
Ministers acknowledged the value of a Pacific voice at multilateral fora and agreed to work together to strengthen PNG’s representation.

Declaration

This Joint Communiqué reflects discussions at the 30th Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 19 June 2024.

Agreed at: APEC Haus, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on: 19 June 2024

For the Government of Papua New Guinea
Hon Justin Tkatchenko MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs

For the Government of Australia
Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Minister for Foreign Affairs

DUTTON IS IN NUCLEAR FANTASY LAND, WHILE LABOR REMAINS ADDICTED TO COAL AND GAS

The Australian Greens have said any plan by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to invest in nuclear power is ‘pure fantasy’, and a ‘dead cat’ distraction strategy to divert attention from Liberal and Labor’s joint backing of opening more coal and gas mines.

Dutton can’t win government this election and with no pathway to control of the Senate to repeal the federal nuclear ban, and state leaders – including the QLD Liberal leader – opposed to repealing state bans, the Greens say Dutton’s words are a deliberate distraction from his commitment to climate-destroying coal and gas.

Meanwhile Labor’s Future Made in Australia policy and Future Gas Strategy will mean a future for coal and gas past 2050.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“The battle lines for the next election are clear. Liberals are for nuclear, Labor is for more coal and gas and the Greens are for clean renewables.

“Peter Dutton can talk about nuclear power as much as he wants, but it’s not going to happen.

“If I wanted to tune in to a fantasy I’d watch The Lord of the Rings.

“Peter Dutton can’t win government and he can’t repeal the nuclear ban in the Senate. It’s a ‘dead cat’ strategy, a dangerous distraction from Liberal and Labor’s push to open up more coal and gas.

“Liberal and Labor can have a fake debate about building nuclear power stations in 30 years, but if they both keep opening more coal and gas mines in the meantime, the climate crisis will get worse and people will suffer.”

Jobs Data Can’t Mask Pain of Albanese’s Cost of Living Crisis

Employment data released today shows Australians are working harder to make ends meet as the Albanese Government’s cost-of-living crisis continues to grip the nation.

The trend statistics show that the monthly hours worked by Australians increased by 17 million hours over the past 12 months.

This comes on the back of quarterly Labour Accounts figures released last week which show more Australians are working more than one job. Those figures show there are 974,000 multiple-job holders, up 2.9% over the past year.

The May 2024 labour force figures show the unemployment rate decreased to 4%.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Australians continue to pay a very high price for a Labor government that can’t manage the economy.

“Australians are facing a deadly combination of high inflation and household recession.

“We are in an entrenched GDP per capita, consumer confidence and productivity recession after two years of Labor’s failed economic management.

“The Treasurer can spin today’s labour force data however he wants. But everyday Australians will see right through it.

“They’re forced to work more and work harder to make ends meet. But Australians don’t need data to know this – they are living it every single day.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said that the drop in unemployment cannot mask the pain Australians are feeling under the Albanese Government’s cost of living crisis.

“The cost of living pain is not just in the hip pocket when Australians go to buy every day essentials at the supermarket or have to pay their power bills,” she said.

“It is now clear that pain extends to having to work harder to make ends meet. And the pain extends to small business owners who are fighting a cost of doing business crisis,’’ Senator Cash said.

Australia must act quickly to support G7 commitment to Ukraine

Australia risks again falling behind like-minded partners supporting Ukraine unless the Albanese Government moves to quickly back the G7 agreement to a $50 billion USD loan for Ukraine obtained through frozen Russian assets.

Having claimed legal difficulties as justification to not use Russian assets, the Albanese Government now needs to stop finding excuses to not support Ukraine and wholeheartedly commit to doing all that Australia possibly can.

Unlike the US, UK, Canada and France, Australia has not yet made any contribution to the unfolding global debate to the transfer of funds from Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine.

If Australia’s laws need changing to better target Russian assets or make more effective sanctions on Russia, then all Labor needs to do is act, because the Coalition is clear in our support.

The Coalition, since the beginning of Russia’s abhorrent and illegal invasion of Ukraine has offered full bipartisan support to the Labor Government to implement all possible mechanisms that would aid Ukraine’s self-defence.

Instead of acting wherever it can, Labor has let Australia’s relative support decline, including junking military helicopters, ignoring calls to reinstate Australia’s embassy in Kyiv and turning down requests for coal.

If Labor won’t act, then we will explore Senate inquiries or other mechanisms to put pressure on the Albanese Government to do so.

Test for Our Weak Union Controlled PM When Coalition Introduces Urgent CFMEU De-merger Bill

Australia’s weak Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will face a crucial test next week when the Coalition brings an urgent Bill into Parliament to allow workers within the Manufacturing Division of the CFMEU to de-merge from the militant union.

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Senator Michaelia Cash said the Albanese Government and their allies in the Australian Greens voted against an almost identical piece of legislation back in February which would have allowed this de-merger vote to go ahead.

“This weak Prime Minister who is controlled by the unions must reverse his position and support our legislation in the next sitting week,’’ she said.

The Coalition will introduce the Bill in the wake of the intimidation, bullying and thuggery of CFMEU Victorian boss John Setka who last week made outrageous demands of the AFL to sack their umpire boss Steve McBurney

Mr Setka threatened disruptions on AFL-linked infrastructure worksites across the country because of Mr McBurney’s former role as head of the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

The Coalition will introduce the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Standing Up Against Bullying, Thuggery and Intimidation) Bill 2024 when Parliament resumes next week..

The key mechanism of the Bill will enable a secret ballot to occur on the de-merger question. This has been requested by manufacturing workers to protect them from intimidation and retaliation.

Senator Cash said the outrageous recent behaviour of Mr Setka highlighted the need to protect vulnerable workers from the CFMEU.

“These members of the manufacturing division are mostly women and they have wanted out of the CFMEU for a long time,’’ Senator Cash said.

“I’ve met with them in the past and they were very clear. They said that they were sick and tired of being associated with the actions of the militant members of the construction division of the CFMEU and in particular John Setka,’’ she said.

“They talked about intimidation, standover tactics and even violence from members of this union,’’ Senator Cash said.

“The standover tactics of Mr Setka were on full display again last week with his demands for the AFL to sack Stephen McBurney,’’ she said.

“He even stood over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese telling him to ‘stay out of it’. The Prime Minister is so weak that’s exactly what he did – stayed out of it,’’ Senator Cash said.

“It is now time to stand up for the vulnerable workers of the manufacturing divisions of the CFMEU and allow them to get out of this militant union – they should not have to wait another minute,’’ she said.

“Last time a Bill of this nature to allow them to de-merge from the CFMEU came before the Parliament the Labor Party voted against it,’’ Senator Cash said.

“So this will be a test for our weak Prime Minister Albanese and his Labor colleagues. Do they care about vulnerable women in the manufacturing sector or will they capitulate to the CFMEU once again,’’ she said.

“It’s time this weak Prime Minister grew a backbone and stood up for what’s right,’’ Senator Cash said.

Australia’s Energy Future

Every Australian deserves and should expect access to cheaper, cleaner and consistent electricity. But under Labor, this isn’t happening.

Right now, in households and businesses around the country, Labor’s expensive renewables-only approach is failing.

The Government is now talking about a 65 to 75 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035, but won’t release modelling and won’t tell us how much higher power prices will go up.

Power bills have already increased by up to $1,000 for many Australians, when they were promised a $275 cut. And Labor’s climate target of 43% emissions reduction by 2030 has become unachievable.

The Coalition believes Australia must have a balanced energy mix to deliver cheaper, cleaner and consistent 24/7 electricity. 90 per cent of baseload electricity, predominantly coal fired power stations, is coming to the end of life over the next decade.

Nuclear energy for Australia is an idea whose time has come.

Today, we are announcing that a future Federal Coalition Government will introduce zero-emissions nuclear energy in Australia, which has proven to get electricity prices and emissions down all over the world, to work in partnership with renewable energy and gas as part of a balanced energy mix.

And today, we announce seven locations, located at a power station that has closed or is scheduled to close, where we propose to build zero-emissions nuclear power plants:

Liddell Power Station, New South Wales
Mount Piper Power Station, New South Wales
Loy Yang Power Stations, Victoria
Tarong Power Station, Queensland
Callide Power Station, Queensland
Northern Power Station, South Australia (SMR only)
Muja Power Station, Western Australia (SMR only)

Each of these locations offer important technical attributes needed for a zero-emissions nuclear plant, including cooling water capacity and transmission infrastructure, that is, we can use the existing poles and wires, along with a local community which has a skilled workforce.

A key advantage of modern zero-emissions nuclear plants is they can be plugged into existing grids. This means they can effectively replace retired or retiring coal plants and avoid much of the new spending needed for Labor’s ‘renewables-only’ system, including new transmission poles and wires. All of which will be passed on in the form of higher bills.

Labor’s approach requires imposing 58 million solar panels, 3,500 new industrial wind turbines, and up to 28,000 kilometres of new transmission lines across the country. Energy experts have warned the cost of Labor’s rollout will be between $1.2 trillion and $1.5 trillion.

No country in the world relies solely on solar and wind as Labor is proposing. By contrast, there are 32 countries operating zero-emissions nuclear plants. Another 50 countries are looking to do so.

Of the world’s 20 largest economies, Australia is the only one not using nuclear energy, or moving towards using it.

Our plan will deliver a net-zero electricity grid by 2050 and a strong and resilient economy. It will set our country up for decades to come.

At the front of this next wave of growth will be those communities which host zero-emissions nuclear plants. Not only will local communities benefit from high paying, multi-generational jobs but communities will be empowered to maximise the benefits from hosting an asset of national importance by way of:

A multi-billion dollar facility guaranteeing high-paying jobs for generations to come;
An integrated economic development zone to attract manufacturing, value-add and high-tech industry; and
A regional deal unlocking investment in modern infrastructure, services and community priorities.

A Community Partnership will be formed in each host community, consisting of experienced local representatives, as the focal point for community engagement and to play an important role in planning the future of the region.

This community engagement process will occur alongside a comprehensive site study including detailed technical and economic assessments.

A Federal Coalition Government will initially develop two establishment projects using either small modular reactors or modern larger plants such as the AP1000 or APR1400. They will start producing electricity by 2035 (with small modular reactors) or 2037 (if modern larger plants are found to be the best option).

The Australian Government will own these assets, but form partnerships with experienced nuclear companies to build and operate them.

Australia is fast running out of energy. The way of life for everyday Australians and the cost of doing business in Australia is already in jeopardy and it is only going to get worse under Labor’s expensive all-eggs-in-one-basket ‘renewables-only’ policy.

We know the Prime Minister and his Government will mount the mother-of-all scare campaigns on zero-emissions nuclear energy.

But we believe Australians are up for this discussion and are open-minded about including zero-emissions nuclear technology as part of a balanced energy mix.

If you are serious about meeting our net zero by 2050 emissions commitments, then you must include zero-emission nuclear as part of your energy mix. Zero-emission nuclear power plants produce no air pollution or carbon emissions. For example, a 1.1 GW AP-1000 reactor cuts approximately seven million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing 1.5 million cars from the road.

A zero-emissions nuclear power plant will be a national asset delivering cheaper, cleaner and consistent energy for 80 years. Getting started now on establishing a civil nuclear programme is the right decision for you, your children and your grandchildren.

From today, we will be speaking right across the country on the merits of our plan.

Our plan is bold, visionary and what Australians need to secure our energy and economic future.

For more information visit australianeedsnuclear.org.au

Labor’s Big Australia keeps getting bigger

Under the Albanese Labor government, a record 547,300 migrants arrived in Australia in 2023, according to ABS data published today.

No government has ever brought as many migrants to Australia in a single year. As Australians struggle with finding a place to live, with congestion on our roads, and with pressure on services like seeing a GP, Labor’s record pace of migration is not sustainable.

Labor must take responsibility for their Big Australia policy. Australia experienced record migration in 2023 because this Labor Government issued a record number of visas.

In 2023, Labor issued:

A record number of student visas (489,289)
A record number of student visas to offshore applicants (342,180)
A record number of Covid work visas despite the pandemic being over (136, 459)
A record number of Temporary work visas (other) (405,817)
91,256 Temporary Graduate Visas

Before the election Anthony Albanese signalled that Labor would not back the return of mass immigration – but the numbers tell a different story.

Australians don’t trust Labor to manage immigration, and for good reason. It was Labor’s Ministerial Direction 99 that made it easier for criminal non-citizens to remain in Australia instead of being deported.

Labor also released hardened criminals from immigration detention, did not issue them with the correct visas and have not monitored them adequately. Community safety has suffered as a result.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has promised that by July 1 Australia’s migration levels will return to normal, but on current figures it is impossible to see how. O’Neil told Sunrise on 10 April: “When we get to the 1st of July this year, and I’m talking about in a few months’ time, we will be back in a normal year of migration. We will have halved our migration rate as a country.”

The Coalition will rebalance Australia’s migration program to maximise the economic benefits of immigration while managing the impacts on housing, congestion, the environment, and government services.