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The Albanese Government is pleased to launch the new Centre for Australia-India Relations headquarters in Parramatta, along with a series of initiatives to further strengthen Australia’s links with India.

The new headquarters will be a focal point for government, business, academia, the cultural sector and Indian-Australian communities to drive new partnership opportunities between our countries. The Centre’s headquarters are supported by both the Australian and New South Wales Governments.

Today we are pleased to announce the recipients of the Centre’s inaugural Maitri Scholars and Fellowships programs. Five Maitri Scholars from India will complete PhDs on STEM research topics, including advanced manufacturing and clean energy solutions. Seven Maitri Fellows will undertake research projects exploring our shared geostrategic and economic future, including in maritime security, responding to climate change, secure supply chains and closer regional cooperation.

India is on track to be the world’s third largest economy by the end of the decade. To ensure Australia benefits from India’s growth, the Australian Government will commence consultations on a future Australia-India economic roadmap. This roadmap will build on the landmark 2018 India Economic Strategy authored by Peter Varghese, and harness the untapped potential we see in some key sectors, while focusing and accelerating our work for the next phase of our relationship. Australia also continues to negotiate its next free trade agreement with India, including for greater market access in agriculture and manufacturing.

These initiatives are on top of additional $14.3m in funding provided in last week’s budget, to expand the Australia India Business Exchange. Austrade will lead new business missions to India across a range of sectors – including agrifood, education, technology, and energy and resources like critical minerals. The expanded program also involves pilot business missions to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to help grow our trade across the South Asia.

Recognising the expertise of Indian-Australian communities, we also announce the Centre’s CEO and Director Network. The Network consists of a group of Indian-Australian corporate leaders who will build knowledge of India among their peers in the Australian business community.

Further information on the inaugural Maitri Scholars and Fellows is available on the Centre for Australia-India Relations website.

Public submissions for the new Australia-India roadmap are encouraged and will be open until 15 July 2024.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Working more closely with our Indian-Australian communities – our fastest growing diaspora – means we can better respond to a diverse and evolving India.

“The Centre’s CEO and Director Network will assist Australian business leaders to engage with India’s growth story.

“The Maitri Scholars and Fellows will also contribute to a broader and deeper understanding of the Australia India relationship, our shared interests and our shared challenges, while fostering life-long connections.”

Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell:

“Trade with India is shaping up to be a big win for Australia. Since our government implemented a new trade deal with India, Australian businesses have seen a massive boost in exports.

But we think we can go even further, which is why we committed over $14m in this years’ budget to expand the Australia India Business Exchange, and have announced consultations on a new Australia-India economic roadmap.

A new India economic roadmap will help us focus and accelerate our efforts to harness India’s growth, and tap into the enormous trade and investment opportunities that will help us secure a future made in Australia.”

CEO Centre for Australia-India Relations, Tim Thomas:

“The Centre for Australia-India Relations is excited to establish its headquarters in Parramatta, a thriving innovation ecosystem and an important focal point for the vibrant Indian-Australian community. The Centre has built strong momentum through our Maitri grants and stakeholder impact programs. The Centre will continue to galvanise Australian stakeholders to move on the tremendous opportunities that India’s growth presents.”

This week I will travel to Bangladesh and Singapore to advance Australia’s interests in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean region.

As Australia enhances our engagement with the Indian Ocean region, I am pleased to undertake my first visit to Bangladesh.

Australia is working with Bangladesh to deepen our cooperation, including on trade and investment, and to find practical solutions to shared challenges such as climate change, regional maritime security and people smuggling.

In Dhaka, I look forward to discussing these issues with Prime Minister the Honourable Sheikh Hasina MP, Foreign Minister the Honourable Dr Hasan Mahmud MP and other members of the Bangladeshi Government.

Australia and Bangladesh have significant people-to-people links, with over 50,000 people in Australia born in Bangladesh.

I will also travel to Cox’s Bazar, where I will see how Australia’s humanitarian assistance is delivering practical support to displaced Rohingya and Bangladeshi host communities.

Australia’s humanitarian assistance is part of a global effort to address the causes of displacement, find durable solutions, and ultimately allow Rohingya to realise their goal of returning to their homeland.

My visit to Singapore, my second as Foreign Minister, is an opportunity to discuss trade and investment, green economy opportunities, defence and security, and our close cooperation on shared regional challenges.

I look forward to meetings with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Singapore is one of Australia’s closest friends and partners, and our relationship is based on mutual trust, respect, and shared strategic perspectives.

St John of God Bunbury will close their maternity ward in less than 6 weeks, despite having 96 patients booked in to give birth in the unit, including some after the closure date. 

In a Facebook post and media statement, expectant families were told that the maternity ward would be closing on the 25th of June, and that they should plan to give birth at nearby Bunbury Regional Hospital or in Perth, more than 2 hours away. 

Staff across the maternity ward, which also delivers postnatal care and neonatal special care will be left jobless with just weeks to prepare.  

It comes as another blow to maternity care in the South West, with the WA Country Health Service announcing that services that support complex births at Margaret River Hospital would be transferred to Busselton and Bunbury Hospitals. 

The Greens are urging the state and federal governments to step in and adequately fund WA’s public hospitals so that the healthcare system can deal with the influx of patients, and ensure that the 96 families still booked in at St John of God Bunbury receive continuity of care for the remainder of their pregnancies. 

Greens MLC for South Metropolitan Region Brad Pettitt
“This is an incredibly disappointing announcement for parents hoping to stay close to home when having their baby. Now they will be forced to travel upwards of two hours to receive care in a different hospital that is likely already swamped.

“Services for women and babies in regional areas should be at the forefront of Labor’s priorities. These services are crying out for more funding, and when we have a multi-million dollar surplus in this state, why are we leaving families without essential care? 

“I am shocked that many of the staff had to find out about this closure on social media. Workers deserve better than to find out on Facebook that they have lost their job, and I implore St John of God to support these workers to transition into new roles.”

Greens Spokesperson for Health Jordon Steele-John

“We heard just 3 weeks ago that Bunbury Regional Hospital is already struggling with response times. This closure only serves to add extra pressure that they simply will not be able to deal with.

“Our public hospitals are grossly underfunded, all over the state. We need the Federal and State Governments to further invest in our public healthcare system so that people across WA can access affordable healthcare. 

“Our community deserves better than private healthcare providers deciding at short notice there is no longer a profit to be made, and closing a vital service.

“Healthcare should be run in the interests of our community, and that’s exactly why we need State and Federal Labor governments to stop crowing about their budget surpluses and instead invest in healthcare. 

The Australian Greens have warned coal and gas giants to expect more blows to their climate-destroying expansion that overrides First Nations voices, after the party killed Labor’s gas fast-track bill and drew the ire of Woodside chief Meg O’Neill.

In a huge win for climate last week, the Greens secured an agreement with the government to shelve Labor’s offshore gas fast-track plan.

Yet in response today, Woodside Energy boss Meg O’Neill took a shot at the agreement, saying it would make it harder to roll out more gas projects. 

Which the Greens say is the point.

While coal and gas lobbyists may be used to politicians caving to their every demand, the Greens will continue to use their power to fight any new coal or gas projects, and say the fight will only intensify in the lead up to the election as a minority Parliament looms.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“If the gas cartel thinks this win by the Greens is a blow to their climate-destroying expansion, they ain’t seen nothing yet. 

“This is just the beginning of the Greens’ fight against the big coal and gas corporations that are fueling drought, fires and floods while often paying next to no tax and sending profits offshore. 

“People can’t insure their homes, farmers are losing income and forests are drying out  because of the coal and gas-fuelled climate crisis. The only chance of saving Australia’s economy from the ravages of climate collapse is if there are no new coal and gas mines. 

“Woodside’s expansion threatens Australian lives and livelihoods.

“No doubt coal and gas corporations are used to compliant politicians who take their donations and do their bidding, but as we head towards a predicted minority Parliament, the Greens will fight for higher taxes on big gas corporations and an end to new coal and gas mines.”

Greens’ First Nations and resources spokesperson, Senator Dorinda Cox:

“It is not acceptable that in a climate crisis, where we see everyday Australians impacted by climate emergencies and devastation that fossil fuel giants believe they can silence First Nation voices and knowledge to destroy country and precious irreplaceable cultural heritage. 

“Yet we see time and time again the Albanese Labor Government caving to lobbyists and opening new climate and environment-wrecking gas projects. 

“The Greens, Traditional Owners and community have shown their commitment and determination to fight these gas wrecking projects. 

“Last week we won against Labor’s fast-tracking of gas approvals and we’ll keep fighting to make sure Australians understand the implications of climate wrecking projects and that Labor cannot be allowed to sell off our sea, country and cultural heritage to the highest bidder. Our sea country and heritage is not for sale.”

Today, Tuesday 21st May 2024, the Australian Senate will commence its inquiry into Labor’s proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2024. 

Senator Steele-John, the Australian Greens spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services, and the only physically disabled person in the Australian Senate, will attend both days of the Senate inquiry.

The Bill proposed the most significant changes to the NDIS since it commenced over a decade ago.

Submissions to the inquiry have implored Senators to not pass the bill in its current form. 

Those giving evidence on the first day of the inquiry include disabled people, their representative advocacy organisations, and those involved in the NDIS Review. 

The legislation was developed behind closed doors with representatives from disability organisations required to sign non-disclosure agreements. 

Senator Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services. 

“As the only physically disabled person in the Senate, I feel a great obligation to our disability community when it comes to this Senate Inquiry. 

“The changes proposed by Labor are the end of the NDIS as we know it. 

“The message from the community is clear, Labor should not cut the NDIS and this draft NDIS legislation should not pass in its current form. 

“The Labor government has failed to get the policy settings right. Labor has made the political decision to balance its budget off the back of disabled people; cutting $14.4 billion from the NDIS just last week.

“As it is drafted, Labor’s proposed changes to the NDIS will make life more difficult for disabled people, our families and the thousands of people who are employed within the NDIS. 

“This bill will enable the agency to make significant changes to the scheme without community consultation. So much for nothing about us, without us.

The reality is that right now the NDIS is ‘the only lifeboat in the ocean.’ Removing participants from the scheme to systems that don’t exist, is outrageously poor planning with obviously harmful consequences. This proves the government is more concerned about cutting costs than improving the NDIS for disabled people. 

“I believe Australians want to ensure disabled people are supported to live fulfilling and productive lives. If the government were proposing cuts and changes to Medicare at the scale they are proposing them for the NDIS there would be a revolt. 

“These changes will see every single NDIS participant’s plan thrown up in the air with deep uncertainty about where the chips will fall because the bill will remove power from the hands of disabled people, putting it squarely back in the grasp of politicians and government bureaucrats.” 

The Greens are calling on the Australian government to publicly support the ICC Chief Prosecutor’s decision to press for the arrests of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri.

The findings of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor reinforce what so many in our community already knew; there has been serious and sustained breaches of international law in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and Hamas’ attacks on civilians since the October 7th attacks.
 
Australia cannot proclaim a commitment to upholding an international rules-based order only when it suits us. The ongoing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humans in Gaza must end. The perpetrators must be held to account. 

Australia cannot follow the United States’ complete disregard for the independent court, and cannot follow them in denying genocide in Palestine. 

Every week the parliament has been in session since October 7th 2023 the Australian Greens have been calling on the government to do more, including: 

• Call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire
• Expel Israel’s Ambassador to Australia
• Put sanctions on Prime Minister Netanyahu, his war cabinet and other government members
• End military trade with the State of Israel
• Cancel defence contracts with Elbit Systems

Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Peace:

“The Greens support the ICC Prosecutor in issuing arrest warrants and pursuing the arrest of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders.

“Australia must immediately respond by expelling Israel’s Ambassador to Australia and putting sanctions on his war cabinet. 

“Violence against civilians is never acceptable. Australia needs to call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire to ensure that this genocide ends.

“What is happening in Palestine is deplorable. The IDF is deliberately starving, dehydrating and cutting off Palestinians from aid, with no end in sight. Those responsible must be held to account.”