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Appointment of new Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs

I am pleased to announce the Governor‑General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Stephanie Foster as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.

Ms Foster has had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service, including as acting Secretary and Associate Secretary of Home Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Ms Foster has held other senior positions in the APS, including at the Australian Public Service Commission, the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Defence.

Ms Foster has well-established relationships across the APS and significant policy experience, which make her eminently suitable to the role of Secretary.

Ms Foster’s five‑year appointment will commence today.

Man charged over alleged sexual touching – Hunter Valley

A man has been charged after a sexual touching incident in the Hunter Valley region.

About 12.50am on Sunday 26 November 2023, police were called to Waverley Street, Scone, following reports a woman had been assaulted.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were told an 18-year-old woman had been followed and assaulted by a man before she was able to escape and run home.

Following extensive inquiries, a search warrant was executed at a home on St Aubins Street, Scone, about 12pm today (Tuesday 28 November 2023).

During the search, several items were seized by investigators for forensic analysis.

A 26-year-old man was arrested and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with sexual touching, common assault, choking and intimidation.

He was refused bail to appear at Singleton Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 29 November 2023).

DUTTON’S BACKSEAT DRIVING CONTINUES

Labor’s attempts to amend last week’s rushed and shoddy anti-refugee legislation with more rushed and shoddy anti-refugee legislation is just further proof that Peter Dutton is running the show, the Greens say.

“Labor has clearly learned nothing from last week. They let Dutton pressure them into trampling refugee rights with hasty and xenophobic legislation, and here they go again,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“They may as well re-appoint Peter Dutton as Minister for Home Affairs and be done with it.”

“This isn’t leadership; it’s a betrayal of principles in the face of political pressure.”

“They have completely folded in the face of a right wing scare campaign.”

“Again we see one group of people in our country treated more harshly than another just because they are not citizens.”

“Mandatory sentences are contrary to good governance and Labor’s own policy platform.”

“For Labor to introduce them today just shows that they are only interested in appeasing the far right.”

“Labor’s xenophobia is perpetuating a cycle of criminalisation and punitive control over refugees and migrants, many of whom have committed no crime whatsoever.”

“To the Teals, Mr Wilkie and Senator Pocock: we ask you to this time stand with us for refugee rights instead of collapsing again in the face of the political duopoly’s confected fear campaign.”

LACK OF DETAIL IN JSCEM REPORT LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR TWO PARTY STITCH UP

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:

“All year Labor has used the JSCEM process as an excuse for rejecting independent and Greens private members’ bills for electoral reform on topics like truth in political advertising, donation reform and transparency, and on-the-day enrolment.

“And yet here we are, with the final JSCEM report delivered, and still zero detail on how Labor plans to work with the parliament to deliver improved transparency and integrity to our elections.

“The Greens welcome the proposal for more Senate seats for the territories, but it is very concerning to see no further progress made on donations, transparency or tackling misinformation in today’s report.

“If Labor is genuine about electoral reform to deal with misinformation, with big spenders like Clive Palmer, and with dark money, they’d be consulting and working with the crossbench instead of talking about ‘bipartisan approaches’.

“Any proposal that means that if you’re already elected you get a hefty envelope full of cash, but if you’re trying to get elected, your donations are heavily restricted is not a reform, it’s a rort.

“Propping up the dying two party system is not electoral reform, it’s a rort.

“After the Greens’ landslide outcome at the last election, and the victories of independents in metropolitan Liberal seats, the political class is feeling the heat.

“Labor and the Liberals’ vote is going backwards. The combined total of the two party vote in Australia has dropped from 98% of the vote in 1951, on a steady downward trend, to 68% at the last election.

“The Greens and independents stand ready to pass real democratic reforms with the Government, rather than the government doing a dirty deal with the Liberals that locks in the two party system.”

BACKGROUND
Report: Conduct of the 2022 federal election and other matters – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

Greens additional comments: Additional comments by the Australian Greens – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

TL;DR – The Juice Media version: https://youtu.be/N3WTlyuhDs0

CURRICULUM SIDESHOW A DISTRACTION FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS

The Greens say curriculum debates are a sideshow which distracts policymakers from the school funding crisis, and that the key to ending school inequality is ensuring every child can access a well-resourced and inclusive public school.

Greens spokesperson on Education (Primary & Secondary), Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“Blaming educational inequality on curriculum while continuing to underfund our public schools is a distraction that parents, carers and teachers will see straight through.

“Teachers are overworked and leaving the profession; parents and teachers are dipping into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies; and thousands of students can’t attend class because their schools don’t have the resources to adequately support them.

“The idea that tweaking the curriculum would magically reverse the decades of neglect of our public school system is a technocratic fantasy that no serious person can possibly believe.

“This is a game the right’s culture warriors have been playing for years. They’re desperate to undermine the public system, and they’ll blame declining performance and disengagement on everything but the actual cause: persistent underfunding.

“It’s a cynical shell game that helps prop up the private system and entrench elite privilege at the expense of millions of the most disadvantaged kids in the country.

“To even have a chance of reversing educational inequality in Australia, every public school must be funded to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard by the start of the next National School Reform Agreement, in January 2025.”

LABOR VOTES FOR MORE GAS AS BROKEN GAS CODE NARROWLY PASSES SENATE

In the Senate this afternoon Labor voted to open new gas fields, with its gas code narrowly avoiding a Senate defeat by 16 votes to 21.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Labor has voted to open new gas fields.

“In the middle of a climate crisis, Labor is gaslighting the public, pretending to take climate action while opening new coal and gas mines.

“Gas is as dirty as coal, and every new Labor gas development puts us on track for an unliveable climate future.

“Labor’s gas code gives big corporations a financial incentive to open new gas fields.

“There’s plenty of gas in Australia to get us through the transition, but Labor is peddling Morrison-era spin that new gas fields are the only answer.

“Labor’s backing for more coal and gas is now clear. Labor backs the Santos’ Narrabri gas project, the Beetaloo climate bomb and Woodside’s Burrup Hub disaster, which contain decades worth of pollution and put a safer climate further out of reach.

“We’re up for regulating the gas corporations and ensuring gas isn’t sent offshore while Australian business transitions, but the experts and climate scientists make it clear that there is no room for new coal or gas if we’re to have any chance of meeting climate targets.

Labor ministers caught out by their own spin on ‘industry growth program’

Today, as Australian small businesses are being smashed by cost pressures, the Albanese Government has claimed its Industry Growth Program is ‘open for business’.

Industry Minister Ed Husic has taken a break from freelancing on foreign policy to team up with Small Business Minister Julie Collins, to declare this new government initiative will ‘turbocharge innovation’, ‘back small business’ and that ‘the Albanese Government is supporting businesses to grow’.

It can be revealed that this rosy assessment made by two of Labor’s worst performers does not accord with the assessments made by their public servants behind the scenes.

The Government’s own analysis contained in an FOI’d Senate Estimates brief, states that:

Recently, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) conditions have fallen further below the conditions for all businesses than at any other time recorded.
For the smallest SMEs (turnover between $2-3 million) the effect is even greater.
Almost three-quarters of SMEs continue to report significant difficulty finding suitable labour and cost pressures remain elevated. These economic circumstances are affecting conditions for SMEs more than their larger counterparts given their relatively higher operating costs and thinner margins.

Who are we to believe, two hapless ministers or their own public servants?

Irrespective of the spin in press releases from Labor Ministers, Australian small businesses are suffering in a ‘cost-of-doing-business-crisis’ and the Albanese Government is simply not doing the work to relieve the pressure.

Instead of taking strong action on power prices, easing supply chain disruptions and lowering the cost of doing business we see another taxpayer-funded grant program unlikely to be open for months and which most small businesses will not know about, nor have time to apply for.

What’s worse, as Australians get hammered by cost of living increases and interest rates rises, there are signs it will get even harder for small businesses.

The Visa Australia Spending Momentum Index (SMI) dropped by 1.4 points to 91.9 in October as consumers continued to respond to rising fuel costs, sticky inflation and high interest rates. According to Visa, 51 per cent of Australian cardholders reduced their spend last month compared to a year ago, the highest share recorded this year. The data suggests increased spending on petrol is having an impact and may be displacing spending in other categories. Critically, it also anticipates that elevated inflation and interest rates will further hit consumer spending, making it even harder for small businesses over coming months.

We do not need more Labor ministers backslapping, we need a proper plan on inflation and sound economic management.

Anthony Albanese is failing at every turn.

Exploring modular housing to deliver more social homes sooner

A new cross government taskforce will meet for the first time today to provide expert industry advice to the NSW Government to explore the use of modular housing to deliver much needed social homes for people in NSW.

Modular housing has been successfully used in NSW, other states and around the world to provide quick and easy housing solutions.

Additionally, the cost of building modular housing is expected to decrease as we scale up and achieve efficiencies of scale in manufacturing.

The NSW Government is committed to looking at how we can use these innovative new ways to build more social housing and help strengthen the safety net for those experiencing housing insecurity.

At the recent state budget, an initial investment of $10 million was set aside at part of a $224 million Essential Housing Package to address the historic neglect of new social housing supply and trial innovative solutions to get people off the social housing waitlist.

That process begins today with the cross-industry taskforce of representatives from peak bodies including PreFab Aus, Shelter NSW, Community Housing Industry Association Local Government NSW, Property Council of Australia, Government Architects, Industry suppliers and union representatives. alongside people with lived experience of social housing.

The taskforce will among other things:

investigate innovative modern methods of construction (MMC), including modular housing
advise on the role MMC could play in delivering new housing sooner
examine the highest standard designs in line with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s (LAHC) best-practice guidelines
investigate a wide range of innovative, high-quality, high-durability and eco-friendly modern construction products.

Modular housing is especially suitable to regional areas as planning regulations are already in place and the offsite construction of modular housing can reduce costs and increase speed of construction.

The taskforce will also actively work with local councils to determine sites for the modular housing.

Exact locations are yet to be settled but there are several local councils who have expressed interest to be a part of this exciting project.

There is also the potential to use surplus public land identified as part of a statewide audit, identifying land that be rezoned for housing and associated uses.

The advisory task force will operate for up to 2 years and be managed by Homes NSW, and forms part of its ongoing work to deliver more homes and better homes for people in need.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Everyone deserves access to safe and secure shelter.

“The NSW Government is committed to exploring new ways we can better support people in some of the most vulnerable situations.

“With a growing population and an already extended waitlist for housing, we need to get moving.

“Whether its social or affordable housing, or creating more supply, we are working across the government to address the housing challenge we have in the state.”

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“We need to deliver more and better homes for people in need that are fit for purpose, in line with current demand needs and in the right location.

“Addressing the state’s housing crisis is our top priority and we need to explore new ways to boost housing as quickly as possible and I’m confident that modular housing will be a vital tool to achieve this.

“This taskforce aims to foster innovation and partnerships across government, industry, and community housing providers (CHPs) to leverage expertise across the sector and explore new and MMC to deliver new homes.

“Collaboration across government and the MMC sector is crucial to further develop the housing sector, boost economic growth, and create more jobs in NSW.”

Transport link to waterfront precinct taking shape as community has first look

Travel to the Barangaroo precinct will soon be even easier, with the new metro station making strides ahead of fast and reliable metro services starting on the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line next year.

Construction of the station platforms and concourse area are nearing completion, with the platform screen doors and terrazzo flooring on both levels now installed. Station signage is being fitted on both levels and Opal gates are in place and being commissioned.

The new station opened its doors today for a community open day, allowing passengers to have their first look before the station opens in 2024.

In this fully accessible station, all 10 escalators are currently undergoing testing and commissioning. Two of the 5 lifts are working and ready to go, while the remaining 3 are finishing off testing, ready to take customers 25 metres underground to the platform levels.

More than 7700 Sydney sandstone panels have been installed throughout the station, along with the artwork on the cladding by artist Khaled Sabsabi called ‘In time we shall’. The artwork relates to the native tree species used in the Barangaroo headland.

Above ground, upgrades are progressing on nearby Hickson Road and the public domain surrounding the station with new footpaths, landscaping, lighting and bike facilities.

To date, more than 5000 people have worked over 1.3 million hours to build the new station.

This new transport link will provide unrivalled access to the exceptional art, entertainment and cultural offerings of this new precinct.

By 2036, it is anticipated thousands of customers will exit the metro station daily to explore Barangaroo with the surge in visitors supporting job creation and providing an economic boost for businesses in the area.

When metro services start next year, this key part of the city will be unlocked with fast travel times – Barangaroo to Martin Place in 2 minutes and under the harbour to Victoria Cross in the city’s north in just 3 minutes.

Find out more about Barangaroo station.launch

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We’re delivering Barangaroo’s first-ever rail connection, linking passengers to Sydney’s growing waterfront precinct and providing high-quality public transport access to Sydney Harbour.

“This station will be a game-changer for workers, visitors and residents, who will benefit from a world-class metro at their doorstep with improved connectivity to wider Sydney.

“From 2024, Barangaroo station will alleviate congestion at Wynyard and Martin Place train stations and improve access to the northern part of the Sydney CBD and The Rocks for locals and tourists alike.

“It’s wonderful to welcome the community into this fantastic new station to see for the first time what it will look like when it opens to passengers in 2024.”

Summer-ready Queenscliff returns to the harbour

After an early retirement in October 2021, the Queenscliff has made a spectacular return to the Circular Quay to Manly run following months of careful restoration work.

Returning the Queenscliff to the F1 Manly to Circular Quay route was a key part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to return as many Freshwater Ferries to service as possible, to restore capacity on the route during the busy summer months.

The work is being delivered as part of $114 million investment into Sydney’s ferry fleet in the NSW Budget. $71.1 million has been allocated to the extensive refurbishments of the Freshwater fleet.

The extensive refurbishment has involved expert navel engineers, electrical engineers, shipbuilders, painters, plumbers and more all working here in NSW.

The refurbishment included:

more than 650sqm of new ceiling panels
more than 7kms of new cabling
more than 4000L of paint
more than 750sqm of new flooring
every interior seat was re-covered, and new seats were installed
new bathroom facilities.

The works included an engine refit. The main engine is 32 times more powerful than an average car and sits in an engine room bigger than a basketball court.

Two new 2.5 metre-wide propellors were installed on the Queenscliff during it’s time in the Garden Island drydock. The dry-dock’s crane hoisted the 4.5t propellers into place with 6 expert engineers guiding it into place.

Extra services from Saturday 16 December 2023 to Sunday 28 January 2024 to accommodate summer rush:

F1 Manly – Queenscliff will serve alongside Freshwater, providing a service every 60 minutes throughout the Summer season. The vessels’ capacity of 1100 passengers will mean passengers can spend less time queuing and more time enjoying the harbour.
F2 Taronga Zoo – there will be an additional 10 services each weekday, running to a 15-minute frequency throughout summer, getting people from the quay to the zoo.
F3 Parramatta River – there will be an additional 14 services each weekday and 26 extra services each weekend, increasing the number of ferries between Sydney Olympic Park and Circular Quay by an additional 96 weekly services a week.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Today is a hero’s welcome for the Queenscliff, as it returns to our Harbour for the busier summer months, alongside the Freshwater.

“These vessels are beloved and reliable, and it is exciting we are in the final stretch in getting the Queenscliff back on the F1 Manly to Circular Quay route.

“They are not only a great option for everyday commuters and tourists looking for an iconic trip across the harbour but can also carry around 1000 passengers per trip.

“We are standing by our election commitments with passengers to be enjoying the upgraded ferry by the summer holidays.

“We know the Australian-made Freshwaters are steeped in NSW history and we are doing all we can to ensure they remain part of our iconic harbour scenery.”