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NSW Libs: Labor’s budget puts union mates before families

The Opposition has criticised the Minns Government’s Budget, saying it leaves behind hard working families struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis and instead rewards Labor’s union mates for their support during the election.

The Budget relies on increased taxes and cuts to programs to offset the Government’s union wage deals.

“Since coming to office the Government has broken a string of promises,” Mr Speakman said.

“The Budget doesn’t account for major expenditure items such as the cost of extending the Eraring power station and assumes employee expenses won’t increase by more than 4.1% per year. This severely undermines the credibility of forward projections and forecasts.”

“This Government’s first priority is rewarding their union mates for their support during the election campaign. Chris Minns lacks vision, and ultimately families and households across NSW will pay the price.”

Leader of the Nationals Dugald Saunders said the Budget failed regional NSW.

“Chris Minns and his Government has again demonstrated that they don’t understand regional NSW. This Budget does little to help communities as they continue to recover from the impacts of drought and natural disasters,” Mr Saunders said.

“Vital cost of living programs that regional communities rely on have been cut, meaning more pressure on household budgets.”

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said the Budget forecasts, including a return to surplus next year, are entirely dodgy because the ultimate cost of the Minns Government pay deal with unions remains unknown.

“The Budget today revealed that the wages bill (including superannuation) will exceed $55 billion in 2027. There is no prospect of the Government’s $3.6 billion being enough to cover union wage demands for the next four years.”

“Wages are the largest expenditure item in the Budget. We have seen a $17.6 billion tax hike – a massive $5.5 billion in 2023-24 alone – and cost of living measures cut to pay for this deal with the unions. Further unfunded wage increases will wipe out any prospect of achieving a surplus and risk the state’s Triple A credit rating.”

Shadow Minister for Finance Eleni Petinos said that over the coming days the Opposition will scrutinise the Budget and ensure that any secret cuts or creative accounting practices are brought to light.

“The Treasurer has boasted about $13 billion in savings, including $1.4 billion from the Education Department. We want to ensure that these cuts won’t impact frontline services and adversely affect people across NSW,” Ms Petinos said.

“In the midst of Labor’s cost of living crisis, rising inflation and high interest rates, the Government’s ongoing focus should be on providing support to families and households – not cutting essential cost of living programs as evidenced in today’s Budget.”

The Opposition will continue to hold Labor to account and ensure that families and households across NSW are put first.

FIRST SOCIAL HOUSING ACCELERATOR PROJECT IN CARLTON

More Victorians will have a place to call home in inner Melbourne, as the redevelopment of the old Carlton red brick public housing towers becomes the first Social Housing Accelerator project announced in the nation, thanks to the Andrews and Albanese Labor Governments.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Daniel Andrews and Victorian Minister for Housing Colin Brooks today visited the now-vacant Carlton site to announce the project, with demolition to begin next year.

The redevelopment will be wholly funded by the Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator and replace the 196 outdated, uninhabitable dwellings – built in the 1960s – with 231 modern, energy efficient homes for Victorians, increasing housing on the site by at least 10 per cent.

The 231 homes will form part of 769 homes Victoria will deliver as part of the Social Housing Accelerator investment – with the Albanese Government delivering almost $500 million for new social housing stock in Victoria on top of the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, and the recently announced $1 billion Regional Housing Fund.

When complete, all former residents of the Carlton towers will be invited to return to live in the new homes on the site, which will also be used to house tenants who live in other public housing redevelopment projects while they are underway.

The Federal Government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator will increase Australia’s housing supply by creating thousands of social homes across Australia – with all funding to be committed by states and territories within two years.

Today’s announcement builds on last month’s agreement by National Cabinet to the most significant housing reforms in a generation, including a new national target to build 1.2 million new well-located homes, the National Planning Reform Blueprint, and A Better Deal for Renters.

At National Cabinet, the Federal Government also committed $3 billion to the New Homes Bonus to incentivise states and territories to undertake the reforms necessary to reach the 1.2 million well-located homes target, and $500 million for the Housing Support Program to help local and state governments deliver new housing supply in well-located areas.

The announcement today also comes in the week after the Federal Parliament passed the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.

Since Victoria’s Big Housing Build started in November 2020, more than 7,600 homes have been completed or are underway, and more than 2,800 are complete – with households already moved in, or preparing to be welcomed into their new homes.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Every Australian deserves the security of a roof over their head – our steps to deliver more homes around the country under the Social Housing Accelerator start right here in Carlton, where this housing will be given a modern rebuild to last for the long haul.

“We know Victorians want practical solutions, and we’re working with the Andrews Government to get on with the job of delivering more social housing.

“The Social Housing Accelerator is real dollars, driving real change and building more homes for Australians, and is part of our ambitious housing agenda, which includes the delivery of 30,000 social and affordable homes through our Housing Australia Future Fund.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said:

“Nothing is more important than finding a home – and it should be a place of pride, comfort, and security.

“Carlton is just the first of 769 homes we’ll build in Victoria as part of the Accelerator program – on top of the 12,000 social homes we’re delivering as part of the landmark Big Housing Build.”

Victorian Minister for Housing Colin Brooks said:

“Our Big Housing Build is an historic investment in housing, but we’re not stopping there. All over the state hundreds of workers are getting on with delivering on thousands of houses, so more Victorians have a safe place to call home.”

First Minns Labor Budget delivers for the Hunter

The Minns Labor Government is investing in the future of the Hunter and its people with the 2023-24 Budget boosting essential services, supporting education, ensuring people get the healthcare they need and building and maintaining roads.

Educating future generations of students is the greatest investment a government can make, that’s why this Budget is investing in teachers, new schools, maintenance and early learning environments.

More than six thousand teachers across the Hunter will receive their biggest pay increase in almost three decades and more than a thousand education staff will be made permanent, giving to workers, families and communities.

Funding for game-changing road projects will get traffic flowing, people moving and deliver critical repairs such as fixing potholes.

Labor’s $86 million regional road upgrade package will benefit people across the Hunter, including residents of Muswellbrook, Singleton, Dungog, Mid Coast, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and Upper Hunter LGAs.

It includes improving the Golden Highway, particularly around Merriwa where the roads are congested and safety improvements along the Nelson Bay Road between Williamtown and Bob’s Farm.

Further, the Minns Labor Government is committed to providing quality and accessible healthcare across the Hunter. Investments in local hospitals will help ensure communities can access their essential services now, and when they need them in the future.

This Budget makes significant progress towards fulfilling our election commitments, including:

• The new Medowie High School

• Planning for Huntlee High School

• Restore John Hunter Hospital shuttle bus from McDonald Jones Stadium

• $3 million to Dungog Council

• $950,000 for a separated cycleway at Islington

$3.6 million for local commitments including:

• $300,000 to support services for vulnerable residents in Port Stephens

• $236,000 for new playgrounds across Lake Macquarie

• $200,000 for youth mental health initiatives and support at Singleton Neighbourhood Centre

• Up to $174,000 to local council for flood lighting at Blacksmiths Oval

• $140,000 to Charlestown Caring Group for a new bus

• $100,000 to Hunter Flood Relief/Cessnock Uniting Church for new homeless facilities

• $100,000 to Early Links, Ashtonfield to support cooking classes for people with a disability

• Investments in local Surf Lifesaving Clubs across Swansea and Newcastle

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

“For too long the Hunter has had to fight for its fair share of funding, this Budget prioritises people, services and projects to ensure our great region can thrive now and into the future.

“People are the backbone of the Hunter – from our frontline workers to our teachers and everyone in between. These people are heroes who deserve recognition which they’re finally getting under the Minns Labor Government.”

DUTTON NUCLEAR DISTRACTION FROM NEED TO STOP MORE COAL AND GAS

Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, commenting on the release of nuclear costings by the government, said today Peter Dutton’s exorbitant nuclear pipedream was a distraction from the urgent need to stop more coal and gas.

Mr Bandt said Peter Dutton’s advocacy of nuclear power was a dumb fantasy, but Labor pushing more coal and gas projects in the middle of a climate crisis is dangerous.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“The Liberals are for nuclear, Labor is for more coal and gas and the Greens are for clean renewables.”

“Across the country, Labor wants to prop up dirty coal fired power stations, open new coal mines and frack for more gas in the middle of a climate crisis.

“Peter Dutton is living in nuclear fantasy land, but Labor’s reality of more coal and gas is dangerous.”

Labor hiding from scrutiny on Industrial Relations Bill

The Albanese Labor Government’s pathetically thin schedule of public hearings for the Senate inquiry into its industrial relations legislation is a classic sign of a government in disarray trying to avoid scrutiny at all costs.

Shadow Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said: “Last week the Labor Government cancelled a week of Parliament and now they only want to hold a handful of hearings into their controversial industrial relations laws – it is an absolute disgrace.’’

“What is this Government afraid of? What are they hiding? All we know is that there are many questions but no answers,’’ Senator Cash said.

“This inquiry is so important to the future of this nation it should have at least a dozen hearings. It should be going to more regional areas and listening to the job creators, both big and small,’’ Senator Cash said.

“The Senate voted for a report back date of February 1, 2024 for a reason. That reason was because the Senate believed this Bill needed extended and intense scrutiny,’’ she said.

“The cynical exercise this Government is trying to pull off by truncating hearings is just not good enough,’’ Senator Cash said.

“I implore the Government to work with the Coalition and the crossbench to come up with an acceptable and adequate schedule of public hearings,’’ she said.

“Stop ducking scrutiny. Labor promised transparency before they were elected but are falling hopelessly short of that promise,’’ Senator Cash said.

Below is the schedule of hearings proposed by the Coalition.

Wednesday 21 September – Adelaide; Tuesday 4 October – Sydney; Thursday 6 October – Melbourne; Wednesday 10 October – Brisbane; Thursday 11 October – Gladstone; Monday 20 November – Port Headland/Karratha; Wednesday 22nd November – Perth; Thursday 23rd November – Albany; Friday 1st December – Canberra; Tuesday 12 December – Hunter Valley; Monday 15 January – Launceston; Tuesday 16 January – Hobart; Monday 22 January – Townsville; Wednesday 24 January – Shepparton

Joint statement on the second anniversary of AUKUS

Two years ago, the Coalition government struck the AUKUS deal alongside our close partners, the United States and the United Kingdom.

It was an historic moment for Australia, forging the pathway to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, and the advanced capabilities for our future defence like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and hypersonics.

The signing of AUKUS, under the Coalition government, was the most significant national security policy decision since the signing of the ANZUS Treaty in 1951.

It is a truly multigenerational task that will require political leadership across government, and involve industry, the private sector and the education sector.

The first test that stands before us is the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) and the requirement to be ‘nuclear ready’ by the 2030s.

Critically this should include ensuring the infrastructure and workforce across Osborne, Henderson and HMAS Stirling are developed to successfully operate, sustain and ultimately build the nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

The Coalition reaffirms its bipartisan support for AUKUS and is committed to working with the government in the best interest of Australia’s defence and national security.

Labor’s approach to housing fails to deliver more homes

Today’s announcement of the Essential Housing Package will fail to deliver more homes as the Minns Labor Government turns its back on new housing delivery.

“The Minns Government has already turned its back on new homes in regional communities, cancelling the much-needed Argyll Estate redevelopment in Coffs Harbour that was to deliver close to 500 homes, without any alternative on the table,” Shadow Minister for Housing Scott Farlow said.

“It’s strange that the Government would put $70 million towards accelerating the delivery of social and affordable homes, primarily in regional New South Wales, when just last week they cancelled much needed projects in regional NSW like the Argyll Estate redevelopment.”

“The Argyll Estate cancellation was ideological – the Government didn’t want private sector development on the site which was going to fund the social re-development. The outcome is that the Government’s ideology will deliver fewer private dwellings and fewer social and affordable homes. The Future Directions Policy introduced by the Coalition Government delivered more social, affordable and private homes, improved the social housing stock and was sustainably funded.”

“The question that Labor needs to answer is how they are going to fund their additional social housing commitments if they take the private sector out of the equation. Put simply, the money needs to come from somewhere.”

“In last year’s Coalition Budget, $300 million was allocated for capital maintenance works on over 15,800 State-owned social housing properties, extending the life of social homes and ensuring tenants have safe accommodation.”

“The Government needs to make clear whether their funding package today is in addition to that amount or just a re-allocation of existing commitments.”

Shadow Minister for Homelessness Natasha Maclaren-Jones welcomed the news that the Labor Government endorsed the successful Services Our Way and Together Home packages that were established by the Coalition in Government and have been delivering for vulnerable communities.

“In Government the Coalition invested more than $9 billion in social housing and increased the social housing portfolio by 10% over a decade with 154,000 properties, making it bigger than both Victoria and Queensland combined, while reducing the waiting list by 30,000 since we came into office,” Ms Maclaren-Jones concluded.

Labor put NSW into reverse gear by axing EV rebate

Minns Labor Government has ditched the former Coalition Government’s popular Electric Vehicle rebate that was helping make the transition to electric vehicles more affordable.

“This announcement is poor environmental policy and another example of NSW Labor just not getting it when it comes to cost of living pressures”, said Shadow Minister for Energy James Griffin.

Mr Griffin joined the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia in slamming the decision by the Minns Government to remove the EV rebate.

“Just like the Minns Labor Government’s decision to axe the stamp duty exemption hurt home ownership, this decision will make purchasing an EV difficult for people across NSW,” said Mr Griffin. “In fact, NSW Labor didn’t flag this cut during the election – they were saying one thing on the clean energy future before the election and got rid of this program after.”

The Electric Vehicle rebate helped families across New South Wales afford EVs and in turn saved them money on fuel costs and helped improve our air quality.

“This program was helping households to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle, with new quarterly data released by the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries showing that our state led the EV uptake in three out of four quarters of last year – a total of 10,798 EVs were sold in the state in 2022, leading the country in terms of absolute sales.”

“The Chris Minns’ decision to remove the rebate could seriously impact our position as the number one state and send NSW numbers into reverse gear while the rest of the world is heading in the other direction.”

“This policy is shortsighted and does nothing to help ease the cost of living pressures being felt around by households across NSW,” said Mr Griffin.

“I share concerns of the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia when it comes to this announcement. The CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council has called this a ‘betrayal’ and he is spot on. Premier Minns and Treasurer Mookhey have done a big U-turn when it comes to an EV future for NSW.”

Humanitarian assistance to Libya floods

The Australian Government will provide $1 million for urgent life-saving humanitarian assistance to affected communities, following the devastating floods in Libya. This will be delivered through the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

We extend our sympathies to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and to the Libyan people. Our thoughts are also with the Libyan community in Australia at this difficult time.

The flooding resulting from Storm Daniel has caused destruction of critical infrastructure, and much of the area that is impacted in the north east of the country remains difficult to access.

It has caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure, buildings, electricity and water supply, telecommunications and farmland.

The $1 million humanitarian assistance announced today will be used to provide food, water, blankets and medical supplies to those who are most vulnerable.

In addition to today’s announcement, Australia is a longstanding donor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, and the UN has announced US$10 million from the Fund to support the humanitarian response.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“The intensity of these floods has shocked the international community. This humanitarian assistance will provide life-saving assistance to those most in need.”
“We send our deep sympathy and condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives, the Libyan people, and the Libyan community in Australia.”

QMinister for International Development and The Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“We are working closely with our international partners to support Libya in the most effective way as the full impact of this disaster emerges.”
“Strong bonds with our international partners underpin our emergency response efforts and are vital to delivering this life-saving humanitarian assistance.”

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts MP said:

“Australia stands by the people of Libya as it addresses the enormity of the aftermath of this disaster.”
“The areas affected by the flooding are extremely remote and we are relying on our local partners to help us deliver support to those most in need.”

Appointments to the Commission for International Agricultural Research

Today I announce the appointment of Dr Michelle Freeman and Ms Lukina Lukin to the Commission for International Agricultural Research. They join five Commissioners who have been appointed for a second term, including the Chair, Ms Fiona Simson.

The Commission provides expert, strategic advice about how Australia can best contribute globally to agricultural research and development programs through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Dr Michelle Freeman has more than a decade of experience serving in senior policy and management roles within Australia’s forestry industry. Dr Freeman is the President of Forestry Australia, which brings together more than 1,100 experts and scientists operating in forest and natural resource management throughout Australia.

Ms Lukina Lukin has extensive commercial experience in ethically and sustainably sourced seafood, which is particularly important at a time when reliance on the ocean for food and income security is increasing in many countries. Ms Lukin is the owner and Managing Director of Dinko Seafood, fishing business based in Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Ms Fiona Simson has also been appointed for second 3-year term on the Commission serving as the Chair.

Dr Beth Woods, Professor Lindsay Falvey and Mr Tony York have been appointed for a second term. Recently appointed ACIAR CEO Professor Wendy Umberger has also been appointed as a Commissioner.

I thank outgoing Commissioners Ms Su McCluskey and Dr Sasha Courville for their two terms of service and for their ongoing commitment to sustainable agricultural development.