Category: Australian News

The Australian Greens see the appointment of a new Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme as a missed opportunity to implement a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Disabled People. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services: 

“From the cost of housing to groceries to healthcare – disabled people, our families, and support workers are being pushed to the brink right now. We need cross-government action to urgently improve the lives of disabled people across the country. 

“One way to achieve this urgent action would have been to implement a recommendation of the Disability Royal Commission to appoint a Minister for Disability Inclusion, not just a Minister for the NDIS. It’s disappointing that the government has failed to implement yet another recommendation of the Disability Royal Commission. 

“A Minister for Disability Inclusion would be responsible for improving the lives of all disabled Australians – not just those who are eligible for the NDIS. A Minister for Disability Inclusion would enable us to have the cross-government action we need to improve the lives of disabled people across all areas of life – like education, healthcare, public transport – just to name a few. 

“Ideally, Australia would have a Minister with lived experience of disability. I hope that the new Minister will publicly commit to undertaking training, including disability awareness training. 

“The Australian Greens recently announced our disability leadership plan. This plan would get more disabled people into our Federal Parliament –  this includes the establishment of a $5m Election Access Fund to support disabled people to inclusively contest Federal Elections. It’s only through these proactive measures that we will one day get a Minister for Disability with lived experience as a disabled person.”

Australia Day always was and always should be on January 26. It holds a special place in the hearts of Australians. It’s a day to celebrate our nation’s rich history, Aussie culture, and shared achievements. One Nation firmly supports keeping Australia Day on this important date, recognising it as a unifying moment for all Australians to reflect on our country’s journey and look forward to a brighter future.

One Nation has been campaigning hard over recent days to show how important January 26 is to all of us. Our social media and ‘sign the pledge’ work has made a difference—polling shows that an increased number of people want January to stay. In fact, a majority of Australians want to keep the date in all age groups for the first time. And that’s because of the work of One Nation and people like you.

January 26 marks the founding of modern Australia, a nation built on hard work, resilience, and the unique contributions of people from all walks of life. We believe that Australia Day should be a time to unite, not divide. It’s an opportunity to celebrate everything that makes our country great: our freedoms, our mateship, and our enduring Aussie spirit.

One Nation is proud to play an active role in celebrating Australia Day. Across the country, we will be hosting a variety of events to bring communities together. These include lunches, BBQs, and parties where Australians can connect, share stories, and enjoy the company of their neighbours. We’ll also be offering a range of Australia Day merchandise for sale, so supporters can proudly display their patriotism.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson has emphasised the importance of standing firm in support of Australia Day on January 26. Changing the date does not address the challenges our nation faces today; instead, it risks eroding a proud tradition that brings Australians together. By keeping this date, we preserve an essential part of our heritage and provide a platform for unity and celebration.

We invite all Australians to join us in celebrating Australia Day this year. Whether it’s attending one of our community events, firing up the BBQ with friends and family, or wearing our Australia Day gear with pride, there are countless ways to show your love for this great country.

Let’s come together on January 26 to celebrate what it means to be Australian. Together, we can ensure that Australia Day remains a cherished tradition for generations to come. Visit our website to find out more about how you can join in the celebrations and secure your Australia Day merchandise today.

A $12.7 million investment for the redevelopment of the Princess Theatre and Earl Street Arts Centre will ensure Launceston’s home of theatre lives on.

The Albanese Government has committed to upgrading the 100-year-old heritage-listed Princess Theatre as well as the construction of a new contemporary Earl Street Theatre, with the hope of ensuring the community stalwart thrives for another 100 years.

During construction, the project is anticipated to create 280 jobs, and once complete, provide an estimated $73.65 million boost to the region’s economy.

This project demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to listening to local voices and funding priorities that benefit Tasmania’s regions.

It is part of our Growing Regions Program which invests in spaces for communities to gather, that promote community connection and shape everyday lives.

Today’s funding follows the $11 million provided for the Launceston Community Precinct project under round 1 of the program. 

The Growing Regions Program delivers investment in infrastructure across Australia’s regional, rural and remote areas. For more information, visit: Growing Regions Program.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Princess Theatre is a vital part of the history of Launceston.

“My Government understands the importance of community and this investment will not only create jobs and boost the local economy, but it will ensure that community spirit in Launceston thrives for decades to come.”

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke:

“The Princess Theatre has been at the heart of the local community for more than 100 years, and today’s announcement means it will live on for generations to come.

“Regional theatres are a lifeblood for communities, injecting new ideas as well as providing support for emerging artists to hone their skills.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King:

“The princess theatre is the heart of Launceston’s CBD. It is an icon of the city and has been for 100 years.

“This continues our ongoing investment into the city of Launceston following projects such as UTAS Stadium and the Launceston Community Precinct.”

Australia welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza after 15 months of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life.

Australia has consistently been part of the international call for a ceasefire and release of hostages.

We urge all parties to respect its terms and safeguard a lasting peace, including ensuring the immediate release of all hostages and unimpeded and sustained increases in humanitarian assistance to all parts of Gaza.

Our thoughts are with all the civilians killed, displaced and taken hostage in this conflict, and the many humanitarian workers who lost their lives in the service of others.

This agreement is a constructive step towards peace and stability in the region. It must mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Australia will continue working with the international community towards a two-state solution – a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognised borders.

We hope it will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance, and pursue self-determination.

Australia remains unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas’ atrocities on 7 October, and its ongoing acts of terror. There must be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. Any future Palestinian state must not be in a position to threaten Israel’s security.

We will continue to act in partnership with the international community to support the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza.

We thank the mediators—the United States, Qatar and Egypt—for their tireless efforts to bring parties to an agreement to end this war.

Today I announce updates to the Cabinet and the Ministry, following the foreshadowed resignation of Bill Shorten MP as Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services.

I intend to recommend to the Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Sam Mostyn AC, that she make the following changes to the Ministry:

• Amanda Rishworth MP – to become the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
• Senator Katy Gallagher – to become the Minister for Government Services
• Dr Anne Aly MP – to become the Minister Assisting the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

I once again pay tribute to Bill Shorten for his decades of service and the tangible positive difference he’s made to the lives of Australians all over the country and to the NDIS.

These positions will be in addition to the ministerial responsibilities already held by Ministers Rishworth, Gallagher and Aly.

In addition to the above changes, Anika Wells MP, Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport, has been promoted to the Cabinet.

I am proud to lead a strong, united and stable cabinet government focussed on delivering for Australians now, while building Australia’s future.

A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to occur at Government House, Canberra, on Monday, 20 January 2025, at 9.30am.

Nine beaches in Northern Sydney have been closed due to more material washing up that are similar to the human waste found on beaches in the Eastern Suburbs last year. Repeated occasions where wastewater is causing pollution and with no clear source must be addressed by the Environment Protection Authority and Sydney Water.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “The repeated discharge of sewage material onto Sydney Beaches in recent months is a deep sign that there is a systemic failure in Sydney’s waste water management. We know that Sydney loses significant amounts of water through cracked and damaged pipes, it’s time for Sydney Water to tell the public how much sewage is leaking into our environment. If they don’t know, why don’t they don’t know, because they should know.

“Sydney Water has admitted that the human waste on beaches in Sydney’s east last year may have absorbed wastewater discharges indicating that our current treatment systems are not fit for purpose and the question remains, how much waste products are discharged by Sydney Water as part of their ‘normal operations’?”

“We need to have a serious conversation about the accountability of utilities like Sydney Water, and we must do better when it comes to taking responsibility for subjects like where our crap goes. The environment cannot afford for us to just shrug and accept human waste turning up on beaches that are in regular use,”

“If the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) needs to consider what tools they will use to prevent Sydney Water from releasing waste products as part of their normal operations. If that means that Sydney Water’s licence must be varied, or be put on a pollution reduction program – then that’s what needs to happen,”

“In times of drought, we are rightly worried that clean water is leaking into the ground. We need to be just as concerned about the discharges of human waste and toxic chemicals due to inadequate systems and infrastructure. If Sydney Water needs more resources and better tools to get the job done then the Government must stump up,” Ms Higginson said.

Australian Greens Forests spokesperson Senator Nick McKim has written to the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to congratulate them on their decision to deny finance to Tasmanian logging company TP Bennett and Sons, and urge them to ignore the histrionic spin emanating from Tasmanian Forests Minister Eric Abetz.

“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank should be congratulated on their refusal to fund the destruction of Tasmania’s native forests which is contributing to climate change and biodiversity collapse,” Senator McKim said.

“The bank should file the nonsense from Mr Abetz where it belongs. In the rubbish.”

“Mr Abetz has simply regurgitated tired old forest industry spin and completely ignored the fact that native forest logging is cooking the planet and destroying ecosystems.”

“Native forest logging is an industry whose time is up, and Mr Abetz’s desperate dummy spit yesterday shows that he knows it.”

“If more banks had the courage to refuse to fund logging native forests and burning fossil fuels the planet’s climate would not be breaking down around us and ecosystems would not be collapsing.”

“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank should stick to their guns and Mr Abetz should forget about the spin and instead stop the massive public subsidies the mendicant native forest logging industry receives from his government every year.”

Labor needs to come clean about its intentions for the polluting salmon farms that are driving the Maugean Skate to extinction, the Greens say.

“Prime Minister Albanese needs to come clean here,” Greens Senator for Tasmania Senator Nick McKim said.

“Is he going to keep backing the profits of foreign fish farm corporations or will he take action to protect the Maugean Skate from extinction?”

“The EPBC Act isn’t fit for purpose but not for the Prime Minister’s stated reasons. The reason it’s not fit for purpose is that it doesn’t protect the environment.”

“Labor cannot continue to walk both sides of the street. The science is in and salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is driving the skate to extinction.”

“Labor can either continue defending foreign corporate profits, or they can act to protect the Macquarie Harbour ecosystem and save an iconic Tasmanian fish species from extinction.”

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $7.5 million over three years in additional funding to Crime Stoppers. 

This funding commitment will enable Crime Stoppers to expand its operations and protect more Australians from the devastating impact of crime in local communities. 

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton, said “Crime Stoppers is an integral part of the efforts of our communities and our law enforcement agencies to disrupt crime. As a former police officer, I know first-hand of the incredible work that Crime Stoppers does to keep Australians safe. People from around the country willingly provide information to Crime Stoppers that prevents, stops and helps solve crime because people are assured their anonymity is respected.” 

Shadow Attorney-General, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, said “Crime Stoppers is one of Australia’s most respected crime fighting organisations. It provides a safe, anonymous and independent way to report crime, empowering communities to help prevent crime in their own backyard. The Coalition’s funding commitment to Crime Stoppers will help keep Australians safer. This funding is an extremely effective way of fighting crime at a local community level.” 

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator James Paterson, said “The Coalition’s commitment to expanding funding for Crime Stoppers is needed now more than ever. It is the Albanese Labor government’s weakness and incompetence on crime and community safety has put Australians at risk. This funding will allow Crime Stoppers to help address the antisemitism and extremism crisis we have seen over the past year. The Coalition will support Crime Stoppers to make sure all Australians feel safe.” 

In 2023, almost 4,000 arrests and 10,000 charges were laid because of information provided by the community through Crime Stoppers.  On average, there is one contact to Crime Stoppers made every minute across Australia. 

Every dollar invested in Crime Stoppers delivers more than $11 in return value. 

This funding commitment will provide Crime Stoppers with a greater level of financial certainty to help Australia’s law enforcement agencies to crack down on the illicit drug trade, and other violent and non-violent offences. 

A Dutton Coalition Government will get Australia back on track by tackling the crime and anti-social behaviour that threatens the safety of our communities. 

My Government has a vision to Build Australia’s Future, and last week Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and I travelled across the north of our great continent to deliver it.

It’s an ambitious vision to build everything from roads and homes to the health system and education.

In short, all the things that help Australians build the futures they aspire to.

It’s a vision that has at its heart a determination to seize the opportunities that are within our reach, and it begins with Australia’s greatest resource: our people.

After announcing funding to upgrade Queensland’s Bruce Highway, and a visit to the Northern Territory’s Lake Nash cattle station, just one of the many beneficiaries of our resumed trade with China, we flew into Kununurra.

It was a wonderful start to my 27th visit to Western Australia as Prime Minister.

At a community event there, I had the privilege of meeting so many locals.

What it reminded me is that it is people like these who are the lifeblood of our regions.

Their energy, talent and determination are the beating heart of the economy across northern Australia.

And in the words of our Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, a strong north means a strong Australia.

That’s why my Government is doing so much to support regional communities.

Last week we announced a $200 million package to support housing and community infrastructure in regional WA.

More than $90 million of it will go towards the critical infrastructure such as water, roads and power needed for building more than 1360 new homes across the Wheatbelt, Karratha and Lockyer under our Homes for Australia plan.

This plan will see more investment in more social housing and in more private rentals, as well as supporting home ownership through our Help to Buy scheme.

It is a program that is proudly modelled on the successful scheme that has operated here in WA for many decades.

It is important to note that every one of these measures were opposed by Peter Dutton and the Coalition – just as they have opposed all of our measures to help Australians with the cost of living.

While they remain mired in their obsession with obstructing, Labor is getting on with the job of constructing.

We are getting on with building the future by building communities and building opportunities.

As we work to encourage more people to live and work in regional Australia, we know homes are only part of the story.

Northern cities and towns need sporting clubs, parks and upgrades to local precincts – the infrastructure that adds to the liveability that is the heart of any community.

That’s why we are delivering more than $110 million to build and upgrade community infrastructure.

Funding will go to regional areas such as Newman, Kununurra and Carnarvon.

This will encourage more people to live in regional WA and create more economic and business opportunities, and begin writing a fresh chapter in the West’s extraordinary success story.

WA’s success is central to Australia’s success.

We will continue to encourage and foster that economic growth.

That’s why we have granted First Point of Entry to the Ports of Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier.

This will allow for more direct international shipping, meaning businesses, farmers and other industry in the north will be able to import and export goods closer without having to transit through ports such as Darwin or Fremantle.

Consider the scale of the changes that are possible.

Right now, the volume of exports at the Port of Wyndham is 212,199 tonnes.

With the changes to First Point of Entry, we expect exports to increase to over 1.36 million tonnes.

At the Port of Ashburton, we expect exports to be more than 13 million tonnes of iron ore and rare earth concentrates per year by 2030.

Building Australia’s Future is about so much more than bricks and mortar.

It is about creating a better life for Australians, whether it’s through better education, better aged care, better childcare, and better Medicare.

In short: a better Australia for all Australians.

Since we were elected, that has been my Government’s priority.

With a second term, we will keep working and keep building.

While Peter Dutton has made it clear he wants to take Australia backward, we want to keep taking Australia forward to the bright future within our reach.

This opinion piece was first published in The West Australian on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.