Category: Australian News

As the Liberal Party flounders headfirst into electoral oblivion with their announcement to ditch the goal of reaching net-zero emissions to protect our planet, the Canberra Liberals have been mincing words on their stance.

Leader of the ACT Greens and Greens Climate Spokesperson Shane Rattenbury said the Canberra Liberals have a lot to answer for if they want to be taken seriously by Canberrans looking for real climate leadership.

Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens:

“Today’s announcement from the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party is a bad omen for the direction of the Canberra Liberals—because the fact of the matter is that the climate-sceptic wing in their federal party are feeling emboldened by Donald Trump’s cowboy approach to international climate politics, and they want to replicate it right here in Australia.

“Sussan Ley’s decision to ditch a policy of net-zero emissions in Australia isn’t just a policy for the Federal Liberals, it’s a stance we’ve seen the Canberra Liberals refuse to condemn—with their new leader and their new candidate for the Senate failing to rule out the idea of abandoning net-zero policies in this city.

“To put it bluntly, this is criminal. For a party wondering why they’re not being taken seriously by the electorate in Canberra, they need to have a serious look at their refusal to acknowledge the real world financial, environmental and social impacts of climate change on people who live in Canberra and around the world. 

“Last election, the Canberra Liberals went to the electorate with a policy of ditching the Greens ban on fossil fuel gas connections and ditching the Greens phase-out of fossil-fuel cars. The question is: will they continue to resist the renewable energy revolution?

“At the same time, local Labor went to the election with no new climate policies and over the past year, we’ve seen the consequences—with Canberra rolling backwards on our emissions reduction targets – targets the Greens fought hard to secure and deliver.

“Right now, we need real accountability to the actions of this government, and we need real climate action. And it seems that it will be up to the Greens to do this job while the Labor Party stalls and the Liberals flounder.

One Nation Chief of Staff James Ashby has delivered a powerful warning about Australia’s immigration crisis, saying the Albanese Labor Government has pushed the nation into “Big Australia on steroids.” Speaking with Peter Credlin on Sky News, Ashby broke down new data showing 415,000 migrants arrived by September alone, exposing Labor’s broken promise to cut numbers. 

He said Labor’s massive intake is putting enormous pressure on housing, hospitals, roads, schools, and everyday Australians, who are already struggling under rising costs of living.

James Ashby reminded viewers that One Nation has been warning about this for 30 years, long before the major parties admitted there was a problem. He emphasised that immigration isn’t just about numbers, but also who comes into the country and whether they contribute positively to Australia.

Most concerning, James Ashby exposed Labor’s real motives are they want higher migrant numbers to grow voter bases, and they’re preparing to add up to 50 new parliamentarians by expanding electorates all because the population is exploding under their watch. 

James Ashby called it “outrageous,” saying Australians are paying the price for a government more focused on political advantage than national stability.

One Nation’s message is clear: Australia needs lower, sustainable immigration, stronger border oversight, and a government that puts Australians first not political games.

Australia and Indonesia have today agreed to the substantive conclusion of a new bilateral Treaty on Common Security.

The Treaty is modelled closely on the Agreement on Maintaining Security, agreed by Prime Minister Keating and President Soeharto on 18 December 1995.

The Treaty will reflect the close friendship, partnership and deep trust between Australia and Indonesia, under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Australia and Indonesia both benefit from each other’s stability and sense of security.

Through this Treaty we will take our cooperation to a new level, for the benefit of both our own security and that of the region.

The Treaty will commit the parties to:

• “Undertake to consult at Leader and Ministerial level on a regular basis about matters affecting their common security and to develop such cooperation as would benefit their own security and that of the region”
• “Undertake to consult each other in the case of adverse challenges to either party or to their common security interests and, if appropriate, consider measures which might be taken either individually or jointly and in accordance with the processes of each Party” and
• “Agree to promote – in accordance with the policies and priorities of each – mutually beneficial cooperative activities in the security field, in areas to be identified by the two Parties”.

The Treaty will be a significant extension of existing security and defence cooperation between Australia and Indonesia. It builds on the 2024 Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement and the 2006 Lombok Treaty.

The Treaty will set out in formal terms our common interest in the peace and security of our region, and our commitment to work together to support the security of our region.

Following our respective processes, the Leaders look forward to signing the Treaty in the new year.

The Greens are calling on APRA to intervene in Australia’s housing crisis, asking them to reinstate measures used to cool the market in investor lending, following new ABS data released today showing investor lending skyrocketed by 12.3% over the year compared to only a 0.9% increase for first home buyer loan commitments for the same period. The value of new investor loan commitments rose by 18.7%. 

A confluence of factors is pushing the property investor lending market into overheating. Labor’s 5% deposit policy has unleashed a wave of first-home buyers and investors competing for the same properties, driving prices up higher. Adding to this, is the slow roll out of new housing supply from the private market and the Housing Australia Future Fund – which can’t meet demand.

Recent rate cuts are adding to the frenzy, with investors rushing to get in before prices climb higher. House prices are forecast to increase by 9 percent next year on top of more than 6% this year, which will only worsen unless pre-emptive action by APRA is taken. 

The last time APRA required bank tightening on investor loans was back in 2014-2018, which resulted in more loans for owner occupiers and saw some of the most stable house price growth in Australia over the past 30 years.

The Greens say first-home buyers don’t stand a chance in a housing market rigged in favour of wealthy property investors, and in the absence of any sensible government action, APRA must intervene.

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“Australia needs to get back into the business of giving loans to owner occupiers rather than property investors – and if the government won’t do it, then APRA should.

“This housing crisis will reach a point of no return if we don’t see an urgent intervention. Labor’s policies, including its 5% deposit scheme and $181 billion tax breaks for wealthy property investors – are turbocharging the housing crisis. 

“We’re seeing investor loans outpace homeowner loans at unsustainable levels, first-home buyers being out bid by investors at Saturday auctions, as house prices continue to soar and the banks rake in the profit.

“First-home buyers don’t stand a chance in a housing market rigged against them. House prices have risen at the fastest rate in four years as rates of home ownership have declined, especially among young people (with home ownership amongst  25-29-year-olds dropping from 50% in 1971 to 36% in 2021). 

“We need to urgently reign in an overheated credit market for property investors. APRA has intervened before and they must do it again. They must slow property investor lending as they did in 2014 and 2017 to great effect.

“In the past APRA put the handbrakes on investor lending to reduce investor loan growth to below 10%. Today’s data shows annual growth has leapt up to 12.3% and a jaw-dropping 18.7% increase in the size of investor loans approved. There is frankly no excuse for APRA not to act.

“The problem with housing in Australia is that it has become a wealth accumulation asset, rather than a home in which to live. Housing finance is increasingly spent on investment properties not home ownership, with investors now making up around their highest share of new lending since 2017. 

“Reigning in investor lending growth would be celebrated by renters and aspiring home owners who otherwise feel nothing but despair as they watch a repeat bout of runaway housing price inflation.

“The Treasurer has the power to direct APRA. If Labor really cared about first-home buyers, it would ask APRA to intervene.”

Greens MP and spokesperson for Justice, Sue Higginson, has condemned the antisemitic demonstration by neo-Nazis at NSW Parliament House as a vile act of racial hatred that has no place in a democratic society. Ms Higginson warned Premier Chris Minns not to respond with another round of heavy-handed laws that would only strengthen the far-right by eroding civil rights and freedoms.

Sue Higginson said:

“There are existing criminal offences for racial hatred and vilification. We do not need another knee-jerk reaction from the Premier that chips away at civil liberties and makes it easier for police to target the wrong people,”

“Earlier this year, Labor pushed through a suite of unnecessary and rushed laws that restricted protest rights and freedom of expression and gave police excessive powers. The Greens opposed those laws because we knew that handing more power to police in moments of political pressure only ever backfires. Those laws have since been used against peaceful protesters calling for climate action and justice for Palestine, not against neo-Nazis,”

“The truth is, NSW Police already have enormous powers to stop and disband public gatherings. They didn’t use them in this instance. That’s not a gap in the law – that’s a failure of judgment and leadership. The Premier’s response should be to demand accountability, not to make our democracy smaller,”

“We have seen this pattern before. Every time there’s a moment of public anger, Labor reaches for more police powers instead of strengthening communities or enforcing the laws that already exist. We cannot fight fascism by adopting its tactics. Authoritarian laws do not protect democracy – they hollow it out,”

“We cannot simply arrest our way out of every problem, and the Greens will continue to hold this Government to account with their lazy approach to complex issues. We will always stand against hate, racism and antisemitism, but we will not stand by while our rights and freedoms are traded away in the name of political expediency,” Ms Higginson said.

Doctors and leading road safety experts have united in support of a bill introduced by Greens MP Kobi Shetty, which would make it easier for councils to bring in safer speeds of 30km/h on local neighbourhood streets.

The growing coalition – which includes the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, the Australasian College of Road Safety, Road Sense Australia Ltd, Doctors for the Environment, the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation, Safe Streets to School, Bicycle NSW, Walk Sydney, 30 Please, Parents for Climate, Climate Change Balmain Rozelle, and Better Streets – has signed an open letter to the NSW Premier urging the government to adopt safer speeds to protect communities.

Kobi Shetty MP, Member for Balmain and Greens Spokesperson on Active Transport and Sustainable Cities said:

“There is strong support from a broad range of health, safety, and transport experts who have come together to tell the government what communities already know: safer speeds make our streets calmer, safer, and more liveable.”

“It’s clear that more needs to be done to make our streets safer, with figures released in August showing we’re on track for the highest number of road deaths in 15 years.  That’s why I’m pushing ahead with this bill to lower the default speed on neighbourhood streets to 30 km/h, making it easier to keep our community safe.

“The evidence is clear – a person struck by a vehicle at 50km/h has just a 10% chance of survival, compared to 90% at 30km/h. How many more people need to be killed or live with life-altering injuries before the NSW government takes this issue seriously?

“If it’s good enough for Spain, Wales, Bogotá and Ho Chi Minh City to adopt 30km/h limits on local streets, it’s good enough for us. Here in Australia, we’ve seen successful examples in Victoria including the City of Yarra. NSW risks being left behind unless urgent change is made.”

Dr. John Crozier, Chair of the National Trauma Committee at the Royal Australian College of Surgeons said:

“The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) welcomes the introduction of 30 km/h speed zones on local streets as a meaningful step toward safer, more active neighbourhoods.

“Surgeons know how deeply road trauma affects families and communities, and slowing down is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injury. At 30 km/h, drivers have more time to react, and the chances of someone surviving a crash increase dramatically. These benefits are well proven in cities around the world.

“Lower vehicle speeds make it safer for people to walk and cycle. This helps children, older residents, and local families feel more confident using their streets for daily movement.

“When more people walk or ride, communities become healthier, air quality improves, and local shops and parks come alive with activity. RACS supports residents and local leaders advocating for this initiative, not just as a safety measure, but as a way to build a more connected and active community.”

Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the Australasian College of Road Safety said:

“Every day, children, older adults, and families use their local streets to walk, ride, and connect with their communities. The evidence is clear: 30 km/h saves lives. When we reduce speeds on neighbourhood streets, we dramatically cut the risk of fatal and serious injuries, with almost no impact on travel times.

“This is a proven, globally endorsed measure that delivers safer, quieter and more liveable communities. NSW has a real opportunity to lead the way by adopting a change that will protect thousands of families for generations to come.”

Dr. Jennifer Kent, University of Sydney academic and Spokesperson for 30 Please said:

“Our cities and towns are growing and changing – our current street speeds are no longer fit for purpose, making the places where we live, work and play unsafe, unsustainable and unproductive.

“This Bill will not slow us down – it will bring us up to speed with the rest of the world, responding to World Health Organisation directions, as well as the needs of families, communities and businesses.”

Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW said:

“Safer speeds benefit everyone, our quiet urban streets are for everyone to share and feel safe on and it is proven the world round that lower speeds have a direct impact on reduced injuries and fatalities. 

“Let’s focus on the massive safety gains rather than the 10 seconds we might lose by travelling around 10km slower.”

The bill proceeds to its second read in Parliament today, with debate likely to occur early next year.

The bill does not apply to arterial or major roads but focuses on local streets where people live, walk, ride their bikes, and play. The open letter remains open for further endorsement and The Greens hope to see the coalition supporting this much-needed change continue to grow.

Greens spokesperson for the environment, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:

“Dumping net zero means walking away from environmental protection and climate science. Today the Liberal Party have made it clear they don’t accept the science or the need to protect our environment for future generations. 

“Their economy and climate wrecking stance have ruled them out as a serious party of government and a serious partner on climate and environment.

“The Liberals can’t claim to care about the environment while dumping climate targets.

“Their new energy plan is an anti-climate, anti-environment ploy to delay action and prop up fossil fuel profits. It is nothing but economy wrecking, environmental vandalism.

“The Liberal party now have a policy worse than even Scott Morrison – the bloke who brought a lump of coal into the chamber.

“It won’t cut power bills, but it will hike taxes and living costs for everyday Australians. Asking taxpayers to bankroll new coal is nothing short of absurd.

“The Labor Government must rule out any deal on environment laws with the anti-science, anti-environment Coalition. The Liberals have torched what little environmental credibility they had left.

“Protecting nature means cutting pollution and ending environmental destruction. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our forests, rivers and wildlife. You can’t separate the two.

“Strong environment laws must tackle pollution, protect wildlife, and confront the climate crisis head-on.

“Labor must choose: side with the polluters, loggers and the environment wreckers in the Liberal Party, or truly protect nature and our climate.

“It’s time the Government picked a lane and got serious about negotiating with the Greens.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Lake Macquarie area.

Phoebe Munoz, 13, was last seen leaving a school on Field Avenue, Toronto, about 2pm yesterday (Wednesday 12 November 2025).

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Phoebe’s welfare due to her age.

Phoebe is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 150cm to 155cm tall, of thin build, with medium length blonde hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a blue school uniform and has braces.

Phoebe is known to frequent the Toronto area.

Questions have arisen over the Premier’s conduct and non-disclosure of his potential conflict of interest surrounding prison law changes and the influence of an immediate family member.

ICAC regulations require disclosure of conflicts of interest where immediate family members may influence and stand to benefit from the decision made by Cabinet members. The regulations also require self-recusal from cabinet deliberations where the conflict could influence the decision making process. Greens MP Sue Higginson has written to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) outlining concerns.

The cabinet deliberations in question concern the Minns Labor Government’s proposed laws in response to an investigation by the NSW Ombudsman that found Corrective Services had overseen years of maladministration and unlawful conduct of employees applying the incorrect burden of proof when applying disciplinary action against prisoners. The Premier’s new laws include provisions to make maladministrative and unlawful findings retrospectively lawful, meaning in certain circumstances Corrective Services staff will not have to resolve the unlawful findings identified by the Ombudsman.

Greens MP, Spokesperson for Justice and Solicitor Sue Higginson said:

“The Premier has a conflict of interest, which it appears he has not disclosed, constituting a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct and our integrity and corruption safeguards. We need to understand if his conflict has infected the Government’s significant change of direction on laws relating to Corrective Services NSW. The Premier is influencing laws that directly impact the work that his brother does, and whistleblowers within Corrective Services have signalled that the Premier’s brother is part of the drive to change the laws,”

“The disclosure requirements in the Independent Commission Against Corruption Regulations are critical to Cabinet deliberations to prevent decisions being infected with bias, and to ensure that significant changes to the law are not being influenced by close relationships. Disclosure is not a token gesture, it is a substantive aspect of accountability in decision making,”

“The change to prison laws would retrospectively absolve maladministration and unlawful behaviour in prisons that has been revealed in a damning Ombudsman investigation and are being driven by the Public Services Association (PSA) leadership. The Premier’s brother has been both an industrial officer and now lawyer for the PSA directly dealing with issues of prison misconduct,”

“The laws have been developed directly between the Premier’s Office and the PSA leadership, despite the Minister for Corrections having responsibility for these matters, the Premier has knowingly exercised his power despite or perhaps because of his conflict of interest,”

“Premier Chris Minns disclosed on 2GB radio his conflict of interest, he said “My brother is the union’s lawyer, so I know this issue back to front. He works on it every single day,” he told broadcaster Ben Fordham. “Around the Christmas table, and around the family table, he tells me … exactly what’s going on.”

“The Premier is pursuing outcomes that are contrary to the recommendations of the independent Ombudsman and inconsistent with human rights and the fair administration of justice. If these laws are passed they will increase the risk of Aboriginal deaths in custody,”

“The Premier must disclose and register his conflict of interest. The proposed laws and the significant changes they will make should now face objective scrutiny. They should be the subject of public inquiry so all relevant stakeholders and experts can be heard, not just the PSA leadership. These laws will impact significantly on people who are in prison and right now one third of the prison population are First Nations people,”

“I want to be clear, there are no aspersions being cast over the Premier’s brother, he’s doing his job. This is about the Premier of NSW and the integrity of our political system, we can’t have Premiers thinking and acting like they are above the law”.

The parliamentary inquiry into the toxic algal bloom in South Australia has today handed down its report.

The key recommendations include the federal government leading the development of a new national framework to respond to climate induced ecological events, and a review of the definitions relating to national disasters to ensure events like the toxic algal bloom are covered.

The unanimous report also recommends substantial funding to be directed to urgent and sustained environmental restoration, research and monitoring programs.

A Job Keeper style support program is recommended to help impacted individuals and businesses along the coast. The Senate report recommends a voluntary buyback scheme for fishing licenses and a targeted tourism recovery fund.

On the health impacts of the toxic algal bloom, the report makes it clear that the community requires and expects the Government to deliver clear, timely and science backed health advice.

Quotes attributable to Chair of the inquiry Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator for South Australia and Greens Spokesperson for the Environment:

“South Australians are bearing the brunt of one of the worst climate induced events in our nation’s history. We are the canary in the coal mine when it comes to responding, preparing for and mitigating the worst of the climate crisis.

“This inquiry has laid bare just how ill-prepared both the state and federal governments were for this type of ecological and economic disaster.

“South Australians should not be left to deal with the cleanup of this disaster on our own. The unanimous report from the committee has called for more coordination and support to be led by the federal government in the case of such climate induced events.

“A $500 million Marine Environment Restoration Fund, funded by the federal government is required to drive urgent, large-scale recovery in South Australian waters: restoring reefs, regenerating seagrass, and helping coastal ecosystems heal.

“Government must deliver timely, clear and scientifically informed health advice issued to the South Australian community. As we come into summer it is essential that South Australians know if it is safe to be at the beach.

“The toxic algal bloom has been a devastating climate disaster that has decimated South Australia’s environment and industry and deeply impacted our community. This inquiry has been an important way for South Australians to have their voices heard in Canberra.

“The pressure created by community voices through this inquiry has seen both state and federal governments put significant funding on the table to address the issues caused by the algal bloom.

“We don’t know how long the algal bloom will persist but we do know that there is going to be an ongoing need for funding and support from the federal government. South Australia will need assistance in the management, clean up and recovery efforts for our environment, industries and community, potentially for years to come.”