Category: Australian News

Australia will boost support for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting in Solomon Islands as part of ongoing cooperation and commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

As a founding member of the PIF, Australia is committed to working with the Pacific family.

At the request of the Solomon Islands Government, Australia will provide a comprehensive support package, both for the hosting of this important regional meeting and to bolster the enduring capability of Solomon Islands. This package includes the provision of approximately 60 security vehicles, support for cybersecurity, upgrades to Honiara’s roads, and approximately $3 million for logistics support.

This support will ensure the meeting delivers progress on the region’s priorities and positions Solomon Islands to drive greater regional coordination and unity for the year ahead.

Australia continues to be the Pacific’s largest development partner, and security partner of choice. Australia’s support is focussed on inclusive economic growth, sustainable infrastructure, jobs, skills, and connectivity. We recognise our role in contributing to a stronger Pacific family and upholding our common values so we can all make our own decisions as strong sovereign nations, free to grow and live together peacefully.

The PIF Leaders’ Meeting in September will be an opportunity to work together to seize new opportunities and overcome shared challenges.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong:

“In times of global uncertainty, the Pacific Islands Forum unites our region and makes us stronger.

“It is key to realising Pacific leaders’ vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific region.

“We look forward to Solomon Islands taking on the leadership of this important institution and are committed to supporting Prime Minister Manele and his government to build a stronger, more united Blue Pacific Continent.”

Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, The Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“The Pacific is best served by Pacific-led institutions and processes.

“Our support will ensure the meeting delivers progress on the region’s priorities and positions Solomon Islands to drive greater regional coordination and unity for the year ahead.

“Australia’s commitment to Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific is steadfast. We are stronger together.”

Responding to a community protest supporting BREAZE, a volunteer-run renewable energy group recently cut from funding by the City of Ballarat, Senator Steph Hodgins-May and Sarah Mansfield MLC have raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness. 

The group says the decision was made without good-faith engagement and was based on unrelated political views expressed by a former board member speaking out against the genocide in Gaza. 

BREAZE plays a crucial role in driving Ballarat’s clean energy transition. This move threatens to stall Ballarat’s renewable progress and erode community trust.

Greens Senator for Victoria, Steph Hodgins-May: 

“BREAZE is an incredible volunteer-run organisation helping power Ballarat’s clean energy future.

“The council has cut ties with this vital community group, and refuses to engage with them in good faith, all because of posts by a former board member that, like so many Australians, express horror at the genocide taking place in Gaza.

“This will jeopardise Ballarat’s ability to respond to the climate crisis and drive the renewable energy transition.  

“In a healthy democracy, we need space to speak openly and freely. 

“The community deserves transparency and fairness. This decision should be revisited and funding restored so BREAZE can get on with building a cleaner, brighter future for Ballarat.”   

Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens and MLC for Western Victoria, Dr Sarah Mansfield: 

“The council’s decision to cut the funding of a community group working for real climate action with the people of Ballarat undermines crucial efforts towards cleaner, more sustainable energy, as well as community trust.

“The council has failed to engage fairly or transparently with BREAZE, raising serious concerns about this decision, and I’d urge them to restore funding to BREAZE so they can continue their vital work empowering the Ballarat community towards zero emissions.”

The ACT Greens have today announced they will not support the proposal from the ACT’s minority Labor Government to impose a $250 levy on every day Canberrans.

“Not only is this levy unfair, but it passes on the failures of both Territory and Federal Labor to create a truly universal healthcare system,” said ACT Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury.

“A flat levy does not take into account a person’s ability to pay and does not reflect the type of city we want to build. It will unfairly impact a lot of people in our community.

“As the ABC reported – it essentially imposes a gap payment on Canberrans – whether they access healthcare or not, and no matter their income.

“Many Canberrans are already struggling, and even those on decent incomes are feeling the pinch.

“The irony is that this additional levy might be the difference between someone being able to buy essential medicine or healthy food – both key to maintaining good health, in order to fork out for the Government’s health bill.

“A good Budget raises revenue from those who can afford it, like big corporations, before passing the bill on to everyday people.

“The Greens put forward a proposal for a Big Corporations Tax that would introduce a new, higher tax threshold for big corporations like the supermarkets, banks and airlines.

“Companies that operate in our city and make billions in profits, like Qantas and Wesfarmers, should be paying their fair share of tax. But instead, they’re raking in massive profits while Canberrans struggle with the cost of living.

“Not only is a Big Corporations Tax a significantly fairer way to generate revenue, it also generates more than double the amount the government will receive from every day Canberrans through the proposed health levy.

“So the ACT Greens will not be supporting the $250 levy in the Appropriation Bill and we call on the Government to go back to the drawing board and come up with something fairer.

“The Greens recognise that we need to raise enough revenue to deliver the services that our community needs, but this is not the way to do it,” said Mr Rattenbury.

A link to the ACT Greens Budget Reply Speech can be found here: Budget Reply Speech 2025

The Minns Labor Government is investing $13.6 million over four years to design and deliver a state-of-the-art Service NSW Centre in South West Sydney’s Campbelltown as part of the 2025-26 Budget.

As part of this Government’s comprehensive plan to build better essential services, the new Service Centre will provide South West Sydney locals with improved access to 1,300 government transactions and essential services in one convenient location.

Campbelltown is one of the fastest-growing local government areas in South West Sydney with a population of more than 175,000. This investment from the Minns Labor Government will make it easier for local families to access services they need as the region continues to expand.

Once opened, the Campbelltown Service Centre increases the number of centres to 119 across NSW, including two driver testing locations.

Campbelltown Service Centre will provide another option for Ambarvale, Appin, Bradbury, Leumeah and Menangle Park locals, complementing existing centres in Edmondson Park and Gregory Hills.

Around 100,000 customer visits are expected at Campbelltown Service Centre in its first 12 months of operation, improving essential service access for this rapidly growing and diverse community.

Service NSW is working with Property and Development NSW to find a suitable location for the new centre, ensuring it is accessible and convenient for the Campbelltown community.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“With more than 6.6 million customer visits across NSW last year, investing in new and improved Service Centres helps ensure access for those who need the essential services they provide.

“As South West Sydney’s population grows, we’re seeing increasing demand for government services and transactions from the local community.

“This investment by the Minns Labor Government will provide the services people rely on, whether they are looking for cost of living support, applying for a Seniors Card, or requesting personalised business advice through the Service NSW Business Bureau.”

Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said:

“I fought and opposed the Liberal National government’s shortsighted decision to close our former Campbelltown centre and promised the community I’d bring this essential service back.

“I’m so proud Campbelltown is getting what we need and deserve for our growing area, and the broader Macarthur community.

“I acknowledge everyone in our community I’ve fought with to return this critical service to Campbelltown.”

Today NSW Greens Spokesperson for Treasury, Abigail Boyd, has said that the Minns Government’s 2025/26 Budget is a missed opportunity to help millions of people struggling to pay their bills.

Abigail Boyd, Greens NSW MP:

“Right now, people in our communities are suffocating under the Minns Labor government’s business as usual agenda which does nothing to combat skyrocketing grocery prices, energy bills and out-of-pocket education and health costs, nor does it come close to delivering the investment we need in accessible, affordable housing,” said Ms Boyd.

“This is not a budget for people–it’s a budget for Big Business, the gambling lobby, private developers and climate-wrecking corporations. The Minns Labor government’s third Budget is a betrayal to all those in our communities doing it toughest – failing to address the rising cost of living in this state or lift people out of poverty, while leaving billions in uncollected revenue on the table from big business. Whether its failing to rein in subsidies for pokies operators, leaving high-end taxes lower than in other jurisdictions, or failing to innovate to raise revenue from the big corporations who can most afford it, the Minns Labor government would rather turn its back on workers and everyday people than take on the vested interests in our State with the bold reforms it once promised.

“This is a Labor government that refuses to pay nurses and midwives a fair wage and is trying to strip injured workers of their entitlements due to so-called budget constraints, while all the while cosying up to its mates in the clubs industry by failing to rein in pokies subsidies that are costing billions. The only ones thanking Minns and Mookhey for this budget is the Business lobby, which shows you how far the Labor party will go to turn their backs on workers.”

“Across the State, nurses, midwives and other essential workers are without hope that they will ever earn fair wages and conditions after the Labor Minns government has forced them to beg for scraps under its failed mutual bargaining regime. The impact on essential public services like hospitals has been particularly catastrophic, with workers fleeing the state for higher wages elsewhere and people going without the medical treatment they need. This is a fundamental betrayal and a slap in the face to all those who voted this government in.

“We know that the greatest issues of our time – climate change, the cost of living, housing affordability – will negatively impact marginalised communities disproportionately. And yet this Budget does nothing to provide for those doing it toughest.

“Labor has put no extra money into frontline domestic violence services. Instead, they’ve made a desperate, and frankly sad attempt to spin funding for courts as funding for victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

“While acknowledging the catastrophic impact that more severe and frequent weather events are having on the people and finances of our State, there is nothing new in this Budget to properly tackle the climate crisis and accelerate our State’s transition to 100% renewable energy.

“For years, the Greens have consistently offered constructive options for how the government can increase revenue in order to better fund the universal services our community desperately needs. These proposals include:

•   A progressive payroll tax system that expands in scope to capture rideshare, delivery and other gig worker platforms as well as consulting firms and others currently dodging basic taxes.
•   A luxury motor vehicle duty that progressively increases taxation on cars according to their retail market price.
•   A ‘vacancy tax’ for properties left empty for more than six months in areas with high levels of housing stress.
•   A supplementary banking levy that taxes banks on the assets they hold in New South Wales, raising at least $600 million each year.

“There is no excuse for the Treasurer’s cowardly retreat on removing subsidies for pokies operators and failing to redirect billions towards the services people in this state rely on.

“The Greens are calling on the Minns Labor government to have the courage to raise revenue from those who ought to be paying a fair share–the fossil fuel industry, gambling companies, big banks and the very wealthy–in order to provide a better life for the people of New South Wales.”

The Minns Labor government has today handed down a Budget that once again utterly fails victim-survivors of domestic and family violence-with no new investment in existing frontline domestic and family violence services, and mere crumbs for initiatives and programs that have gone underfunded for years.

The Greens have consistently backed calls from countless experts, victim-survivors and dedicated specialist frontline workers who have categorically called for a significant and permanent increase in baseline funding for existing frontline services.

Abigail Boyd, Greens NSW Spokesperson for Gendered Violence and Abuse:

“Over a year on from the Minns Labor government’s so-called ’emergency funding package’ and its promise to listen to calls from experts and the community, today’s Budget has nothing for existing frontline domestic and family violence services.
“These services provide genuinely critical, irreplaceable and life-saving support to women and children fleeing violence-victim-survivors who are already waiting an average of two months to access support.

“The Minns Labor government has not only failed to meet repeated calls from domestic and family violence experts for a 50% increase in baseline funding for frontline services, but it has embarked on yet another attempt at spin-dressing up a cash splash for courts and the corrections system as somehow being funding for domestic and family violence victim-survivors.

“To claim this as an investment in ending domestic and family violence is not only blatantly dishonest-it’s an arrogant betrayal of the over-stretched frontline workers who are working incredibly hard every day to deliver the services and programs that we know provide victim-survivors with sorely needed protection and refuge.

“Peel back the spin and what are we left with? A few piecemeal operational reforms and crumbs for strategies and plans we’ve been waiting on for years, which is nothing compared to the level of investment needed to tackle the gendered violence crisis.

“According to Domestic Violence NSW, it would only take $163 million to sufficiently resource frontline services to meet demand in 2025-26. Imagine what we could do to turn around the domestic and family violence crisis if Labor would finally fund the evidence-based services and programs the sector has been consistently crying out for.

“This Budget is all spin and no action, painting a clear picture of just how little the NSW Labor government cares about ending violence against women and children in our state.”

Background

As reported by the Guardian today, leaked documents reveal that a consultancy firm Good Advice, run by a former NLC employee, played a central role in facilitating private meetings between Empire Energy and Traditional Owners in the Beetaloo region. 

Had the proper process for such meetings have been followed, the Northern Land Council would have facilitated this meeting to ensure no undue influence. Instead these two meetings were held in mid-2024 in Mataranka, designed to obtain signatures from Traditional Owners in support of a sacred site authority certificate needed for fracking approvals in the Beetaloo Basin. 

The Guardian reported that in these meetings there were unrealistic promises of large royalties and other benefits, with some Traditional Owners even thinking they were simply signing an attendance sheet. At least two current members of the NLC’s full council are also employed by Good Advice and were reported to have been wearing their NLC uniforms when canvassing communities to support fracking. 

First Nations communities have been speaking up against fracking for a decade now, including Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, a vocal group of Traditional Owners from the affected area. Yet the CLP Government continues to charge ahead. 

Empire Energy are attempting to hide from this scandal and the many that have come before it including that they have changed their business name to Beetaloo Energy. The CLP Government continues to subsidise the gas industry despite their exploitation of communities and Country.

This deceptive and immoral conduct from Good Advice and Empire Energy undermines the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and damages trust in our Land Councils. 

The NT Greens call on the Albanese government to urgently intervene to stop this project going ahead, and to investigate Good Advice consultancy and Beetaloo Energy.  

Kat McNamara MLA, Member for Nightcliff

“The gas industry views gaining consent from Traditional Owners as a mere box-ticking exercise that they are willing to achieve by any means necessary.”

“This exploitative industry cannot be trusted. Fracking cannot continue under these current conditions.”

“Across the NT we continue to see the revolving door from Government or Statutory bodies to the private sector. To prevent community members from being taken advantage of, we must introduce stronger regulations.”

“Empire Energy thinks they can wash their hands of this deceit simply by changing their name, but we will hold them to account.”

Today’s 2025-26 ACT Budget has missed the mark, with the ACT Government seeking to solve its Budget shortfalls by increasing costs put on every day Canberrans rather than generating revenue from those who can – and should – pay more.  

ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury said that the Budget handed down today reveals a range of surprising measures that will unfairly impact every day Canberrans and hurt the most vulnerable in our community. 

“A good budget invests in our people, community and the things we need to live well in Canberra. Critically it should raise revenue from those who can afford it, like big corporations, in the first instance before passing on the bill to everyday people,” Mr Rattenbury said. 

“The ACT Greens only weeks ago proposed to ACT Labor that they can generate hundreds of millions by taxing corporations who make billions in profits off everyday people. Today’s Budget ignores that completely and instead jumps straight to taxing everyday Canberrans. 

“Instead the Budget introduces a $250 health levy on all households and businesses in order to pay for the increasing costs of the health system; charges Canberrans trying to electrify their home in a climate crisis; and will increase the number of small, local businesses who are paying more payroll tax. 

“Increasing numbers of Canberrans are being priced out of the housing market, many are in rental stress without the safety net of the Rent Relief Fund, and our public housing wait list is sitting over 3,000 people.  

“It is baffling that the Government has only committed to building 140 new social and community homes in this Budget. 

“At the same time, we’re only getting $10 million for the community sector – or roughly $33,000 per organisation. In a cost-of-living crisis, this Budget will push more people to the brink, increasing pressure on our community sector. This simply does not go far enough.” 

Deputy Leader for the ACT Greens Jo Clay said ACT Labor is slowing down progress on climate action and measures to actively restore our environment. 

“This Labor Budget will also introduce a 3% interest rate on loans through the Sustainable Household Scheme, which entirely defeats the purpose of the scheme. It will block some Canberrans out of the option to switch off from gas,” Ms Clay said. 

“They’ve also introduced a levy on all electric vehicle sales. When we know transport makes up over 65% of our emissions, this is another significant backwards step on climate action.  

“Climate and environment funding only makes up 2% of the overall Budget. If ACT Labor want to show they value biodiversity, want to stop species going extinct and restore ecosystems to keep Canberra a great place to live for both people and animals then they need to properly fund it. 

“These are all measures that will significantly impact every day Canberrans and, in a cost-of-living crisis, when people are already under financial stress, this is hardly fair.  

“We urge the ACT Labor Government to amend the Budget to tax big corporations, before imposing new taxes on everyday people, to generate more than $100m per year.” 

The Coalition supports actions taken by the United States of America to ensure that the Iranian regime is stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons.

It was made clear by the International Atomic and Energy Agency on 12 June that Iran was in breach of its Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations after stockpiling more than 400 kilograms of 60 per cent enriched uranium at Fordow—the last step in enrichment towards a nuclear weapon.

The world can never accept a nuclear-armed Iranian regime and today the United States military has taken proactive action to ensure that we never need to.

A nuclear armed Iranian regime would be a serious and direct threat to world peace and stability, especially as it continues to engage in terrorism including by supporting its proxies: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

While Australians will never seek conflict in the world we can never forget that the Iranian regime is a militantly theocratic autocracy. It expressly seeks the destruction of our allies, enacts extrajudicial killings of political dissidents and brutally represses the rights of women and girls. It is the Iranian people who are the victims of this brutal regime and we stand in solidarity with them.

The Coalition stands with the United States of America today. We can never allow the Iranian regime the capacity to enact its objectives of the destruction of the United States and Israel.

The third Minns Labor Budget is focussed on delivering on commitments for the Central Coast, building better essential services and the infrastructure we need while investing to grow the economy.

This budget builds on the strong foundations we have already laid to ensure that we continue to build a better NSW for all.

We’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s much more to do. Budget commitments across major areas that will benefit the people of the Central Coast include:

Health

• Working to ease pressures on our emergency departments with the continuation of the $200 million stage 3 redevelopment of the Wyong Hospital, including:
  • a new Carer Support Unit
  • Nunyara Aboriginal Health Unit
  • Women’s Centre Clinics and workspaces for medical staff
• $6.4 million for the Wyong Hospital’s Cancer Day Unit expansion to ensure cancer patients can get treatment close to home
• $1.7 million to expand NSW Pathology services at Wyong Hospital
• Works have commenced on the new Wyong Palliative Care Unit to support Central Coast residents in their final stages of life that will feature 12 patient bedrooms with ensuites,  communal areas, meeting spaces and flexible outdoor spaces  as part of the existing $93 million World Class End of Life Care program.
• Ensuring locals get care quicker through the development of the New Lisarow Ambulance Station as part of the continuing $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program
• Pregnant women on the Central Coast to benefit from the $83 million in new funding to boost maternity across NSW, including:
  • Funding for an additional 53 midwives across regional local health districts, on the back of the successful recruitment of obstetricians and gynaecologists at Gosford Hospital and last week’s reinstatement of the hospital’s accreditation for obstetrics and gynaecology
• Delivering $864,138 additional funding for First Nations-led suicide prevention initiatives.

Education

• Improving secondary education on the Central Coast with upgrades to high schools in Lisarow and Narara Valley, delivered through the High Potential and Gifted Education School Partner Program.
• Continuing to deliver public preschools at the Tuggerawong and Umina Beach public schools as part of the NSW Government’s commitment of 100 public preschools state-wide.
• $10.2 million towards upgrading facilities and aligning course delivery across the three Central Coast TAFE campuses to align with the needs of the community as part of the TAFE NSW investment to fund critical investments to upgrade facilities, boost permanent teaching staff, and modernise campuses—laying the groundwork for a more skilled and future-ready workforce.

Transport and Roads

Over the next four years, the Budget contains funding through various NSW and Australian Government-funded projects, including:

• Continuing the NSW Government’s $84 million commitment to begin work on the $420 million Wyong Town Centre upgrade
• $75 million for the Terrigal Drive upgrade
• $50.7 million to continue the upgrade of Avoca Drive in Kincumber
• $47.8 million to continue the Tumbi Road and Central Coast Highway intersection upgrade.
• $29 million to continue planning and design for the Gosford Bypass
• $15 million for the Empire Bay Drive Intersection Strategy
• Central Coast residents will also benefit from a $150 million state-wide investment to expand bus routes in regional areas and the outer suburbs of Sydney.

Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

• The Central Coast will benefit from the record $3.4 billion investment in TAFE and skills funding, as part of the Government’s plan to tackle the housing crisis that includes:
  • $40.2 million towards an additional 23,000 fee-free construction apprenticeships over the next two years
  • $13.8 million Construction Workforce Package to upskill 4,800 workers into residential construction jobs over the next two years tobuild the skilled workforce needed to speed up delivery of much-needed more homes across the state
• $6 million over two years to explore design and delivery of short-term public domain improvements for the Gosford Waterfront while continuing to investigate long-term planning for this prime area
• The NSW Government is making it easier to deliver more homes on the Central Coast by extending tax concessions for new build-to-rent housing developments; and releasing draft guidelines to speed up the delivery of homes and infrastructure through works-in-kind agreements with developers
• $10,000 grant for eligible Central Coast first home buyers of a newly built house, townhouse and apartment below $600,000 or land and new house package below $750,000.

Cost of Living

Central Coast residents will benefit from a number of budget measures to help households with cost-of-living pressures, including:

• Energy bill relief that extends the $150 payment to the end of 2025 for all Central Coast households and eligible small businesses
• Assistance for eligible Central Coast residents to pay their energy accounts and energy rebates for eligible concession card holders, Family Tax Benefit recipients, seniors and others who rely on mechanical and life support equipment
• Water rebates for eligible Central Coast pension and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs card holders and community organisations
• Around 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of installing small-scale battery systems through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program for eligible Central Coast households and small businesses
• Doubling the incentive with up to $1,500 discount to set up a virtual power plant
• Increased solar battery discount from 1 July 2025
• Expanded free access to NSW National Parks for all our Central Coast Commonwealth Veteran Card holders as part of $5.3 million funding to give NSW veterans a free pass where a vehicle entry fee applies
• In addition, the Government has reached multi-year pay agreements with employees including school and TAFE teachers, police, correctional officers, school support staff and paramedics (including those in the Central Coast). This is on top of the biggest pay increase to public sector workers in over a decade in 2023-24.

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said:

“The Minns Labor Government is continuing to build a better NSW by this year focussing on delivery of our election commitments to the Central Coast community and investing in our people.

“We’ve been working meticulously to deliver better essential services that people rely on, to build the homes and infrastructure we need and investing to grow the economy to continue setting up our fast-growing region for long-term prosperity.”

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:

“This budget delivers for our residents in the Central Coast – investing in the essential services we rely on, building the infrastructure we need, and supporting families doing it tough.

“Whether it’s better healthcare, more preschool places for our young families, or critical upgrades to our local roads – this is a budget that puts the Central Coast first.

“We’ve made significant progress since coming to government – but we know there’s more to do, and this budget keeps us moving in the right direction.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said: 

“Labor’s third budget continues our work to rebuild our essential public services and deliver on the promises made in 2023.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:

“The Minns Labor Government’s third budget is all about building on the groundwork already laid for a brighter future for our Central Coast, investing in essential services while navigating responsible financial management.

“After over a decade of budget mismanagement by the former Liberal-National government, this budget continues to make meaningful investment in the foundations of our community, upgrading major roads, strengthening emergency services, and improving education for all.

“By investing in the services that our community depends on, the Minns Labor Government is reinforcing the strong foundations we have already laid, working towards a fairer, stronger, and more prosperous NSW for everyone.”