Category: Australian News

Today, we the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada are pleased to announce that we will establish a new International Peace Fund for Israelis and Palestinians, a multi-donor initiative to support peacebuilding efforts to establish the conditions for a lasting peace.

We are doing so at a moment of acute crisis in Israel and Palestine. The last three years have exacted a devastating and dehumanising toll on civilians and deepened mistrust and division between communities. At the same time, civil society has faced increasing restrictions and unprecedented pressure.

As prospects for a two-state solution remain challenging in the short term, there is an urgent need to invest in the conditions that can make future peace possible, through sustained dialogue and vital grassroots engagement.

We remain committed to a just and lasting resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, based on a negotiated two-state solution in which Israeli and Palestinian people can live in peace, security and dignity.

The fund will help strengthen the voices of moderates and marginalise the extremists, including Hamas.

As we have learned from other entrenched conflicts around the world, peace cannot be achieved through political and security measures alone. It also requires sustained effort to rebuild trust, to strengthen cooperation, and to highlight the shared humanity of people.

The Peace Fund will invest in programmes that advance a two-state solution, help reduce division, strengthen civil society, and support dialogue and cooperation within and between Israeli and Palestinian communities, building the foundations for peace.

The Fund will complement existing diplomatic, humanitarian and development efforts by helping to build the relationships, confidence and shared understanding needed for successful negotiations.

Funding contributions underscore strong international commitment to this initiative. As such, we will each be contributing initial seed funding equivalent to £1 million over three years. Once established, the Fund will be open to additional financial contributions from international partners committed to advancing peace.

Funding will be directed to trusted civil society organisations (CSOs) in both Israel and Palestine, with demonstrated expertise in peacebuilding and dialogue. Additional information on the fund, and its modalities will be announced shortly.

We call on our international partners to support this initiative and invest in the long-term foundations of peace. We also urge all parties to the conflict to take steps to reduce tensions, protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and uphold international law.

The United Kingdom, Australia and Canada remain committed to working with partners to advance a two-state solution, as the only viable option for peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians.

The Brisbane public hearing for the Greeens-led Senate Inquiry into intergenerational housing inequity has today revealed the human cost of the housing crisis.

Evidence to the committee today showed:

• Astronomical house price increases are causing high levels of financial and emotional stress for households across the country, forcing people to make sacrifices, impoverishing people and causing homelessness.
• The current rental market is the most unaffordable in Australian history with some of the highest rates of rental stress.
• Australia’s population of “forever renters” is on the rise as homeownership becomes increasingly out of reach.
• Renters, who make up a third of households, face deep housing insecurity, due to insecure rental contracts, unlimited rent increases and no-cause evictions.
• Canberra is currently the most affordable city to rent due to the introduction of rent caps.
• With 640,000 people in need of social housing, Labor’s 55,000 social and affordable homes aren’t making a dint.
• Total social housing stock (public and community housing) declined by 240 homes between 2024 and 2025, in large part as a result of demolition and privatisation of public housing, despite the Labor Government’s flagship social housing policy the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). 
• The Government’s building of public housing won’t meet existing demand. So far, 1,432 homes have been built under the HAFF while 190,000 people are on public housing wait lists.
• Homelessness is a killer. Just one night of experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness can be lethal. People without stable housing are dying thirty years younger.
• Up to 9 people a day are dying – for people with recent experience of homelessness. The majority of these deaths are preventable and avoidable.
• The cost of living crisis and interest rate hikes are contributing to increased rates of domestic and family violence, resulting in homelessness.

Lines attributable to Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness and Senator for South Australia, Barbara Pocock:

“The evidence is clear: The housing crisis is killing people. 

“Australia is a wealthy country. We cannot accept that nine people a day are dying because of the housing crisis. We need to get people off the streets and into safe and secure housing. 

“Successive governments have prioritised property hoarding over building public, social and affordable housing. They have created an unfair housing system that benefits the top 20% instead of people needing a roof over their heads.

“Our housing system is not working for ordinary people. Big banks, big developers and property hoarders are profiting from a housing crisis that is literally costing people their lives.

“Renters around the country are facing some of the worst housing insecurity in living memory. Too many households are just one rent increase away from eviction or homelessness. 

“Despite Labor claiming to spend big on social housing, we’re actually going backwards and building less than before.

“In the 1960s, we had a government that built 18% of all homes in Australia. Now it’s an investor’s market. The Government needs to get back into the business of building affordable housing directly. It needs to start treating housing like a human right.

“We urgently need to build affordable and public housing to house the 190,000 people on public housing wait lists.

“The housing crisis is costing our country billions of dollars. The Government had the opportunity to actually fix the housing crisis in the federal budget but instead it chose to tinker around the edges. 

“High interest rates are passed onto renters who don’t have a buffer because they are the buffer for landlords. The Government must coordinate nationwide rent caps and a ban on no-cause evictions to protect renters.”

Public hearing link

The Glencore/Yancoal Hunter Valley Operations Open Cut Coal Continuation Project (HVO)has been recommended to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) by the NSW Government today, moving the project closer to unleashing 800 million tonnes of climate pollution over the next 20 years. The expansion is being considered under an updated state coal policy to allow expanded and extended coal mines despite NSW being likely to miss legislated emissions reduction targets.

Greens MP, Solicitor and spokesperson for Planning and Climate Sue Higginson said:

“The Minns Labor Government has allowed this massive and catastrophic project to proceed in the planning system despite publicly and legally committing to emissions reduction targets that will be impossible to reach if this project goes ahead,”

“The Minister for Planning has once again guaranteed that the community will not be able to challenge the merits of this dangerous mine expansion through recommending the IPC conduct a ‘public hearing’, a decision that prevents the merits of a project from being challenged if it’s approved,”

“This next step for HVO comes the same day that the Government accepted all of the Net Zero Commission’s recommendations in the Coal Spotlight Report, except the recommendation that coal expansions were inconsistent with climate laws that the Minns Labor Government introduced in 2023,”

“We cannot afford any more coal. Every single person in NSW is already paying $20k per year because of the impacts of climate change, and this project is literally pouring petrol on a house fire,”

“The Government could act today, to make sure this project is never approved, and we stop the expansion of coal in NSW. Instead, they are avoiding the truth, lying to the community, and setting us on a path to disaster,” Ms Higginson said.

Amid the fallout over KPMG, newly compiled data from the Parliamentary Library reveals the Federal Labor Government currently has 297 active contracts awarded to KPMG, for a total value of $653 million.

Despite revelations of multiple scandals, including allegations of misusing confidential client information to get more audit work and mistreating a whistleblower, the Government continues to employ KPMG’s service.

31 government contracts worth nearly $24 million were sealed with KPMG after the scandals became public on 24 March this year – with ASIC, Finance, Attorney General’s Department, BoM and Defence among them.

The Greens say the data shows KPMG’s grip extends to nearly every corner of government and calls on Labor to review all current contracts and ban KPMG from any future contracts.

Greens finance and public service spokesperson Senator Barbara Pocock:

“This government is completely addicted to KPMG. 

“The volume of contracts shows just how aggressive KPMG’s push into government has been, and how addicted Labor remains to the Big 4 consultancy firms, when it should instead be investing in a strong public service.

“At a time when KPMG’s dirty laundry is being aired, as scandals are being publicly exposed, Australians are rightly asking why the Labor Government continues to give them contracts worth millions.

“The Government must review all current contracts and ban KPMG from any future contracts until they’ve been properly investigated.

“Despite all the lessons of the PwC consultancy scandal, Labor’s response has been woefully inadequate. Consultants continue to play by their own rule book as the latest misdemeanours by KPMG show.

“Political donations data shows that big consulting firms are still giving large donations to the government. Three of the Big 4 consultancy firms, among them KPMG, donate to the government – this is just wrong.

“Australians are fed up with the jobs-for-the-mates mentality that’s plagued successive governments. We see endless appointments of Big 4 consultants to senior government and advisory roles. Most recently – and since the whistleblower’s allegations became public – the appointment of a current KPMG partner to lead the government advisory body the Board of Taxation.  How does this pass any conflict of interest test? 

“Labor needs to put an end to the Big 4 donations to political parties and ban appointing Big 4 partners to senior government and advisory roles.”

“The government’s refusal to clean up the unethical practices rife across the consultancy sector and ban dodgy firms is why the Greens introduced a bill to parliament. We must close the legal loopholes that allow government contractors who behave unethically to get away with it.

“It is time to implement the recommendations of earlier inquiries: subject these massive partnerships to the same rules of tax, transparency and whistleblowing as other large entities through corporations law, separate the functions of consultancy from audit and regulate them properly.”

Industrial unrest has surged under Labor, with ABS data showing working days lost to industrial action have more than tripled since the March 2025 quarter, soaring 242 per cent. 

The figures show that nearly five times as many workers were involved in disputes compared to this time last year – an increase of more than 36,000 workers in just 12 months. 

For every day Labor has been in office, almost 450 working days have been lost to industrial action, significantly higher than the Coalition average of 263.

Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Senator Jane Hume said these figures show the cost of Labor’s industrial relations agenda. 

“Every working day lost to industrial action is a hit to productivity, a hit to businesses and ultimately a hit to Australian workers. 

“At a time when Australia can least afford it, industrial disruption is rising sharply under Labor but the worst may still be ahead of us. 

“The Transport Workers Union has openly threatened to shut down parts of Australia’s transport network through coordinated industrial action that could affect tens of thousands of workers across freight, aviation, ambulance and other essential services. 

“More strikes, more disruption and more working days lost is not a recipe for higher productivity, stronger growth or lower costs. It is ordinary Australians who will pay the price for it.”

“Suck it up, sweetheart.”

Pauline didn’t hold back after chronically unpopular Victorian premier Jacinta Allan played the victimhood card over billboards seen in Melbourne depicting her as a witch. Allan called it sexist. So did Albanese and – in a blast from the past – so did former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard.

Allan must be relieved that she can finally claim to be a victim of something. Every other lefty activist does. It’s like a badge of honour for them. Since when did people start idolising victims over heroes?

These days Pauline is being asked by the media to comment on everything, no matter how irrelevant. In this case, however, it was nothing new to the One Nation leader who’s been forced to deal with much worse.

Social media denizens quickly found cartoons and ads in 1990s newspapers calling Pauline the ‘witch from Ipswich’ and the Senator herself told Sky News that no less than former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer had called Pauline a witch who should be burned at the stake.

No woman from the left side of politics ever came to Pauline’s defence. The ‘mean girls’ of the left are very selective about who they accept as a victim of sexism and who they don’t.

The Albanese Government is delivering a record amount of funding for Arthritis by establishing a new Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Research Mission.

We will invest $100 million over 10 years to deliver the Mission that will boost research into arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Mission will be established through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and will bring together key researchers, health professionals, industry partners and patients to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the debilitating condition.

More than 7 million Australians are living with Arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. They are complex, lifelong diseases which can strike at any age.

The new research mission is part of the Albanese Government’s record investments to transform health and medical research in Australia.

It will be funded through the 26-27 Budget commitment to spend $508.5 million over four years to increase MRFF investments from $650 million to $1 billion a year by 2030-31.

the Prime Minister

“For millions of Australians, living with Arthritis isn’t just an ache or pain, it affects their ability to work, to stay active and to enjoy everyday life.

“My Government’s $100 million investment will be a gamechanger for Australians living with Arthritis.

“It will back Australian researchers to develop better treatments, improve diagnosis and help find the breakthroughs patients have been waiting for.

“My Government is investing in medical research because it is an investment that changes lives and strengthens our nation’s health.”

Minister Butler 

“Our Government’s investments in health and medical research are about improving the lives of Australians.

“We have world class researchers in Australia whose ideas could transform health outcomes for future generations.

“This mission is another way our Government is boosting research to deliver innovative, equitable health outcomes.”

Arthritis Australia CEO Louise Hardy

“This is a truly historic day for our community. The announcement of a gives hope to millions of Australians of all ages living with the pain of arthritis.

“We are deeply grateful to the Albanese Government for listening to our community and making this commitment.

“This Mission will drive the research breakthroughs we so urgently need — from earlier diagnosis, improved treatments, to the hope of cures.”

On the occasion of her visit to France on 9 June 2026, Senator the Honourable Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, and Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, held a bilateral discussion on key areas of cooperation, including responses to international crises and challenges.

In the context of international tensions and geopolitical shifts, the Ministers reaffirmed the dynamism of the France–Australian partnership, which is based on shared values and a mutual commitment to an international system underpinned by agreed rules and norms. As neighbours in the Pacific, France and Australia are working together for a peaceful, stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific region, which remains open and inclusive, where the sovereignty of all states is fully respected.

The Ministers confirmed their common intention to elevate the bilateral relationship through the adoption of an upgraded Australia-France Roadmap, which will provide a framework for further strategic engagement.

Under the upgraded Roadmap, the results achieved under the 2023 Australia-France Roadmap across the three pillars of Defence and Security, Resilience and Climate Action, and Education and Culture, will be built upon and guide further work. The flagship 2023 Roadmap project, the Franco–Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition, will continue as well as our dialogue on critical minerals. We have agreed to expand cooperation in fields such as national security and policing. We will also seek to increase our collaboration to counter cyber crime and drug trafficking, while reinforcing global rules and norms. Sport will continue to be a key feature of the upgraded Roadmap ahead of the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Maugean skate remains at risk of extinction and recovery isn’t yet assured, according to an IMAS report released today. The skate’s precarious future continues to be underpinned by political bastardry, the Greens say. 

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans and Senator for Lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson:

“The Albanese government has used its power to undermine the survival of the Maugean skate for its mates in the salmon industry and for its own political interest – it cannot be trusted to protect the skate. 

“The federal government’s own scientific advice clearly states the key threat to the Maugean skate’s survival is poor water quality in Macquarie Harbour, and that the primary cause of this is Atlantic salmon farming. It recommended stopping or destocking salmon as an immediate measure.

“The plight of this prehistoric species could be immediately improved by reducing salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, but nobody in the Albanese government has the political will to make this a reality.

“Rather than take the action needed to protect Tasmania’s waterways and threatened species, the federal government has ignored scientific advice and let the salmon industry off the hook. 

“These foreign-owned salmon farming companies pollute Tasmania’s waterways, make hundreds of millions of dollars in profit, and pay no licence fees or royalties for the privilege of using our public waterways. To make matters worse, the industry has recently been awarded taxpayer funds to try and repair the damage it’s caused to the environment. 

“It’s state capture fuelled by political bastardry.”

Submissions are now open for the Senate inquiry that will look into artificial intelligence data centres in Australia. 

The inquiry, to be chaired by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, comes amid growing community concerns amidst rapid expansion of energy-hungry AI infrastructure and is an opportunity for communities to have their voices heard on how data centres will impact them.

The inquiry will examine the environmental, economic and social impacts of AI data centres, including their energy and water consumption, effects on local communities and Australia’s regulatory system. 

Sarah Hanson-Young, Chair of the Artificial intelligence and data centres inquiry and Greens spokesperson for communications, environment and water: 

“AI is the new extractive industry and Australia’s regulations are lagging behind.

“Like the gas industry, these massive data miners want to extract Australia’s resources for free, paying very little for the data, water and energy all used to make their huge corporate profits. 

“Australia is sleepwalking into an AI catastrophe. If we don’t put the handbrakes on this rapid data centre development our communities, energy, and water resources will be at risk. 

“Right now we’re seeing a push across Australia to build huge data mining centres with little community consultation and very little given back to the community – all just to line the pockets of the big tech companies.

“Not only are they extracting our intelligence, our knowledge, and our culture, these big AI data centres are going to be extracting huge amounts of water and energy too. 

“The Albanese Government has been courting global AI companies, but where is the transparency? Australians deserve to know what deals are being struck in their name, and who truly benefits from the expansion of this industry. 

“There’s a reason why these big tech companies are honing in on Australia right now – they think Australia is easy pickings. Our regulations are weak and don’t protect our communities or our resources.

“Big tech moves fast, never asks questions and bamboozles governments and Australian communities are paying the price. 

“Submissions to this inquiry are open now, and the committee wants to hear from everyone whose land, water or local wildlife is on the line. 

“We cannot allow Australia to be an unregulated playground for energy-hungry data centres without proper scrutiny, and that’s what this inquiry will provide.”
 

For more information about the inquiry, see the home page here.