Category: Australian News

Today, the Albanese Labor Government is pleased to announce the $US3 billion Defence Industry Growth Facility, which will ensure that the Australian defence industry can continue to grow and compete on a global scale.

Through the new Defence Industry Growth Facility, the Government will provide loans, bonds, guarantees and equity to support new export opportunities, to expand or upgrade facilities, and to develop new capabilities aligned with Defence priorities.

The new Facility modernises and expands the scope of the previous Defence Export Facility and will now support projects that prioritise sovereign defence capabilities and self-reliance.

The Government is committed to ensuring the Defence Industry Growth Facility is more flexible and responsive to industry needs, particularly small and medium enterprises that require timely access to finance. It is designed to crowd in private sector finance and complement other Commonwealth financing mechanisms.

The Defence Industry Growth Facility will be administered on the National Interest Account by Export Finance Australia.

Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell:

“The Defence Industry Growth Facility responds to the needs of our defence sector. We are supporting our world-class defence businesses to thrive in international markets while delivering sovereign defence capabilities at home.

“The idea is that we are spurring on the private sector too, crowding in investment to support our defence sector.

“By backing the Australian defence industry, we are meeting the demands of Australian national security and supporting Australian jobs and businesses.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“Sovereign defence capability is essential for our nation’s security. The Defence Industry Growth Facility will build self-reliance and help attract private finance to the defence sector.

“This is about supporting Australian innovation, unlocking export-driven growth, and accelerating our capacity for producing home-grown capability for a Future Made in Australia.”

The Australian Government is rapidly mobilising consular and humanitarian support in response to the catastrophic floods along the Nepal-China border, including through a $5 million assistance package for affected communities.

We understand at least 39 Australians are among those reported missing. Australian officials are working urgently to confirm their welfare and provide assistance to those affected.

The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying additional personnel to support Australians affected by the disaster.

In addition to the staff at the Australian Embassy in Nepal, a Crisis Response Team (CRT) member and a Regional Consular Officer have been deployed and are on the ground in Kathmandu. Further regional and CRT surge support are being prepared for deployment.

The Government will send an initial team of three humanitarian response specialists within the next 48 hours to help Australian staff already on the ground.

Drawn from the Australia Assists program, the Rapid Response Team has expertise in humanitarian assessment, logistics, communications and planning.

As part of the response, the Australian Government will provide $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support urgent disaster response and recovery efforts.

The funding will be delivered through established partners to provide support such as food, emergency shelter, clean water and sanitation.

These floods have devastated communities along both sides of the border, sweeping away villages, damaging critical infrastructure, and leaving thousands displaced.

With roads and bridges destroyed, many communities remain isolated and difficult to reach, underscoring the need for rapid humanitarian assistance.

Australia’s assistance includes:

• $2 million to the World Food Programme, which has already dispatched food rations and provided logistics support for Nepal’s emergency response.
• $2 million to Australian NGOs through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership to provide support such as emergency shelter, hygiene kits, blankets, medical support and psychosocial support.
• $1 million to the Emergency Action Alliance to support locally-led recovery and rehabilitation efforts in affected areas.

Australians wishing to donate should visit the Emergency Action Alliance webpage.

1. Australian and Indonesian Foreign and Defence Ministers met for the Tenth Australia-Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting on 26 August 2026 in Melbourne.
2. Australia and Indonesia share a longstanding and constructive relationship as neighbours, partners and friends. Ministers agreed the Australia-Indonesia relationship is at a high point, and acknowledged the importance of our partnership in a deteriorating geostrategic environment. Ministers underscored our common security was a collective responsibility, and that both countries benefited from the other’s stability, resilience and sense of security.
3. Ministers noted this was the first 2+2 following the landmark Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security (the “Jakarta Treaty”), which recognised our common commitment to the peace and stability of the region and our enduring trust. They reaffirmed the Jakarta Treaty built on the 2006 Lombok Treaty and its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of both countries, and was complementary to the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), signed in 2024. Ministers looked forward to the completion of both Australia’s and Indonesia’s domestic processes to progress the Jakarta Treaty’s entry into force.
4. Ministers welcomed Australia’s budget announcement of AUD 33.2 million to support the implementation and institutionalisation of the Jakarta Treaty, including to strengthen Australia-Indonesia mutual understanding and capability, namely in Indonesian language proficiency, institutional ties, and enhanced cooperation on cyber, maritime and economic security and resilience. Ministers welcomed the launch of the Australia-Indonesia Institute Grants Program 2026-27, which will fund up to AUD 2.5 million in new projects to strengthen Australia’s Indonesia capability.
5. Ministers welcomed progress on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Plan of Action for 2025-2029 (CSP POA), and noted the strong momentum in bilateral cooperation over the past year. They commended the breadth and depth of cooperation across the relationship, spanning economic, development, people-to-people, defence, security, maritime and regional domains.
6. Ministers looked forward to the inaugural Australia-Indonesia Leadership Dialogue, bringing together senior leaders from across the bilateral relationship, in the coming year.

Building economic resilience and shared prosperity

7. Recalling the significant economic challenges generated by geopolitical developments, including the conflict in the Middle East, growing uncertainty in the global trading system, and disruptions to international supply chains, Ministers noted the importance of mitigating risk and supporting economic growth, stability and prosperity.
8. Ministers welcomed the recent visits of Vice Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno to Australia (July 2026) and of Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP to Indonesia (July 2026), for discussions on responding to global uncertainty and economic resilience.
9. Australian Ministers thanked Indonesia for working with industry to support the 250,000 tonne agricultural-grade urea supply deal between Incitec Pivot and PT Pupuk Indonesia. Ministers also noted that Australian supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) had increased at least three-fold between 2025 and 2026 to help meet Indonesian demand. They agreed this was a tangible demonstration of our mutual support in the spirit of the “good neighbours” policy, especially in times of economic challenge and disruption, and in enhancing regional food and energy security.
10. Ministers highlighted the importance of cooperation to strengthen economic resilience, food security and energy security. They welcomed the visit of senior Indonesian officials (June 2026) to discuss economic security and resilience issues, and the inaugural Economic Security Track 1.5 Dialogue (April 2026).
11. Ministers announced several economic resilience initiatives including: ongoing policy exchange on shared challenges; cooperation on analytic approaches to enhance the resilience of critical supply chains; and a new Australia Awards short course on economic security and resilience. Ministers also reemphasised the importance of working together to support regional economic resilience, including through investment in critical supply chains.
12. Ministers welcomed the launch of the second phase of the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (KINETIK, 2026-2035), a flagship AUD 600 million partnership established to support sustainable infrastructure and climate investment across Indonesia over a ten-year period.
13. Ministers welcomed ongoing efforts to increase two-way trade and investment with Indonesia and the region, including as part of Australia’s implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
14. Ministers welcomed the signing of the MoU between Australia and the Indonesian Sovereign Wealth Fund Danantara (February 2026). Through technical partnerships, executive education, and business matching, the MoU will facilitate cooperation and information sharing, to identify opportunities for increased two-way investment, enhancing our shared economic security and resilience.
15. Ministers acknowledged the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) and its record in driving trade and investment between our economies. They welcomed the progress on the General Review of IA-CEPA and the launch of the second phase of the Katalis economic cooperation program, which will continue to support the implementation of the agreement. Ministers welcomed the signing of the MoU on Cooperation on Halal Product Assurance in July 2026. Australian Ministers reiterated their support for Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to accede to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
16. Ministers welcomed strong collaboration in science and research, building on the visit by Australia’s Chief Scientist to Indonesia in July 2026, and acknowledged the opportunities to cooperate on space and to deepen cooperation on nuclear science for peaceful purposes.
17. Ministers welcomed plans for a defence industry trade delegation visit to Indonesia, to drive greater cooperation in defence industry on areas of mutual interest. 

Working together for our common security

18. Ministers noted sharpening strategic competition continued to impact our region across multiple, interlinked domains. They agreed our geostrategic environment called for ever closer consultation on a wider array of security and defence challenges and responses, underpinned by the Jakarta Treaty. Ministers agreed to explore ways to further institutionalise direct, high-level consultation under the Jakarta Treaty and tasked officials to develop options.
19. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to internationally agreed rules and norms, which are critical to ensuring a region where strategic competition is managed responsibly, sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected, where countries can freely and independently make decisions in their own interests, and disputes are managed peacefully in accordance with international law. Ministers underscored the need to manage strategic competition responsibly and the importance of ongoing dialogue.
20. Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to progress towards a world without nuclear weapons and a region free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, including through the full implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
21. Ministers reaffirmed Australia and Indonesia’s shared commitment to strengthening regional resilience and reducing the risks of miscalculation and misunderstanding that could escalate into crisis or conflict. They welcomed ongoing cooperation on conflict prevention under the Partnership for Peace and Stability, including the successful inaugural Senior Officials’ Talks and 1.5 Track Dialogue in August 2026.
22. Ministers welcomed new maritime cooperation under the maritime pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Plan of Action, including the provision of aerial drones and training to the Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla) to increase Indonesia’s maritime domain awareness.
23. Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Ministers agreed to continue working together, including through ASEAN-led mechanisms and support for implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security, to advance inclusive approaches to peace and security.
24. Ministers noted efforts under our MoU on Enhanced Cyber Security and Critical Technology Cooperation to strengthen cyber resilience of our countries and our region. Ministers welcomed increased cooperation on cybercrime, critical infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI). Ministers noted Australia and Indonesia were increasing practical defensive cyber cooperation throughout our military exercises.
25. Ministers noted that 2027 will mark a quarter of a century co-chairing the Bali Process and reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to regional cooperation to counter people smuggling, human trafficking, and related transnational crime. They further noted the importance of close and ongoing operational cooperation, including on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
26. Ministers underscored the enduring value of bilateral cooperation in preventing and responding to terrorism, including through information sharing, capacity building and operational collaboration.
27. Ministers welcomed the continued growth of bilateral defence cooperation and strengthening of the institutional relationship between our defence forces. Australian Ministers welcomed Indonesia’s participation at Exercise Pitch Black (July 2026). Ministers looked forward to upcoming exercises including Exercise Super Garuda Shield (August 2026), the second iteration of Exercise KERIS WOOMERA (October 2026), and Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo in 2027, which will increase interoperability in support of our common security interests.
28. Ministers looked forward to the swift completion of Indonesia’s processes to enable the entry into force of the Defence Cooperation Agreement and noted ongoing implementation efforts to give practical effect to the agreement.

Regional resilience through partnership

29. Ministers reaffirmed efforts to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, and reinforce an open, transparent, resilient, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture that upholds international law, with ASEAN at the centre. Ministers underscored the vital role of ASEAN in promoting peace, preventing conflict, and ensuring stability and prosperity in the region. Ministers welcomed the 2025 ASEAN-Australia Joint Leaders’ Statement on Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management in the ASEAN-led Regional Architecture and committed to its effective implementation. They reaffirmed their commitment to the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Australian Ministers welcomed Indonesia’s ongoing support as Australia’s ASEAN Country Coordinator.
30. Ministers expressed concerns about actions that raise tensions and risk miscalculation in the South China Sea and other vital waterways. Ministers emphasised the obligation of all states to adhere to international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and agreed maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law.
31. Ministers underscored the critical importance of international trade and of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security and freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law. They emphasised the universal and unified character of UNCLOS and reaffirmed its role as the comprehensive legal framework governing all activities in the oceans and seas. They further stressed that any Code of Conduct in the South China Sea must be consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS.
32. Ministers expressed concern about destabilising actions that raise the risk of miscalculation in the region and re-affirmed expectations that all regional partners maintain safe and professional conduct, follow established best practice procedures, and act transparently when it comes to strategic intent and military capabilities.
33. Ministers agreed the geostrategic environment increasingly required likeminded countries to exert their agency in support of regional peace, stability and prosperity. Ministers discussed and encouraged the establishment of a Partnership for Regional Resilience that will contribute further to resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. The partnership would complement our deep engagement in the region through bilateral and ASEAN-led regional architecture.
34. Ministers welcomed the renewal of the MoU Concerning Trilateral Cooperation with Pacific Island Countries, including agreement to cooperate in areas including disaster risk management and humanitarian response, climate resilience and the energy transition.
35. Ministers reaffirmed the important role of cross-regional collaboration in championing multilateral solutions to global challenges. Australia, as Chair of MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Türkiye and Australia), shares with its partners a commitment to strengthening multilateralism and upholding international law. Ministers reaffirmed that MIKTA countries remain committed to the multilateral system and contributing constructively to international efforts on global issues.
36. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing Australia-Indonesia-India trilateral cooperation to exchange views and collaborate on common challenges.
37. Ministers noted the recent Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Ministers further noted the Quad’s unwavering support for ASEAN centrality, and its ongoing commitment to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.
38. Ministers expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflicts and humanitarian situation in Myanmar and reaffirmed the importance of implementing ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. The Ministers called for concrete action to end violence, allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and engage constructively in inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders.

Facing global challenges

39. Ministers noted that we were seeing global conflict and competition on multiple fronts. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to upholding rules, norms and the integrity of the multilateral system, and continued cooperation within multilateral institutions. Institutions had to remain efficient, effective, inclusive and transparent. Ministers acknowledged the need to continue discussions on ambitious UN reform.
40. Ministers reiterated their support for an open, rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, and to this end, noted Indonesia’s hosting of an ASEAN roundtable on WTO reform (August 2026).
41. Ministers reiterated their longstanding support for de-escalation and an end to the Middle East conflicts, including in Palestine and Lebanon. Ministers called for all parties to exercise maximum restraint, demonstrate good faith and return to meaningful dialogue, and ensure the protection of civilians and their infrastructure. Ministers agreed restoring navigational freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz and other straits in the region remained critical to the stability of international supply chains and global energy markets, particularly in our region.
42. Ministers reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution as the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Ministers called on Israel to take urgent action to end settler violence and hold perpetrators to account. They reaffirmed their position that Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements continues to present a major obstacle to peace and threaten the viability of a two-state solution. They reiterated that any annexation or expansion of settlements would violate international law and undermine long term peace and stability. Ministers expressed concern at continued violence, and limitations on humanitarian assistance, in Palestine. 
43. Ministers called on all parties to uphold their obligations under UNSC resolution 2803 and to implement the Gaza Peace Plan in good faith and without delay. Ministers expressed their ongoing support for work to assist the Palestinian Authority in meeting its reform commitments. Ministers noted the successful trilateral Education Dialogue in April 2026 and welcomed the forthcoming Law Enforcement Dialogue in September. They committed to joint cooperation in these areas by sharing Australia and Indonesia’s experience with the Palestinian Authority and building momentum toward wider recognition of a Palestinian State.
44. Ministers recommitted to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, now endorsed by 122 countries. They expressed deep concern at the incidents, fatalities, and restrictions affecting humanitarian personnel. Ministers condemned attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that cost lives and injured peacekeepers from Indonesia, Ghana, Nepal, Poland, France and Serbia.
45. Ministers discussed the war against Ukraine and reaffirmed their respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. They underscored their commitment to uphold international law, including the UN Charter. Ministers underscored the importance of inclusive and peaceful resolution of the conflict, and for all prisoners of war to be treated and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. Ministers called for support from the international community to de-escalate and end the war.
46. As founding members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ministers expressed their strong support for the IAEA’s mandate in nuclear verification. Ministers welcomed the continued engagement between Australia and Indonesia on AUKUS and committed to sustained dialogue and transparency as cooperation under AUKUS advances. Ministers acknowledged the IAEA as the competent body to ensure the full, impartial, independent and objective implementation of safeguards obligations of its Member States, including in relation to naval nuclear propulsion, in accordance with the IAEA Statute and respective safeguards agreements. In this context, Ministers reiterated their commitment to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the global non-proliferation regime.
47. Ministers looked forward to the next Annual Leaders’ Meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and President Prabowo.
48. Indonesian Ministers expressed their sincere gratitude to Australian Ministers for their warm welcome and hospitality during the Tenth 2+2 Meeting.

Responding to the announcement yesterday of an additional $125 million by the Commonwealth Government to support the response to H5 bird flu, Senator Faruqi has written to Minister Watt calling for funding to support veterinarians on the front line.

Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Animal Welfare:

“We are all deeply concerned about the potential for bird flu to severely impact multiple native species, including sea lions, penguins and other native birds, possibly to the point of extinction.

“I welcome the additional funding announced by the Commonwealth Government, but it seems once again frontline veterinarians are being left out.

“I continue to hear stories of vets being left high and dry on the frontlines with no support. They shouldn’t have to bear the significant financial burden of this national emergency alone.

“Vets have for too long been left to care for wildlife brought to their clinics with little or no financial support. I support the Australian Veterinary Association’s calls for a $7.5 million pilot program to support vets caring for animals right now. This is especially important as they confront this growing threat of bird flu.

“With the risk of events like bird flu set to get worse, vets must be supported now and into the future. The Government must extend Commonwealth Practical Payments to vet students who have been so far excluded, but who will be the ones called on to respond to the next outbreak to save our wildlife.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono to Melbourne.

At the 10th Australia–Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Ministers will discuss cooperation on defence, security, economic and development priorities.

Australia and Indonesia share a deep and longstanding partnership, underpinned by trust, mutual respect and close cooperation.

The meeting follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Prabowo Subianto’s signing in February of the landmark Australia–Indonesia Treaty on Common Security (the Jakarta Treaty), which strengthens defence cooperation and increases consultation and cooperation on shared security challenges.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:

“Our relationship with Indonesia continues to go from strength to strength, reflecting mutual trust and a shared commitment to regional stability.

“I look forward to our meeting where we will have the opportunity to discuss progress across a range of practical defence and security initiatives to operationalise the Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement and the Jakarta Treaty.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“This is our first meeting since the signing of the Jakarta Treaty and marks a new chapter in the relationship between Australia and Indonesia.

“Together we are building on the strong ties between our countries and deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our partnership.”

The Albanese Government wants more young Australians to learn a language and build the skills, confidence and connections to engage with our region, including with our close partner Indonesia.

Today Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Special Envoy Tim Watts MP joined Collingwood Football Club captain and Bahasa Indonesia speaker Darcy Moore to showcase the important role language and sport can play in bringing Australia and Indonesia even closer together.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, they met with the Krakatoas Australian-Indonesian AFL team and children learning Bahasa Indonesia from Brunswick North West Primary School through the Australia Awards Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador program.

For Australia, giving young people the language skills and cultural understanding to engage with our region is an investment in our future security, prosperity and relationships.

In May, the Government announced $2.5 million through the Community Language Schools Grants Program – Fluency in Asian Languages – Round 1 grant to support Asian language learning.

Under the Jakarta Treaty signed in February this year, the Australia-Indonesia Institute will receive $11.4 million to expand its cultural exchange and grants programs over 4 years, creating more opportunities for Australians and Indonesians to learn from each other and strengthen ties.

The Government is also strengthening Australia’s Indonesia capability through the New Colombo Plan, with a renewed focus on priority Asian language learning, longer-term immersive experiences and deeper engagement with Indonesia.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“Darcy Moore is a great example of how learning a language can open doors to new experiences, connections and a deeper understanding of our region.

“We want more young Australians to have the opportunity to learn Bahasa Indonesia and other regional languages so that we build greater cultural understanding and connections with our neighbours.

“For Australia, building these skills strengthens our ability to confidently engage with our region and supports our future security and prosperity.”

Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Tim Watts:

“Building Australia’s Asia capability is critical to our nation’s future.

“We want language learning to open doors for young Australians, whether that is through the classroom, an exchange program, study or a career working with our region.

“For Australia to succeed in the years and decades ahead, we need a deeper understanding and engagement with our region’s languages, cultures, histories, societies and economies.”

The Labor Government is slashing the number of refugees able to rebuild their life in Australia by a third as part of sweeping changes targeted against migrants according to reports out today.

At a time when other nations, notably the US, has shut the door to refugees this is a severe blow to the post-World War II international architecture to protect people seeking asylum from war and oppression.

Before this cut Australia’s current refugee intake of 20,000 was still well bellow the 27,000 Labor promised when it was elected. Reports now indicate that they are planning to slash it 13,750, the same level as the Morrison Government.  

There are also further reports of harsh conditions being placed on family visas too, such as preventing people onshore applying for a visa. If these changes go ahead it will fundamentally break the social fabric that supports a multicultural society.

There is further concern that the Albanese Labor Government will prevent people seeking asylum from having the right to work while waiting for their application to be processed, this would be catastrophic. People seeking asylum did not choose to wait for years to have their visa processed, that is a resourcing decision inside Home Affairs by the Labor Government.

Punishing migrants and people seeking asylum for the actions of the Government seems to be the fundamental ideology of Labor and One Nation.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Immigration, said:

“Instead of standing against One Nation, Labor has chosen to stand beside them. When it comes to immigration there is almost no daylight between One Nation and Labor.

“The difference between One Nation and Labor is that, when One Nation attacks refugees, they don’t then pat themselves on the back for how much they support multiculturalism.

“People have a right to seek asylum to save their lives, and they are often fleeing wars that the Australian Government has supported and fueled.

“The Australian Government was a part of the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, has supported endless wars in Iran and Palestine, and profited from weapons sales into these wars as part of US supply lines. This was often justified by the Government as saving or liberating the people in those countries, we now see how hollow that is, as Labor slams the door in their face.

“Lets put this in perspective, the total number of visas Australia provides to refugees each year doesn’t even fill one fifth of the seats at the MCG. In a country the size of Australia this is a very modest number of people, and anyone trying to say otherwise is just scapegoating people with a different colour skin.

“This is Minister Tony Burke doing his best One Nation impression despite representing one of the most diverse and multicultural seats in the country.

“It is clear that even Labor members do not support these changes, having just affirmed a policy to increase the refugee intake, but again the Albanese Labor Government has chosen One Nation over its own rank-and-file.

“Most Australians want a fair migration system where people are able to build a full life here.

“Caring about people fleeing some of the worst conditions on earth is something most Australians want, instead we get this toxic politics that makes our country meaner and weaker.”

The Australian Greens will introduce legislation to place a 12 month ban on the import of camera-enabled wearable devices, including Meta and Anko glasses, and to implement urgent reforms to Australia’s privacy laws to prevent big tech companies selling covert surveillance as a fashion accessory.

The Bill will apply a temporary ban to imports of glasses and other covert wearable devices with an integrated camera, with an exemption for genuine disability aids. It will also update the Privacy Act so that filming, storing or sharing footage from these devices without consent is a clear breach of the law, and give the Information Commissioner and eSafety Commissioner power to investigate complaints and issue penalties.

A third of Australians already want these devices banned outright, and a Monash University study found a disturbing number of owners admit to using them to secretly record people, including in change rooms, beaches and workplaces. Schools have already banned them from classrooms over deepfake and livestreaming risks.

Senator David Shoebridge, Australian Greens spokesperson for Digital Rights, said:

“These covert wearables are a disturbing technology. They’re built to let someone film you without your knowledge in a change room, on the street, or at your kid’s swimming lesson, and our law does nothing about it.

“Big tech won’t police itself, it never has. That’s why we need Parliament to act now and stop the influx of these devices into Australia. 

“Australia’s privacy laws were written four decades before this technology existed, and every day we wait is another day these devices fly off the shelves with no rules attached.

“While some of these devices have lights when they are recording these are far from any real privacy protection, and many have no warnings at all 

“Big corporates like Meta and Kmart see these as all about profit and have no regard to the impacts they have on communities, or the risks to children and vulnerable people. 

“There are good reasons to allow recordings in public, using hand held phones or cameras for journalism, art or just sharing your day with family and friends. This bill targets covert surveillance, where no one is aware they are being recorded, and where the privacy risks skyrocket.

“A few weeks ago we saw Labor’s Attorney General respond to this privacy risk by writing a letter to the Privacy Commissioner. That was about as useful as an inflatable dartboard when it comes to protecting people’s privacy.

“META and other corporations profit from selling secret surveillance devices to the public. It’s time our laws caught up, and that’s going to require more than a letter to a bureaucrat.”

The Greens warn that Prime Minister Albanese will push power prices up 13% in Queensland if he locks in his capitulation on coal and gas powered data centres.

Prior to yesterday’s National Cabinet, the Energy Minister was warning that allowing states to give data centre approvals without a renewable energy requirement would make power more expensive for all Australians.

Despite this warning of cost-of-living pain from his own government ministers, the Prime Minister prioritised fossil fuels and big AI yesterday.

The Greens have called for a moratorium on data centre approvals until regulations are in place to protect communities, the environment and water security. Renewable energy would be a minimum expectation of data centre standards, and has been pursued elsewhere in the world including Germany, Ireland and China.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“What an extraordinary capitulation on a promise made by the Prime Minister only a month ago that tech giants would need to underwrite renewable energy supply if they are going to drain the grid with power hungry data centres.

“The Government themselves admitted that letting power hungry data centres use coal and gas will push power prices up by 13%. Queenslanders would be the hardest hit during this cost of living crisis.

“AI is the new extractive industry, and we are watching our government sell out Australians’ interests to the highest tech bro corporate bidder.

“This is about the future of Australia’s energy and water security.

“Once again the Prime Minister is bending the knee to big corporations and shafting Australians and nature.

“Too many people are already doing it tough – with workers facing losing their jobs due to AI,  they shouldn’t be paying the price by paying more on every power bill too.

“If Labor locks this in, it means that millions of Australians will be paying for AI every time they turn on the lights or air conditioning. 

“If the PM wants to legislate data centre standards, he should start by reverting back to his original commitment to require data centres to be powered by renewable energy.

“There needs to be a moratorium on the rollout of data centres until regulation is in place to regulate the impact they have on energy, water use, people and the environment.”

Reports today reveal the Allan Labor Government has abandoned one planned noise wall and more than halved the height of another that was promised to shield students from traffic noise and pollution. 

The Victorian Greens say that school children should not be paying the price for Labor’s $26 billion North East Link bin fire and have been calling for an independent inquiry into the disaster-plagued project. 

According to reports in the Age, Labor quietly scaled back promised protections next to Belle Vue Primary School. The revelations come after years of problems with the North East Link Project, including billion-dollar cost blowouts, sinkholes, and environmental damage causing nearby waterways to turn bright blue. 

The Greens say this project was bad from the very start and has been an utter trainwreck in its delivery.  They say the community deserves answers about the project’s health risks, environmental impacts and spiralling costs. 

This builds on their earlier comments slamming the Allan Labor Government for refusing to protect wildlife under the toll road in Rosanna, despite past commitments to the community that this would be delivered.

Earlier this year, Greens MP for North-Eastern Metropolitan Aiv Puglielli called for an independent inquiry into the project. 

Greens MP for North-Eastern Metropolitan, Aiv Puglielli: 

“The community is fed up with this bin fire of a project  and the laundry list of problems that continue to stem from it. We need an inquiry.

“Labor’s now selling out school kids because of their serious mismanagement of this expensive and unnecessary project that no one asked for in the first place. 

“We could’ve funded 25 years of free public transport for the cost of this project, but instead Labor’s given us a private toll road that’s caused sinkholes and turned waterways bright blue with pollution.”