Category: Australian News

The Albanese Government is investing $750 million to deliver a pipeline of Bushmasters for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) fleet of protected mobility vehicles in regional Victoria, supporting around 300 local jobs for the next seven years. 

Thales Australia will build 268 new Bushmasters for the ADF at its Bendigo facility, continuing over 20 years of production of this world-leading capability and providing certainty to the workforce and region that depends on it.

The delivery of these additional Bushmasters will significantly boost the ADF’s combat capability and force projection, as part of a modernised protected mobility fleet able to operate in our immediate region. Bushmasters are critical to the integrated force – including littoral manoeuvre, long range fires and the amphibious capable combined arms land system.

As the protected mobility vehicle of choice for nine countries, the Bushmaster is an Australian defence industry success story and a priority capability for the Australian Defence Strategic Sales Office.

In response to a request, the Albanese Government has also agreed for recently delivered Bushmasters to be sold to the Netherlands. This export provides further certainty to the Bendigo workforce, with Thales to replace these vehicles for the ADF in their next production round at no cost and in addition to this new order for the Army.

The manufacture of these Bushmasters adds to the vehicles already being built to replace those gifted to Ukraine – to support its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion – and 59 vehicles being acquired under LAND 8113. 

The Albanese Government is also investing $450 million towards upgrades of the Thales Hawkei protected mobility vehicles, and the Rheinmetall Medium/Heavy Truck Capability as part of the 2026 Integrated Investment Program’s protected mobility vehicle modernisation program. 

The modernisation of the Hawkei vehicles will be conducted by Thales in Brisbane, supporting 150 local jobs, and many more across the supply chain in Australia. 

Through these projects, the Albanese Government is investing $1.2 billion in uplifting ADF’s fleet of protected mobility vehicles. 

This work will further strengthen Australia’s sovereign defence industry, as well as deliver significant benefits for the local workforce in both Bendigo and Brisbane. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles: 

“The Australian-built Bushmaster and Hawkei are recognised as world-leading protected mobility vehicles. 

“Through this investment the Albanese Government is sustaining Australian jobs, strengthening our national defence industry and delivering a capability that protects the lives of Australian Defence Force personnel.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy: 

“Built in Bendigo, Bushmasters are an iconic Australian vehicle that delivers world-leading protection to the Australian Defence Force. 

“We’re building close to 300 new Bushmasters, securing around 300 local jobs and delivering long-term certainty to the industry, workers and region that depends on this critical capability.”

This week, I will travel to Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea as part of the Albanese Government’s work to strengthen Australia’s relationships and our shared energy security.

The Middle East conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy markets, with Asian refineries and the Indo-Pacific region disproportionately affected.

Direct, in-person engagement with counterparts across our region will help ensure we are coordinating effectively as these disruptions continue to unfold.

In Tokyo, I will meet with my counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Motegi Toshimitsu, other Cabinet Ministers, and industry leaders to discuss energy and fuel security, the Middle East conflict and other issues of shared interest.

Australia and Japan are Special Strategic Partners and close friends, with a relationship built on trust, aligned values, and mutual interests. Together, we support a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.

In Beijing, I will hold the eighth Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Australian Government remains committed to a stable and constructive relationship with China, which is in the interests of both our countries.

Australia and China have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and benefit from deep economic ties, with our trade relationship underpinning supply chains, investment and livelihoods in both economies.

Dialogue between our countries enables us to progress the full range of our interests and manage our differences.

In Seoul, I will meet with my counterpart, H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cho Hyun – Australia and the Republic of Korea are Comprehensive Strategic Partners with a strong bilateral relationship underpinned by shared strategic interests, complementary economies and generational ties between our people.

The Republic of Korea is one of Australia’s most important sources of refined fuels, including diesel, automotive gasoline and aviation fuel.

Australia will continue working with international partners to help secure the supplies we need – including diesel, petrol and fertiliser – and ensure Australia is prioritised as a reliable energy partner.

The Victorian Greens say that Labor must explain why there is no evidence that $1.35 million of taxpayer money meant for forest restoration was used as intended.  

A new VAGO report states that $1.35 million given in grants specifically allocated for ‘site rehabilitation’ were gifted by Labor but they have failed to provide any evidence of work delivered, achieved environmental outcomes or that funds were used as intended. 

The Victorian Greens say that it’s outrageous that millions in public money can be spent with no evidence that forests were rehabilitated as planned – and as a result there are likely large tracts of Victorian forest that have been left with no forest rehabilitation. 

VAGO’s report only looks at one portion of the $1.5 billion the Victorian Labor Government has given to the logging industry to stop native forest logging.  

The report found that the Victorian Labor Government failed to comply with rules, leaving gaps in its recording and oversight processes.  

The audit followed a series of allegations dating back to May 2023 that government grants meant for supporting workers into sustainable jobs were being exploited to log Tasmanian forests. The Victorian Greens Leader, Ellen Sandell referred the allegations to VAGO in March 2024. 

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“Labor needs to explain why there is no evidence that taxpayer money specifically set aside for forest restoration and rehabilitation were used as intended. 

“It’s outrageous that there’s likely huge parts of the forest that have been left without any rehabilitation because Labor gave millions to the logging industry – and nobody ever had to prove how this money was spent. 

“Labor doesn’t care about our environment or our forests, but is happy to give millions handouts to loggers, and this is just another example of this”

On Anzac Day, we pause to acknowledge the debt all of us owe to Australians who have gone to war in our name.

Across our continent, from the biggest cities to the smallest country town, and in every corner of the world made hallow by the sacrifice of our fallen, we gather in respect, reflection, gratitude and pride.

One hundred and eleven years after the first Gallipoli landing, Anzac Day has come to stand for every generation of Australians who have served.

At dawn services and marches today, we renew our solemn promise to remember all those young Australians who did not grow old and everyone they left behind. 

We remember all who lived to keep fighting and all who finally made it home, but with the battle raging forever in their hearts.

We reflect on all they went through and all they were up against, and we give thanks for the difference they made just when the world needed it most.

We give thanks to our veterans for all you have given. 

We thank all Australians serving now, and we thank your families, who take on both the pride and the burden.

Time and time again, Australians at war have embodied the courage, selflessness and mateship that define our national character.  

What their legacy proves to us is that even when peace seems elusive, it is always worth fighting for. 

So we gather. And as we give thanks for the light of every bright dawn that was their promise to us, we keep tending the flame of memory. 

Lest we forget.

On 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers huddled together silently in their row boats as they approached the beaches and hills of Gallipoli. Although they were young and afraid, they prepared to battle with an unseen enemy to protect the rest of us.

Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

111 years later, our Anzac spirit is as strong as ever.

Tomorrow at dawn, Australians and New Zealanders across the world will pause to honour those who have served and continue to serve in our defence forces during times of war, conflict, and humanitarian and peace operations.

In cities and towns across Australia and around the globe, we take the chance to recognise those who have and continue to wear our nation’s uniform, as well as their families who support them to serve.

We honour the memory of the 103,000 Australians who have given their life in our country’s name.

Approximately 1250 Australian Defence Force personnel are currently deployed on operations across Australia, the Indo-Pacific region and the globe. These deployments are an example of the continuing Anzac spirit while serving Australia’s national interests.

As Australians attend dawn services and take part in marches, we reflect on the tremendous sacrifices our current and former serving personnel and their families have and continue to make, so that our nation and its people can enjoy freedom and safety today.

Lest we forget. 

Reports this morning that the Prime Minister wants to continue to allow offshore gas corporations to get Australian gas for free and pay pocket change in PRRT, despite the extraordinary evidence presented to the senate inquiry, indicate that this Prime Minister is more concerned with keeping big corporations happy than he is with representing the interests of the Australian people.

On the matter of trading LNG for fuel:

Australian gas corporations can’t unilaterally pass on a gas export tax to customers in Asia. Approximately 80% of Australian gas is in long term contracts with prices tied to the global oil price, and 20% on a fluctuating spot market. Producers aren’t unilateral price setters and would overwhelmingly absorb the impact of an export levy in their healthy profit margins.

This has been established clearly by the Senate Inquiry, including evidence from Treasury, Ken Henry and gas companies themselves, who confirmed that the impact of a gas export tax would be felt by gas corporations, not our trading partners.

leader of the Australian Greens, Larissa Waters:

“The Prime Minister has a choice in this budget: deliver for the greedy gas corporations, or deliver for the people. If he has picked the wrong side today that will be his legacy,” said the Greens Leader on Friday.

“In the same week that his government announced the largest ever cut to a government program this century in the NDIS, a devastating cut that will result in at least 160,000 people losing critical supports, the Prime Minister is sending signals that he’s going to let the greedy gas corporations continue to make obscene war time profits. 

“This is corporate capture of the Australian government by the fossil fuel industry and we need to call it out. Under Labor, gas corporations are skipping out on their tax bill while everyone else suffers.

“On the matter of fuel security, the Prime Minister is reading from the script of the gas industry’s talking points and deceiving the public saying gas export taxes are a threat to our trading relationships. It’s simply not true, as the inquiry has heard from Treasury representatives this week. 

“This is nothing but the gas corporations fighting a haircut to their obscene profit margins, and the Prime Minister is falling for it.

“The Prime Minister is at a fork in the road. He can be brave and tax big corporations to support millions of Australians who are struggling to make ends meet, or he can be a mouthpiece for the gas industry. He can’t do both.”

Senator Steph Hodgins-May, Chair of the Select Committee on the taxation of gas resources: 

“Labor would rather slash 160,000 people from the NDIS than take on the gas giants and tax 10 gas export projects.

“Right now, more than $2 million is slipping through our fingers each and every hour because we refuse to put a minimum 25 per cent export tax on these global gas corporations.

“This week the gas cartel has rolled out the same tired scare campaign to protect their wartime profits while the major parties dutifully repeat their talking points .

“Premier Cook is head of a captured state auditioning for a future at the board table of Woodside, and the Prime Minister is taking his cues all the way to Canberra.

“A minimum 25 per cent gas export tax would raise at least $17 billion a year. That’s money to ease cost-of-living pressure, properly fund public services, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.”

The AFL Appeal Board’s decision to substantially reduce a penalty imposed for a homophobic slur is appalling, and its statement of reasons makes it even worse, the Greens say.

“Homophobia should have no place in the AFL, or our society more broadly, and the AFL Commission needs to intervene and make that clear,” Greens LGBTIQA+  spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Justifying homophobia and other forms of discriminatory language because football is a ‘hard game’ and ‘competitive’ is nothing short of disgraceful.” 

“This would not fly in any other workplace in the country and nor should it.”

“This ruling is a green light for homophobia and shows the AFL is not serious about fighting for equality.”

“The totally backwards logic that underpins this decision is a slap in the face to queer Australians, particularly those who have been made to feel unwelcome in Aussie rules.”

“The AFL as an organisation and as the custodian of a beloved sport, has fallen badly short here.”

“It should be taking a leadership role to stamp out homophobia, and that means no longer excusing homophobia.”

For many years, One Nation has been warning the government to reign in out-of-control spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or else risk support for the very existence of the scheme among the Australian taxpayers who pay for it.

As they watch NDIS costs spiral beyond $50 billion a year – well beyond projections – it appears the Albanese Labor government is listening (a bit). As far as One Nation is concerned, just about the only thing Labor is getting right at the moment is trying to make the NDIS more sustainable.

This week, Labor has announced a move to reduce the number of NDIS participants from 760,000 to 600,000 by 2030. There’s no detail about tightening eligibility requirements, better standards for providers, or cracking down on fraud. And there’s no word whatsoever about one of the biggest problems with the NDIS blowout: pay rates.

Whether you’re a specialist or an unskilled worker, you’ll get around three times as much working in the NDIS than you would in a different health sector. Not only is this costing taxpayers much more than it should; it’s creating shortages of these workers in public health and aged care.

One Nation supports the NDIS. We want it to survive to deliver on its original purpose: providing reasonable and necessary support for Australians living with significant or severe disability.
The NDIS shouldn’t be funding home improvements and renovations, vehicles bought by providers to transport clients, services outside of medical requirements, holidays for clients or carers, sex workers or recreational activities dressed up as ‘therapy’. All providers should be registered and audited, and much bigger penalties should be in place for compliance breaches.

And the NDIS should be means-tested. Currently any billionaire can claim it. Labor appears to have ruled this out, and that’s a mistake.

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are protecting jobs and critical manufacturing capability at Liberty Bell Bay during its administration process.  

EY have formally accepted both Governments offer to jointly provide a $3 million loan, on a 50:50 basis, to support workers while administrator EY continues to conduct an expedited sale of the facility.  

This support is about providing workers with more certainty in what has been a very difficult time for the community.   

It will keep the workforce in place, protecting jobs and specialist skills, as well as giving the facility the best chance of a successful sale and faster restart under a new owner.   

Liberty Bell Bay is Australia’s only domestic producer of manganese alloy, a critical input into steelmaking for defence, construction and mining.   

This support follows the Tasmanian Government providing a $20 million loan to purchase ore after commitments from GFG, the smelter’s owner, it would restart operations at Liberty.  

Despite the commitment from GFG, Liberty remained in limited operations until the administration process began. 

The Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments will continue to work closely to support workers, safeguard Australia’s industrial resilience, and secure the best possible outcome for the facility and the Bell Bay community.  

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister 

“We’re backing the workers, their families and the community through this sale process because this facility and these jobs matter.  

“I thank the State Government and all local MPs for working with us to support Australian manufacturing.  

“We need to build more things here as a country – and that includes in Northen Tasmania.” 

Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania 

“We are in the corner of workers, their families and impacted small businesses. 

“Liberty is the only manganese smelter in the country, and we have invested to support the workers and keep this sovereign capability in Northern Tasmania. 

“Our Government established the Bell Bay Response Team and we provided a $20 million loan for ore to restart operations at Liberty. 

“We have been in regular communication with the Federal Government and worked with them to deliver this employee support package.  

“Tasmanian manufacturing jobs are critical to our community, our State and our Nation.  

“Recognising that there is still more to do, I want to thank everyone from all sections of the community for rallying around the workers to save Liberty Bell Bay.  

“Strong cooperation between State, Federal and Local Government has been really important to date and I want to thank our Liberal Members for Bass, Bridget Archer, Rob Fairs and Michael Ferguson, and local members for Windermere, Nick Duigan, and Rosevears, Jo Palmer, for their very strong advocacy and focus on the wellbeing and jobs of the local workers.” 

Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science

“This is good news for the Bell Bay community – but I know there is more work to be done.  

“I look forward to a successful sale of Liberty Bell Bay – and welcome a new owner who will look after this facility for what it is: a critical part of the steelmaking supply chain.  

“I thank Jess Teesdale for advocating for her community, as well as the workers, unions and local suppliers, and the State Government, for pulling together to get this positive outcome.”  

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) welcomes the Federal Government’s NDIS reform agenda but says the changes must deliver coordinated support for people with disability linked to a terminal (life-limiting) illness or risk worsening “bed block” in hospitals. 

PCA Interim CEO Simon Waring said the palliative care sector will seek to work constructively with government on the reforms, while ensuring the needs of people with life-limiting illness remain front and centre. 

“We recognise the Government’s commitment to strengthening the NDIS and improving its long-term sustainability,” he said. 

“These are significant reforms, and Palliative Care Australia wants to engage positively with government on how they are designed and implemented.  

“It’s essential people with terminal illness are not overlooked in the process. For this group, the key issue is not simply whether they can access the NDIS. It is whether they can get the practical, day-to-day functional support they need, when they need it, regardless of which system provides it,” Mr Waring said. 

PCA National Policy Director Josh Fear said the proposed shift away from diagnosis-based access and towards functional assessments would create uncertainty for many people with life-limiting illness. 

“People with terminal illness often have complex needs that can change quickly,” he said. 

“The NDIS can provide very important support for some people in this group, but it will never meet the needs of everyone. That is why reform must also address the longstanding gap in supports outside the Scheme – so the NDIS is not the only lifeboat in the ocean.” 

Palliative Care Australia is calling on governments to work with the palliative care sector on the design of alternative systems of functional support for people with disability linked to life-limiting illness who cannot access the NDIS. 

“This is an opportunity to build a better and more coordinated response, including through a new system of Foundational Supports and stronger supports through mainstream health systems,” Mr Fear said. 

“We want to sit down with government and contribute constructively to that work.” 

Mr Fear said the palliative care peak body would be advocating strongly on several key issues as the reform process progresses. 

“First, people with terminal illness must not be left in limbo as access pathways change,” he said. 

“Second, people whose health is deteriorating quickly need to have their support needs met rapidly, regardless of which system is delivering that support.  

“Third, clarifying the boundaries between the NDIS and mainstream services must lead to better coordination of care, and not more gaps, confusion or cost-shifting between systems. 

“If we don’t get this right, more patients will be stranded in hospital, adding to those who can’t be safely discharged right now.”  

Mr Fear said the community must have confidence that people with life-limiting illness are not forgotten as major changes are made to the disability system.  

“We call on governments to confirm that this group will be a priority. People with life-limiting illness should not miss out on essential support because they do not fit neatly into one system, or because broader cost pressures are being felt elsewhere in the NDIS,” he said. 

“Our message is constructive, but clear: we are ready to work with government on practical solutions, and we will continue advocating for a system that responds with flexibility and compassion to people with terminal illness and their families.”