Category: Australian News

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Samoa from 24 to 26 October for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

This will be his first visit to Samoa as Prime Minister.

Encompassing around a third of the world’s population, the Commonwealth has a strong record of multilateral cooperation to promote human rights and shared values.

Australia is proud to support Samoa as host of a uniquely Pacific CHOGM — the first to be hosted by a Pacific island country.

Australia is pleased to have provided support for Samoa’s preparations for the meeting, including on security, logistics and policy development.

Australia’s priorities for CHOGM are closely aligned with Samoa’s, with a focus on our collective efforts to address climate change and the sustainable management of our oceans.

As well as investing in the resilience of Pacific partners, Australia is working with the international community to pursue security and economic opportunity in a net zero future.

Prime Minister Albanese will join representatives from more than 50 countries to work with Commonwealth members to address global challenges.

The Prime Minister will be joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I am pleased to attend the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted by a Pacific island country.

“It is a particularly special occasion to be in Samoa, together with so many Commonwealth counterparts and His Majesty The King, in the 75th year of the Commonwealth.

“Australia values the significant role Samoa plays in our region, and the close partnership between our two countries.

“I thank Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa for hosting this year’s meeting and welcome her leadership to elevate Pacific priorities and voices on the international stage.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson for the Republic, has commented on the arrival of the British monarchy to Australia, ahead of the Prime Minister’s parliamentary reception scheduled today. 

Senator Faruqi: 

‘It will come as no surprise that I will not be participating in any pomp and ceremony celebrating the monarchy, but I’d be happy to go to the airport to wish them a final goodbye in the hope that this is the last time the crown visits this country as rulers.

“Anthony Albanese and Labor may have given up on Australia becoming a Republic, like they have given up on tackling the climate crisis, the housing and rental crisis and justice for First Nations, but the Greens will keep fighting. 

“The truth is, racism and colonialism are intertwined; and the monarchy symbolises an era that should be left behind for good, not celebrated.

“Preserving the British monarchy is to preserve white supremacy and the systemic racist structures that were built by the Empire and persist today.

“It’s time for Australia to embrace a Republic rooted in decolonisation and sovereignty for First Nations—a crucial step towards racial justice, truth telling and treaty.”

The NSW Government should be strongly advocating for Australia’s drinking water guidelines to reflect global best practice after draft new guidelines released today still have Australia lagging behind the US on acceptable levels for some ‘forever chemicals’ says Cate Faehrmann, Greens NSW MP and chair of the newly established Upper House Inquiry into PFAS.

“Why should Australians accept a new drinking water standard that has levels of one forever chemical, PFOA, at 50 times what the US is prepared to accept? PFOA has recently been declared carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation, so surely the only acceptable level is close, or at, zero,” Cate Faehrmann said.

“Australia is behind many other jurisdictions that have acted on the growing body of evidence about just how dangerous these chemicals are much sooner. It shouldn’t have taken a media investigation and negative headlines to get action here.

“Australia must now seize this opportunity and adopt the world’s best practice when it comes to identifying and removing PFAS from our water supplies. The NSW Government needs to be strongly advocating for this at the federal level.

“It makes no sense that new guidelines will set acceptable levels for some ‘forever chemicals’ higher than what the US allows. Why should we be prepared to accept higher levels of chemicals than people in the US?

“The public deserves to know on what evidence all decisions around supposedly safe levels are being made,” said Cate Faehrmann.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson for Higher Education, has commented on the slashing of hundreds of jobs in the university sector with the latest announcement today by the University of Canberra, following recent job cut announcements at Macquarie University and the ANU.

Senator Faruqi: 

“There is something deeply wrong with universities if hundreds of jobs are being cut while VCs walk away with million-dollar plus pay packets.

“Rampant casualisation, wage theft and enormous workloads were already crushing staff, and now hundreds will be without a job. It should be VC salaries that should be cut, not staff jobs.

“For too long, the corporatisation of universities has continued unabated, with disastrous consequences for staff and students. Staff and students are not expendable cogs in the wheels of a corporate campus.

“Universities are in strife, and the Labor government is going to make it even worse with their international student caps. Instead, they should be providing a big boost of funding to universities and overhauling university governance to put staff and students back at the centre of decision making.”

Big tech and social media corporations should pay their fair share back to the communities they profit from, including for public interest journalism, according to the Greens and a Parliamentary Select Committee Report into Social Media. 

The Greens are calling on the Government to stand up to tech giants like Meta and protect media diversity and public interest journalism in Australia via comprehensive regulatory reform. In additional comments the Greens are calling for an overhaul of ACMA powers, and the implementation of the News Media Assistance Program.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for Communications:

“A strong, diverse and trusted news media sector is essential for a strong and robust democracy. Australia needs to urgently address the lack of trust and sustainability of quality public interest journalism if we are to protect ourselves from the rampant disinformation and politics of division we are witnessing in the United States. 

“Independent public interest journalism is a public good, but more is needed than just short term funding and grant programs. 

“It’s clear that comprehensive digital and media reform is well overdue in Australia and we need stronger laws that deal with the toxic business model of these big tech corporations.

“It’s time for the Albanese Government to make these companies pay their fair share back to the communities they are profiting from, and too often, harming. We’ve seen this in countries like France and Canada and it should be part of the solution to fund the public interest journalism that’s been gutted by the tech giants.

“We also need greater transparency over how these companies use their algorithms and the data of everyday users.

“We need to fund quality, public interest journalism in Australia and ensure that a diversity of publishers, especially small, medium, regional and independent media are supported.

“ACMA’s powers are not fit for purpose in a digital age and comprehensive reform in this area is well overdue.

“A Commission of Inquiry into media regulation and diversity including the damaging impact the Murdoch media empire is having on our democracy is also warranted.

“While this is the first report of this inquiry, focused on the news media bargaining code and journalism support, the final report of the inquiry will deal with the harms of social media and the need for regulating the big tech giants. 

“Labor & the Liberals should back the Greens’ call for a ban on big tech corporations harvesting the data of young people and targeting them with advertising and dangerous algorithms. The business model of collecting, selling and exploiting young people’s data to make massive profits must stop.”

Media diversity in Australia is now second-worst in the world, with experts calling for a levy on tech firms.

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has recommended disciplinary action against three officers in their report following Operation Pamir finding that a vulnerable First Nations person had their rights violated in May 2020. Police officers forced the victim to participate in police interviews against the fundamental right to silence and put false information to that person during an interview.

This report follows the report on Operation Mantus last year, which found systemic failures to protect young people and their right to silence. The investigation and report occurred after Police prosecution of the person was halted in court due to the evidence given being inadmissible.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said “This report has once again lifted the lid on a horrid and sordid culture within the NSW Police. Despite two separate Lawyers, including one Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer, advising police that the victim exercised their right to silence, the officers forced two separate interviews with the victim, therefore engaging in serious misconduct.”

“We can’t know how often this is happening, but the impunity shown in this case and by the fact that this was done in collusion between numerous officers would suggest that it is not uncommon,”

“We have seen endless accounts from people that have survived abuse by the police, including current and former police officers, as well as members of the community who are targeted and vilified based on racist policing practices. Everytime the LECC makes findings of wrongdoing and misconduct against the police, the Minister and the Premier try and excuse the issue by saying that the system is working, this is a political failure and it has to stop,”

“Arresting officers, custody managers and bail officers all have a significant responsibility for maintaining a person’s welfare and for protecting the legal rights of the community. The culture of cover up and abuse within the police system in NSW is putting people in danger and violating the community at every turn,”

“The right to silence is one of the most fundamental rights when it comes to freedom from oppressive state prosecution,”

“The Government should direct the Police to make compensation available to the victim of this police misconduct, and the LECC should be resourced according to the number of reports made to them from the community,”

“As long as the LECC does not have enough resources to properly police the police, there is no hope for a genuine clearing of the decks from the toxicity in the NSW Police that is causing harm and violating people’s rights,”

“The three officers should have their employment terminated immediately, to clear these bad apples from the barrel, and the systemic shift that is so badly needed should begin today,” Ms Higginson said.

Under the Albanese Government, Australia is facing a housing crisis. The great Australian dream of home ownership has never felt further out of reach.

We need to get our country Back on Track, and restore the Australian dream of home ownership.

Today, the Coalition is announcing new policies to boost housing supply.

Over the past two years, the Coalition has consulted with hundreds of local councils across the nation to discuss new housing supply constraints and practical ways to overcome these challenges. This consultation has made clear that one of the major impediments to new housing projects is the lack of funding for critical enabling infrastructure.

Whilst it is not the usual role of the Federal Government to fund enabling infrastructure like water, power, sewerage, and access roads, the scale of Labor’s national housing crisis means the Coalition will, on a time-limited basis, unlock necessary new housing supply and keep the Australian dream alive.

We will invest in shovel-ready infrastructure, the lack of which is hindering the development of new housing, through a new Housing Infrastructure Programme (HIP).

An elected Coalition Government will commit $5 billion to get these projects moving, unlocking up to 500,000 homes to be delivered more quickly through a mixture of grants and concessional loans.

We know there are hundreds of greenfield sites across the country ready for development, but progress has been stalled due to a lack of funding for essential enabling infrastructure. Our approach is focussed on investing in enabling infrastructure to unlock the supply of shovel-ready new housing developments.

The cheapest form of housing for first home buyers is detached housing with backyards and our Housing Infrastructure Programme will be a catalyst for exactly this – new greenfield housing developments.

This funding will be offered on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis. This means if there is no progress on successful projects within 12 months of contracting, then the funding will be terminated.

The Government’s housing crisis is failing Australians. Labor’s promise to build 1.2 million homes over five years has already failed, with industry leaders confirming a likely shortfall of more than 400,000 homes.

Under this Government, building approvals have fallen to their lowest level in over a decade, dropping 8.8 per cent to just 158,690 new starts in 2023-24. Simultaneously, the Government has brought in more than one million migrants in their first two years in office, while only 350,000 homes have been constructed in that time.

That’s why the Coalition’s Housing Infrastructure Programme is essential to getting Australia Back on Track. It will have a significant impact in unlocking new projects or bringing forward projects that might otherwise be delayed for years.

Further, to address supply constraints, the Coalition is announcing today that we will freeze any further changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) for 10 years.

At a time of high inflation, the Government’s changes to the NCC have added red tape and increased the compliance burden for new housing projects, driving up costs for purchasers. Stakeholders estimate the Government’s recent changes to the NCC (including changes to energy efficiency standards) have added up to $60,000 to the price of a new home.

The Coalition’s freeze will provide certainty to the industry and let builders get on with the job of building homes for Australians. We further commit to working with industry to review the Government’s changes to the NCC and identify options to further reduce red tape and bring down costs for consumers.

Today’s announcement sits alongside the Coalition’s already-announced commitments to bring down demand and free up supply by reducing migration, our two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes in Australia, and capping the number of overseas students. These changes will free up over 100,000 homes for Australians over five years.

At the same time, the Coalition will work with the building and construction industry to ensure there are enough skilled and temporary skilled visas for those with essential skills to support our local tradies to build the homes we need.

The Coalition will also bring down the costs of housing by tackling union corruption that has contributed to driving up the costs of building by 30 per cent. The Coalition will deregister the CFMEU, restore the ABCC, and ensure tough judicial scrutiny for union officials who do the wrong thing.

A Dutton Coalition Government will restore the great Australian dream of home ownership.

Under the Albanese Government, more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn, with today’s ABS Labour Force figures showing well over a million jobs (1,039,300) have now been created since Labor came to office in 2022.

This is the first and only time any government of any political persuasion has overseen the creation of a million new jobs in a single parliamentary term.

This is a remarkable achievement, in the context of a slowing economy and a labour market that is expected to soften.

Today’s result means the Albanese Government continues to oversee the largest increase in employment in a single parliamentary term in Australia’s history.

In September, 64,100 jobs were created – 51,600 of which were full-time positions.

It’s also encouraging to note that the labour force participation rate continued to increase over the month, rising by 0.1 percentage points in September, to stand at a record high of 67.2 per cent.

That equates to an additional 54,900 people entering the labour force over the month.

Importantly, the female participation rate increased to a record high of 63.2 per cent, equating to an additional 23,100 women entering the labour force.

Strong jobs growth was recorded across most Australian states and territories in September with employment now at a record high in five jurisdictions.

Particularly positive results were recorded in New South Wales (with employment up by 23,100 or 0.5 per cent), followed by Victoria (up by 21,700 or 0.6 per cent) and Western Australia (up 8,300 or 0.5 per cent).

Helping all Australians find work and delivering higher wages is one of the best ways we can support households with current cost-of-living pressures.

The average full-time worker is now earning $159 extra per week since the Albanese Government was elected. And the average full-time worker is also receiving a tax cut of $44 per week because of the Government’s cost-of-living tax cuts.

But while the Albanese Labor Government is focused on supporting more well-paid, secure jobs, Peter Dutton and the Coalition have promised to cut wages and working conditions if they’re elected.

Just this week, Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume told Sky News the Coalition will “definitely consider” a request to allow medium sized businesses to unfairly dismiss their workers, without repercussions.

This is on top of earlier promises from Peter Dutton to cut labour hire workers’ pay and scrap the rights of casual workers and the Right to Disconnect, forcing Australians into more unpaid overtime.

At a time when many Australians are doing it tough, Peter Dutton and the Coalition will make things worse.

We’re all about more people working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn and this shows we’re making good progress.

Peter Dutton and the Coalition want you to work longer for less.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Today’s data shows that one million new jobs have been created since our election, and that our Government has helped more Australians than ever into secure, well-paid jobs – earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

“This is the most jobs ever created in a parliamentary term in Australian history.

“The majority of our one million new jobs are full-time, around half are for women and the gender pay gap is at a record low.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers

“More than a million new jobs in one parliamentary term is a pretty remarkable achievement in a slowing economy, and it means more new jobs have been created on our watch than any other government at any time.

“This is the first and only time any government of any political persuasion has overseen the creation of a million new jobs in a single parliamentary term.

“It’s a tribute to Australian workers and employers and it justifies the responsible way we’re managing the economy.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt

“This is a great result that is helping more Australians deal with cost of living pressures.

“There’s nothing more important than having a well-paid job, so that you can pay your bills, and that’s what the Albanese Government is delivering. 

“In contrast, Peter Dutton has promised to make life harder for people, by cutting wages and conditions and making it easier to get the sack.”

The Albanese Government has committed $6 million to the Channel 7 Telethon Trust to help improve the health and wellbeing of Australian babies and children.

Telethon is an annual televised fundraising appeal in Western Australia and is broadcast live for 26 hours.

Over the past five decades Telethon has raised more than $600 million for sick and disadvantaged children in Western Australia.  

The Government’s contributions to the trust over the past two years have supported 29 research projects which included research into gut health, cancer treatment, improving child and adolescent mental health, as well as seven grants to purchase medical equipment.

One of the fantastic research projects is ORIGINS, which tracks the health of 10,000 children beginning with their mother’s pregnancy.

The project’s researchers are investigating how we can give our children a better start in life and reduce the amount of chronic disease seen later in life.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Our children are our future, and we have a responsibility to ensure they have the best start in life.

“We are proud to once again support the Channel 7 Telethon Trust and its efforts to help Australian children to thrive.
  
“This funding is an investment in Australia’s world leading research sector, and will help Australian researchers to develop new techniques and treatments to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children.

“With chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes continuing to rise, it is more important than ever that we support research into how parental health impacts a child’s life.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson for Anti-Racism, calls on the Albanese Labor Government to fully fund the implementation of a national anti-racism strategy, following the release of the latest report on anti-racism commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission – An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and Perspectives of Multicultural Australia.

The report can be found here.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“Here’s another report that shows what many of us already know, and what the Labor government refuses to acknowledge – that racism is entrenched in Australia, and that it is rooted in settler colonialism and whiteness as an ideology and practice.

“Racism is rife across society – in government, in the media, in interactions with the police, in workplaces, in playgrounds. For how long will First Nations people and people of colour in this country be subjected to racism before it is acknowledged and systemically tackled by the government?

“Instead of using ‘social cohesion’ as a distraction and a way of cracking down on legitimate protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Labor must fully fund the AHRC to urgently implement a national anti-racism strategy.

“The Labor government can start today by mandating anti-racism training for all parliamentarians, to challenge white privilege which is at the core of racism in this country.”