Category: Australian News

All Western Australian public schools will be fully and fairly funded by the Albanese and Cook Governments following a historic bilateral agreement signed today. 

The bilateral agreement will increase funding for all Western Australian schools to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2026.

Western Australia has become the second state or territory to sign on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, delivering record funding to its schools and introducing targeted reforms which will help WA students to catch up, keep up and finish school.  

Today’s bilateral agreement formalises the Statement of Intent, signed by both Governments earlier this year.

Under the agreement, the Australian Government will invest an estimated additional $785.4 million from 2025 to 2029 in Western Australia public schools. The Western Australian Government will invest at least an equivalent amount over this period, bringing total additional investment in public schools to approximately $1.6 billion.

This means the Commonwealth will increase its share of funding from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent of the SRS by 2026, and the Western Australian Government will increase its funding share to at least 77.5 per cent of the SRS by 2026.

Funding will be tied to reforms in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, including:

• Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help.
• Evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring to help students who fall behind.
• Support for students to come to school ready to learn, such as greater wellbeing support for learning and engagement, including counsellors, school psychologists and health nurses.
• Trialling place-based approaches to delivering a full-service school model in at least four WA public schools from 2026 which includes community, health and social services support.
• Recruiting more co-ordinators to better support students with the most complex needs.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce workloads and better support teachers and school leaders through professional learning.
• Providing more support and pathways for people to transition to a teaching career in Western Australian public schools, with a focus on First Nations people, people with disability and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The head agreement also includes the following key national targets by 2030:

• Increasing the proportion of students with Year 12 or equivalent certification by 7.5 percentage points, compared with 2022 results.
• Reducing the proportion of students in the Needs Additional Support proficiency level in NAPLAN by 10 per cent.
• Increasing the proportion of students in the Strong and Exceeding proficiency levels in NAPLAN by 10 per cent
• Increasing the student attendance rate for all students, returning it to pre-pandemic levels.

The Western Australia bilateral agreement can be accessed here. The BFSA Heads of Agreement can be accessed here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I know firsthand the power of a good quality education. I want to make sure that every student in Australia, no matter where they live and learn, receives every opportunity.

“That’s why we are working hand in hand with the Cook Government to fully fund Western Australian schools, in a landmark agreement signed today.”

WA Premier Roger Cook

“Every Western Australian school student deserves access to a quality education.

“WA public schools have received high levels of State funding under my Government, and this new landmark agreement with the Federal Government takes support for our schools to the next level.

“Importantly, the additional funding will be tied to reforms that will help our students keep their learning on track, and assist those at risk to catch up – ensuring no student in a WA public school is left behind.”

Minister for Education Jason Clare

“This is a historic day for public education in Western Australia.

“It shows what can be done when governments work together. It shows that we can fully fund public schools and invest in the reforms that will make a real difference to the students who really need it.

“This agreement means all Western Australian public schools will now be fully funded. This is massive day for public education in WA.

“Today’s agreement builds on the agreement signed with the Northern Territory to fully fund NT public schools.

“The Albanese Government will continue to work together with remaining states and territories to fully fund public schools across the country.”

WA Minister for Education Tony Buti

“We are so happy to be getting this done for the people of Western Australia.

“This funding will focus on improving equity and excellence in schools, supporting the wellbeing of students and teachers, and providing a strong and sustainable workforce of teachers and non-teaching school staff.

“We are currently delivering record levels of reform and investment into public education, which is working to help ensure all students and their families have access to a great education.”

The Greens have announced their election policy to establish a National Renters Protection Authority that will enforce national tenancy standards and the Greens proposed rent freeze and ongoing caps. The NRPA would have the power to independently investigate and fine landlords and real estate agents, as well as referring serious offenders for prosecution by states and territories.

Under the Greens plan to establish the NRPA, costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office at $200 million per year on average, the Authority will have 1000 staff in a range of locations nationwide, allowing them to investigate rental breaches as well as offering advocacy, advice and education to renters all around the country. 

The NRPA will be able to issue on-the-spot infringement notices of up to $3,756 to individuals (12 Commonwealth penalty units), or $18,780 (60 penalty units) to real estate agencies. Serious or repeat offenders could be fined up to $15,650 (50 penalty units) for individual landlords or $78,250 (50 penalty units) for agencies, subject to sanctions such as removing a real estate agents’ licence to practise or referred for prosecution by states and territories. 

The NRPA is part of the Greens broader plan to coordinate national tenancy standards by distributing $2.5 billion a year (indexed) to the states and territories in exchange for introducing model tenancy standards including:

• a 2 year freeze on rent increases, 
• ongoing 2% cap on rent increases, 
• right to guaranteed lease renewal
• access to 5 year leases, and 
• nationwide minimum standards covering ventilation, heating, cooling and insulation. 

The NRPA would help to enforce these new standards, while the $2.5 billion a year would in part go toward bolstering state and territory respective tribunals dealing with tenancy disputes. 

Along with proactive investigations targeted at compliance with new rent caps, rights to lease renewal and minimum standards, the NRPA would be the first port of call for renters nationwide facing unfair rent hikes, retaliatory evictions, unfair bond claims, landlords who won’t make essential repairs or a notice to leave without reason.

Right now around most of Australia there’s zero protection against unlimited rent increases and nothing to stop renters being forced to move without warning every year, and there’s nothing in Labor’s weak patchwork of ‘Better Deal for Renters’ that will change this.

The states can’t even agree that every renter deserves a working kitchen, electricity supply, heating or cooling or a house free from mould. According to a new report released this week, a year on from Labor’s Better Deal announcement, renters around the country remain vulnerable, with National Cabinet reforms falling short in protecting tenants. National Shelter’s Emma Greenhalgh called on the Commonwealth to play a leadership role in coordinating national rental reform, saying that “states and territories have not done enough to strengthen renters’ rights amid the unprecedented housing crisis”.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:

“For too long renters have been treated like second-class citizens by both Labor and the Liberals.

“Unlimited rent increases should be illegal. Unliveable rentals should be illegal. That’s what a National Renters Protection Authority would achieve.

“Labor and the Liberals think they can tinker around the edges with a fundamentally broken housing system but renters will punish them at the ballot box.”

Max Chandler-Mather, MP for Griffith, Greens spokesperson for housing and homelessness:

“Across this country, there are 7 million renters who are powerless in their own home, unable to push back against unfair rent hikes, dodgy agents and landlords who never do basic repairs. 

“In a system stacked against renters, The National Renters Protection Authority will fight to protect every renters’ right to a secure and affordable home.

“Any renter will be able to tell you about the terrible anxiety that comes when a landlord or real estate breaks the rules and the NRPA is about ensuring every renter has someone to call when that happens. 

“Australia is one of the worst places in the world to be a renter, we desperately need a national body with teeth to fight in their corner and enforce stronger renters rights across the country.

“Governments treat renters’ rights like an opt-in scheme for property investors but the Greens are fighting for legal enforcement of minimum standards and limits on rent increases.

“What’s the point of minimum standards for renters if there’s nobody to call when the landlord or real estate breaks the rules?

“There will be no more pleading with the landlord to send a plumber, fix the heater or send an electrician – it’s your right to have a liveable rental home, and the Greens will make that a reality.

“Over the next 10 years Labor will give property investors $176 billion in tax handouts while millions of renters get screwed.”

The Greens have slammed the Albanese Government for flagging they will cave in and do a deal with Peter Dutton to gut their already weak environment legislation, breaking an election promise, as reported on the front page of the West Australian today.  

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for the Environment:

“Labor caving in on environment laws would be the final nail in the coffin for Labor’s environmental credibility before the next election.

“It appears the Prime Minister is prepared to torch Labor’s environment and climate credentials for a dirty deal with Dutton to appease the likes of Gina Rinehart and the coal, gas and logging corporations.

“Yet another cave-in to polluting corporations will accelerate extinction, fuel the climate crisis and destroy critical habitat for endangered species like our precious koala.

“The science is clear: we need environment laws that actually protect the environment. That means ending native forest logging and stopping new fossil fuel project approvals, via a climate trigger.”

“Instead of working with the Greens to protect the environment and climate, the Prime Minister is flagging yet another broken promise that will fast track destruction and pollution.”

The Albanese Government is today announcing a new Jobs for Subs program for 200 young workers required to make Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-W) a success.

The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Graduate, Apprenticeship and Traineeship initiative is a Government-funded recruitment and upskilling program for graduates, apprentices and trainees within ASC Pty Ltd.

This initiative from the Albanese Government will allow the ASC Pty Ltd to recruit around 200 additional entry-level personnel over the next two years across high priority disciplines and trades essential to the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, building the workforce we need in the west to sustain and maintain Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.

These roles, predominantly in Western Australia, span fabrication and machining, engineering and project management, and supply chain and operations qualifications.

As Australia’s sovereign submarine partner for sustainment of our nuclear-powered submarines, ASC Pty Ltd plays a critical role in developing the required skills, workforce, knowledge and capability. This initiative seeks to enhance the ability to attract entry-level personnel to critical skills and career pathways, retain valued personnel at entry-levels and grow the workforce available across the Defence industry.

Already, the Albanese Government has committed to invest up to $8 billion in infrastructure to enable SFR-W from 2027 and to operate Australia’s own Virginia class conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines from the early 2030s.

Across Australia, the nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to create around 20,000 highly skilled jobs for Australians for decades to come, including supporting around 3,000 jobs in the west alone.

Over the last two weeks, ASC Pty Ltd has been developing Australia’s sovereign sustainment workforce, in support of the Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (SMTP) currently underway at HMAS Stirling.

The STMP is an important milestone in the pathway by which Australia will acquire a nuclear-powered submarine capability and is the first time Australian personnel have directly participated in the maintenance of a nuclear-powered submarine in Australia.

During the STMP, Royal Australian Navy personnel have been directly participating in maintenance work on USS Hawaii (SSN 776), a Virginia class submarine, at HMAS Stirling.

In addition, workers from ASC Pty Ltd are providing essential support services to USS Hawaii, and are observing maintenance activities to continue their learning.

During this STMP, no active radiological work is being conducted and no low level radiological material will leave the US ships.

Today’s announcement builds on the more than 4,000 additional Commonwealth supported university places the Albanese Government announced and the work we are doing with the states and territories to grow the skilled workforces we need.

The Albanese Government is investing in the workforce we need to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines and a future made in Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“It is an honour to visit HMAS Stirling and see the finest of Australia’s workforce becoming stronger through the strength of the AUKUS partnership.

“We are announcing a new graduate, apprenticeship and traineeship program to train an additional 200 West Australians to work on Submarine Rotational Force- West program.

“We want to keep Australians safe. That’s why WA will play a key role in building AUKUS. This will help promote peace and deterrence in the region and support local jobs.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles

“Today’s announcement is another important step in growing the workforce to be equipped with the skills and training we need to acquire Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.

“We welcome the crews of USS Hawaii and USS Emory S. Land to Western Australia, for this milestone. We welcome our US friends to our shores, and welcome home the Australians that have been embedded with them.

“We are seeing during this visit the first Australian personnel participating in the maintenance of a US nuclear-powered submarine at HMAS Stirling, the home of Australian submarines.”

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy

“This is a further boost to the development of ASC’s sustainment workforce and follows the first cohort of workers departing for training at Pearl Harbour Naval Shipyard in July.

“Australian industry is integral not only to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program, but also to supporting the future building, sustainment and maintenance of the submarines of our AUKUS partners.

“We are seeing real progress being made to develop the workforce of thousands of highly-skilled scientists, engineers, project managers, operators, technicians, welders, construction workers, electricians, metal fitters and builders that will be needed to support this nation-building endeavour.”

Australia is a step closer to manufacturing more reliable renewables at home, with the Albanese Government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot program now open.

Australia has always been a solar powerhouse – the ideas invented here have lit the way for the global energy transformation underway.

But while one in three Australian households have solar – the highest take-up in the world – only one per cent of those solar panels have been made in Australia.

That’s why we’re investing in Australia’s solar capability with targeted funding to support a Future Made In Australia, create quality jobs for Australian workers and a more resilient supply chain.

The International Energy Agency estimates 1300 manufacturing jobs for each gigawatt of solar PV production, meaning a supercharged domestic industry will create thousands of jobs in Australia.

Initiatives like Solar Sunshot will build  capability in the energy supply chains of the future, and support more manufacturing opportunities across the country driven by our renewable transformation.

The first $550 million, administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), will support the commercialisation of Australian solar photovoltaic (PV) innovations and scale up Australian solar PV manufacturing. This includes:

• Round 1A: $500 million to support solar panel manufacturing, here in Australia, with a focus on modules, inputs to modules, and deployment systems.
   
• Round 1B: $50 million to fund solar PV manufacturing studies, including feasibility and engineering.

As the Treasury’s National Interest Framework sets out: the high concentration of supply chains for critical energy technologies poses risks to Australia’s energy security and economic resilience.

These technologies are critical to Australia’s energy security through the net zero transformation.

We know there is strong interest from business to work with the Government to make more critical energy hardware here including high tech Australian start-ups, local fabricators and material suppliers, and international investors.

Community benefit principles – including for supply chains, diverse workforces and secure jobs – are central to Government investment through Future Made In Australia.

The Solar Sunshot program reflects this intent and will encourage investment in the people, communities and regions that will drive solar PV supply chains and the broader net zero transformation.

For more information and to apply for funding, visit https://arena.gov.au/funding/solar-sunshot/  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I want a future made in Australia. And I want a future made in our regions. Places like the Hunter, Gladstone, Rockhampton and the Spencer Gulf.

“Because Australia can do what other countries cannot. We have that combination of resources, skills, workers, space and sunlight to co-locate those links in the value chain.

“Solar Sunshot is about building on those strong foundations, building resilience into Australia’s renewable energy supply chains, and building a Future Made in Australia.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:

“When it comes to powering Australia’s future nothing will beat our sun and our solar knowhow. That’s why bringing solar manufacturing to our shores is so critical for unlocking our future as a renewable energy superpower and securing the job of the future.

“Diverse, secure and resilient supply chains – supported by more onshore manufacturing across more of the value chain – are too important to our security and success to leave to hope.

“Now is the time to take advantage of some of the best solar resources and renewable energy expertise in the world.

“Only the Albanese Government is backing businesses across the country to seize the opportunity of a Future Made in Australia, powered by reliable renewables.”

The Prime Minister has been implored to use diplomatic channels in any way possible to help free Captain Paul Watson, in a letter signed by the Greens’ entire federal party room. 

Captain Paul Watson was arrested in Greenland on 21 July 2024 on an extradition request from Japan. The basis of the extradition relates to events in 2010 when Captain Paul Watson was in the Southern Ocean, protecting whales from being slaughtered by the Japanese.  

At the time of the 2010 events the Australian Government proved to be a fierce ally for cetaceans through the International Whaling Commission and other diplomatic forums, and successfully instituted proceedings against Japan in the International Court of Justice. This resulted in Japan being ordered to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean and set the scene for Japan’s withdrawal from whaling in Antarctica in 2018.

Pressure is now building for the Australian Government to continue its advocacy for the protection of whales, and use its influence to secure the release of Captain Paul Watson.

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“Across the globe calls for the release of Captain Paul Watson grow louder – including from French President Emmanuel Macron – yet here in Australia our government remains notably silent. 

“Australia fought for whales in 2010 in the International Court of Justice and we fight for whales today by ensuring their full protection in Australian waters – but more must now be done to uphold our legacy on the world stage.

“Captain Paul Watson is an ocean conservationist who has saved hundreds of whales, calling for his freedom should be uncontroversial. 

“The pressure is on. The Greens implore the Prime Minister to use diplomatic channels in any way possible to help free Captain Paul Watson.”File

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Questions from the Greens in Budget Estimates have revealed that the Minister for the Environment was unaware of the details for the newly announced Independent Forestry Panel prior to the appointment of a former Forestry CEO. The new panel is set to advise the Government on the timber industry and environmental commitments, despite having no qualified forest scientist appointed.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “It’s a slap in the face to the 70% of NSW that support the end of native forest logging in this state, that the Government has appointed a former CEO of the Forestry Corporation to this panel and no expert in forest ecology,”

“That the Minister for the Environment couldn’t confirm that she even knew a former forestry executive was going to be appointed as the chair of this panel is deeply concerning and has given weight to the already low community trust in this process,”

“It’s not a criticism of the intelligence or ability of the panel members to question why the protection of native forests is not being represented. Both the Premier and the Minister have defended this decision but have not given any weight to the importance of genuine forest ecology qualifications,”

“We have already seen through the increased logging in the proposed Great Koala National Park that the Government is failing their environment commitments, this latest panel and industry plan is entrenching the political failure of the Minns Labor Government,”

“As long as the position of the Minister for the Environment is that native forest logging should take precedence over environment protection, forest dependent species will continue to be driven towards extinction,”

“If the Minister was not told about a former Forestry Executive being put forward for this panel, I have genuine concerns about how this information has been handled and how the decision on the Panel has been made by the Government. Was it intentional that they have not promoted Peter Duncan’s history in native forest logging, or is this just another industry vehicle to allow native forest logging to continue?” Ms Higginson said.

NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson for Higher Education, is urging the Labor government to scrap its international students cap.

The cap of 270,000 new enrolments will hit several NSW universities particularly hard, with thousands of fewer enrolments expected and jobs put under pressure.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“Minister Clare’s terrible international students cap, which is migration policy disguised as an education bill, is a direct hit on NSW. It will cost jobs and damage the international reputation of NSW universities.

“Labor’s just done a backflip on the terrible decision not to count LGBTQIA+ people in the census. They should do the same on this bad policy to cap international students.

“Labor is just coming in with a sledgehammer to smash universities to bits.

“The university sector is saying it’s bad policy. State governments are saying it’s bad policy. Just listen and admit this was a terrible mistake.

“We’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis, people are struggling to get by, and Labor’s priorities are dog whistling, targeting international students and playing politics to distract us from their failures. It won’t work.”

The latest quarterly emissions data shows that pollution has risen 2.5% from December to March, and is even higher than it was in the final days of the Morrison government. Emissions aren’t coming down, putting a safe climate out of reach.

438.4 million tonnes of emissions were released in the year to June 2022, the last quarter of the Morrison Government, and they sit at 440.2 million tonnes per annum in the quarterly report released today showing no real progress.

Emissions in electricity are up for the quarter and are worrying, because increased energy demand was driven by living in a hotter climate. Modest changes to electricity emissions over the year driven by renewables is not enough to decarbonise. The government needs to drive out fossil fuels everywhere.

Under Labor more coal, oil and gas means more pollution. Labor has approved 23 more coal and gas projects since coming to office. Fugitive emissions from coal are up 0.8% for the quarter.

LNG exports have driven the largest sectoral increase in emissions, a tragic 23% increase  since 2005 and still the Albanese Government pushes a Future Gas Strategy beyond 2050. 

Transport emissions are continuing to rise rapidly with a 2.6% increase. Labor must do more to drive the uptake of electric vehicles and public transport including more incentives, rapid charging infrastructure and targets for the phase out of new petrol cars.

The figures show that at the current rate, there is no prospect of Australia cutting its pollution consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees, the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. 

Even Labor’s weak targets – which blow out past 2 degrees – are under threat from stubbornly high gas pollution. Emissions would need to decline an average 14.5 million tonnes a year to meet even Labor’s inadequate 2030 target, with the easiest, steepest cuts occurring right now. Instead, the data shows emissions reductions have stalled since Labor has come to office.

To make these emissions figures worse, the Albanese Government is seeking to expand coal and gas past 2050 as part of their Future Gas Strategy and Future Made in Australia plans. 

Australian Greens leader in the Senate, Senator Larissa Waters:

“This emissions data spells disaster. 

“Emissions aren’t coming down, and Labor’s commitment to coal and gas will see Australia blow any chance of meeting safe climate targets. 

“At this rate, Labor won’t even meet its own unscientific climate targets, let alone what is needed to tackle the climate crisis. 

“Gas is as dirty as coal. Climate pollution from gas is rising, but instead of cutting it, 23 coal and gas projects have been approved as part of Labor’s future gas strategy to run beyond 2050.”

Today’s announcement on international student caps is the result of Labor’s immigration mess which has placed unprecedented cost-of-living and housing pressures on Australians.

Under Labor’s Big Australia, the number of foreign students coming to the country has more than doubled.

This mismanagement of one of our most important exports is a mess of Labor’s own making and it’s taken far too long for Labor to wake up.

As we heard at the senate inquiry in Sydney yesterday, 500,000 international students have been forced into the private rental market.

While the Coalition welcomes student caps, we will examine the detail of today’s announcement.

Labor also needs to explain how its policy will reduce net migration and take pressure off the housing crisis?

We remain deeply concerned about the severe economic damage Labor has inflicted on regional and smaller universities, as well as private higher education providers, as a result of Ministerial Direction 107.

The Albanese government has treated the regions with contempt while looking after the Group of Eight universities where student visa approvals increased this year by 16 per cent. At the University of Sydney for instance, 50 per cent of students are now international.

It is shameful that Education Minister Jason Clare avoided so much scrutiny by keeping this announcement secret until today. This is another example of Labor failing the transparency test.