Category: Australian News

While federal Labor continues approving more coal and gas, the Greens are providing real climate leadership, making a campaign promise to step up ambition for a rapid and just transition to net zero emissions in the ACT.

“The Greens have been a governing party in the ACT longer than the Liberals ever have, and it shows,” said Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.

“The only place in Australia with 100 percent renewable electricity and a ban on new gas connections is the only place in Australia with Greens in government. That’s no coincidence.

“We know ACT Labor would never have taken such strong climate action without the Greens, because they haven’t done it anywhere else in the country.

“People in the ACT have empowered the Greens to deliver real climate leadership that’s cut emissions, kept your power bills among the lowest in the country and shown everyone that it’s all possible, if you vote for it,” Mr Bandt said.

“The ACT is different to the rest of the country,” said ACT Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury. “We’re progressive, we look after each other, and we take the climate crisis seriously.

“This election we’re promising to step up ambition on climate change, reduce energy costs for households, to show other governments what’s possible and improve the everyday lives of Canberrans.

“We’ve got to make sure the cost of living crisis, which is an inequality crisis, doesn’t hold people back from taking the climate action they want to take.

“For 5000 of the lowest income households in Canberra, we’re going to completely cover the cost of switching from gas to efficient electric appliances, so people can cut their bills and be more comfortable at home.

“We’re going to take on the challenge of ensuring renters and people who live in apartments aren’t left behind.

“We’re going to make the most of all the new jobs and new opportunities that are already flowing as we build the ACT’s clean, green future together,” said Mr Rattenbury.

The ACT Greens will:

• Fully fund gas-to-electric upgrades for 5,000 of the lowest income households
• Deliver pilot projects to demonstrate all-electric apartment solutions to help extend the benefits of electrifying to Canberrans who live in apartments
• Only allow the installation of electric appliances from 2027 in order to phase out gas
• Establish a nation-leading Electrify Canberra Skills Hub at CIT
• Increase the pace of change by accelerating the ACT’s emissions reduction targets
• Ensure the ACT’s scope 3 emissions (which originate outside the ACT) are declining from 2028 onwards
• Deliver an extra 300MW of battery storage in the ACT
• Improve travel for Canberrans and take on the ACT’s biggest polluter — transport — by making huge improvements to buses and light rail, the path network, and support for more people to choose an electric vehicle.

The Greens’ Laura Nuttall is the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and is recontesting her Tuggeranong seat of Brindabella. She says the importance of the climate crisis hasn’t lessened for young people, in the face of the housing crisis and the cost of living.

“I think a lot of young people watch politicians very closely when it comes to climate change, because what you’re handling is our future,” said Ms Nuttall.  

“Having now worked as an elected member for the past 9 months, I’ve seen how insidious the establishment can be at trying to get people to give up and resign themselves to business as usual. It’s worse than I thought. 

“Business as usual gave us a climate crisis, it ain’t gonna fix it. The ACT Greens are the only party pushing far enough, fast enough to actually make a dent in the climate crisis.”

“We understand the concept of duty of care, and when it comes to climate change, that duty of care rests squarely on the shoulders of those in charge. What young people need is for the government to be as ambitious as it takes to avoid climate catastrophe.

“According to Orygen, 65% of young Australians feel anxious about climate change – I’m definitely one of them. 60.6% feel also powerless, but I want to assure them we can make a difference, and that taking real and decisive climate action is possible.”

“In economic conditions that are far more hostile towards young people than they have been towards previous generations, we haven’t had the same chance to establish ourselves or start earning comfortably. 

“We want to be active participants in fighting climate change, but it would be deeply unfair on us to have to bear the economic brunt of decisions made, before our time, about our future. That’s why I’m really glad the ACT Greens are committing to more measures to support low-income households, and extend our support to apartment dwellers,” said Ms Nuttall. 

More information on today’s announcement is available on the ACT Greens website, where you can also find related announcements on public transport and electric vehicles. Further climate policy announcements are still to come.

The Supreme court has dismissed an attempt to halt aerial shooting of feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park and ordered that the Snowy Mountain Bush Users Group pay the legal fees of the Government.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “This is a strong judgement in favour of the aerial shooting of a feral species in the Kosciuszko National Park,”

“It is unsurprising to me that the Court found that there was no evidence that the horses were being killed in a way that was causing unnecessary pain. The case provides a clear, strong and independent view on all of the evidence that the Governments aerial shooting program is humane and can be relied upon for this necessary feral horse control,”

“The Court recognised the scientific evidence that feral horses are a key threat to our globally significant and only Alpine National Park in NSW, including native species threatened with extinction, and that suspending the program would threaten the environment,”

“The current requirement to retain 3,000 feral horses in the National Park is inconsistent with international and national principles of protected area management and something that the Greens do not support. The Government really needs to urgently reassess this requirement. We should be working towards having no feral species in our National Parks, and it is time to face the facts that the law that protects the horses in Kosciuszko was made on very dubious political grounds and should be repealed,”

“Feral species control and management should always be as humane as possible, but this cannot be used as an excuse for not using lethal measures where it is scientifically justified. It is clear from all of the evidence that aerial shooting of horses in Kosciuszko is being conducted humanely and is necessary, otherwise we stand to lose something that is not replaceable, the ecosystems function and health, including the many threatened species and all of the water, of our globally significant Kosciuszko National Park, ”

“The Government should continue to invest in research programs that are looking for non-lethal horse control, but we cannot afford to not take action while that happens. Shooting of horses is not a cause for celebration, no one is happy that it’s necessary, but I am glad that the Court has ruled the way it has, objectively and upon all of the evidence and upheld the Government’s program to reduce horses by aerial culling in Kosciuszko,” Ms Higginson said.

The ACT Government has completed the new Eating Disorders Residential Treatment Centre in Coombs, which will provide specialist care in a brand-new service for the region.

Minister for Mental Health Emma Davidson said that today was an important milestone for people in our community who face or care for someone with an eating disorder.  

“The new centre in Coombs is the first government owned and operated facility of its kind in Australia. It provides 24/7 residential care in a place that feels like home so people can apply their skills once they are ready to leave the service,” Minister Davidson said.

“Eating disorders are serious illnesses that can have significant impacts on the physical, psychological, and social-emotional wellbeing of the individuals and families affected. The centre provides therapeutic services that include specialist, intensive nutritional, and psychological treatment.

“For the past few years, we have worked closely with a range of stakeholders on the design. This engagement was undertaken with clinicians, non-government organisations, people with lived experience of eating disorders and the wider Canberra community.

“Over the next few days Canberra Health Services will finalise the centre and from next week appointments will start running. Residential treatments will begin in the coming weeks.”

The establishment of the centre was supported by an Australian Government commitment of $13.5 million over three years.

The specialist residential centre is a new service for the ACT. The centre will complement other eating disorder services in the Canberra region, including the Eating Disorders Clinical Hub and the early intervention service. 

Dr Jim Hungerford CEO of the Butterfly Foundation:

“It is excellent to see this much needed addition to the eating disorder supports available in the ACT.”

“Butterfly has welcomed the opportunity to share our learnings and insights from opening and running Wandi Nerida, Australia’s first residential recovery centre for eating disorders, located on the Sunshine Coast QLD, with ACT Health and other states as they develop their own public residential treatment facilities around Australia.

“We believe residential treatment, with 24/7 specialist eating disorder care in a home-like environment, is an essential option for successful recovery for many within the stepped system of care for eating disorders, and we’re excited to see more treatment options expanding across Australia for the more than1.1 million Australians directly impacted each year.”

David Quilty, ACT Director at Eating Disorder Families Australia:

“Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) ACT Director, David Quilty, said the completion of the Residential Treatment Centre would be warmly welcomed by the families and carers of loved ones with eating disorders.

From day one, the Minister Emma Davidson and the Health Directorate have included representatives of eating disorder families and carers in all aspects of the planning and development of this facility, including the model of care. 

EDFA looks forward to families and carers being active participants in the vital role of the Residential Treatment Facility and to continue providing our counselling, education and support services to the broader Canberra community.”

On the eve of the NT election, the proposed ‘Middle Arm’ gas and petrochemical hub for Darwin Harbour has been strongly criticised by a Senate Report for its negative impact on the environment & climate, human health, local wildlife and local business operators.

The Greens have said the Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda is at risk while the Government backs taxpayer subsidised fossil fuels and petrochemicals on Darwin Harbour. The NT needs investment in a clean and renewable future, in health, housing and education, not gas and cancer-causing chemicals.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Chair of the Middle Arm Inquiry, Greens Spokesperson for Environment:

“We should be investing in Darwin’s future, but Middle Arm in its current form will put the Northern Territory’s communities and ecosystems at risk.

“The Middle Arm gas and petrochemical proposal would wreck Darwin Harbour, harm human health and fuel dangerous climate change. We simply can not proceed with massive new gas and fossil fuel projects subsidised by taxpayers.

“We should be investing $1.5 billion into powering the NT up for a renewable future. Instead, the Albanese Government wants to fund gas and cancer-causing chemicals in Darwin harbour.

“Darwin residents, experts, health professionals, scientists, Traditional Owners and small businesses operators were clear in their evidence to this Inquiry: Darwin needs clean air & clean water. The Middle Arm scheme would wreck the beautiful Darwin harbour and ignore community voices.

“Beyond the risks to human health including increased risk of cancer for residents living in close proximity, we heard concerning evidence about the threats to wildlife including dolphins and the critically endangered far eastern curlew. Local residents, small businesses, tourism operators and fishermen were strongly opposed.

“Widespread opposition to the current Middle Arm proposal was loud and clear, but sadly Labor and Liberal are too close to the big corporations and are not listening.

“This Saturday, Territorians have the opportunity to send a message at the ballot box. We should be investing in clean industries and the futures of NT residents instead of toxic chemicals and fossil fuel pollution.

“Greens candidate Suki Dorras-Walker is running in the winnable seat of Fannie Bay and the Greens only need around 300 more votes to win. For locals fed up with politicians selling out to vested interests, vote Greens and put people before corporations in the NT.”

Recommendations from Chair’s report

 Recommendation 1

That the proposed Middle Arm Industrial Precinct and its $1.5 billion federal subsidy be redirected to support clean technology industries, and:

a.                  Fossil fuel based industries including gas and petrochemicals are not directly or indirectly funded;

b.                 Free, prior and informed consent is obtained from Larrakia people;

c.                  A health impact assessment is undertaken and published by the Australian Government and incorporated into decision-making. This must use robust methodologies approved by a panel of independent public health experts and include consideration of health risks from climate change; 

d.                 Development scenarios used for strategic environmental assessments are publicly disclosed, and methodologies incorporated into the EIS are peer-reviewed and open for public comment; and 

e.                  The Australian and NT governments disclose all economic and climate modelling conducted on the precinct, including those by EY, Deloitte and the CSIRO.

Recommendation 2

That the ‘economic resilience stream’ in the Future Made in Australia framework be  prohibited from subsidising fossil fuel industries or petrochemical production.

Recommendation 3

That the Federal Environment Minister urgently use her powers under the water trigger to call in Tamboran and Empire Energy’s proposed Beetaloo fracking wells for assessment under the EPBC Act.

Recommendation 4

That the NT and Australian governments fund independent baseline research and ongoing environmental monitoring of species and ecosystems in the Northern Territory to ensure availability of adequate data to protect species and ecosystems into the future.

Recommendation 5

That the NT Government and EPA impose stricter air pollution conditions on all fossil fuel facilities, including mandatory monitoring of volatile organic compounds and clear consequences for breach of licences.

Recommendation 6

That the NT Government revise the role of the NT EPA to create a strong, independent regulator with a clear mandate to enforce strict conditions, investigate infringements and facilitate pathways for community members to raise concerns about potential breaches.

Full Report here

Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May will visit South Gippsland on Saturday to hear from communities concerned about the lack of early childhood education and care in their region.

New research published this week by Victoria University Mitchell Institute found 700,000 Australians live in childcare deserts.

“It’s shocking that in a wealthy country like Australia, one in four people have no access to early childhood education and care because of their postcode.”

“In South Gippsland, like in so many communities across Victoria, children are slipping through the cracks.”

With the exception of a few regional hubs, much of South Gippsland consists of childcare deserts, where there are more than three children per childcare place, according to the report. 

In South Gippsland’s Stony Creek, 8.3 children compete for each childcare place and in Fish Creek up to 50 children compete for each childcare place. 

“I’m hearing from parents whose kids are on multiple waiting lists, who are missing out on an early education because they can’t secure childcare. As a result, parents are missing out on critical paid work in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”

“Access to childcare shouldn’t be subject to a postcode lottery.”

“As long as the Labor Government continues to rely on profit-driven providers to fill childcare demand, childcare deserts like those that exist in South Gippsland will remain a shameful reality and families will continue to be left behind.”

Senator Hodgins-May says childcare shortages are being compounded by a workforce leaving in droves.

“This is a workforce that is overwhelmingly comprised of women, who continue to take home less than two-thirds of the average weekly adult wage.”

“Even with the Government’s announced pay rise, early childhood educators are underpaid and simply can’t afford to stay.”

“Our early childhood educators perform the critical role of educating and caring for our kids in those crucial early years and they deserve the 25 percent pay rise that they have consistently called for.”

Senator Hodgins-May says Australia’s broken childcare system is in urgent need of repair.  

“The Greens have consistently said that early learning is a fundamental right. Childcare should be treated like primary and secondary school – free, universal and high quality.”

“We will continue to support families across Victoria who are urging the Government to properly fund and regulate the childcare sector, to make childcare free and universal, and to pay our educators what they deserve.”

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to provide greater support to Australian families by introducing legislation today which will pay superannuation on Government-funded Paid Parental Leave.

The introduction of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Bill 2024 in the House of Representatives builds upon recent reforms which have made Paid Parental Leave more flexible, accessible, gender equitable, and which increase the length of the scheme.

Subject to the passage of legislation, eligible parents with babies born or adopted on or after 1 July 2025 will receive an additional payment, based on the Superannuation Guarantee (12 per cent of their Paid Parental Leave payment), as a contribution to their nominated superannuation fund.

Paying superannuation on Paid Parental Leave will improve the economic security in retirement of around 180,000 Australian families each year.

The Paid Parental Leave scheme provides financial support to eligible working parents to take time off work after a birth or adoption.

This legislation builds on recent reforms, including the expansion of the Paid Parental Leave scheme to 26 weeks by 2026. Since 1 July 2024, parents can receive 22 weeks of Paid Parental Leave, up from 20 weeks, resulting in more support as parents take time out of work to care for their newborn.

Pending the passage of legislation, a lump sum superannuation payment would be paid following the end of each financial year, including an interest component, where a recipient received Paid Parental Leave. The contribution will be automatically deposited into the superannuation accounts of eligible parents.

More information on the Paid Parental Leave scheme can be found on the Department of Social Services website.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

“This is a modern policy for modern families which delivers choice, offers security and rewards aspiration.

“My Government is boosting Paid Parental Leave by extending it to a full six months. This strengthens that further, by adding superannuation on it as well.

“It’s another important step towards gender equality – which is good for families, good for business and good for our economy.”

Treasurer, Jim Chalmers

“Paying super on Paid Parental Leave is part of our efforts to ensure women earn more, keep more of what they earn, and retire with more.

“This reform is good for families and for the economy, and we are really proud to be legislating it.”

Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher

“We know that women continue to face difficult decisions and financial penalties when choosing to raise a family. These long-overdue changes will help ease those penalties and lessen the impact on women’s retirement savings.

“Paying super on Paid Parental Leave will complement the other work our Government is doing, including expanding the Paid Parental Leave scheme to six months and making childcare cheaper and more accessible.”

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth

“The introduction of superannuation with Paid Parental Leave signals that caring for babies is valued and helps to normalise parental leave as a workplace entitlement.

“Investing $1.1 billion over the forward estimates to pay superannuation on Paid Parental Leave is a key step in prioritising gender equality as most recipients are women who will have lower superannuation balances. The measure will directly reduce the impact of parental leave on retirement incomes.

“By investing in these reforms, we are ensuring families can get the most of Paid Parental Leave and exercise more choice and flexibility, especially now that we are adding superannuation for a more secure retirement.”

The CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service, which provides chemical analysis of drugs and pills, has now been running for two years in the ACT.

Minister for Population Health Emma Davidson said CanTEST, which was Australia’s first fixed-site health and drug checking service, was providing the community with important information about drugs to inform their choices and helps to reduce drug-related harm.

“Drug testing saves lives. Over its two years of operation, CanTEST has tested over 2,900 samples and provided over 4,000 health and alcohol and other drug interventions,” Minister Davidson said.

“The ACT Government is committed to treating substance use as a health issue, not a criminal issue. People take drugs. Removing the stigma to have honest conversations about your health can save your life.

“CanTEST is helping to reduce drug-related harm in the ACT. We have seen over 300 substances discarded because of the testing provided by this service, which is one in ten of the samples presented for testing.

“Programs like this lead drug harm reduction and support our community to make healthier choices. Half of the drugs tested were found to contain a substance that the person didn’t expect to see, and they were less likely to take the drug.”

MDMA, ketamine and cocaine are most commonly tested at CanTEST, followed by methamphetamine and heroin. There has also been a range of other substances presented for testing across this period, including:

• psychedelic drugs
• counterfeit and falsified medications sold on the black market
• substances mimicking other drugs.

“The testing allows CanTEST to alert the community about substances that have appeared at the service, including some that were particularly high risk,” Minister Davidson said.

“The evaluation of the first six months of this service by the Australian National University found that many people changed their behaviour, either through discarding or not using a substance or changing their behaviours to further reduce potential harm.

“It also showed that for over two-thirds of clients, this service was their first interaction with a health professional to discuss their drug use.”

The CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service is run by Directions Health Services in partnership with Pill Testing Australia and the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy.

In June this year, the ACT Government committed to funding the service until June 2027.

CanTEST’s two year report can be found on their website.

You can find more information about the service on the ACT Government’s drug checking web page.

The findings from the Inquiry into the death of First Nations man Ricky “Dougie” Hampson Junior were released this week. Hampson died in 2021 after presenting to Dubbo Base Hospital with “10 out of 10” pain. The Inquiry heard that after spending 19 hours at the hospital he was misdiagnosed before being sent home without any further investigation, where he shortly passed.

The findings, delivered by Deputy State Coroner Erin Kennedy now show that Dougie’s death was entirely “preventable” and the inquest made several recommendations, including that the doctor who treated Hampson should be referred to the NSW Healthcare Watchdog.

Greens MP and spokesperson for First Nations Justice Sue Higginson said, “A small but significant piece of justice has finally been won for Dougie and his family this week. These findings can never bring Dougie back, but they can drive reform to rid the racism within the health care system, which underscored his death, save the lives of other First Nations people and give peace of mind to his family.”

“Dougie went to hospital in agony and instead of being treated as he presented, he was treated with the cognitive bias, racism and negligence that First Nations people so often face in the state’s systems,”

“The brutal cruelty of the state’s systems continued when Dougie’s family had to engage in tireless advocacy, over 3 years, including visits to Parliament, pleas through the media, legal representation and a 13 and a half thousand signature petition calling for the inquest that has now made these findings. They should never have had to fight so hard, or so long for this justice, but they did and we must all thank them for doing so,”

“The state’s systems continue to fail First Nations people. We wonder why the gap is not closing. Urgent reforms must be introduced and not just at Dubbo Hospital or the Western NSW LHD. Culturally appropriate care must be front and centre going forward. A colour blind approach is one that fails First Nations people just as it failed Dougie,” Ms Higginson said.

The Greens welcome the belated introduction today of legislation to establish an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission was introduced.
 
Recommendation 22 of the 2021 Set the Standards report was that the Houses of Parliament should establish, within 12 months, an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) to enforce codes of conduct. The IPSC was initially expected in October 2023, but that timeframe has since been updated to October 2024.

Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women

“It’s two years late, but the Greens welcome the legislation to establish of an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. 

“Now the bill has been introduced, the Greens want to see this commission be established quickly, without further delay.

“Women and staff have been unsafe in parliament for far too long. Parliamentarians have been getting away with blue murder, as there has been no way of holding them to account for bad behaviour.

“Finally with this new body, parliamentarians will face consequences for bad behaviour.

“The Greens pushed for stronger sanctions, including higher fines for MPs and more consequences for Ministers when there is an adverse finding. It shouldn’t be up to the Prime Minister to determine what happens to Ministers who misbehave.

“Parliament should be setting the standard for other workplaces around the country, but instead it’s been a national shame. 
 
“This progress would not have happened without all the brave staff who have spoken out including Brittany Higgins, Dhanya Mani, Chelsey Potter, Rachelle Miller, Tessa Sullivan and Josie Coles.
 
“Both houses of parliament have endorsed Codes of Conduct for behaviour, but without an independent body to investigate breaches, those Codes have been unenforceable to date. 
 
“We hope that having the Codes of conduct enforceable through the IPSC will discourage misconduct, and keep staff and everyone in parliamentary workplaces safe.”

The Albanese Government’s International Development Policy is paying dividends, better addressing poverty, economic growth, healthcare, infrastructure investment, climate change and gender equality. All of this is critical to supporting a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for Australia and our region.

August marks 12 months since Australia launched the landmark Policy, which aims to make our development program more effective, responsive, transparent and accountable. Since the Policy was launched, there have been substantial improvements in the outcomes of Australia’s work, including:

• 23.8 million vulnerable people accessed emergency assistance.
• 31.5 million new therapeutics, vaccines and medical equipment delivered.
• Over 10 million people immunized.
• Nearly 250,000 more children enrolled in school.

One of the key commitments of the Policy was to design a new Civil Society Partnerships Fund, that will support civil society organisations and address the challenges of shrinking civic space in many parts of the world.

Today we are pleased to announce Australia will invest $35 million over four years in projects which will improve access to civic space, to allow people to meet, express themselves, share information and contribute to decisions that affect their lives.

Supporting local leadership, listening to partners about what their priorities are, and working together to address these issues, is central to the Policy. Australia is crafting Development Partnership Plans, which have been published for Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and we will release more soon.

As part of enhanced accountability measures, we have strengthened performance and evaluation systems, published the inaugural Performance of Australian Development Cooperation report, and will launch a new transparency portal by the end of 2024.

The rebuild of Australia’s international development program is helping to strengthen our long-term relationships and deliver in the interests of Australians and the region around us.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“The Albanese Labor Government’s International Development Policy has sharpened our focus, and increased accountability to ensure our investments are delivering maximum benefit.

“As we mark 12 months since the policy roll out, I am pleased to see that it is making such a positive difference, particularly to women and girls, and in terms of building climate resilience.

“We are working hard to restore Australia’s place as a partner of choice.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“The Australian Government has worked tirelessly to rebuild Australia’s development program since coming to office – our ‘whole-of-nation’ effort involves working with partners across government, industry, academia and civil society to deliver our shared goals.

“It’s been one year since we released our International Development Policy and we’ve made strong progress against its key commitments.

“We have revitalised how we do development, backed by sustainable increases to the ODA budget – investing in our capability and expertise while refocusing the way we work to align with the needs and interests of our regional and global partners.”