Category: Australian News

The Victorian Greens have thrown their support behind journalists from Nine newspapers who are set to strike for the next five days. 

Journalists from Nine mastheads such as the Age in Victoria have planned the industrial action after Nine Entertainment chief executive told staff the company was cutting 200 jobs, including 90 positions across the legacy mastheads. 

Journalists have asked for fair wages, greater diversity, protections against the use of AI and to reduce the number of redundancies. 

The Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell says that these demands are fair and sensible and that journalists need a better deal to support bold, independent, and fearless journalism, which is at the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. 

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“All strength to the journalists striking for fair wages, greater diversity, AI protections and fighting back against huge slashes in jobs. 

“It seems Nine are trying to cut costs at every corner instead of investing in public interest reporting which is what journalism is actually all about. 

“It’s a dire reminder of the consequences of successive governments handing over the bulk of our media to a couple of billionaires. 

“A free and fearless press that speaks truth to power is at the cornerstone of our democracy. This relies on good journalists who are empowered to do their job.”

The AFP has charged three men over the alleged forced marriage of two teenage children in Perth, the first time the AFP has laid charges in Western Australia for this crime.

The men – two of whom are related to the boy and one who is related to the girl – faced Perth Magistrates Court today (26 July, 2024) each charged with one count of causing a person to enter into a forced marriage in circumstances of aggravation, contrary to sections 270.7B(1) and 270.8 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The matter has been adjourned until next month (August, 2024).

The maximum penalty for the offence is nine years’ imprisonment.

Police will allege the teenagers, one of whom was aged between 13 and 15 and the other who was 17, wanted to date each other but the relatives told them they would have to be married for cultural reasons.

The men then allegedly facilitated the marriage of the children in a religious ceremony last year (2023).

AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said the definition of a forced marriage was when a person married without freely and fully consenting, because they had been coerced, threatened, or deceived, or because they were incapable of understanding the nature and effect of a marriage ceremony, for reasons including age or mental capacity.

“The legal age for marriage in Australia is 18; and while a child aged 16 to 18 can obtain permission from a Court to marry, the person they wed must be an adult,” he said.

Det-Supt Chwal said forced marriage was a complex crime because it often involved family members as victims and perpetrators, and the number one priority for the AFP was the wellbeing and safety of victims.

“The AFP’s key focus is to disrupt and prevent this crime – by building awareness of the laws in Australia, the warning signs of forced marriage, and the help that can be provided to victims,” he said.

“If victims do not feel comfortable speaking directly to police, there are many services and agencies which can provide support to help ensure their safety.”

Det-Supt Chwal said forced marriage was not limited to any cultural group, religion or ethnicity.

“Anyone can be a victim of forced marriage, regardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation,” Det-Supt Chwal said.

Forced marriage has been illegal in Australia since 2013 and can apply to legally recognised marriages, cultural or religious ceremonies, marriages which occur in Australia or where a person is taken overseas to be married, and can include the conduct of those involved in facilitating the forced marriage.

If you suspect that you or another person is experiencing, or at risk of, forced marriage or human trafficking, call 131 AFP (237) or use the AFP’s human trafficking online information report. If you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of another person, or there is an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).

The Support for Trafficked People Program is a key component of Australia’s response to support victims of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices.

If you or someone you know is being exploited, help is available. For information and confidential advice please contact Australian Red Cross. Call 1800 113 015 or visit redcross.org.au/stpp.

Common signs of forced marriage

Common signs of forced marriage include a person who may:

have a family history of elder siblings leaving education early, marrying early or indicating concerns of an early marriage;
be highly controlled by family or community members in and outside of the home, including surveillance; always accompanied; limited or no control of finances; limited or no control over life decisions, education and career choices;
have communications monitored or restricted;
express concern regarding an upcoming family holiday or overseas travel;
demonstrate feelings of conflict or concern for the ramifications if they do not go ahead with an agreed marriage or engagement; and,
express concern of physical or psychological violence for not fulfilling family or community expectations.

The Australian Government has imposed Magnitsky-style targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on seven Israeli individuals, and targeted financial sanctions on one entity, for involvement in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The individuals sanctioned today have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians. This includes beatings, sexual assault and torture of Palestinians resulting in serious injury and in some cases, death. The entity sanctioned is a youth group that is responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinian communities.

We call on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and to cease its ongoing settlement activity, which only inflames tensions and further undermines stability and prospects for a two-state solution.

The Albanese Government has been firm and consistent that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace.

Australia will continue to work for a just and enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

For further information on the sanctions frameworks, please visit: Australia and sanctions. For details on all individuals and entities listed under Australia’s sanctions frameworks, please visit: Consolidated List.

Published by Julie Hall, Candidate for Whitsunday

As a vehicle for reconciliation, native title has been a complete failure. All it does is create further division in Australia.

Reconciliation should be a process entered into freely and with goodwill, not arbitrarily imposed on unwilling participants.

Native title claims are imposed. Affected non-indigenous individuals and communities are not consulted. Governments and councils get a say, but their submissions on these claims never reflect the views of the communities they’re supposed to represent.

Australia today is not the largely unexplored continent of scattered British penal colonies and stone-age hunter gatherers it was in the early 19th century. Today, it’s a modern nation that has been built by every Australian, indigenous or otherwise. We have all contributed to the Australian story, and we should all share its land and its wealth, as well as its history—the good and the bad.

Native titles contradict this principle of equality. For one group of Australians to take over the country using exclusive rights that other Australians do not have is discrimination.

The proposal for a voice to Parliament also contradicted the same principle, but in that case, at least every Australian had a say in it and most of us – especially here in Central Queensland, where the no vote was around 80%—firmly rejected it. What a waste of $450 million that could have been better spent, for example by restoring funding to councils now shouldering the legal costs associated with assessing native title claims, while the claimants’ costs are still funded by taxpayers.

There are more than 70 native title applications waiting for determination. One of them includes a claim on the Central Queensland coast from Bowen to Midge Point, extending west to Monte Cristo and east to encompass Lindeman Island, the Whitsundays, Gloucester Island, and all the waters in between. Do we really know what these claims legally mean? My concern is how will these titles affect us in the future? The possibility that it will affect our tourism industry is real, given that this native title claim encompasses the Islands of the Whitsunday, including Whitsunday Island with its iconic Whitehaven Beach. Could it also affect fishing the waters contained within the title area or your ability to island hop in the future?

We’re told there’s nothing to worry about, nothing to see here, life will go on as usual. And that might be true of some of these claims under the existing legislation. But legislation can be changed, and who’s to say that a settled native title claim won’t lead to more exclusive rights and access being claimed later under a minority Labor government depending on the Greens to stay in power?

Australia should be able to be enjoyed by all Australians with equal rights; native title shows dangers of rights being based on race. It also raises concerns about what effect native title will have on our economic future and industry in the years to come regarding tourism, mining, farming and fishing. If Queensland becomes one big native title cultural heritage site what will that actually mean? We should get really clear on this now because we are heading down a very slippery slope of division as more and more titles are approved and more and more native title claims threaten to lock out anyone who is not a traditional owner.

If this is concerning you, then save the date of Sunday 4 August where I will be hosting special guests One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts and law lecturer Hugh Carter here in the Whitsundays to explain native title and its legal implications. Venue to be advised. 

The Greens have called on the new Premier to listen to the expert advice and expand safe injecting room services following the inquest into the tragic death of 15-year-old Tyrone Woxvold who died of a heroin overdose just a few hundred metres from Richmond’s supervised injecting room. 

The Victorian Greens have fought to expand the eligibility criteria in line with the recommendations from the expert Ryan report. The Greens moved amendments through Parliament in May 2023 seeking to expand the service, including making it accessible to people under the age of eighteen. 

The Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli said that as synthetic opioids take root in Victoria, the new Premier must stop blocking new injecting rooms or more lives will be at risk. 

Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli: 

“The Greens warned the Labor government that the deliberate exclusion of young people from injecting rooms would lead to preventable overdose deaths. The new Premier is ignoring the expert advice in continuing to block minors from life-saving care.

“The Ryan review into the North Richmond injecting room highlighted the need for these health services in the community. The evidence is clear –  injecting rooms save lives.

“As synthetic opioids take root in Victoria, the new Premier blocking new injecting rooms and refusing access to existing care services for people who need them is putting lives at risk.

“Not a single death has occurred at the North Richmond injecting room since its establishment. If given access to this service, this young person’s life could have been saved.”

The Victorian Greens have slammed the Federal Labor government’s plan to drill for more climate-destroying gas off Victoria’s coastline. 

The Federal Labor Government has approved permits to explore waters between South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. 

It comes after the Victorian Labor Government recently gave Beach Energy the final approval to extract gas offshore in the Otway Basin, where they have now started drilling near the iconic 12 Apostles. 

The Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell said that it’s outrageous that in the middle of a climate crisis, the Victorian and Federal Labor Governments are both greenlighting more gas. 

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“Make no mistake – this decision shows that Labor does not care about protecting us from climate change. Instead, they’re pouring fuel on the fire by approving more and more fossil fuel gas projects.”

“This is a disgraceful and dangerous decision that will commit young people to a climate-destroyed future of more bushfires, extreme weather and floods.”

“Labor at both Federal and State level is steamrolling ahead with a plan to wreck our climate and our oceans by approving more and more gas drilling. Labor’s plan hands huge profits to their mates in the big gas corporations, even though these companies export 80% of Australia’s gas overseas, and burning gas causes climate catastrophe.”

The Australian Greens have obtained satellite imagery that shows the destruction of Australian war graves in Gaza and the surrounding area. 

The Gaza War Cemetery is in the al-Tuffah area, near Gaza City. Over 250 Australian soldiers are buried in the Commonwealth Gaza War Cemetery and thousands of other soldiers from across Britain, Canada, India and New Zealand, casualties from two World Wars.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), an international consortium of which Australia is a member tasked with ensuring the graves of soldiers are maintained, notified the Australian Government in March 2024 that there was damage to the graves in Gaza.  

In response the Australian government did nothing. It made no inquiries about the extent of the damage and critically no protest to Israel about the damage.

Since that report, there have been further repeated heavy strikes on al-Tuffah including on June 22 which saw bombing and artillery shelling around the area which killed at least 40 people. 

Satellite images from July 7 show there has been significantly more damage to the cemetery than March, including more craters, churned-up dirt and debris. The images also show the staggering destruction of the surrounding area in Palestine. 

Senator David Shoebidge, Greens Spokesperson on Defence: “When the Albanese Labor Government exerts no pressure on those who commit war crimes, they just continue committing war crimes. The desecration of war graves by Israel is another example of this.”

“When you look at these pictures it is important to zoom out and see the surrounding damage with homes, farms, workplaces, in fact entire communities destroyed. 

“Make no mistake, the State of Israel hit these war graves because it could, because there would be no punishment from Australia or the UK. It has made Gaza into a gravesite for the same reasons.

“More than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands more injured, since Israel invaded Gaza and the Albanese Government has taken no material steps to stop the genocide. 

“Even in the face of desecrated Australian war graves there has been no pushback from the Albanese government, no complaint, no protest. That is hard to understand.

“The Government could end the two-way arms trade, sanction Benjamin Netanyahu’s extreme government and expel the ambassador, but it chooses not to.”

Should rental properties in the ACT be expected to have locks, window coverings and sufficient ventilation? Or is it okay to rent someone a property without a bathroom or cooking facilities?

Canberrans are invited to help shape the future of rental housing during a six-week community consultation starting today.

Community members and stakeholders are being asked for their views on key issues for renters and landlords, including new minimum standards for rental properties and other key reforms to occupancy laws.

Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said the goal was to set clearer expectations for landlords and tenants that would apply to all rented residential properties.

“We believe everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home,” the Attorney-General said.

“By working together, we can ensure our rental laws reflect the needs and expectations of all Canberrans, creating a fairer and more transparent rental market for everyone.”

From minimum requirements for locks and ventilation, to energy-efficiency ratings for appliances, the proposed changes aim to establish a clear baseline for habitable living conditions.

The consultation will seek views around whether there is a need for stronger protections for occupants around the termination of occupancy agreements, the rules around occupancy fee increases (such as those for residents in boarding houses) and protections for caravan parks residents.

The consultation is open until 2 September 2024 for tenants, landlords, and community organisations to share their insights and experiences.

Key topics for community feedback include:

1. Minimum standards: Establishing the essential features every rental property should have to ensure it is safe, healthy and comfortable.
2. Energy and water efficiency: Outlining landlords’ responsibilities in installing energy-efficient appliances and water-saving fixtures to reduce costs and environmental impact.
3. Occupancy fee increases: Exploring whether limits should be placed on the amount and frequency of increases where fees cover services other than rent, similar to limits already in place for rent increases for tenants.
4. Caravan parks: Evaluating the needs of residents in caravan parks and the protection of their rights.

To share your thoughts and contribute to this important discussion, visit the YourSay website or learn more about energy-efficiency standards for rental homes here.

A family counselling pilot will be established at the Alexander Maconochie Centre to help improve the wellbeing of detainees and their loved ones.

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury announced the pilot, which is one of several new projects supporting vulnerable people who interact with the ACT Justice system.

The family counselling pilot will establish a family counsellor at the AMC, who can provide personalised support to detainees, enhancing their communication skills, building resilience and providing strategies to build relationships or resolve any conflicts that may exist with their families.

Other projects include:

• improved access to the ACT Courts for First Nations people in the Jervis Bay Territory, and
• continued work on the implementation of electronic monitoring.

The projects are sharing funding of $275,000 allocated from the Confiscated Assets Trust (CAT).

CAT funding redirects proceeds of criminal activity into projects for healing, growth and a more equitable legal system.

Attorney-General Rattenbury said the projects will help address the diverse needs of individuals at different stages of their interaction with the justice system.

“The pilot aims to foster rehabilitation, to help address systemic challenges that contribute to people’s offending, and through that to create stronger communities and break cycles of recidivism.

“This investment also underscores our commitment to ensuring everyone in our community has equitable access to legal services and support,” said the Attorney-General.

Minister for Corrections and Justice Health Emma Davidson welcomed the investment, saying it will keep families better connected and support people to make safer choices once they return home.

“Our support networks play an important role to keep us connected, kind and caring. For people in AMC, connection with loved ones supports their rehabilitative journey and return to the community,” Minister Davidson said.

“Family counselling services at the AMC will help people build stronger bonds with their loved ones that can ultimately reduce harmful behaviours, create healthier families and deliver safer communities.”

The ACT Greens welcome progress on a northside birth centre feasibility study and stress the importance of a freestanding midwife-led option, separate to the hospital campus, to increase birthing choices for Canberrans.

Pregnancy and birth are cherished life experiences. The ACT Greens want all parents to have positive and fulfilling experiences as this improves outcomes for them and their family.

Greens MLA for Ginninderra Jo Clay, whose motion in the Assembly last year led to this feasibility study, said the current model of care focuses on or around hospitals, but our community wants a separate freestanding birth centre.

“Birth is a natural part of life. It is not an illness, but in Canberra, the vast majority of people currently have no choice but to give birth inside a hospital,” Ms Clay said.

“The community has been clear. We need an option in Canberra that prioritises keeping people out of hospital, reduces unnecessary medical interventions and better supports our midwives.

“Being able to access a hospital-based birth is sometimes necessary, but we need to enable healthy people who want to give birth elsewhere to do so safely and with support by a known midwife.

“We already have birth centres that are in hospitals. The freestanding option is what’s needed in Canberra to provide more choice for people giving birth.

“I’m confident the impassioned preference of midwives, parents and other experts for a freestanding birth centre will shine through in this feasibility study and deliver what will be a much-loved service for the Canberra community.”

Background

• The ACT Greens included their 2020 election commitment to a standalone family birth centre as a priority in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement for this term of the Legislative Assembly.
• On 7 February 2023, Ms Clay unanimously passed a private members motion committing the ACT Government to complete a feasibility study for a co-designed midwife-led facility, either located alongside or fully separate from the new northside hospital, by August 2024.
• Also on 7 February 2023, Ms Clay tabled a petition with over 3000 signatures calling for a freestanding birth centre in the ACT.