Category: Australian News

Labor is now isolated as the only party allowing the big supermarket corporations to continue to misuse their market power and price-gouge Australian shoppers, the Greens say.

“The Coalition’s support for divestiture powers in the supermarket sector makes this a moment of choice for Prime Minister Albanese. He can either keep holding hands with Coles and Woolworths, or he can side with Australian shoppers,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“The Greens have long said that a more competitive supermarket sector would mean lower food and grocery prices. It is now only Labor standing in the way.”

“Cheaper food and genuine accountability for the anti-competitive behaviour of corporate supermarket giants is now within reach.”

“The Greens are proud to have led this debate, and to have helped highlight the need for divestiture through our recent Senate inquiry.”

“The numbers are now there to pass laws through the Senate. The Greens are ready and willing to work constructively to urgently deliver cheaper food and groceries.”

“Labor needs to stop supporting their corporate donors and actually work with the Parliament to deliver the powers we need to break up the supermarket duopoly, bring more competition to the supermarket sector and bring food prices down.”

Today I am pleased to announce the appointment of five highly qualified individuals to lead Australia’s posts in Cambodia, Honolulu, Morocco, Nepal and Vanuatu.  

I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Amanda McGregor as Australia’s next Special Representative on Afghanistan.

Based in Qatar, Ms McGregor will work with like-minded countries to call out the Taliban on its abuse of human rights and support the people of Afghanistan.

Our diplomats are the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world. They build influence and prosecute Australia’s national interests abroad.

These individuals will take up the following positions:

• Mr Derek Yip as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
• Mr Greg Wilcock as Australia’s next Consul-General in Honolulu.
• Mr Damien Donavan as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco.
• Ms Leann Johnston as Australia’s next Ambassador to Nepal.
• Mr Max Willis as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Vanuatu.

I thank the outgoing heads of mission, consul-general and the former Special Representative on Afghanistan for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests.

The Albanese Government has again failed to meet its targets to deliver the 500 new frontline domestic violence workers it promised at the election.

After originally pledging to have 200 new workers on the ground by 30 June 2023, and delivering none, the Government revised that number to a target of 352 by 30 June 2024.

The Department of Social Services’ updated figures released today show the Albanese Government has failed to meet this target with only 94 of the promised 352 workers in place. This means only around a quarter of promised workers are in place against the revised targets.

There has been no change in the numbers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania or the Australian Capital Territory since last month’s update. No state or territory has hit its targets.

This means despite repeated assurances from Anthony Albanese and the Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth, and universal calls from the community for increased spending on domestic violence supports, hundreds of critical domestic violence worker roles remain unfilled.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley, called on Anthony Albanese to take responsibility for this failure.

“It has been over 770 days since Anthony Albanese took office and he has failed again and again when it comes to delivering the 500 domestic violence workers he promised,” the Deputy Leader said.

“Anthony Albanese needs to stand up and accept responsibility for failing to deliver the promised 500 new domestic violence workers and fix this. Regardless of your political views, if you care about action on domestic violence, you should expect the Prime Minister to deliver on his commitments here.

“As it stands it is unlikely we will see all 500 promised workers on the ground by the next election and that would be a black mark on this Prime Minister’s record.”

Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence Senator Kerrynne Liddle said every day without the promised frontline workers is a day too many.

“We know in households across Australia, people are experiencing greater intensity of violence or violence is new to their family experience. They should have had the resources that were announced to get their vote in 2022 to assist them,” Senator Liddle said.

These are not just figures, these are workers that should be on the ground supporting women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence – supporting the LGBTIQA+ community, women with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse women and children, and First Nations people.

Australians were told women’s safety would be a priority for this government but instead we see a consistent failure to deliver the workers as promised. This is unacceptable.

The Coalition will stand up for Australian small businesses, farmers, and consumers by delivering stronger penalties for anti-competitive behaviour in the supermarket and hardware sectors.

Today, we announce the Coalition will introduce sector-specific divestiture powers as a last resort to manage supermarket behaviour and address supermarket price-gouging.

Divestiture powers will address serious allegations of land banking, anti-competitive discounting, and unfairly passing costs onto suppliers.

The time for this policy has come.

Inflation in Australia is high and rising, putting pressure on household budgets, and forcing families to make tough decisions.

Under the Albanese Labor Government – which promised the Australian people that life would be “cheaper” under Labor – food prices have actually increased by 11.4 per cent. The cost of everyday essentials at the supermarket checkout has increased. And this winter, many Australian families are choosing between heating or eating.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The measures we announce today are about restoring fairness for consumers, for families, for suppliers, and for farmers.

The Coalition’s divestiture powers will have appropriate safeguards in place, ensuring divestiture won’t lead to a loss of jobs and services.

The Coalition will also strengthen the Food and Grocery Code by making it mandatory for supermarket chains with annual turnover of more than $5 billion for the current signatories – Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Metcash. Supermarkets will face infringement notices of up to $2 million for contraventions of the Code.

Tougher civil penalties for supermarkets will apply to contraventions of the mandatory industry code, starting from $10 million.

These punitive penalties will be backed by a Supermarket Commissioner, who will act as an impartial confidential avenue for farmers and suppliers.

This new appointment will be created to address the fear retribution for speaking out against supermarkets. A Supermarket Commissioner will provide information and receive complaints, which can then be provided to the ACCC.

The Coalition believes families and consumers deserve access to affordable fresh food, and farmers and suppliers deserve fair prices – without supermarket interference or price-gouging.

The Coalition is committed to delivering competition policy which supports consumers and smaller businesses – not the big corporations and lobbyists.

Competitive markets benefit everyone by ensuring lower prices, creating more employment opportunities, and fostering innovation.

This policy aligns Australia with our major trading partners, ensuring Australians get a fairer go.

This is part of the Coalition’s plan to get Australia’s economy back on track.

Today the Government will introduce the new Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 and Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024 to Parliament, a major step in making the Australian economy more prosperous and resilient.

This legislative package is a key part of putting our Future Made in Australia plan into action, so Australia makes the most of the major economic and industrial opportunities of the energy transition.

The Future Made in Australia legislation will bring together our policy work in this space to ensure it is an effective and practical strategy for Australia to seize this opportunity.

This legislation is all about unlocking private sector investment to build a stronger, more diversified and more resilient economy powered by renewable energy that creates secure, well-paid jobs around the country.

It embeds into law a disciplined and rigorous approach that will govern Future Made in Australia investments, to make the most of our net zero potential and ensure the benefits of these investments are widely shared and flow to local communities.

This package does three main things. It will legislate our new National Interest Framework, introduce a robust sector assessment process, and outline the Community Benefit Principles that will apply to investment decisions.

The National Interest Framework defines criteria for identifying sectors that will be key to the net zero transformation and where Australia could have a genuine comparative advantage, or where there is an economic security or resilience imperative to invest in domestic capability.

The package will enable Government to commission Treasury to undertake independent analysis of the extent that areas of the economy are aligned with the National Interest Framework, barriers to private investment in these areas and opportunities to address them.

It sets out five Community Benefit Principles that will be applied to Future Made in Australia supports identified in the Bill. To ensure the benefits of investment flow to local workers, industries and communities, decision makers will be required to have regard to how relevant investments can:

• Promote safe and secure jobs that are well paid and have good conditions;
• Develop more skilled and inclusive workforces, including by investing in training and skills development and broadening opportunities for workforce participation;
• Engage collaboratively with and achieve positive outcomes for local communities, such as First Nations communities and communities directly affected by the transition to net zero;
• Strengthen domestic industrial capabilities including through stronger local supply chains; and
• Demonstrate transparency and compliance in relation to the management of tax affairs, including benefits received under Future Made in Australia supports.

The legislation establishes Future Made in Australia Plans. These are written plans that can be required by Government to help maximise the broader benefits of investment in a Future Made in Australia. The application of the Principles and Plans will be subject to further consultation.

It will also establish the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund to support emerging technologies in industries like green metals, clean energy manufacturing and low carbon liquid fuels, and it expands the National Interest Account to better enable investment in Australia’s national interests. 

To promote investment certainty, these amendments reintroduce guaranteed statutory funding for ARENA, which was allowed to lapse under the previous Government.

The Government recognises that the best opportunities for Australia and its people lie at the intersection of industry, energy, resources, skills and our ability to attract and deploy investment.

The Future Made in Australia package improves our investment environment and encourages new industries that put us on a path to net zero and strengthen our economic resilience.

Following the failure of the 2023 Voice to Parliament Referendum, the Greens will introduce a Bill to establish a Truth and Justice Commission in the next sitting week.

The Commission will be empowered to inquire into particular matters relating to historic and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Australia and the impacts of these injustices on First Peoples, and make recommendations to parliament.

The Albanese Labor Government committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart “in full” before the election and on election night in May 2022, as well as during the Voice campaign. The Uluru Statement from the Heart includes three components: Truth, Treaty and Voice.

With 65,000 years of culture, country, connection and languages Australia’s First peoples are still waiting for the delivery of justice.

The Commission will investigate:

1. Historical systemic injustices perpetrated by the Commonwealth government, Commonwealth government bodies and non-government bodies against First Peoples since pre colonial times.
2. Ongoing systemic injustice perpetrated by the Commonwealth Government, Commonwealth bodies and non-government bodies.
3. The causes and consequences of historical injustice, including a historical analysis of the impact of colonisation and an evaluation of the contemporary relationship between First Peoples and the Commonwealth Government and the impact of contemporary policies, practices, conduct and laws on First Peoples.
4. How historical injustice can be effectively and fairly acknowledged and redressed in a culturally appropriate way.
5. How ongoing injustice can be addressed or redressed, including recommended reform to existing institutions, law, policy and practice and considering how the Commonwealth Government can be held accountable for addressing these injustices and preventing future injustice.
6. How best to raise awareness and increase public understanding of the history and experiences of First Peoples before and since the start of colonisation.

The Commission will submit to the President and the Speaker a report containing its findings of fact and any recommendations relevant to the inquiry that the Commission thinks fit. The report must be submitted on or before the end of the period of four years starting on the commencement of the Commission’s work, unless that period is extended by a resolution of the Senate.

Greens portfolio holder for First Nations, Resources, Trade, Tourism and Northern Australia, and Yamatji Noongar woman, Senator Dorinda Cox:

“We have been waiting for the opportunity to not just tell our truths, but to have Australia deeply listen to our experiences, past and present as the oldest living culture in the world, Australia’s First Peoples.

“I know as a proud First Nations woman, with lineage to my Irish and French ancestry – we are a diverse and multicultural nation. We are now in the third chapter of our story, but missed the opportunity to understand and enshrine the experiences of First Peoples and our shared and interconnected past.

“We want Australians to know that in this process we will begin to heal as a nation,  we will understand that the work that we do now must be grounded in our self determination to chart our pathway forward to achieve better outcomes for First Nations people, communities and our collective futures.”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:

“Telling the truth is a critical first step to healing and bringing our country together.

“We must tell the truth about the violence and dispossession in this country’s history if we want to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. First Nations people have called for a Truth and Justice Commission to achieve that truth-telling.

“The misinformation peddled during the referendum campaign showed the urgent need for a deeper discussion about the truth of our country’s history. Since the referendum, which left a lot of people hurting, Labor has failed to offer any pathway forward.

The Greens are proud to introduce this Bill for a Truth and Justice Commission to begin the healing process of truth-telling for First Nations people and the broader community.”

Greens spokesperson for Attorney General Senator David Shoebridge:

“Justice for First Nations Peoples needs a solid foundation of truth, and a Truth Commission could help deliver that essential and missing element.

“The full extent of the injustices faced by First Nations peoples, together with their deep rooted strengths, are truths the community must hear then respond to.

“Truth telling commissions around the world have been extraordinarily effective ways to empower communities in telling their stories, and create commitment for much-needed change.”

The Greens say a new report from the Australian Education Union showing a growing number of public schools with insufficient space to meet enrolments puts pressure on Labor to include capital funding from the Commonwealth in the new national schools agreement.

The 2024 State of our Schools survey found that 19% of principals didn’t have enough classrooms at their schools, while 40% said they’d run out of space in the next three to five years.

Before the last election Labor said if elected they would “work with States and Territories as part of the next school funding agreements so that school systems have the facilities they need to teach growing numbers of students”. But under questioning in Senate Estimates last month the government refused to commit to meeting its pre-election pledge.

Greens spokesperson on Primary & Secondary Education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Labor’s paltry one-off $215 million injection to the public system was used primarily for basic maintenance and repairs like repairing decrepit and unhygienic toilet blocks and fixing drainage in playgrounds.

“Labor will provide zero ongoing Commonwealth funding to public schools, but will continue to pour public money into the fee-charging private system, with another billion dollars set to go out the door over the next four years.

“Under Labor, private schools like the Prime Minister’s former high school, which recently pocketed $5 million from the Commonwealth, will continue to expand their facilities while public school kids cram into freezing demountables.

“Labor pledged before the election that they would ensure public schools had the capital funding they need to provide the facilities our kids deserve. If Labor introduces legislation to lock in the new school funding arrangements later this year, the Greens will use our numbers in the Senate to push them to keep that promise.”

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

It is such a pleasure to be here with you on this momentous day.

I thank all the members of the diplomatic corps and all members of the Australian Defence Force who have joined us.

I also thank my parliamentary colleagues and, of course, the reason we are here: our new Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, and her husband, Simeon Beckett.

The swearing in of a Governor-General is a bright moment in the life our nation, but it is not one we approach lightly.

We are a young nation on an ancient continent – yet the democracy that has defined us for 123 years is numbered among the world’s oldest, and the Governor-General has always been at the heart of it.

It is high office, but it is not lofty. For all the pomp of its origins, the role of Governor-General is one that has become firmly rooted among the Australian people.

In the course of their duties, a Governor-General meets so many Australians from so many different walks of life, and in so many different circumstances.

A Governor-General stands by us, celebrating our good times, and offering comfort and quiet strength during our times of trial.

And while guided by tradition, it is not blind to the future.

Over the years, we have seen different Governors-General applying an emphasis of their own choosing, whether it was Sir Ninian Stephens with his touch of healing, Sir Zelman Cowen’s vision of the Governor-General as interpreter of a nation, or Dame Quentin Bryce and her desire “to strike a balance between observing traditions and protocol and being thoroughly contemporary”.

Over the past week, we have expressed our admiration for the retiring Governor-General and Her Excellency, Mrs Hurley, and the great calibre of their contribution. They go with the thanks of a nation.

Today, we begin a new chapter with Australia’s 28th Governor-General, Sam Mostyn.

We share the great fortune of living in a modern and optimistic nation.

A nation made generous and courageous by its people.

In Sam Mostyn, our nation has the right leader.

Sam, you are a person of intelligence and compassion. Of loyalty and integrity.

You have clear eyes and a big heart – and both have shaped your vision of who and what we can be as a nation.

Throughout your life, and across your great breadth of experience in the worlds of law and business and sport, in corporate Australia and the not-for-profit sector, you have always been ready to put yourself forward for others.

They are the qualities that she will bring to representing our nation as Governor-General.

You have walked the talk, a human catalyst with an unrelenting capacity for making things happen.

You have blazed so many trails for women. You have pushed open the doors of opportunity and equality.

You have made a real difference for Indigenous Australians.

You have added to the environmental and cultural health of our nation.

For decades you have been driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of your fellow Australians – now, and for future generations.

The very sense of fairness that is the beating heart of our identity as Australians is something you embody.

In 1999, the Australian Financial Review described you as “bound for glory”.

Yet glory is something you have never sought.

In 2019, your good friend, the playwright Suzie Miller, had this to say of you: “She inspires me. I wish she would be less modest.”

While Suzie’s wish may never be granted, she is one more reminder of how profoundly you value and nurture friendship – and everything that true friendship means.

I am glad you have Simeon with you on this journey. As a public law barrister who has worked in many crucial realms, he too has made a positive difference in the lives of so many.

Together, you are a truly wonderful partnership.

Your Excellency, you have lived your life in the service of a powerful Australian principle: when more people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, our nation is a better place.

With you as Governor-General, our future is in good hands.

Responding to today’s job cuts at Nine and evidence from Meta executives at the Parliamentary hearing into social media, the Greens have criticised Meta (parent company of Instagram and Facebook) for refusing to pay for news and journalism content. The Greens say Meta is effectively blackmailing the Australian Parliament by threatening to ban all news, as they’ve done in Canada.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Deputy Chair of the Joint Select Committee into Social Media and Australian Society, Greens spokesperson for Communications:

“My thoughts are with all Nine journalists, media workers, and their families today for this devastating news.

“On the same day that up to 200 media workers at Nine have been told they don’t have a job due to declining advertising revenue, the Parliament heard concerning evidence from the Meta executives who refuse to pay for news and journalism from companies like Nine.

“Meta is trying to blackmail the Parliament by refusing to rule out banning all news on their platforms Instagram and Facebook, should they be Designated under the News Media Bargaining Code.

“It is clear that we need stronger laws that protect Australians from the predatory business models of Meta and other social media platforms. This could include requirements to carry news and information in the public interest and be taxed properly for their activities and revenue made here on Australian soil.

“I’m concerned these giant tech corporations are ripping off news content, costing Australian jobs and damaging our democracy.

“We need to tackle the toxic business models and secret algorithms of these social media giants with algorithm transparency reforms.”

Today the Australian Greens have helped prevent millions of dollars in cuts to the NDIS and ensured that the government amendments to the NDIS Bill are thoroughly scrutinised and that the States and Territories are given the opportunity to give evidence.

The process and goals of this bill has been flawed since day one and will see millions in funding ripped from the scheme and participants left worse off.

Minister Shorten should have been engaging with the genuine concerns of the disabled community, reached out to the States and Territories and delivered on his promise not to make cuts to the scheme.

Instead the Minister has resorted to cheap stunts, expensive messaging guides and speeches to try and sell a deeply unpopular and damaging policy change.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services

“I’m proud that the Greens have continued again and again to take the voices of disabled people into our parliament and fight for the scheme that has made such a difference in their lives.”

“Minister Shorten would do well to remember that politics is not a game and the issues of our community can not be reduced to zingers, expensive messaging guides and cheap stunts.”

“It’s this type of politics that turns people off trying to make a difference in their community and is well below a Minister who is supposed to be supporting disabled people, not cutting their services.”

“The NDIS has made such a meaningful impact in so many people’s lives and every day Labor’s flawed and damaging policy is not passed and is undergoing proper consultation saves millions of dollars in essential services for disabled people.”

“Bill Shorten made a pledge in parliament that there would be no cuts to the NDIS under this government. I and the disabled community really hope he keeps his promise.”

Responding to Minister Shorten’s announcement of https://www.outoftouchwithcostofliving.com/ Senator Steele-John said:

“Every dollar on that clock is a dollar not cut from essential services for disabled people and their families in a cost of living crisis.”

“All this stunt does is demonstrate the speed and severity of the cut that Labor is planning for the NDIS.”