Category: Australian News

Following powerful student-led collective action, we welcome reports Curtin University has committed to disclosing investments, research, learning and teaching ties with weapons manufacturers, foreign governments and the defence industry. 

This is thanks to the incredible commitment of Curtin students who have been camping out on campus for the past 23 days and nights, a powerful and genuine act of solidarity with the people of Gaza. 

However, it is disappointing Curtin University leadership has yet to agree to the student’s request to immediately cut ties with all weapons companies like Lockheed Martin, Babcock Australasia and Huntington Ingalls Industries. 

These students are on the right side of history. Their rights to peaceful protest must be respected and protected by the university. 

The Greens WA are in solidarity with students and staff peacefully protesting, and we look forward to supporting students in their next steps to achieve justice and a free Palestine. 

We support Palestine’s decades-long struggle to live with dignity and self-determination. 

The Australian Greens have warned that Labor’s plan to back coal and gas beyond 2050 undercuts any investment in battery storage manufacturing capacity. 

This morning the Albanese Labor Government announced a strategy to make batteries locally, as part of its already unclear ‘future made in Australia’ policy.

And while batteries are a crucial piece of the renewable energy transition puzzle, the Greens say the Government’s plan for opening new coal and gas mines and keeping fossil fuels alive past 2050 will threaten our precious environment, the climate and their own battery plans.

In the Treasurer’s Budget speech last week, he only name-checked the climate once, while the Budget retained billions in fossil fuel subsidies including 1.5 billion dollars for the Middle Arm Gas Precinct.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“What Labor is trying to hide is that A Future Made In Australia is actually A Future For Coal and Gas Past 2050.

“Even just one new gas mine could wipe out any gains from people putting more batteries and solar in their homes.

“Batteries and gas are competing for the same role in the energy transition. The government has to choose what it wants: batteries built here or dirty coal and gas beyond 2050, because they can’t choose both. 

“Despite gas being as dirty as coal, Anthony Albanese is as captured by the gas corporations as Scott Morrison, having already made eight new gas approvals since coming into power.

“Labor is trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes by talking big on batteries, while hoping no-one pays attention to their new coal and gas mines.”

The Albanese Government has botched its Budget commitment to cut student debt for three million Australians with the ATO confirming HELP loans will rise by 4.7 per cent from 1 June 2024, rather than the 4 per cent increase Labor promised.

Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson, said Labor’s go-slow on student debt reform means there is no certainty as to when Labor’s HELP indexation changes will be implemented.

With no legislation in sight to enact Labor’s changes, there is also no certainty as to when last year’s crippling indexation rate of 7.1 per cent will be backdated to 3.2 per cent, as Labor promised.

On 5 May 2024, Education Minister Jason Clare announced “..in response to the Australian Universities Accord, the Government will cap the HELP indexation rate to be the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index (WPI) with effect from 1 June 2023.”

Labor said it would “..cut the student debt of more than three million Australians in this month’s Budget.”

However, just two days later on 7 May 2024, the ATO confirmed student loans will be indexed at the higher rate of 4.7 per cent from 1 June 2024, making a mockery of Labor’s announcement.

“In the face of Labor’s high inflation which is fuelling escalating student debt, Jason Clare’s failure to act with urgency means there is no relief in sight for three million Australians with a HELP loan,” Senator Henderson said.

“Why has the minister failed to bring forward legislation in time to enact these changes to HELP indexation? When will the promised reductions in student debt be delivered?

“Under Labor, prior to these changes, student debt had increased by nearly 16 per cent or an extra $4,000 on the average loan of $26,500.

“This is straight incompetence from Jason Clare who has been sitting on the recommended changes to HELP indexation since last December,” Senator Henderson said.

Labor’s education Budget is also bad news for regional Australia with the axing of the $224 million Destination Australia program to support university students study in the regions.

“This savage funding cut is another betrayal of regional Australia and young Australians seeking to study and work in the regions,” Senator Henderson said.

The proposed Australian Tertiary Education Commission, due to start on 1 January 2025, has not been funded along with other University Accord promises that will cost many billions of dollars. Labor’s commitment to overturn the Job-Ready Graduates program has also received no funding, which suggests low-cost nursing, teaching and maths degrees may rise.

The government needs to explain why higher education providers will be required to direct a minimum of 40 per cent of their Student Services and Amenities Fee revenue to student led organisations such as student unions.

In breach of its election commitment, Labor has delivered only a school funding war by failing to provide “fair and full funding” for public schools in the Budget. With the next National School Reform Agreement in limbo, Senator Henderson says Jason Clare has all the wrong priorities.

“With one in three students failing NAPLAN, it is critical the government delivers the reforms required to raise academic standards so that every child can reach his or her best potential. This requires an unwavering commitment to evidence-based teaching methods, not billions of dollars,” Senator Henderson said.

The Albanese Government has today released the nation’s first National Battery Strategy, supporting a Future Made in Australia and shoring up our economic resilience and security.

The global demand for batteries is set to quadruple by 2030 as the world transitions to net zero, and our Strategy maps a path for Australia to take advantage of this growth to build a thriving battery industry.

It identifies four high-value strategic opportunities:

• Stationary storage – building Energy Storage Systems to firm renewable power generation in the national grid and for communities, businesses and homes.
• Provide battery active materials to the world by upgrading raw minerals into processed battery components to strengthen battery supply chains.
• Leveraging our world-leading know-how to build safer and more secure batteries connected to the grid.
• Building batteries for our transport manufacturing industry, including heavy vehicle manufacturing.

Funding for the Strategy was included in last week’s Budget:

• $523.2 million for the Battery Breakthrough Initiative, administered by ARENA, to promote the development of battery manufacturing capabilities through production incentives targeted at the highest value opportunities in the supply chain.
• $20.3 million for Building Future Battery Capabilities to incentivise cutting edge battery research, including support for:
  • Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre to map Australian battery capability and value chains, drive battery innovation and scale-up and deliver best practice guidelines and standards for the battery industry.
  • Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre to develop workforce skills and training.

The Budget also includes $1.7 billion for a new Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, administered by ARENA, to accelerate deployment of innovative technologies and facilities through support for innovation, commercialisation, pilot and demonstration projects in priority sectors including clean energy manufacturing such as batteries.

The Strategy is designed to harness our world leading-expertise in battery technology, lean into our natural advantage with critical minerals and support a Future Made in Australia.

It shows how Australia can help diversify global battery supply chains by working collaboratively with key trading partners – to help shore up our economic resilience in our national interest.

It also outlines a joined-up approach for industry and government to work together to supercharge our battery manufacturing and help make Australia a renewable energy superpower.

It builds on a range of existing Government initiatives to help Australian businesses grow and compete, including the Industry Growth Program, Solar Sunshot, the National Reconstruction Fund and the Critical Minerals Facility.

More information on the National Battery Strategy is available here: National Battery Strategy

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We want to make more things here and with global demand for batteries set to quadruple by 2030, Australia must be a player in this field.

“Batteries are a critical ingredient in Australia’s clean energy mix. Together with renewable energy, green hydrogen, and critical minerals, we will meet Australia’s emission reduction targets and create a strong clean energy manufacturing industry.” 

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic:

“Australia is a pioneer of battery tech, yet for too long we’ve sent our ideas offshore and lost the good jobs they create.

“A strong battery industry can supercharge our path to net zero and create a Future Made in Australia.

“Australia is moving beyond a ‘dig and ship’ economy to become a renewable energy superpower.

“It’s inexcusable that we supply half the global supply of lithium but produce less than one percent of the world’s processed battery components.

“The global clean energy transition is happening – and we’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Australia to create more well-paid, secure jobs.”

1. Bangladesh’s Hon’ble Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong held their first ministerial dialogue on Tuesday, 21 May 2024 in Dhaka.
2. The Ministers noted the warm bilateral relationship founded on more than fifty years of diplomatic relations and deepening friendship between our peoples. They recognised that high-level visits at the political level can help take the relationship to further new heights.
3. The Ministers recalled the constructive, positive bilateral discussions held at the Indian Ocean Conference in Perth in February 2024, following those during the Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka in 2023. They noted ongoing collaboration and cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and at the United Nations.
4. The Ministers appreciated the growing strategic depth and dimensions of the bilateral relations. They noted the commonalities between Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Indo-Pacific Outlook and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo- Pacific. They reaffirmed their shared vision and desire to work towards a region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and free from intimidation, interference and coercion.
5. The Ministers acknowledged the importance of building regional health security, promoting demographic resilience, enhancing multi-modal connectivity, and strengthening clean energy supply chains. The Ministers agreed on the importance of promoting open channels of communication and confidence-building measures to reduce the risk of conflict in the region.
6. The Ministers reaffirmed their support for sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Indo- Pacific, democratic values, human rights, freedom of navigation and overflight, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Australia and Bangladesh are committed to working together to find practical solutions to shared contemporary challenges, including maritime security threats, climate change, cybercrimes and countering trafficking in persons.
7. The Ministers discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. The Ministers reiterated their shared concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been exacerbated following the 7 October attacks, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and reaffirming support for a two-state solution.
8. The Ministers also expressed serious concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine and its repercussions around the world. They reiterated the call for a peace process through dialogue and diplomacy with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
9. The Ministers expressed their deep concern at the deteriorating conflict situation in Myanmar and its effect on regional security and stability, calling for scaling up of efforts by ASEAN and other key regional actors.
10. The Ministers affirmed their intention to enhance cooperation on deepening two-way trade and economic ties as Bangladesh progresses towards graduation from UN LDC status, with Australia committing to maintain tariff-free, quota-free access to its market to support Bangladesh’s smooth transition. The Bangladesh Minister provided assurances that necessary support would be given to Australian investors, including in thrust sectors like agro-processing, ICT and logistics.
11. The Ministers noted Australia’s ongoing funding for multilateral development banks to support Bangladesh’s efforts to address its priority structural reforms that would bolster development and economic growth. The Ministers stressed the need for strengthening the international financial architecture.
12. Noting the importance of enhanced connectivity to increase regional economic integration and growth, the Ministers discussed Australian technical support in partnership with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation to connectivity measures via the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity programme. The Ministers agreed to work further on bilateral air connectivity and cable connectivity resilience.
13. The Ministers acknowledged the importance of skills development and training to foster inclusive economic growth, with Australia announcing AUD 3 million in support for delivery of technical and vocational training for Bangladesh’s youth. The Bangladesh Minister expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Australia in the fields of research and innovation. The Ministers affirmed Australia’s long-standing commitment to building capacity in Bangladesh, with over 3,000 Bangladeshis having completed studies under the Australia Awards Scholarships and Fellowship Programme since 1982. Working with the UNDP, Australia has provided technical assistance and policy support towards developing a strategy for inclusive social security system.
14. Australia and Bangladesh reaffirmed the vital importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in all fields, notably across education, government and parliamentary representation. Australia reaffirmed its support for investments to promote women’s economic empowerment. Recognising gender equality as a shared priority with opportunities for regional leadership, the Ministers agreed to work bilaterally and multilaterally to combat all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
15. The Ministers agreed on the importance of enhanced cooperation on climate change, including funding of vital climate adaptation and mitigation measures. Australia emphasised its partnership with Bangladesh to support agricultural production and adaptation research, including through the work of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. They discussed enhancing cooperation on capacity building for accessing international climate financing. Bangladesh welcomed the forthcoming visit by Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change, and offered to share some of its locally-led adaptation solutions with the Pacific Island countries, including through trilateral engagement with Australia.
16. Australia acknowledged the generosity of the Bangladesh government and people in hosting the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, and Bangladesh acknowledged the sustained humanitarian contribution of the Australian Government to support the Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh, with both Ministers underlining the importance of working towards the Rohingyas’ safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar.
17. The Ministers confirmed their commitment to enhancing maritime and oceans capabilities as a critical means to protecting our marine environment and promoting sovereignty and the rule of law. The Ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation to combat people’s smuggling and transnational crimes across the region, including through prioritising cooperation between their coast guards. Ministers agreed to support regional and international efforts towards combatting transnational organised crimes in the Indo-Pacific through both normative and practical actions.
18. As founding members of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, Australia and Bangladesh expressed concern about the loss of life and exploitation of vulnerable people such as the Rohingyas, including women and children, at the hands of transnational criminal networks. The Australian Minister noted that the Commander of Australia’s Maritime Border Command will visit Bangladesh to further discuss these issues. The Ministers agreed on the importance of safe migration pathways in our region to curb irregular and unsafe migration patterns.
19. Noting the growth in the Bangladesh diaspora in Australia and the contributions made by our two peoples to deepening the bilateral relationship, the Ministers affirmed the importance of preservation and promotion of arts and culture, and committed to signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Arts and Culture.

We’re set for round two of disabled people vs. Labor’s changes to the NDIS. 

Today, Wednesday 22nd May 2024, the Australian Senate will hold its second public hearing into the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2024. 

Day one of hearings saw witnesses condemn the Bill and implore Senators to recommend it not pass in its current form. 

The legislation, which proposes the most significant changes to the NDIS since it commenced over a decade ago, was developed behind closed doors with representatives from disability organisations required to sign non-disclosure agreements. 

On day one of the inquiry, the committee heard directly from disabled people. Their concerns with the bill, include: 

• “This [bill] will do nothing in achieving good outcomes, this will do nothing in protecting human rights. This will kill thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people.”
   
• “This bill is the most dangerous piece of legislation since the changes to the DSP and Robodebt”
   
• “This bill enables the NDIA to force me out of my home if I need eight hours of support or more. I will be forced to choose between living with my wife and my vital support needs.”
   
• “[Disability] varies so greatly that you cannot possibly put a black-and-white mechanism, [a] computer algorithm, in place – much less one that is beyond being able to be challenged by a participant.”
   
• “Fundamentally, this bill ceases to be fit for purpose, because it does not understand what it seeks to achieve unless all it seeks to achieve is to save a bunch of money at the cost of very many lives.”

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

“Day one of the hearings demonstrated that the disability community are seeing right through Labor’s spin. We can see the true intent of this Bill: to cut funding to disabled people and give politicians the power to kick tens of thousands off the scheme with the stroke of a pen.

“To pass this bill as it is now would be the end of the NDIS, and risks thousands upon thousands of disabled people experiencing harm and living a more difficult life. 

“This NDIS bill lacks any compassion for what will happen to disabled people who get kicked off the NDIS. It’s going to put extra pressure on families and put the thousands of people employed within the disability sector in uncertainty.

“This bill robs disabled people of the power to choose the supports they need to live a good life, and puts that power into the hands of politicians who have no idea what it’s like to be disabled. 

“This bill and Labor’s budget cuts threaten to undo all of the progress that disabled people and our families have made because of the NDIS.“

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Peace: 

“The ongoing violence, and the French authorities’ response, in New Caledonia is deeply concerning.

“The Australian Government must respond to the calls of local organisations to support neutral mediation between all parties, supported by the UN and Pacific Leaders. It is paramount that a peaceful resolution is reached. 

“With New Caledonia listed as a colonised territory with the United Nations, the path to peace must prioritise the self-determination of the Indigenous Kanak people and must ensure that all people in New Caledonia can live in peace.

“Additionally, the Greens are calling on the Federal Government to continue their efforts to ensure all citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members, including those outside of Noumea, are supported to return to Australia.”

Suki Dorras-Walker:

“While the Territory Government struggles to find the money to fund much needed domestic violence and homelessness services, it’s implementing a new scheme which lowers the royalty rate for new mines and therefore the revenue of the Territory Government.”

“This new mining royalties scheme reveals that we don’t have a budget deficit problem, we have a problem with a Territory Government that is unwilling to make its corporate mates pay their fair share when extracting our public resources. 

“These resources belong to Territorians and we should be getting bang for our buck.”

“While the current reduction in royalties does not apply to existing mines, it leaves the door open for them to adopt the same model. That’s a major threat to the Territory’s revenue.  Given a large proportion of royalties come from mining on Aboriginal Land, there is reason to believe this could disproportionately affect First Nations Territorians.”

“Territorians are feeling the cost of living squeeze. But, once again, the mining industry gets exactly what they want – more profit at the expense of Territorians.”

“We’ve just had a budget where the NT Government is emphasising revenue created in the Territory and cutting essential services. It makes no sense to change the rules so that mines pay less royalties for our public resources instead of more – it’s a rip off.”

“Unlike the CLP and Territory Labor, the NT Greens do not take donations from mining corporations looking to buy influence. So we will always be advocating for the best deal for Territorians, not big corporations.”

After two years of the Albanese Government, it is clear that Labor’s economic vandalism is killing Australian businesses with builders, manufactures and small businesses bearing the brunt. Australian businesses are going to the wall because Anthony Albanese lied about his plan to deliver cheaper power prices and that he would ‘rebuild Australian manufacturing’.

Labor has delivered an insolvency crisis across the Australian economy. According to the official Australian insolvency statistics for April, released by ASIC, insolvencies across construction have already exceeded the annual figure for 2022-23 and manufacturing insolvencies are set to exceed the 2022-23 figures by the end of May. This underscores an increasing rate of insolvencies across the Australian economy, which was already three times higher than the same period, just two years ago under the Coalition.

Businesses are going bust under Labor and it will only get worse. According to CreditorWatch’s Business Risk Index released yesterday, one in 13 Australian hospitality businesses are facing failure in the next 12 months. This is attributed to the sector’s exposure to discretionary spending of consumers “which has dried up as cost-of-living pressures mount.” As CreditorWatch notes, hospitality businesses such as restaurants have been hit hard by cost pressures, with higher than ever power prices and cost of ingredients combining with weaker consumer spending. This report indicates that Western Sydney and South-East Queensland are the regions with the highest risk of business failures.

CreditorWatch has also found that business to business (B2B) payment defaults have hit a record high and are up 69.4 per cent year-on-year, as businesses struggle to pay their invoices. Their analysis shows a strong correlation between B2B payment defaults and business failure indicating there will be a continued and increasing trend in businesses going bust over the coming year.

Anthony Albanese’s energy crisis is killing Australian small businesses. According to Research commissioned by Energy Consumers Australia and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), released today, energy hardship and financial strain is hitting small business harder than COVID-19. One in five small businesses are struggling to pay their energy bills on time and nearly half of small businesses are concerned about their ability to pay future energy bills. More than one in three small to medium-sized enterprises have experienced energy hardship during the past 12 months and rising energy costs are the number one factor which has ­impacted businesses’ financial situation in the last 12 months.

In the face of a deteriorating economy, COSBOA was absolutely right to label the Federal Budget a, “missed opportunity to back small business”.

As small businesses struggle to pay their power bills which have risen by thousands and thousands of dollars, Labor’s response has been to give them $325, spread quarterly. The sector has rightly indicated this “won’t even touch the sides”.

As Australian manufactures fail in great numbers, Labor have committed an additional $22.7 billion for their Future Made in Australia proposal including $13.7 billion of corporate welfare, while their existing $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund is yet to spend a single cent.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training and Small and Family Business, Sussan Ley, said Labor’s failure to deliver real economic leadership had taken Australia in the wrong direction and it is only the Coalition, under the leadership of Peter Dutton, that has a proper plan to get Australian back on track.

“Because of Anthony Albanese’s bad calls, Australian businesses are in their worst position since the Global Financial Crisis, with payment defaults the worst on record and Australian households hurting.

“After two years in government, Anthony Albanese’s record is clear: weak leadership on the economy, weak leadership on national security, and a refusal to take responsibility for the dire situation facing Australians and their small businesses.

“Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers love to talk up the jobs they claim to have ‘created’ – well, if they want to take credit for employment outcomes, then they also have to take responsibility for these skyrocketing insolvencies.”

The Albanese Government is pleased to launch the new Centre for Australia-India Relations headquarters in Parramatta, along with a series of initiatives to further strengthen Australia’s links with India.

The new headquarters will be a focal point for government, business, academia, the cultural sector and Indian-Australian communities to drive new partnership opportunities between our countries. The Centre’s headquarters are supported by both the Australian and New South Wales Governments.

Today we are pleased to announce the recipients of the Centre’s inaugural Maitri Scholars and Fellowships programs. Five Maitri Scholars from India will complete PhDs on STEM research topics, including advanced manufacturing and clean energy solutions. Seven Maitri Fellows will undertake research projects exploring our shared geostrategic and economic future, including in maritime security, responding to climate change, secure supply chains and closer regional cooperation.

India is on track to be the world’s third largest economy by the end of the decade. To ensure Australia benefits from India’s growth, the Australian Government will commence consultations on a future Australia-India economic roadmap. This roadmap will build on the landmark 2018 India Economic Strategy authored by Peter Varghese, and harness the untapped potential we see in some key sectors, while focusing and accelerating our work for the next phase of our relationship. Australia also continues to negotiate its next free trade agreement with India, including for greater market access in agriculture and manufacturing.

These initiatives are on top of additional $14.3m in funding provided in last week’s budget, to expand the Australia India Business Exchange. Austrade will lead new business missions to India across a range of sectors – including agrifood, education, technology, and energy and resources like critical minerals. The expanded program also involves pilot business missions to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to help grow our trade across the South Asia.

Recognising the expertise of Indian-Australian communities, we also announce the Centre’s CEO and Director Network. The Network consists of a group of Indian-Australian corporate leaders who will build knowledge of India among their peers in the Australian business community.

Further information on the inaugural Maitri Scholars and Fellows is available on the Centre for Australia-India Relations website.

Public submissions for the new Australia-India roadmap are encouraged and will be open until 15 July 2024.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Working more closely with our Indian-Australian communities – our fastest growing diaspora – means we can better respond to a diverse and evolving India.

“The Centre’s CEO and Director Network will assist Australian business leaders to engage with India’s growth story.

“The Maitri Scholars and Fellows will also contribute to a broader and deeper understanding of the Australia India relationship, our shared interests and our shared challenges, while fostering life-long connections.”

Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell:

“Trade with India is shaping up to be a big win for Australia. Since our government implemented a new trade deal with India, Australian businesses have seen a massive boost in exports.

But we think we can go even further, which is why we committed over $14m in this years’ budget to expand the Australia India Business Exchange, and have announced consultations on a new Australia-India economic roadmap.

A new India economic roadmap will help us focus and accelerate our efforts to harness India’s growth, and tap into the enormous trade and investment opportunities that will help us secure a future made in Australia.”

CEO Centre for Australia-India Relations, Tim Thomas:

“The Centre for Australia-India Relations is excited to establish its headquarters in Parramatta, a thriving innovation ecosystem and an important focal point for the vibrant Indian-Australian community. The Centre has built strong momentum through our Maitri grants and stakeholder impact programs. The Centre will continue to galvanise Australian stakeholders to move on the tremendous opportunities that India’s growth presents.”