Category: Australian News

The alarming rise in the unemployment rate highlights the increasingly tough economic conditions faced by Australians under the Albanese Labor Government.

The April 2024 labour force figures show the unemployment rate increased to an unexpected 4.1% with the loss of 6100 full time jobs, the underemployment rate increased to 6.6% and the number of unemployed Australians increased to 604,200, which is an increase of more than 50,000 since the Albanese Government’s election.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said hardworking Australians are suffering under the Albanese Labor Government.

“Australians’ standard of living has been smashed under Labor’s economic mismanagement. Unfortunately, the Budget this week has proven the government has no plans to restore it,” Mr Taylor said.

“We needed a Budget that restored our standard of living by addressing inflation and cost of living pressures, restored prosperity and created opportunity by supporting small businesses and enhancing incentives to work, and restored budget discipline and honesty,” he said.

“Instead, the Treasurer handed down a big spending, big taxing, big government con job.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said the Albanese Government’s economic and industrial relations policies were making life tougher for Australians.

“There is great uncertainty amongst the business community about the future – particularly in small businesses,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Small business owners feel like they got nothing out of this week’s Budget and have been left to fend for themselves during this cost-of-doing-business crisis,’’ she said.

“They are dealing with the cost, confusion and complexity of the Albanese Government’s ideological industrial relations changes which will make it even tougher for them to employ more Australians,’’ Senator Cash said.

“This Government just doesn’t get small business and in the end that will mean fewer jobs for Australians,’’ she said.

The Albanese Labor Government’s 2024-25 Budget failed to address the urgent health challenges facing Australians.

Primary Healthcare

Once again, the Government put forward a shallow package of measures to ‘strengthen Medicare’, but what they are hiding from Australians is that GP bulk billing has plummeted by 11% under their watch.

Over this financial year alone, the rate has dropped 4% despite the Government spending millions of taxpayer dollars on tripling the bulk billing incentive and on their unproven Urgent Care Clinics.

Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Anne Ruston highlighted how we have seen more than 3 million less GP attendances across Australia, as it becomes harder and more expensive to see a doctor.

“Primary care has literally never been more expensive, with Medicare currently covering the lowest percentage of GP fees on record.

“By ignoring the urgent need to address severe GP workforce shortages, the Budget does not provide the reform need to ensure Australians have timely and affordable access to a doctor.

“This will only put further pressure on Australia’s struggling hospital system, as this primary care crisis pushes patients towards emergency departments,” Senator Ruston said.

That is why the Coalition has put forward our plan to incentivise more junior doctors to pursue a career as a General Practitioner and safeguard Australians’ healthcare access.

The package will invest $400 million to provide junior doctors with direct financial incentive payments, assistance with leave entitlements and support for pre-vocational training.

This will ensure junior doctors who pursue training as a GP in the community are not financially worse off compared to doctors who remain in the hospital environment.

A strong pipeline of home-trained GP graduates is critical to deliver essential healthcare to all Australians.

Mental Health

Australia is facing a mental health crisis. The Budget handed down on Tuesday night has completely ignored the urgency of this fact.

The Albanese Government has failed to ensure that Australians can access the specialised mental health treatment they need, particularly for those suffering from more complex or chronic mental health conditions.

500 days before the Budget, the Government cut the Better Access initiative, ripping away access to Medicare-subsidised psychology services from more than 240,000 vulnerable Australians.

“The Budget did not even try to make up for this cruel cut to mental health support for Australians with chronic mental health conditions,” Senator Ruston said.

“Hidden in the Budget papers was also a decision to abolish the National Mental Health Commission, including the National Suicide Prevention Office.

“This is concrete proof that this government does not consider mental health a national priority.”

As the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reiterated in the Budget-in-Reply, an elected Coalition Government will restore the number of Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions from 10 to 20 on a permanent basis.

Australians facing complex mental health challenges deserve the full level of support that has been recommended for them.

Women’s Health

The Coalition has welcomed the Government’s investment in longer consultations for women suffering from endometriosis and pelvic pain, which they have acknowledged builds on the significant work of the Coalition in this critical area.

But more needs to be done to support women’s health.

As the Opposition Leader has committed, we will continue to support measures and develop policy in this area, particularly in primary care and for menopause and peri-menopause.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations grants round for 2023-24.

In total, 27 grants will be provided to support a range of activities designed to strengthen cooperation and enhance engagement between the people of Australia and China.

The grants will support Australian industry to re-engage with China in areas of economic importance for Australia, including agriculture and tourism. They will also support collaboration on climate change, energy and the environment in line with the statement on joint outcomes from the China-Australia annual leader’s meeting.  

The initiatives receiving grants are listed on the Foundation’s website and include: 

• Support to assist industry sectors build market connections, including for barley/grains, dairy, wool, wine and tourism.
• Research and innovation in decarbonisation, drought-resilience, sustainability, and climate change policy dialogue.
• Equipping the next generation of Chinese-Australian leaders with the skills and expertise to contribute to Australian public debate, including around engagement and collaboration with China.  
• Programs to increase China literacy and the capability of scholars and young professionals to engage with China.

We welcome the appointment of Mr Gary Cowan as Chief Executive Officer of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

Mr Cowan is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) He has served overseas as Australia’s Representative in Taipei from 2018 to 2021, with previous postings to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo.  

I thank former CEO Peter Cai for his contributions to the Foundation as CEO since 2021, and during its establishment phase as an advisory board member.

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Alice Pung OAM to the Advisory Board of the Foundation. Ms Pung is a Melbourne-based writer, editor and lawyer and an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University’s School of Media and Communication.

The Advisory Board helps to guide the Foundation in its work to support governments, businesses, and communities build links and strengthen constructive engagement with China, consistent with our national interest.

Foreign Minister, Penny Wong:

“Central to our approach to Australia’s relationship with China is engaging in the national interest.

“The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations is a key avenue for this engagement, and these grants will further strengthen community and people to people ties.

“Ms Pung’s writing about growing up as a migrant in Australia resonates across diverse communities, and I am thrilled that she is bringing her expertise and insight to the Foundation’s Advisory Board.”

Trade and Tourism Minister, Don Farrell:

“These grants will help to boost engagement and build lasting business and people-to-people connections with China, our largest trading partner and a key contributor to our tourism and international education sectors.”

Australia is imposing targeted financial sanctions, in coordination with international partners, on a further six entities associated with North Korea’s supply of arms and related materiel to Russia.

Australia condemns, in the strongest possible terms, North Korea’s illegal export and Russia’s procurement and use of North Korean ballistic missiles, in support of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

The continued transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The use of North Korean ballistic missiles by Russia increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia’s illegal and immoral war of aggression and undermines the global non-proliferation regime.

Deepening North Korea-Russia cooperation is providing technical and military insights to North Korea, with grave security implications for Europe, the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia will continue to work with our allies and partners to hold Russia and North Korea to account, and address the security threat posed by North Korea.

North Korea must comply fully with UNSC resolutions to abandon its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

All countries should abide by their UNSC obligations in response to North Korea’s violations.

Together with our partners, we call on North Korea to engage in constructive dialogue and move toward permanent peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Australia remains steadfast in supporting Ukraine to defend itself. Today’s announcement underscores that those who provide material support to Russia’s illegal and immoral war will face consequences.

In another major boost for women’s sport, Australia will host the next Women’s Asian Cup.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced Australia as host nation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

It follows Australia’s successful hosting of the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup last year and will again bring the world’s best female football talent to our shores.

Hosting major sporting events, like the Women’s Asian Cup, boosts local tourism, trade, employment and infrastructure.

It also helps grow participation and inclusion in sport at the local, regional and national levels.

The Matildas are still riding the wave of success from last year’s Women’s World Cup where they captured the hearts of the nation.

A record 14 straight sold-out Matildas matches in Australia demonstrates the endurance of the ‘Matildas effect’ and our love of women’s football.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is the oldest women’s international football competition in the world, and will help continue to grow women’s football in Australia and our region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:

“Hosting the Women’s Asian Cup brings the region to Australia, and creates an opportunity to present modern Australia to millions of sports fans in Asia.

“Following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will see sport bring us together again.

Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“Australia is thrilled to be hosting the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

“This is a golden opportunity for us to showcase the continued growth and popularity of women’s sport in this country, and supports the Government’s commitment to gender equality.”

Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:

“I’m proud to be part of a government that is increasing the visibility of women’s sport and creating greater opportunities for women and girls in sport.

“The Women’s World Cup ended all debates about the place of female athletes in sport and now we can continue to celebrate the Matildas in the Women’s Asian Cup.

“Women’s sport is not a phase, is not a nice to have, it is thrilling, it is brilliant and it is here to stay.”

The Greens have secured an agreement with the government to shelve Labor’s offshore gas fast track plan that silenced First Nations voices. After having previously publicly offered to pass government legislation if the gas fast-track legislation was shelved, the Greens will now support the electric vehicles and legislation to lift the PRRT gas tax rate.

The Resource Minister’s Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024 will be amended by the government to remove Schedule 2, Part 2, which bypassed environment laws and First Nations voices. The Greens will pass the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax accountability and Fairness) Bill 2023.

The remainder of the offshore gas bill, which deals with worker’s safety issues, will pass the Parliament today alongside the NVES and PRRT reforms.

Following this major win, the Greens will continue the fight against the government’s Future Gas Strategy and their push for more coal and gas.

The government has advised that any matters relating to this approval process will now be considered as part of the broader tranche 3 of the environment law reform, which has been delayed indefinitely and will come after tranche 2. Tranche 2 legislation has not yet been introduced and the Greens are likely to be in balance of power on that legislation. Effectively, this means any changes cannot occur before the election.

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“The Greens have killed Labor’s gas fast-track bill,” Mr Bandt said.

“This is a big blow to the coal and gas corporations, a big win for the climate and First Nations voices, and it happened because the Greens have power in Parliament.”

“We will continue to fight Labor’s push for more coal and gas all the way to the election and beyond. The Greens have stopped Labor’s dodgy attempt to fast-track new gas mines, but their bid to bypass environmental protections shows Labor will stop at nothing to have more coal and gas past 2050.

“Climate scientists have said there can be no new coal and gas mines, but Labor wants more. You can’t put the fire out by pouring petrol on it. You don’t fix a problem by making the problem worse. With Labor and Liberal now backing more coal and gas past 2050, only the Greens will fight for real climate action.”

Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens First Nations and Resources spokesperson:

“Gas lobbyists have unlimited access to the Albanese Labor government and think they run politics in this country at the cost of cultural heritage, free prior and informed consent and the silencing of First Nations voices. This Bill would have sold our sea country as a commodity to the highest bidder. This is not acceptable.” Senator Cox said.

“The government must now stop opening new climate and environment wrecking gas projects and look to renewable energy.”

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens environment spokesperson:

“Labor’s shameless attempt to bypass our already weak environment laws is dead. It’s incredible that after two years of this government, their much promised ‘fix’ to environmental laws is nowhere to be seen, while harming nature is top priority,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

Senator Nick McKim, Greens Treasury spokesperson:

“The Greens have used our balance of power to stand up to the gas corporations and deliver for the environment and for First Nations people.

“We will see an increase in tax revenue from gas corporations and the rejection of Labor’s attempt to weaken environmental protections on gas mines.

“Standing our ground on Labor’s PRRT Bill has given us the leverage to reject the agenda of the gas cartel.

“When the Government works with the Greens instead of the gas cartel, we can ensure better environmental outcomes and more revenue from a publicly owned resource.”

We know Australians are feeling under pressure. That’s why our budget is designed to deliver for every Australian, in every part of our economy and every part of our country.

There are tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer – not just some.

There is energy bill relief for every Australian household – not just some.

Australians will receive an energy rebate of $300 from July 1 – and one million small businesses will get $325. As well as getting power bills down, making housing costs cheaper by boosting Commonwealth Rent Assistance and providing debt relief for university students, we are also helping Australians get the accessible healthcare they need.

We are making Medicare stronger, and medicine cheaper, by freezing the cost of prescriptions.

Australians need affordable housing and we need to build more homes right across the country. Our Homes for Australia plan invests billions to do just that, and we’re boosting fee-free TAFE to train more tradies to build them.

We need to back Australian talent, hard work and creativity – making sure wages are growing – especially for those who do the crucial work of caring for our kids and older Australians.

This is a budget for every Australian, from a government working for all Australians. Inflation has been moderating and real wages are growing.

But Australians continue to feel financial pressure.

Our No.1 priority is giving Australians cost-of-living relief. 

Tuesday night’s budget provides responsible relief for households while reducing inflationary pressure in the economy.

Our actions are careful, deliberate and responsible – and because of that we’ve been able to forecast a second surplus of $9.3bn. Last year we turned a $78bn deficit that we inherited from Scott Morrison into a $22bn surplus.

While we’ve been razor-focused on the immediate needs of families, we also need to invest in the future. We need to build economic and energy security for Australia. We are working to set up the country for success over the longer term.

We need to secure a future made in Australia, with secure, well-paid jobs.

This is about Australia seizing a once-in-a-generation chance to become a renewable energy superpower. We need to attract more investment in homegrown industries so we can make more things here.

The great regions of Australia – the Illawarra, the Hunter Valley, the Latrobe Valley, Geelong, Gladstone and the resources precincts of Queensland and Western Australia – have powered Australia for a couple of centuries, and they will continue to do so in the net-zero world.

We need to use our rich abundance of natural and human resources to power a secure and sustainable future.

Encouraging investment in areas like critical minerals and green hydrogen will help make Australia an indispensable part of the net-zero economy of the future.

The budget invests in Australia’s economic future with production tax incentives for green hydrogen and processed critical minerals.

A new Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund will also back new industries like low-carbon fuels and green metals. Australia has all the tools it needs to prosper in the net-zero world. All that’s required is a government prepared to back in Australian jobs and opportunity.

Our political opponents are all negativity and no plan.

While the government has been relentless in fighting inflation, and fighting for Australian families, Peter Dutton’s only relentlessness is playing politics.

On Thursday we will hear from Mr Dutton. He has spent the past two years saying no to every measure we’ve proposed to deal with cost of living.

He has said no to energy bill relief, no to cheaper medicines, no to wage increases.

It’s time for Mr Dutton to give Australians some answers. He needs to deliver fully costed plans. He needs to tell Australians what services he’ll slash. He needs to come clean about where he’ll put his nuclear reactors.

Budgets are about choices, and we are proud of our choices.

The government seeks to represent every Australian.

There’s more to do, and we’ll keep working every day to deliver for all Australians.

This opinion piece was first published in The Australian on Thursday, 16 May 2024.

The Albanese Government is making critical investments in Victorian infrastructure, creating jobs and unlocking Melbourne’s North.

This week’s Budget delivers an additional $750 million to complete the Camerons Lane Interchange at the intersection of the Hume Freeway at Beveridge.

This takes the total Commonwealth Government commitment to the project to $900 million, part of our $19.2 billion investment in Victorian transport infrastructure over the next 10 years.

The Camerons Lane Interchange will support urban development in Melbourne’s north, and ensure easier access to and over the freeway.

It will be integral to the development of the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, which, once complete, will be the largest intermodal in Australia, expected to generate 20,000 jobs for the region.

The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct will transform the nation’s supply chain, lowering costs for Australian businesses and families.

It is strategically located on the Inland Rail route and will support double-stacked container services for 1,800 metre freight trains to Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane via Parkes, or directly to Sydney.

We are working closely with the Victorian Government on priority projects for the benefit of the Victorian community.

While the previous Morrison Government had a deluge of press releases with a drought of delivery, the Albanese Government is ensuring projects are properly scoped, designed and costed so they can actually be completed.

We are delivering a better future for all Australians, one made in Australia that builds economic opportunity and thriving communities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We delivered a Budget this week for every Australian, from a Government working for all Australians.

“This important Budget announcement for Victoria is focused on our national interest and building a Future Made in Australia.

“This project won’t just get Victorians moving, it’s also creating thousands of jobs.

“Being stuck in traffic doesn’t just waste precious time you could be spending with the kids, friends or just getting on with life. It’s bad for productivity too.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge will help create thousands of jobs and unlock the potential of Melbourne’s north while allowing us to work with the Victorian Government to deliver a full diamond interchange with the Hume Freeway.

“For too long, the Morrison-Joyce Government neglected Melbourne’s North – failing to deliver a single commitment for this area despite multiple promises over nine years.

“We are working for all Australians to deliver significant infrastructure that connects communities, stimulates jobs and builds the future of our nation.”

Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell:

“The Camerons Lane Interchange will unlock a huge employment multiplier to our region.

“I thank the Victorian Government for working closely with us to ensure the delivery of this and other critical projects.”

At a time of great global uncertainty, the Albanese Labor Government continues to keep Australia secure while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow, with responsible investments in all elements of our national power.

The Albanese Government is taking a whole-of-government approach to securing Australia’s place in the world. This requires the reversal of the long-term reduction in diplomatic resources and increased diplomatic efforts in areas of core national interest. We are delivering on this with further significant investments in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s capability.

The 2024-25 Budget will ensure the security of our critical diplomatic network over the long term, including our resilience to cyber threats, by investing more than $227.8 million over the forward estimates in upgrading Australia’s communications infrastructure and overseas property.

The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union, announced in November 2023, is the biggest step Australia has taken with a Pacific country since the independence of Papua New Guinea over 50 years ago. This Budget will deliver on the climate, security, development and immigration commitments under the Treaty.

In addition, the Government will commit $206.5 million over the forward estimates to respond to broader regional security and resilience needs. These measures will sustain the Government’s investment in our regional relationships in the Pacific.

The Australian Government understands that our prosperity, security and economic future is tied to our region. We continue to implement Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, including the $505.9 million already committed to deepen ties with the region. This includes a Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility to provide up to $2 billion in loans, guarantees, equity and insurance to catalyse Australian trade and investment in the region.

Strong, enforceable and effective sanctions are an important element of Australia’s foreign policy. The 2024‑25 Budget provides $26.4 million over the forward estimates to strengthen monitoring and enforcement under Australia’s sanctions framework.

Australia remains resolute in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion. The Government will sustain Ukraine’s duty-free access into Australia for a further two years, until July 2026, to support Ukraine’s economy.

International trade and investment is critical to the Australian economy, creating jobs and prosperity, and opening up opportunities for Australian businesses to expand and diversify globally. The Government is expanding the successful Australia-India Business Exchange, helping even more Australian businesses benefit from new trade and investment opportunities with India and across South Asia.

The Albanese Government will also deliver a significant investment in the Simplified Trade System to make trade faster, easier and cheaper. This $29.9 million commitment includes a new Digital Trade Accelerator Program to provide businesses with new, secure digital access to important trade data, with enhanced risk assessment so trade flows easier across our borders.

The Budget will also provide $10.9 million to expand the successful Go Global Toolkit, which offers online export information and advice to help Australian businesses expand overseas and make use of our free trade agreements.

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the benefits of trade are shared widely amongst the Australian community, by enhancing the Trade 2040 Taskforce giving business, union and community representatives an active role in the Government’s trade policy agenda.

The Budget will include $2 million for Austrade to provide additional surge support for affected Australian agricultural exporters to re-establish commercial connections in China and continue to diversify into other markets.

Australia’s vibrant tourism sector continues to bounce back as one of our largest export industries. The Government will provide ongoing funding for China’s Approved Destination Status scheme, which enables guided Chinese group travel to Australia operated by Australian providers. This measure will support the ongoing return of Chinese visitors and provide greater certainty to Australia’s tourism sector as it continues to grow into the future.

A Greens-led senate inquiry that resulted in cross-party support for a re-focus on Antarctic science at the AAD has secured its first tangible win, with an additional 120 days of dedicated marine science expeditions over two years funded in the Federal Budget. 

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

“Not only has a Greens-led senate inquiry resulted in cross-party support for a re-focus on Antarctic science at the AAD, but it has now also secured its first tangible win – with an additional 120 days of dedicated marine science expeditions over two years funded in the Federal Budget. 

“One of the inquiry’s key recommendations was that the government immediately fund between 50-100 additional shipping days per year for the Nuyina, while the government prepares a business plan for the purchase of an additional vessel to access the Antarctic.

“These additional shipping days are essential for enabling immediate and critical marine science voyages to the Antarctica and Southern Ocean, and the Greens thank the government for listening to the Senate committee and taking important steps to prioritise science at the AAD. 

“It was very timely for the Senate to scrutinise funding and governance at the AAD and do its job of providing transparency and accountability of government agencies, in addition to recommending changes. 

“More than ever our planet depends on us understanding the Antarctic region, and we can’t do that without scientists on the ice. Increasing the Nuyina’s shipping days will ensure there are no excuses for not having dedicated Antarctic and Southern Ocean science voyages. 

“It is now of critical importance that a business case is developed for acquiring a second vessel to support Australia’s presence in Antarctica, as also recommended by the Committee. 

“Our $500m state of the art icebreaker and floating science platform has been plagued with problems and delays to service since it was commissioned five years ago, and accessing a second ship – especially for logistics support – is a vital next step in ensuring our Antarctic scientists have access to the ice.”