Category: Australian News

Today I announce diplomatic appointments to lead Australian posts in Chengdu, Guangzhou, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Tonga, Phuket and the Republic of Chile.

These appointments strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and its prosecution of our national interests around the globe.

I am pleased to announce the following appointments:

• Ms Meaghan Shaw as Australia’s next Consul-General in Chengdu.
• Dr Timothy Kendall as Australia’s next Consul-General in Guangzhou.
• Mr Ian McConville as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Ms Rosemary Morris-Castico as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain.
• Mr Brek Batley as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga.
• Ms Kirsten Fletcher as Australia’s Consul-General in Phuket.
• Mr Andrew Martin as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Chile.

I thank the outgoing ambassadors, high commissioner and consuls-general for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in these countries during their respective tenures.

Ahead of the Education Ministers Meeting this week the Greens say they will use their numbers in the Senate to push Labor to end systemic underfunding and save our public schools.

Federal Labor has doubled down on its refusal to increase its share of public school funding to 25%, despite calls from the states, teachers unions and the Greens to do so.

With Labor saying it will introduce legislation to lock in new funding deals, and the Coalition ideologically opposed to public education, the Greens are likely to be in balance of power on any future bills.

The Greens will use their numbers to fight for 100% SRS funding to all public schools by January 2025, an end to the public overfunding of wealthy private schools and ongoing capital funding from the Commonwealth.

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

“Labor can easily find another $50 billion to spend on war but are crying poor when it comes to providing an extra $3 billion a year to invest in the education of our kids.

“The Greens already have a bill before the Senate that would axe the so-called 20% cap on Commonwealth funding of schools and replace it with a floor of 25%. This is what the states and the unions are calling for and it’s what Labor could deliver if it backed our bill.

“But even if we get to 100% of the SRS, we need to be very clear that this is not full funding by any measure. It’s not even the bare minimum.

“The SRS is based on the funding a school needs to get 80% of students above the minimum NAPLAN standard. Calling that ‘full funding’ isn’t just misleading, it’s an out-and-out lie.

“We need to end overfunding of privileged private schools and ensure that our public system is fully funded, fully staffed and inclusive for all students.”

World Immunisation Week (24 – 30 April) is a timely reminder for everyone in Australia to book their annual flu vaccination.

Free vaccines are now available for people most at risk of complications through the Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program. For those not eligible, you can purchase a vaccine through your immunisation provider.

People can get their vaccine at general practices, pharmacies, and immunisation clinics – and in many cases, at their workplace.

Although we can’t predict the 2024 flu season, we can look at, and learn from, key outcomes from the 2023 season.

Last year, the highest notification rates for flu were in children under 14 years. But concerningly, the vaccine uptake was very low in this population group.

In good news, the 2023 vaccine was very effective at protecting people from needing to go to hospital or visit their GP.

Children under 5 years of age are at increased risk of getting severely ill or dying from the flu.

In Australia, 39 people died from the flu last year – and of these, 9 were children younger than 16 years. This was higher than the number of flu-associated deaths in children in 2022 and in many pre-COVID-19 pandemic years.

This is a tragic reminder that the flu is not the common cold, which people often mistake it for. It is a serious virus that can cause severe illness, hospitalisation and death among otherwise healthy children and adults.

I encourage everyone 6 months of age or over to get vaccinated against the flu. It could save your life!

People eligible for free flu vaccine doses include children aged 6 months to under 5 years, pregnant people, First Nations Australians, people aged 65 years or older and people with certain medical conditions that put them at greater risk.

For convenience and if recommended, COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must make a series of major changes to his Government’s proposed religious discrimination laws to address the severe concerns of Australian faith leaders that the controversial package of legislation will be a backwards step for religious schools and communities.

Shadow Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash said: “I have consulted widely with faith leaders across the country in the past few weeks and what is apparent from the feedback of those leaders who have been consulted by the Government is that they do not support the bills as proposed.’’

“They have raised numerous areas of concern with me and want the government to make changes,’’ Senator Cash said.

“For example, faith leaders have consistently told me that the Federal laws would be irrelevant if they do not afford protections from State and Territory laws that seek to erode religious freedoms,’’ she said.

“The Prime Minister should guarantee that religious schools are able to ensure that their staff members’ conduct and behaviour adheres to the school’s religious ethos,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Hundreds of thousands of Australian families choose to educate their children in faith-based schools, and that choice ought to be respected,’’ Senator Cash said.

“It is worrying that the Government seems inclined to adopt changes that would leave religious schools with a potentially huge and ongoing exposure to litigation risk,’’ she said.

“It is even more worrying that they seem intent on doubling down on these changes byputting forward legislation that ensures that, in almost all cases, schools will end up paying for the costs of that litigation. These costs will inevitably be passed on to parents.’’ Senator Cash said.

“Faith leaders have clearly told us how their ability to educate in accordance with their faith is being cut away, slice by slice, by state and territory governments – and that this affects not only their places of worship but their ability to build communities based on clear values in the thousands of faith-based schools across Australia,’’ she said.

“It is gravely concerning that the Government seems prepared to wash its hands of this issue. It has given no indication it will adopt any type of positive protections that might address these concerns,” Senator Cash said.

“To the contrary, the Government has indicated it will move away from the positive language that it previously supported in Parliament when it voted on the Coalition’s 2022 Bill. Instead, it appears set on dealing with religion almost as an “exception” to discrimination laws. This has been a long-term issue for faith leaders, who do not see freedom of a religion as a mere exception, but instead as a fundamental human right that is protected under international law,’’ she said.

“It is time for Mr Albanese to release his religious discrimination legislation for public scrutiny and stop trying to govern behind closed doors. Australians deserve better,’’ Senator Cash said.

Today’s increase in the unemployment rate to 3.8% is another worrying sign for Australians struggling with the cost-of-living crisis under the Albanese Government.

The March 2024 labour force figures saw nearly 7,000 jobs lost across the economy. There are 57,000 more people unemployed now than a year ago, and youth unemployment is stubbornly higher than it was when Labor came to office.

There are now more people unemployed than there were at the last election.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Australians are facing uncertain economic times, with no solutions from the Albanese Labor Government.

“Australians are paying the price for the Albanese Labor Government’s economic mismanagement.

“Household budgets being smashed by higher prices, higher mortgage repayments and higher taxes, and people are working harder for less.

“On top of that, there are now more unemployed people than at the last Federal Election, and a record number of people are working multiple jobs just to keep their heads above water.

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said she was particularly concerned that the labour force figures showed a significant increase in the number of Australians who are unemployed.

“The March 2024 figures show an increase of 21,000 unemployed Australians in a single month. We now have 57,000 more unemployed people in this country than a year ago.” Senator Cash said.

“Instead of trying to encourage the hiring of more Australians, the Albanese Government has created extreme uncertainty for businesses through its industrial relations changes,” Senator Cash said.

“Businesses are extremely confused about new laws surrounding the employment of casual workers, and about their ability to contact employees outside work hours after Labor’s ‘right to disconnect’ changes.” she said.

“I am also concerned that the Albanese Government is focused on an internal ideological debate about our employment services system rather that actually trying to get Australians into jobs.” Senator Cash said.

“It is worth noting the warning delivered by Gary Banks, the founding chair of the Productivity Commission, about the anti-productivity policies of the Albanese Government,’’ she said.

Mr Banks wrote today that: ‘provisions locking in past agreements and unions effectively having veto power over innovations, legislative provisions to restore industry-wide bargaining and to control non-permanent (read non-unionised) work arrangements – will diminish the scope for the win-win enterprise deals that are needed and see more production decision-making influenced by the regulator’.

According to the data, 2022-23 saw the worst average emergency department wait times in a decade, while the wait times for elective surgery have almost doubled compared to 20 years ago.

Capacity has also reached critical levels, with the proportion of public hospital beds available for every Australian over 65 at an all-time low of 14.3 beds per 1000 population.

This comes as the Coalition has been calling on the Government to take urgent action to fix the primary healthcare crisis, which we know is only adding further pressure to our already strained hospital systems.

Last year, we saw more than 1.2 million Australians avoid going to a GP due to concern over cost, as bulk bulling rates collapsed to decade lows.

Since then, we know that out-of-pocket costs have continued to rise to the highest level on record, which means it has literally never been more expensive to see a GP.

It has also never been harder, with the serious impact of the current workforce crisis being felt in GP practices and aged care facilities across the country.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the data released today is extremely concerning, but she has been warning the Government that this serious situation is pushing more and more people towards hospitals and blowing out wait times.

“Our primary care system is key in preventing Australians from needing emergency hospital support, but we know Australians are not only having trouble accessing a GP, but they’re also struggling to afford one.

“At the same time, critical workforce shortages are putting significant strain on our aged care facilities as they struggle to meet the Government’s new rigid staffing requirements.

“Aged care providers are also integral in freeing up hospital beds, but the Government has abandoned them amongst these challenges,” Senator Ruston said.

The Coalition continues to call on the Government to implement a national and comprehensive workforce strategy for the entire care sector, as the only way to adequately deal with these pressures.

The Albanese Labor Government must also take decisive action to address the primary care crisis, including by standing up to state premiers on GP payroll taxes.

Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson, says the Albanese Government is reaping dividends from the misery of escalating student debt, with ATO data revealing Australians paid a record $2.9 billion in voluntary HELP debt repayments in 2022-23, up from $780 million in the previous year.

As a result of Labor’s sky high inflation, the 2022-23 HELP indexation rate was 7.1 per cent, triggering a 272 per cent increase in voluntary repayments.

“Hit by a crippling 7.1 per cent increase in their student debts, 164,000 Australians made voluntary repayments averaging $17,636 in an attempt to pay down or pay off their debt,” Senator Henderson said.

“Despite this surge in repayments to the Commonwealth, Education Minister Jason Clare has sat on his hands taking no action on crippling increases in student debt caused by Labor’s economic mismanagement.

“After an indexation rise of 3.9 per cent in June 2022 and 7.1 per cent in June 2023, HELP loans are forecast to rise by at least 4 per cent this June. This is in stark contrast to annual indexation under the former Coalition government which averaged just 1.7 per cent.

“Since Labor was elected, 3 million Australians with an average HELP liability of $26,494 are facing a total increase in their student debt of at least 15 per cent – an increase of around $4,000,” Senator Henderson said.

There are also growing numbers of very high student loans with the latest data showing 335,293 Australians owe more than $50,000 and 47,847 Australians owe more than $100,000.

“Minister Clare’s lack of action on student debt is abysmal. He has even failed to fix the inequitable ATO HELP payments system which doesn’t account for debt repayments in real time. This is so inequitable that Australians are being indexed on debts they have already repaid.

“While more and more Australians are caught in a student debt trap, Labor has been tone deaf to the cost of living crisis so many young people are facing. It is no wonder domestic university enrolments have fallen by five per cent, compounded by the housing crisis which is putting tertiary study out of reach for so many young Australians,” Senator Henderson said.

Reports today that the Treasurer asked his department for advice on changes to the stage three tax cuts as early as June 2022 raises serious questions about the Albanese Labor Government’s integrity and credibility.

The Prime Minister and Treasurer said on at least 100 occasions they had no plans for changes since the May 2022 election.

The Prime Minister repeatedly claimed earlier this year that his government only sought advice over the summer break.

But FOI documents revealed today suggest the Treasurer sought advice just a couple of weeks after the Albanese Labor Government was sworn in.

It is abundantly clear that Labor says one thing to Australians, while doing the complete opposite behind the scenes.

Voters have a right to ask what else the government has been lying about.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Australians deserve better.

“This is an egregious breach of trust.

“The Coalition’s stage three tax cuts were part of a broader tax reform package designed to tackle bracket creep. The policy went to two Federal Elections.

“Labor’s changes are literally banking on bracket creep, with Treasury’s own forecasts showing it will cost Australians an extra $28 billion in taxes over the next 10 years.

“To add insult to injury, the government is spending $40 million of taxpayers’ money on a spin unit to sell its broken promise. It also appears from reports that the government has spent significant taxpayer funds to block FOI requests.

“The Coalition is the party of lower, simpler, fairer taxes and we will never stand in the way of tax cuts.

“But the way Labor has gone about this – by robbing Peter to pay Paul – and lying to Australians about it is unacceptable.”

Prime Minister Albanese has officially opened Mackay’s Riverside Revitalisation Project which has transformed the former industrial precinct into a destination locals and visitors alike can explore and enjoy.

The $9.7 million project was jointly funded with the Australian Government investing $4.1 million and the Mackay Regional Council investing $5.6 million.

The Prime Minister visited Mackay this morning to join Mayor Greg Williamson, Councillors, council CEO Scott Owen and other stakeholders for the official opening.

The revitalisation includes the recently completed Pioneer River Pontoon at Bluewater Quay and the nearby River Wharves public area.

The opening included a ribbon cutting at the pontoon, where a Wildcat boat was moored, and a tour of River Wharves.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I am delighted to be in Mackay to open this important revitalisation of the riverside.

“Parents with their kids, locals enjoying their beautiful river and tourists visiting this great part of the world will benefit from this revitalisation for so many years to come.”

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

“The Mackay Riverside Revitalisation is a great example of the Australian Government working in partnership to deliver critical local community infrastructure.

“This facility provides a new leisure, commercial and tourism offering to support the Mackay Waterfront project and bring fresh life to a former industrial precinct.”

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson:

“Both projects have provided improved public access to the wonderful Pioneer River and were part of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA).

“These projects will be catalysts for future projects, including private investment, along the riverfront.

“For example, Renew Mackay has recently unveiled plans for a major commercial and residential development on the Brisbane Street car park site adjacent to Bluewater Quay.

“The council-owned building at 8 River Street is also currently being demolished. It will be a prime site for redevelopment and in the interim will also be able to be activated for the community.”

Anzac Day is our nation’s most important commemoration, when we remember and acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Australians who have fought in wars and conflicts since the Gallipoli campaign which began on 25 April 1915.

One Nation pays its deepest respects to our men and women in the Australian Defence Force, both past and present. For us Anzac Day always has been, and always should be, a day of profound national significance.

As this article is being written, the drums of war are sounding and the world is a much more dangerous place. The conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine threaten to expand and engulf more countries (Iran has become directly involved by attacking Israel), while communist China has grown much more belligerent about its claims on a free Taiwan.

On the eve of Anzac Day, Australia is once again at risk of being drawn into a war, and that prompts some important questions: what would be our role in a wider conflict involving our allies, what capabilities can we bring to the fight and – perhaps most importantly – exactly what are we defending and why should it be defended? For what reason should young Australians volunteer to serve and defend the nation and its interests?

If history is any guide, Australians will most likely be put in harm’s way on foreign shores thousands of miles away in support of our allies. As our Anzac tradition demonstrates, Australians have never been afraid to fight and sacrifice for a cause they believe is just.

It could be argued there is much for us to defend. Australia has substantial natural resources and agricultural output that many nations rightly envy, and potentially this makes us a target. Our relative distance and isolation from global flashpoints make us a very difficult target, but this is not just about defending territory. It’s also about defending sovereignty, principles and freedom, and supporting allies who would also defend us if the need arose. Armies and navies have always been required to defend the sovereignty that enables democracies like Australia. As Thomas Jefferson famously said, the tree of liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots. The Second World War proved that beyond any doubt: perhaps 60 million people died, including almost 30,000 Australians, in the fight to defend freedom against tyranny.

It was almost 80 years ago when that terrible war ended. Today, the ADF’s needs are very different than those of the Second World War. Today it needs highly motivated, intelligent people capable of being trained in highly specialised technical, tactical and strategic disciplines of narrow scope. The question is: who among today’s generation of young Australians is capable? Pauline Hanson makes a point of consulting both the leadership and the ‘rank and file’ of the ADF, and they universally tell her they don’t favour conscripting unwilling personnel who wouldn’t be as committed as they are. They’re not keen on having young people with that tremendous and unrealistic sense of entitlement that seems so prevalent these days. Defending Australia is very hard work, even in peacetime, and requires discipline and commitment.

But something must be done, and soon. Our overall defence posture is in an appalling state. Our modern weapon stocks are low, our platforms (ships, tanks etc) are ageing and in need of replacement, and we are falling far short in personnel recruitment – we can’t even fully crew our current submarine fleet of only six vessels.

This prompts another question: with Labor and Green leaders routinely shaming and bagging our nation and the values which built and defended it, why would the young people believing these lies even be motivated to put on a uniform? For what values or cause would they fight, if not their own nation and its people? Conversely, why would any sensible young Australian fight for a country essentially remade in the perverse image envisioned by the extremist woke left, as Labor and the Greens are trying their hardest to do?

Anthony Albanese better think long and hard about what he is doing to our national ethos and the impression of our nation he is giving to young Australians, as this young generation is the group he will call to war for nice photo opportunities and to show he is the leader we all wished he was.  And as those drums of war beat, we have one thing and one thing alone to fear: Anthony Albanese’s ideology.

Once again, the service and sacrifice of the Anzacs offers the answer and the example he, and we, should follow. That’s why we hold Anzac Day in the highest regard. At the going down of the sun – and in the morning – we will remember them. Lest we forget.