Category: Australian News

The Full Court of the Federal Court has today unanimously dismissed Senator Hanson’s appeal against the ruling that she breached s 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Senator Faruqi’s statement on the decision is as follows:

Today, justice has prevailed.

This win today is for every single person out there who has been told ‘to go back to where you came from’, for every person who has been made to feel that their belonging to this country is conditional, for every person who has been told to sit down, shut up and be grateful that you are here.

For me, this case was always about holding racism and its perpetrators to account. It was always about taking a step to dismantle racism and the structures that uphold it. One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s racism have harmed too many for too long.

I have always stood up to bullies and I always will. Hate speech is not free speech. The Court has re-confirmed this today.

Hate speech is being normalised in this country and I for one will not be a bystander. I will stand up to hate in the streets, in the Parliament and in courtrooms. This case is about our fightback against the far right.

Today’s victory is especially important for all of us because it comes at a time when the far right is fuelling rampant racism and so many are feeling fearful as fingers are pointed at migrants and Muslims and we are demonised. It tells us that we can take on the racists and the bigots, and those who would rather see us divided than united, and we can win.

What has floored me over the past three years is the number of people who have approached me in the street, in airports, at train stations, at my local grocery shop, and told me how much this case means to them. This victory is for you.

The world has changed since this case first began. The far-right is rising here and around the world. Israel’s genocide in Gaza has continued for almost three years, and our government has attacked and vilified people protesting against the genocide rather than ending their complicity and holding Israel to account.

The seeds for One Nation and their racism have been sown by Labor, who have watched on as the wealth and profits of corporations and billionaires grow, while every day working people’s lives get harder and harder. Labor’s scapegoating and dogwhistling has also made it easier for One Nation to point fingers at migrants and Muslims and pretend that it’s all our fault.

These lies and this racism harms us, and it takes us further and further from a place where everyone feels safe, feels welcome, and has what they need to thrive.

The decision today is even more important, because we know that we are up against the far right. But we also know that if we fight, we can win. The Court has reiterated its message today that there are protections in this country against the vile racism so many of us face.

I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, my legal team, my family, my staff who have supported and encouraged me on this journey. And I want to thank everyone out th

Member for Ballina, Ms Tamara Smith MP has applauded the extraordinary level of community engagement at this week’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative drop-in sessions, saying the turnout demonstrates just how important future flood mitigation remains to local communities.

Hundreds of residents across the Northern Rivers attended sessions in Kyogle, Casino, Lismore, Ballina, and Woodburn to talk about the findings of the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative’s recent report, published in June.

“Four years on from the catastrophic 2022 floods, people remain deeply invested in finding solutions that actually protect our community and livelihoods,” Ms Smith said.

Ms Smith said the sessions also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between the scientific work undertaken by CSIRO and the important policy decisions that now confront governments.

“The CSIRO’s role was to develop a sophisticated hydraulic model of the Richmond River catchment and use it to test a range of flood mitigation scenarios.”

“The modelling tells us what is technically possible, but it is the government’s role alongside communities to decide which options deliver the best overall outcome for our community and future generations.”

Ms Smith said the value of the work extends well beyond the specific projects examined in the report.

“For the first time, we have a catchment-wide modelling tool that allows decision makers to test ideas and see their impact before making major investments.”

“That capability will be priceless as we continue adapting our communities to future flood risk, whether we’re assessing these proposals or completely different ones in the years ahead.”

Ms Smith acknowledged that the sessions brought together people from all walks of life with different perspectives about how the Northern Rivers should respond to future flooding.

“Flood policy is deeply personal in our region, it affects people’s homes, businesses and the environment. During these sessions, there were clearly strongly held and often competing views, and that’s understandable. These important conversations have a vital role to play in ensuring that future flood adaptation plans are community centred and informed by the best available scientific data.”

Ms Smith said the report and our community should help inform what is ultimately a broader public policy discussion.

“Science can help us understand what may reduce flood impacts, but it can’t tell us what governments should prioritise.”

“Those difficult decisions require policy makers to weigh up costs, environmental impacts, agricultural impacts, community expectations, and the number of homes that could be better protected.”

“It’s important that these conversations continue to happen outside of these sessions, where people and governments ask themselves, what will bring the best possible outcome to a scenario that will continue to impact communities here in the Northern Rivers and across Australia.”

“Do we invest primarily in large-scale flood mitigation infrastructure, or should more funding go towards house raising, adaptations and stronger planning controls? Is the right answer a combination of all of these or something else entirely.”

“These are difficult questions and conversations but can now be based on a combination of personal experiences and far stronger scientific data than we’ve ever had before.”

The NSW Net Zero Commission’s annual report, released today, finds NSW has fallen even further behind on its legislated emissions targets while NSW Labor has been in Government.

The report singles out data centres as a key harm to NSW’s emissions reductions obligations.

Current policies will see only a 44 per cent reduction by 2030 and 56 per cent by 2035, according to the Net Zero Emissions Dashboard updated on Wednesday. The gap has widened from the 46 per cent by 2030 and 62 per cent by 2035 expected a year ago, which was in turn worse than when the NSW government first revealed it was on track to miss the targets in 2024.

Abigail Boyd MP, Greens NSW MLC and Chair of the Public Accountability and Works Committee which is inquiring into Data Centres in NSW:

“I forced the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to admit that way back in 2024 they formally warned the Minister for Climate Change, Penny Sharpe, that data centre developments were going to directly imperil us meeting our legislated emissions reduction targets. The NSW Labor government, after hearing that advice, decided to put their foot on the accelerator for these environmentally disastrous projects.

“The NSW Labor government is engaged in profound climate vandalism in their pursuit of extra marks on some illusory economic measures, inflated investment figures that will ultimately flow offshore and the appearance of economic prosperity on paper. Meanwhile, the real and profound harms of their decisions will be experienced by local communities.

“The Net Zero Commission has already foundthat NSW income per capita is approximately 18% lower than it would have been without past human-induced climate change, equating to more than $20,000 per year per capita. An economic loss of $180 billion in 2024 alone. These figures dwarf any illusory economic benefit of big tech investment.

Referring to Cloud Carrier’s proposed gas-fired power project, to power its planned Southern Highlands Data Centre, Boyd said “Right now, there is a data centre project being considered by the planning system that would, if approved, wipe out the entirety of NSW’s projected 2028 emissions cuts. There are 44 data centres in the NSW development pipeline as at 31 March 2026, totalling 11.4 GW — roughly four Eraring coal stations of 2.88GW, or more than double the size of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone of 4.5GW. There is simply not enough renewable energy to serve this demand, while also decarbonising the rest of our society.

“Climate impacts of these projects must be paramount. But right now, the Labor government is choosing big tech and fossil fuel industries, not community health, safety and wellbeing, and locking us into a fossil fuel intensive, climate-disastrous future.

“While big tech is promising us the moon, it could end up costing us the earth. We need a moratorium on AI data centre developments.”

The Australian Greens thank Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil for their years of leadership and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of working Australians and to pushing for progressive reform.

Their tenure saw the ACTU lead the union movement in fearlessly advocating for workers, helping build campaigns that delivered real improvements to wages, rights, and workplace protections.

The Greens have proudly worked alongside the ACTU and the unions they represent to move the government and secure:

• marriage equality 
• a fairer minimum wage
• protect climate funding from Coalition attacks 
• the right to disconnect for workers
• stronger intractable bargaining laws
• criminal penalties for wage and super theft
• extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks
• the inclusion of super in paid parental leave
• paid family and domestic violence leave
• a positive duty for employers to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination
• pay increases for ECEC and aged care workers

Lines attributable to Leader of the Australian Greens, Larissa Waters:

“Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil have been strong voices for workers who led the union movement with courage, principle and compassion. They have been a powerful duo for almost a decade, and I’m so proud to have had two strong women leading the union movement.

“The Greens are proud to have worked alongside the ACTU to stop governments putting the interests of big corporations ahead of people’s rights at work.

“We also proudly worked together on campaigns that changed lives, and remain very close to my heart. Extending Paid Parental Leave to 26 weeks and the inclusion of super, paid family and domestic violence leave, legislating a positive duty to prevent workplace sexual harassment and discrimination, and supporting the ECEC and aged care worker pay rises have all left women and all Australian workers better off.

“The union movement is strongest when it is bold, independent and willing to put workers’ rights ahead of vested interests. Sally and Michele have embodied that spirit in their leadership pushing the Albanese Labor government to implement a minimum 25% tax on gas exports and for action to address the housing crisis.

“We are entering what could be the most challenging period for Australian workers in recent history. Workers are producing more wealth than ever before but corporate profits increasingly eat into their share of the pie, and AI threatens to widen this gap even further. 

“It will be the task of the ACTU’s new leadership to hold governments to account, demand a good living for workers and refuse to allow political parties to tinker and capitulate to vested interests. 

The Greens look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the ACTU under its future leadership, and wish Sally and Michele a wonderful next chapter after their incredible leadership.” 

Australian Greens spokesperson for finance, employment and workplace relations, Senator Barbara Pocock: 

“Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil leave behind a powerful legacy. They have fought hard to improve job security and address low pay. Their leadership has helped narrow the gender pay gap. 

“They have led with conviction and set the stage for the next generation of strong union leaders. 

“Personally, I have long admired their shared, steadfast commitment to collective solidarity, the principled way they have undertaken their leadership alongside each other, and especially their efforts to protect workers during COVID.”

“Anthony Albanese’s hidden divorce and death tax that secretly passed the Parliament should be scrapped immediately, just like he committed to repeal his secret widow’s tax”, said Shadow Treasurer, Tim Wilson.

Mr Wilson’s comments follow reports in the Sunday Telegraph / Herald Sun that grieving and vulnerable families will be hit with a hefty capital gains tax bill on the death of a loved one or at the point of a divorce without their assets ever being sold.

“Anthony Albanese’s Budget was full of hidden tax landmines for small businesses and families, and now families grieving from deaths and divorces are being targeted. Every time one of Anthony Albanese’ tax landmines detonates it is everyday Australians who are its target”, Mr Wilson said. 

“First, it was a death tax on family trusts, then a widow’s tax, and now we learn CGT can be triggered on death or divorce that are currently exempt, and even when a property is never sold”.

“Tax experts have called the legislation ‘extraordinary’, and warned Treasury the drafting could lead to their divorce and death tax being hard for grieving clients to avoid”.

“The Albanese government’s Budget has been an unfolding trainwreck of shoddy measures and tax grabs, with everyday Australians who work hard targeted”.

“The Albanese government has said its secret divorce and death tax is “under review”. That is code that they thought they could sneak a divorce and death tax through, they got caught, and now they’re trying to disarm the landmine they laid”. 

“That’s the same excuse we heard on the widow’s tax, before Labor was humiliated into repealing it within hours of being exposed”.

“Anthony Albanese must come clean, and scrap his secret death and divorce tax immediately”, Mr Wilson said. 

Working families are in a stronger financial position today than they would otherwise be because of the tireless advocacy and strong leadership of Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil.

Sally and Michele secured incredible successes for working people in their eight years together leading Australia’s union movement – the first all-female leadership team in the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ 99-year history. 

It is fitting that Sally and Michele announce they’re stepping down from their respective positions at a time when there have been significant wage increases in critical and long-undervalued sectors, the gender pay gap is at a record low and union membership is growing for the first time in decades.

The announcement also comes mere days after Sally and Michele’s valued contributions at the 50th Australian Labor Party National Conference, a gathering which strongly backed working families to earn more and keep more of what they earn.

Personally, I will miss the friendship and support these two giants of the labour movement have offered me over many years, but especially since I became Labor Leader in 2019 and then Prime Minister is 2022. 

I wish both Sally and Michele all the very best in wherever their next paths lead and look forward to working with the new leadership team of the ACTU once they’re in place.

The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments have announced they will kick off investigations into building a new oil refinery in Western Australia. The project is proposed by Perdaman, and would help strengthen energy security in Australia.

The Prime Minister and Premier travelled to Karratha to announce they will conduct a jointly funded $4 million pre-feasibility study for a new large-scale oil refinery, which would be built by Perdaman.

This refinery would create thousands of jobs, boost the local economy and help to secure Australia’s fuel security, particularly diesel for regional communities in WA.

The Perdaman facility could be the first new large-scale petrol refinery built in Australia since the 1960s, creating a major boost to local jobs and manufacturing as part of the Cook Labor Government’s Made in WA plan and the Albanese Labor Government’s Future Made in Australia plan.

Australia currently has two refineries, in Brisbane, Queensland and Geelong, Victoria, after four refineries closed under the former Coalition Government.

This is the first agreement to be signed as part of the Albanese Government’s $10 million support for feasibility studies into new or expanded fuel refining capabilities, building on work with current refinery operators to retain current refining capability in the decade beyond 2030.

The study is part of the $15 billion Federal Government package to secure Australia’s fuel security now and ensure our energy sovereignty into the future. This package includes: 

• $7.5 billion for the establishment of a Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility to increase supply and storage of fuel and fertiliser.
• $3.2 billion to establish a Government-owned Australian Fuel Security Reserve of around a billion litres focussed on diesel and jet fuel.
• A 10-day uplift to the Minimum Stockholding Obligation for petrol, diesel and jet fuel.
• $3.3 billion to reduce the fuel excise and slash the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge for four months to help with the cost of living.
• $1 billion in interest free loans through the National Reconstruction Fund’s Economic Resilience Program, to provide cashflow relief to manufacturing and logistics businesses in critical supply chains.

The announcement was made by the Prime Minister and Premier while visiting Perdaman’s Project Ceres in Karratha, which will produce around 2.3 million tonnes of urea each year, when fully operational.

Project Ceres is supported by Government loans of around $475 million for the project and supporting infrastructure. It is estimated that the project will create 2,500 jobs during construction, 200 ongoing jobs when it is up and running and estimated to deliver $8.5 billion in public benefit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The longer war in the Middle East goes on the greater the impact on Australia will be, and my Government will continue to do everything we can to shield Australia from the worst effects – and set us up for the future.

“My Government’s working to advance Australia’s interests – not just in this crisis but going forward as well to ensure we can meet future challenges.”

Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook:

“My government’s steady and experienced leadership has helped make Western Australia’s economy the strongest in the nation.

“It has allowed us to put WA first and prioritise getting fuel in bowsers during the war in Iran. 

“Now, as part of my government’s Made in WA plan, I am proud to join the Albanese Labor Government to support Perdaman’s efforts to rebuild our State’s capacity to produce and distribute its own fuel.

“This includes diesel to support the regional communities which drive WA’s economy and which have been most at risk amid this conflict.

“While many Western Australians remain anxious about our State’s fuel security, we are doing everything it can to address these concerns by working with the Commonwealth to provide steady and experienced leadership and continue delivering our Made in WA plan.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:

“At a time when overseas conflicts demonstrate the fragility of energy supply chains, investing in further onshore sovereign fuel refining capability is a sensible and prudent response to secure our energy security.

“Our Government will continue to work hard to ensure fuel supply remains secure now, while working with all states and territories to build a more sovereign and secure energy system for our country for decades to come.”

Western Australian Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

 “The Cook Labor Government’s nation-leading response to the fuel crisis has shored up supply and kept WA moving.

“A fuel refinery in the west will build further resilience into our energy system, keeping our $90 billion mining industry running and securing our economy against future shocks.

“I’m pleased that the Albanese Government is listening and delivering for Western Australians.”

The Australian Government has raised the travel advice level for Bahrain and Kuwait due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.

Travel advice for both countries has been raised to Level 4, ‘Do not travel’. Bahrain and Kuwait now join Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen as ‘Do not travel’ destinations.

The situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable. Military strikes are intensifying in a number of locations in the region. There is a risk of further escalation.

Australians in ‘Do not travel’ countries should consider leaving if safe to do so and while commercial flights remain available.

Travel advice for the remaining countries in the Middle East region is set at Level 3, ‘Reconsider your need to travel’. This includes Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Jordan.

We understand many Australians continue to travel through major transit hubs in the region in order to get to other destinations.

We urge Australians with travel plans through Level 3 countries to strongly consider whether their plans are essential.

Airspace may close at short notice. Flights can be cancelled with little warning. Borders can close. Phone and internet access may be disrupted. You could become stranded for extended periods.

Smartraveller keeps all travel advice under constant review and levels could change at short notice.

Australians in the region and those looking to travel should subscribe to Smartraveller.gov.au to keep up to date.

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact DFAT’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 (if calling from overseas).

The independent Net Zero Commission’s Annual Report released today warns NSW is further away from meeting its legislated emissions reductions targets than it was last year as new coal extensions and data centres put net zero further out of reach.

The Net Zero Commission is calling for stronger planning controls to account for emissions reductions targets in assessment of developments, and has warned that any new coal expansions are incompatible with the state’s binding emissions reductions targets.

Greens MP and Environment Spokesperson Sue Higginson said,“The Net Zero Commission’s striking report reveals that New South Wales is not on track to meet our legislated emissions reductions targets, and that dangerously we are actually getting further away year-on-year,

“Labor Premier Chris Minns went to the last election promising strong action on climate, but instead his Government has approved 11 new coal projects, in contradiction of the climate science and of his own climate legal framework,

“The Net Zero Commission has been unequivocal in its denunciation of the Minns Labor Government’s reckless NSW Coal Industry Strategy, the idea we can approve new coal extensions and expansions whilst reducing coal emissions is a dangerous fiction,

“People are losing trust in our planning system which is allowing so much harm and driving climate pollution emissions up rather than down. It’s clear that the system is structured to deliver for corporate lobbyists, whether it’s the Premier’s mentor Morris Iemma, his Minerals Council friend Stephen Galilee, and the proponents of data centres,

“The Net Zero Commission has been clear that climate impacts must be accounted for as the paramount concern in planning decisions, whether it is coal, gas, data centres or any other kind of development,

“Former Supreme Court Justice Basten has warned that our planning system’s approach to new coal is legally erroneous and contrary to our international obligations, it is time for the Premier to see the writing on the wall and announce an end to new coal and a moratorium on data centres and change the settings,” Ms Higginson said.

The Prime Minister has been quick to reassure his gas industry mates that Labor’s draft platform commitment to a “fair return on natural resources” won’t actually mean multinational gas corporations paying their fair share via an export tax, said Greens resources spokesperson Senator Steph Hodgins-May: 

“Albanese has wasted no time rushing to appease his gas industry mates and calm them down over even the most watered-down commitment to a fair return on our resources in his party’s platform.

“The fact he has to run cover ahead of time for such a piss-weak commitment shows just how anxious the gas industry is, and just how in bed with them Labor is.

“Albanese has once again decided that the voices of a majority of Australians and even their own members matter less to them than the gas lobby.

“The Prime Minister has claimed that ‘a fair return on our resources’ doesn’t have anything to do with a tax on gas exports, which raises the question of what exactly he thinks it does mean – because what we’re seeing now under Labor is far from fair.

“‘Now isn’t the right time,’ is straight from the gas lobby’s playbook. It’s funny how it’s never the right time for multinational gas corporations to pay their fair share. 

“Labor is all talk and no action. Words by themselves do not lower power bills or provide cost-of-living relief to families doing it tough.

“Until a gas export tax is legislated and multinational gas corporations are actually paying their fair share, this groundswell will only grow larger and stronger. 

“The Greens will keep fighting alongside the majority of Australians until we see a minimum 25 per cent tax on gas exports all the way to the next election”