Category: Australian News

The Albanese Government is sharpening Australia’s approach to sports diplomacy to harness Australia’s sporting prowess and advance the national interest.

In response to the first periodic review of 2019’s Sports Diplomacy 2030 strategy, the Government is giving national sporting organisations and peak bodies a seat at the table, reflecting their central role in advancing Australia’s interests through sport.

Under the new arrangements, a number of internationally-focused national sporting organisations and peak bodies are being invited to join a new Sports Diplomacy Consultative Group, coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This will provide a regular forum to discuss strategic and economic opportunities and risks in international sport, including upcoming events in Australia and offshore, and the ways in which government and the sport sector can work together to advance shared priorities.

This group replaces the Sports Diplomacy Advisory Council, in response to review consultations that indicated a consultative mechanism would provide stronger links between key sporting organisations and the Government.

The Consultative Group will be complemented by a newly-established Annual Sports Diplomacy Roundtable, where a broad range of stakeholders from the sports sector will be invited to participate and share their perspectives to help shape the future of sports diplomacy.

The Albanese Government is also updating the Sports Diplomacy 2030 strategy, to maximise Australia’s advantage from the “green and gold decade” of major sporting events in Australia leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The updated Strategy will also ensure Australia’s sports diplomacy approach aligns with the new National Sport Strategy, currently being developed by the Office for Sport in the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Together, the updated strategy, consultative group and annual roundtable will enable Australia to maximise outcomes of sports diplomacy efforts to advance Australia’s interests.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:

“Sport is one of Australia’s strengths. The Albanese Government is using all elements of national power to increase Australia’s influence in an ever more competitive world.

“This new approach will see greater partnership and coordination between our diplomats and our sports diplomats.”

Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:

“Sport bonds people, providing a powerful platform for strengthening communities here and abroad while also promoting our national interests on the global stage.

“As we head towards Brisbane 2032, we will be hosting some of the world’s largest sporting events, providing us with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Australian excellence and expertise in innovation, tourism, services and products.”

Cricket Australia CEO, Nick Hockley:

“Cricket Australia supports strengthening Australia’s international standing and advancing our national interests through a long-term Sports Diplomacy Strategy.

“The initiative aligns with our strategic objective to support the growth of the game globally, while facilitating bilateral trade and investment opportunities and strengthening people-to-people links through the power of sport.”

Tennis Australia CEO, Craig Tiley:

“The emotion, drama, and humanity of sport have a unique power to bring people together like few other things can. Major sporting events, such as the Australian Open, captivate global audiences and create shared experiences that transcend borders and cultures, enabling us to connect with other nations on a deeper level.

“We look forward to working with the government on establishing a new sports diplomacy group to help enhance international relations as well as promote mutual understanding and collaboration. By harnessing the unifying power of sport, we can build bridges and foster goodwill among diverse communities worldwide.”

Treasury has confirmed that corporations are price gouging and agreed that intergenerational inequality is a concern, but Labor remains in denial, the Greens say.

During Senate Estimates this morning, Treasury Secretary Dr Steven Kennedy agreed that some firms are price gouging, but Labor Minister Katy Gallagher refused to agree.

“The RBA Governor, US President, economists in the OECD, the IMF, the Bank of England, the Federal Reserve and now Australia’s Treasury Secretary all agree that corporations are price gouging, yet Labor remains in denial,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“It’s beyond obvious that some corporations are price gouging, but until Labor admits there’s a problem it can’t possibly solve it.”

“Corporate donations shouldn’t impact on government policies, but it’s hard to escape the conclusion that they are.”

“It’s time for laws to make price gouging illegal.”

Dr Kennedy also acknowledged that intergenerational inequality is a problem. 

“Interest rate rises mean that younger people are spending less while older people are spending more, yet Labor continues to use young people as canon fodder in the war on inflation.”

“Labor is smashing young people to try to solve a problem they didn’t cause with a strategy that’s not working.”
 
“From the climate crisis to the housing crisis, young people’s lives and futures are being held to ransom by today’s decisions.”

“It is small comfort to have the Treasury Secretary acknowledge these problems, but the Government he advises seems intent on making the problems worse.”

“Labor has no plans to fix price gouging, they are opening new coal and gas mines, and they have let the housing market fall to pieces and turbo-charged the money siphon from the young to the old.”

“It’s long past time they got serious about tackling the problems that young people face.”

As Russia intensifies its brutal attacks on the people of Ukraine, the Albanese Government will provide a further $31 million of assistance to help meet Ukraine’s energy and humanitarian needs.

Australia is unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is providing more than $1 billion in total assistance, including $880 million in military support.

The new contribution includes $20 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which will allow funds to be used efficiently and effectively to provide heat and electricity for Ukrainians.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund was jointly established by the European Commission and Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy. The Fund coordinates international donations, and in partnership with Ukraine’s Government, ensures contributions meet Ukraine’s highest priority energy needs.

Australia also recognises the need for life-saving assistance, and support for vulnerable populations including women, children, older people, and people with disabilities.

Australia will provide $10 million of emergency humanitarian funding to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to increase access to essentials such as water, food and shelter.

To improve services for persons with disabilities in Ukraine, including those needing rehabilitation from war injuries, Australia will provide $1 million to the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Australia continues to impose costs on Russia and demand an end to its illegal and senseless war.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“The Albanese Government is unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Australia’s $20 million contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund will be used meet the highest priority energy needs and support the Ukrainian people.

“As Russia intensifies its brutal attacks on the people of Ukraine, we also recognise the need for life-saving humanitarian assistance.”

Minister for International Development Pat Conroy:

“The Ukrainian people have displayed extraordinary strength and courage as they defend their territory and sovereignty.

“We are proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and provide further support in face of Russia’s deplorable aggression.

“The Australian Government remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine and contributing alongside partner nations so that Ukraine can end this conflict on its terms.”

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, the High Representative of the European Union, and the Secretary of State of the United States of America affirm that the recent sanctions designations by each of our governments represent a coordinated effort to hold the DPRK and Russia to account and to impose costs on actors and entities involved in the unlawful transfer of arms from the DPRK to Russia for use in attacking Ukraine.

Our governments stand in resolute opposition to these continued arms transfers, which Russia has used to strike Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We are gravely concerned by the deepening DPRK-Russia cooperation in flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and condemn Russia’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the UN 1718 Committee Panel of Experts. By the use of its veto, Russia has sought to deprive all UN Member States of the objective and independent information and guidance they need to implement binding Security Council resolutions concerning the DPRK which all remain in effect. We call on the DPRK and Russia to cease unlawful arms transfers and urge the DPRK to take concrete steps towards abandoning all nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and related programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. We urge the DPRK to respond to the numerous and genuine offers to return to diplomacy, the only path to an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP has welcomed the beginning of the rollout of the $1.7 billion for household and business electrification secured by the Greens, but says the government must now accelerate the program.

The funding was secured as part of an agreement with the Greens to pass the government’s energy price cap legislation in 2022.

The first step in the rollout announced today will provide $60 million in low cost loans to households for solar, batteries, heat pumps and other appliances to help electrify homes.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP:

“This is a small start to a big win on household electrification won by the Greens, and now Labor needs to accelerate,” Mr Bandt said.

“We need the rest of the $1.7 billion electrification funding secured by the Greens rolled out for renters and apartment dwellers, in public housing and for small business.

“We also need to see more funding in the Budget update in December and a much bigger program to electrify Australia. We will be pushing Labor hard on this.

“It was revealed in Senate Estimates this week that Labor’s gas strategy has no plan to reduce the demand for gas, and instead, by opening new gas mines, Labor is trying to increase demand for it. Gas is as dirty as coal, but only the Greens are trying to rapidly push us off gas onto clean energy.

“This funding will help Australia get off gas, but Labor approving more coal and gas mines is pulling in the other direction.”

The latest quarterly emissions data shows that pollution has risen slightly since Labor has come into office, with a massive long-term rise in gas pollution putting a safer climate out of reach.

432.6 million tonnes of emissions were released in the year to June 2022 and they sit at 432.9 million tonnes in the quarterly report released today. 

Today’s report details a staggering 22.0% rise since 2005 in stationary energy emissions associated with the growth in production and export of LNG. 

The figures show that at the current rate, there is no prospect of Australia cutting its pollution consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees, the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. 

Even Labor’s weak targets – which blow out past 2 degrees – are under threat from stubbornly high gas pollution. Emissions would need to decline an average 3.7% a year to meet even Labor’s inadequate net zero by 2050 timeline, with the easiest, steepest cuts occurring right now. Instead, the data shows emissions reductions have stalled since Labor has come to office.

To make these emissions figures worse, the Albanese Government is seeking to expand coal and gas past 2050 as part of their Future Gas Strategy and Future Made in Australia plans. 

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“This emissions data spells disaster,” Mr Bandt said.

“Pollution is up since Labor came to office, and Labor’s commitment to coal and gas will see Australia blow any chance of meeting safe climate targets. 

“At this rate, Labor won’t even meet its own unscientific climate targets, let alone what is needed to tackle the climate crisis. 

“Gas is as dirty as coal. Climate pollution from gas is rising, but instead of cutting it, Labor is opening new coal and gas mines to run beyond 2050.”

The Australian Government has confirmed that China’s suspension of five meat processing establishments has been lifted with immediate effect.

Eight beef processing facilities have now had suspensions lifted, while two facilities remain suspended.

We continue to press China to remove the remaining trade impediments, including for Australia’s rock lobster industry.

The progress so far affirms the calm and consistent approach taken by the Albanese Labor Government.

Trade impediments imposed by China prior to the May 2022 election resulted in a $20.6 billion reduction in exports.

China’s progressive removal of impediments since then, including today’s announcement, means less than $1 billion worth of exports remain impeded.

The lifting of impediments has already had a real-world impact – to the tune of more than $11.5 billion – for Australian barley, cotton, oaten hay, wine, coal, copper ores and timber logs.

The Australian Government’s approach is to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest.

Trade diversification is a key element of the Government’s trade policy strategy. The Government will continue to support Australian businesses to sell their world-class products on the global stage.

We are deeply concerned by the verdicts handed down today for some members of the NSL47, including a guilty verdict for Australian citizen Mr Gordon Ng.

The Australian Government raises consular and human rights concerns directly with the Hong Kong and Chinese governments regularly and at the highest levels. We will continue to do so, including in the case of Mr Ng.

We also continue to request consular access to Mr Ng from Hong Kong authorities. Noting Mr Ng has avenues of appeal available to him, I will not comment further on his case.

Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation to arrest and pressure pro-democracy figures, opposition groups, media, trade unions and civil society. We know that the application of these laws also has implications for individuals outside of Hong Kong, including in Australia.

The systemic erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms, autonomy and democratic processes has been consistently raised with China and Hong Kong. We have called on Hong Kong authorities to uphold those elements which have been so crucial to Hong Kong’s success, including its high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law and Sino-British Joint Declaration.

During China’s Universal Periodic Review in January, we recommended China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with Human Rights Committee and Special Procedure recommendations, including the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Today in Question Time the Prime Minister rejected media reports that he had given an ironclad guarantee to big corporations to not allow a climate trigger to stop more coal and gas in environment laws.

The Greens are in balance of power on the new laws, and the Greens will push for a climate trigger and the protection for native forests to be included in the laws as a condition of our support.

Australian Greens Environment spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:
“We welcome the PM’s rejection of reports that he gave big corporations a guarantee a climate trigger won’t be in new environment laws,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“This shows that a climate trigger is still on the table in this parliament. The nation’s big polluters are on notice – the era of dirty coal and gas is almost over.

“The Greens will push for a climate trigger in new environment laws to stop more coal and gas mines, as well as an end to native forest logging.

“Any new environment laws that allow more fossil fuels and the destruction of our forests are not worth the paper they’re printed on. The Greens won’t be rubber-stamping any new laws that simply pander to the fossil fuel lobby, fail to protect nature, and do little to cut pollution.