Category: Australian News

The Greens say a new report from the Australian Education Union showing a growing number of public schools with insufficient space to meet enrolments puts pressure on Labor to include capital funding from the Commonwealth in the new national schools agreement.

The 2024 State of our Schools survey found that 19% of principals didn’t have enough classrooms at their schools, while 40% said they’d run out of space in the next three to five years.

Before the last election Labor said if elected they would “work with States and Territories as part of the next school funding agreements so that school systems have the facilities they need to teach growing numbers of students”. But under questioning in Senate Estimates last month the government refused to commit to meeting its pre-election pledge.

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

“Labor’s paltry one-off $215 million injection to the public system was used primarily for basic maintenance and repairs like repairing decrepit and unhygienic toilet blocks and fixing drainage in playgrounds.

“Labor will provide zero ongoing Commonwealth funding to public schools, but will continue to pour public money into the fee-charging private system, with another billion dollars set to go out the door over the next four years.

“Under Labor, private schools like the Prime Minister’s former high school, which recently pocketed $5 million from the Commonwealth, will continue to expand their facilities while public school kids cram into freezing demountables.

“Labor pledged before the election that they would ensure public schools had the capital funding they need to provide the facilities our kids deserve. If Labor introduces legislation to lock in the new school funding arrangements later this year, the Greens will use our numbers in the Senate to push them to keep that promise.”

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

It is such a pleasure to be here with you on this momentous day.

I thank all the members of the diplomatic corps and all members of the Australian Defence Force who have joined us.

I also thank my parliamentary colleagues and, of course, the reason we are here: our new Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, and her husband, Simeon Beckett.

The swearing in of a Governor-General is a bright moment in the life our nation, but it is not one we approach lightly.

We are a young nation on an ancient continent – yet the democracy that has defined us for 123 years is numbered among the world’s oldest, and the Governor-General has always been at the heart of it.

It is high office, but it is not lofty. For all the pomp of its origins, the role of Governor-General is one that has become firmly rooted among the Australian people.

In the course of their duties, a Governor-General meets so many Australians from so many different walks of life, and in so many different circumstances.

A Governor-General stands by us, celebrating our good times, and offering comfort and quiet strength during our times of trial.

And while guided by tradition, it is not blind to the future.

Over the years, we have seen different Governors-General applying an emphasis of their own choosing, whether it was Sir Ninian Stephens with his touch of healing, Sir Zelman Cowen’s vision of the Governor-General as interpreter of a nation, or Dame Quentin Bryce and her desire “to strike a balance between observing traditions and protocol and being thoroughly contemporary”.

Over the past week, we have expressed our admiration for the retiring Governor-General and Her Excellency, Mrs Hurley, and the great calibre of their contribution. They go with the thanks of a nation.

Today, we begin a new chapter with Australia’s 28th Governor-General, Sam Mostyn.

We share the great fortune of living in a modern and optimistic nation.

A nation made generous and courageous by its people.

In Sam Mostyn, our nation has the right leader.

Sam, you are a person of intelligence and compassion. Of loyalty and integrity.

You have clear eyes and a big heart – and both have shaped your vision of who and what we can be as a nation.

Throughout your life, and across your great breadth of experience in the worlds of law and business and sport, in corporate Australia and the not-for-profit sector, you have always been ready to put yourself forward for others.

They are the qualities that she will bring to representing our nation as Governor-General.

You have walked the talk, a human catalyst with an unrelenting capacity for making things happen.

You have blazed so many trails for women. You have pushed open the doors of opportunity and equality.

You have made a real difference for Indigenous Australians.

You have added to the environmental and cultural health of our nation.

For decades you have been driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of your fellow Australians – now, and for future generations.

The very sense of fairness that is the beating heart of our identity as Australians is something you embody.

In 1999, the Australian Financial Review described you as “bound for glory”.

Yet glory is something you have never sought.

In 2019, your good friend, the playwright Suzie Miller, had this to say of you: “She inspires me. I wish she would be less modest.”

While Suzie’s wish may never be granted, she is one more reminder of how profoundly you value and nurture friendship – and everything that true friendship means.

I am glad you have Simeon with you on this journey. As a public law barrister who has worked in many crucial realms, he too has made a positive difference in the lives of so many.

Together, you are a truly wonderful partnership.

Your Excellency, you have lived your life in the service of a powerful Australian principle: when more people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, our nation is a better place.

With you as Governor-General, our future is in good hands.

Responding to today’s job cuts at Nine and evidence from Meta executives at the Parliamentary hearing into social media, the Greens have criticised Meta (parent company of Instagram and Facebook) for refusing to pay for news and journalism content. The Greens say Meta is effectively blackmailing the Australian Parliament by threatening to ban all news, as they’ve done in Canada.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Deputy Chair of the Joint Select Committee into Social Media and Australian Society, Greens spokesperson for Communications:

“My thoughts are with all Nine journalists, media workers, and their families today for this devastating news.

“On the same day that up to 200 media workers at Nine have been told they don’t have a job due to declining advertising revenue, the Parliament heard concerning evidence from the Meta executives who refuse to pay for news and journalism from companies like Nine.

“Meta is trying to blackmail the Parliament by refusing to rule out banning all news on their platforms Instagram and Facebook, should they be Designated under the News Media Bargaining Code.

“It is clear that we need stronger laws that protect Australians from the predatory business models of Meta and other social media platforms. This could include requirements to carry news and information in the public interest and be taxed properly for their activities and revenue made here on Australian soil.

“I’m concerned these giant tech corporations are ripping off news content, costing Australian jobs and damaging our democracy.

“We need to tackle the toxic business models and secret algorithms of these social media giants with algorithm transparency reforms.”

Today the Australian Greens have helped prevent millions of dollars in cuts to the NDIS and ensured that the government amendments to the NDIS Bill are thoroughly scrutinised and that the States and Territories are given the opportunity to give evidence.

The process and goals of this bill has been flawed since day one and will see millions in funding ripped from the scheme and participants left worse off.

Minister Shorten should have been engaging with the genuine concerns of the disabled community, reached out to the States and Territories and delivered on his promise not to make cuts to the scheme.

Instead the Minister has resorted to cheap stunts, expensive messaging guides and speeches to try and sell a deeply unpopular and damaging policy change.

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

“I’m proud that the Greens have continued again and again to take the voices of disabled people into our parliament and fight for the scheme that has made such a difference in their lives.”

“Minister Shorten would do well to remember that politics is not a game and the issues of our community can not be reduced to zingers, expensive messaging guides and cheap stunts.”

“It’s this type of politics that turns people off trying to make a difference in their community and is well below a Minister who is supposed to be supporting disabled people, not cutting their services.”

“The NDIS has made such a meaningful impact in so many people’s lives and every day Labor’s flawed and damaging policy is not passed and is undergoing proper consultation saves millions of dollars in essential services for disabled people.”

“Bill Shorten made a pledge in parliament that there would be no cuts to the NDIS under this government. I and the disabled community really hope he keeps his promise.”

Responding to Minister Shorten’s announcement of https://www.outoftouchwithcostofliving.com/ Senator Steele-John said:

“Every dollar on that clock is a dollar not cut from essential services for disabled people and their families in a cost of living crisis.”

“All this stunt does is demonstrate the speed and severity of the cut that Labor is planning for the NDIS.”

The Albanese Government has delivered the largest ever investment in Olympic and Paralympic sports to help our brilliant athletes achieve glory on world stages.

A record $283 million in new money will flow to our elite athletes, coaches and support staff over the next two years in a historic show of support on the path to Brisbane 2032.

This investment represents a 50 per cent increase on the previous Government’s 2021- 2022 high performance funding.

It also represents a doubling of the investment the previous Government made for Paralympic athletes.

This new funding is in addition to our $102.8 million annual grant funding and brings the Government’s total high-performance investment to $489m over two years.

The funding package for Paralympians is the biggest ever, as the Albanese Government addresses systemic and structural barriers to performance for para athletes that had been ignored for too long.

The investment will be a major boost for Aussie spirits ahead of Paris next month, and will strengthen Australia’s hopes for gold at LA in 2028, Brisbane in 2032, Winter and Commonwealth Games events.

The funding will create more opportunities and better development pathways for high performance athletes to thrive while inspiring the next generation of Australians to be more active.

The historic investment includes:

• An increase of $17.6 million to the Direct Athlete Investment Support Grants (dAIS) program to address cost of living pressures for athletes.
• A major uplift in direct sport funding.
• Access to more domestic and international competitions to regularly compete against the world’s best in preparation for major sporting events.
• Extra training, well-being and preparation support, including access to world-leading coaches and performance support staff.

Investment in our Paralympic athletes and sports will more than double, with $54.9 million in additional funding – the biggest ever Paralympic spend by an Australian Government.

The funding increase will deliver better classification opportunities, access to fit-for-purpose training environments and specialised coaching and performance support.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“We’re cheering on all our athletes heading to Paris. We are so proud of them and my Government is backing Aussie athletes with record funding.”

Minister for Sport Anika Wells

“This is the biggest investment any government has made in our Olympic and Paralympic sports and will help athletes achieve glory on world stages.

“Today’s commitment brings the Albanese Government’s sport announcements in this Budget to $753.1m, including the $249.7 million investment to revitalise the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) campus in Canberra.

“We have also committed $200m to the Play Our Way fund, the biggest infrastructure program ever for women and girls sport, and invested more than $20m in the Netball World Cup and Women’s Asian Cup.

“We’re giving our future Olympic and Paralympic teams what they need to succeed with upgraded training facilities, the best coaching and support staff and cost-of-living assistance.

“We’ll all be cheering on the Green and Gold in a few weeks when Paris 24 begins and this funding again proves the Albanese Government is committed to sport – from playground to podium.”

Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman

“We have said many times that a successful home Games needs a successful home team, so this injection of funds at this time is fundamentally important to that outcome.

“The additional money direct to the sports is very good news while the lift in dAIS funding to cover more athletes is critical to giving them the confidence that they can focus on putting in the huge amount of work that is necessary to represent Australia on the international stage.

“It further builds on the investment in the AIS announced recently by Sports Minister Wells to again make that facility a hub of sporting excellence.

“The Prime Minister clearly gets what the Olympic sports do for this country so we thank him his commitment to helping our sports and our athletes.

“This funding increase is a very important start to help our athletes be their best, inspire the generations to come and to build a strong sports system to support them all.

“The AOC also welcomes the lift in Paralympic funding which will benefit the sports which run both Olympic and Paralympic programs.”

Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh

“This new investment from the Federal Government will bring about monumental generational change for Para-sport in Australia.

“Paralympics Australia commends the Federal Government, in particular the Prime Minister and Federal Sports Minister, for their visionary leadership and for recognising the immense impact that this investment can deliver.

“Since 2000, Australia’s investment in Para-sport has fallen well behind many of our rivals, allowing them to catch up. This funding marks a much-needed reset, positioning Australia to regain its competitive edge in time for the Paralympic Games in 2028 and our Games at home in 2032.”

The Albanese Labor Government’s Homes for Australia plan is delivering an additional $1 billion across the country to get homes built sooner.

States and territories will today be paid $1 billion collectively through the Priority Works Stream of the Housing Support Program to turbocharge construction of new homes.

This investment adds to the $500 million already under the Housing Support Program to boost housing supply.

The additional $1 billion investment can be used by states and territories to build enabling infrastructure and amenities essential for new homes, such as roads, sewers, energy, water and community infrastructure, and for new social housing.

This is one of a range of measures designed to help achieve the ambitious national target of building 1.2 million new, well-located homes over the next 5 years.

It also forms part of the $32 billion in new housing initiatives we are delivering through our Homes for Australiaplan.

States and territories will be required to provide implementation plans for the Priority Work Stream by September 2024 that will outline the specific projects this funding will deliver.

The Government’s Budget last month also included:

• Training more tradies to build the homes Australia needs with 20,000 fee-free TAFE and pre-apprenticeship places for the construction industry.
• Working with the higher education sector on new regulation to require universities to increase student accommodation, taking pressure off the rental market.
• Increasing the Government’s line of credit to Housing Australia by $3 billion.
• Providing concessional finance for community housing providers and other charities, to support delivery of 40,000 social and affordable homes under the Housing Australia Future Fund and National Housing Accord.

The Albanese Labor Government has already delivered $2 billion to states and territories through the Social Housing Accelerator to deliver around 4,000 new social homes.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“This funding for every state and territory will help build more homes, more quickly, in more parts of our country.

“It will build the roads, energy and water we need for new homes.

“Because building more homes will make housing more affordable whether you’re building, renting or buying.”

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

“Right now, our cities and towns need more homes, and we need the infrastructure that turns those homes into communities – and that’s what our government is funding.

“We are focused on constructing new homes, and supporting them with the infrastructure that delivers thriving communities, bringing down the cost of owning and renting a home and easing the cost of living.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Julie Collins

“Our Government is working with states and territories to help build more homes because this is the best way to address Australia’s housing challenges.

“We know we need the right infrastructure to get homes on the ground more quickly, which is exactly what this new funding will help deliver.

“This funding is just one part of our $32 billion Homes for Australia plan to help build 1.2 million homes across the country by the end of the decade.”

Funding paid by state and territory

State and territory	$1 billion Housing Support Program
New South Wales	$304.3 million
Victoria	$248.8 million
Queensland	$199.2 million
Western Australia	$105.3 million
South Australia	$67.4 million
Tasmania	$25 million
Northern Territory	$25 million
Australian Capital Territory	$25 million

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to new analysis by the National Tertiary Education Union’s (NTEU) which reveals wage theft is on track to exceed $380 million. 

Senator Mehreen Faruqi: 

“Sadly, the NTEU’s findings are no shock to any of us. Wage theft in universities is a systemic scourge that is harming staff across the country. 

“The fact that we have a university system where vice chancellor’s earn salaries exceeding $1 million a year while casual staff are robbed of hundreds of millions of dollars is obscene.

“Enough is enough. It is time for the government to fix the broken business model of the neoliberal university that only works off the back of casual and underpaid staff. This must end.

“The  government must take immediate and decisive action by requiring universities to set publicly available targets for increasing permanent employment. There should also be clearer reporting requirements with respect to employment statistics and improved rights of entry for trade unions.

“Critically, the Government must significantly increase funding for universities, and overhaul university governance to shift the balance of power from university management back to staff and students.”

The Greens have split a Government bill to ensure greater scrutiny of Labor’s plan for Build to Rent tax breaks and regulation of Buy Now, Pay Later schemes.

A Greens motion in the Senate today means the Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024 will be divided into two separate bills which will both be considered by the Economics Committee.

There is little evidence that Build to Rent will do anything to increase rental affordability. This is because property developers aim to maximise profits and in Build to Rent properties that means ensuring rents continue to rise. Mirvac has boasted about charging rents 15 -20% above market rent on their build to rent projects. This form of gentrification drives up rents for everyone in the area. In Melbourne, a Build to Rent development saw tenants evicted and then the apartments relisted with a rent hike of $185 per week. 

The current ‘build to rent’ plan will see developers able to access tax concessions from the government if they build private rental apartments where 90% can be completely unaffordable, while the other 10% have to meet a weak definition of affordability. The bill stipulates that the lease period for the private rentals must be 3 years, but includes no provisions to cap rent increases or provide protections against unfair evictions.  

The bill currently stipulates only 50 of the apartments must be available to rent, which means a developer could sit on hundreds of vacant apartments while collecting the government tax handouts. 

The legislation currently has a requirement that 10% of the apartments are “affordable”. However, “affordable” is defined in the legislation as 74.9% of market rent, with income thresholds to follow in regulation. With the price of rents so high, for many even the 10% of “affordable” apartments will be unaffordable. 

Noting these concerns and the Senate inquiry process underway, the Greens have split the Bill and will seek to negotiate with the government in return for support in the Senate. With the Greens key negotiating asks to be announced in due course. 

Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim:

“By splitting the bill, we can give each part the attention it needs, especially the controversial Build to Rent tax breaks.”

“It will also mean we can make sure the regulation of BNPL is as robust as it needs to be.”

Greens Housing Spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather MP:

“The Greens will be announcing our demands on this bill in due course, but right now Labor’s plan boils down to giving tax handouts to property developers to build apartments almost no one will be able to afford, with no protections against unlimited rent increases. 

“What this bill proves is if Labor wanted it could impose rent caps on any developer receiving the tax handouts, but instead has chosen to allow developers to jack up the rent by as much as they want.

“Once again Labor is tinkering around the edges and announcing a policy that makes it look like they are doing something for renters, when in reality it is just a plan to give property developers more tax handouts. 

“Under this plan a developer could pocket government tax handouts, then jack up the rent by hundreds of dollars, evict tenants, and sit on hundreds of vacant apartments in an effort to further drive up market rent. 

“Tax handouts for property investors and developers helped create the housing crisis in the first place, so it is genuinely extraordinary that Labor is now proposing to give more tax handouts to property developers. 

“If Labor wanted to help renters they would coordinate a nationwide freeze and cap on rent increases, phase out the tax handouts for property investors denying millions of renters the chance to buy a home, and have the government start building rent capped apartments available to any renter that needs one.

“The Greens have a fully costed policy for a public property developer that would build 610,000 good quality homes for rent and purchase at prices people can actually afford. This would be a far better use of public money than more tax handouts for private property developers.”

With just days to go in the 2023-24 Financial Year, Labor has caved to Coalition pressure and the outcries of the small business community by passing measures that could have, and should have, been law last winter. This comes as the small business community and accountants have made clear that these delays will result in many businesses missing out on benefiting entirely come tax time.

Because of Labor’s legislative stuff up, Australian small businesses have had to contend with uncertainty around small business tax supports as insolvencies skyrocket. Labor failed to prioritise the passage of the Instant Asset Write Off and Small Business Smart Energy Incentive through the Parliament and blocked amendments for a bigger tax cut to small businesses.

In its handling of this Bill, Labor has delayed the passage of the Instant Asset Write Off legislation by months, and voted eight times against more generous tax cuts to small businesses. If elected, the Coalition will make the Instant Asset Write Off permanent to end the uncertainty and ensure small businesses pay lower, simpler, fairer taxes.

Incredibly, the Albanese Government’s much vaunted Small Business Smart Energy Incentive will only be legislated in time for three full business days before the End of Financial Year. Leading accounting body, CPA Australia, has said:

“likely the only businesses who will ultimately benefit from the measure will be those who coincidentally happened to make upgrades this year, rather than those who were incentivised to do so because of the scheme”

The Small Business Smart Energy Incentive was designed to give a tax break worth up to $20,000 to support electrification and more efficient use of energy, helping businesses save money on energy bills by electrifying their heating and cooling systems, upgrading to more efficient fridges and induction cooktops, and installing batteries and heat pumps. Purchases need to be made and installed in the 2023-24 financial year and the measure will not be extended to 2024-25 and ends on 30 June.

Deputy Leader Sussan Ley condemned the Albanese Government for failing to deliver certainty for small businesses.

“Thousands of businesses that survived a once in a century pandemic under the Coalition are going to the wall because of the economic crisis created by the Albanese Government – and now we see that even the meagre support which Labor did put on the table ranked at the very bottom of their priorities.

“I think Australians who support stronger environmental policies, including the Crossbench, would be shocked to learn hundreds of thousands of small businesses will have missed out on using this electrification incentive because of Labor’s delays.”

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the delay on this legislation is another example of the mess Labor’s made of the energy system.

“Small businesses are the engine room of our economy but they’re being smashed by Labor’s high prices, bad workplace laws, and high energy bills.

“Labor cut vital programs to support small businesses to bring down their bills when they came to office, and Labor’s delay on passing this Bill leaves struggling businesses in manufacturing, hospitality, and tourism without support to invest in bringing down their power bills.

“Affordable, reliable energy is the key to a low inflation, strong growth economy. There is no future made in Australia without affordable energy. Instead, struggling businesses are facing electricity and gas prices that have risen by 18 per cent and 25 per cent since Labor came to office.

“All Labor has delivered for small businesses is a homegrown cost of doing business crisis. Only a Peter Dutton Coalition government will deliver the strong back-to-basics economic leadership to get Australia back on track.”

The Instant Asset Write Off will be a clear contrast at the election. The Coalition has committed to raising it to $30,000 and making it permanent, whereas Small Business Minister Julie Collins has ruled out Labor raising it or ensuring it is an ongoing tax support for small businesses.

Today’s monthly inflation data shows Labor’s “carefully calibrated” economic plan is failing Australians.

With headline inflation rising to 4.0% and core inflation – the RBA’s preferred measure – rose to 4.4%, Australian families and small businesses will be bracing for even more economic pain than they have already endured.

No matter how the government tries to spin this, there is no doubt from today’s data that this is Labor’s homegrown inflation crisis with domestic inflation hitting 5.2%.

Australia is at the back of the pack due to this homegrown inflation. Under Labor, Australia’s core inflation is increasing, and higher than every country in the G10, including US, UK, Euro area and Canada who have seen inflation moderating.

This is the result of a government that has spent the last two years completely distracted, with the wrong priorities and absolutely no interest in the economic prosperity of our country.

Over the last two years of Labor the prices for everyday essentials have risen:

• Food 11.4%
• Housing 14.0%
• Rents 14.2%
• Electricity 21.5%
• Gas 22.2%
• Health 11.1%
• Education 10.9%
• Financial and insurance services 16.2%

Instead of showing true economic leadership, the Albanese Labor Government continues to fail Australian families and small businesses.

Australia is in an entrenched household, consumer confidence and productivity recession, with no plan from Labor to fix the situation.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said today’s inflation data is shocking but not surprising.

“This is what happens when you have a big spending Labor government that’s completely out of touch with the economic reality.

“We’ve now had four months in a row of accelerating core inflation. This will no doubt be of concern to the independent Reserve Bank.

“Despite households and business owners doing everything they can to manage their budgets and make ends meet, they are constantly being let down by a weak Prime Minister and a weak Treasurer who have no idea when it comes to the economy.

“The Albanese Labor Government’s economic plan is failing.

“Australians can’t afford more of Labor.”