Category: Australian News

The Albanese Labor Government will make significant new housing investments in next week’s Budget to help deliver our comprehensive Homes for Australia plan.

The Prime Minister convened National Cabinet on Friday, where Premiers and Chief Ministers backed the following new measures in the Budget to help Australians build, rent and buy:

• $1 billion directed towards crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and youth under the National Housing Infrastructure Facility. This includes increasing the proportion of grants for this investment from $175 million to $700 million in the Budget to be able to support crisis and transitional housing.
• $1 billion to get homes built sooner – funding for states and territories to build the roads, sewers, energy, water and community infrastructure that we need for new homes and for additional social housing supply.
• A new $9.3 billion 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness – for states and territories to combat homelessness, provide crisis support and build and repair social housing. This includes a doubling of Commonwealth homelessness funding to $400 million every year, matched by states and territories.

This significant new investment builds on the more than $25 billion in new housing investments our Government is delivering over the next decade, including:

• $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund to build 30,000 social and affordable rental homes.
• $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver around 4,000 new social homes across Australia.
• $3 billion New Homes Bonus to incentivise states and territories to build more homes.
• $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme to help more Australians buy their own home.
• $2.7 billion to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent.
• $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental homes.

We need to build more homes, more quickly, in more parts of the country.

Which is why the Albanese Government has an ambitious goal of building 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade.

We know this is a challenge, but it’s a challenge we have to meet.

We need more tradies and construction workers. That’s why earlier this week the Government announced $90.6 million to boost the number of construction workers, including 20,000 new fee free places.

We also need to reduce pressure on the private rental market.

That’s why the Government is today announcing we will work with the higher education sector on new regulation to require universities to increase their supply of student accommodation for domestic and international students.

Homes for Australia is our Government’s plan to help keep the great Australian dream in reach.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“This Budget will provide an additional $1 billion for social and emergency housing to support women and children escaping domestic violence and will ensure a new five year funding agreement with states and territories for housing and homelessness.

“We are encouraging states and territories to kick-start building by providing an extra $1 billion to help fund the roads and services new homes need, and for new social housing.

“This Budget means more tradies, fewer barriers to construction, less talk and more homes.

“This isn’t about one suburb or one city or one state. It’s a challenge facing Australians everywhere and it needs action from every level of government.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“Housing is a big priority for the Albanese Government and it will be a big focus of the Budget.

“Australia needs to build more homes more quickly and that’s what this substantial investment will help to deliver.

“We’re delivering billions more dollars in the Budget to build more homes across the country because we know that to address this housing challenge, we need to boost supply.”

Minister for Housing Julie Collins: 

“Building more homes is the best way to address Australia’s housing challenges, and this is exactly what Homes for Australia will deliver.  

“Homes for Australia will turbocharge the construction of new homes right across the country and ease the pressure on Australians doing it tough. 

“We’re working across government, and with other tiers of government, to achieve the ambitious national target of 1.2 million new homes by the end of the decade.

“This will deliver more homes for home buyers, more homes for renters and more homes for Australians who need them.”

Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Our international education sector is incredibly important to our country.

“We need to ensure its ongoing sustainability and part of that means we need more purpose-built student accommodation.

“We need more purpose-built housing to support students in higher education and that’s what these reforms, developed in consultation with the sector, will help to drive.”

The Government’s proposed changes to the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax will see revenue go down, not up, and shows the Labor Party are being used as a tool of the gas cartel, the Greens say.

“Labor’s proposed changes to the PRRT, as dictated by the gas industry, represent a massive missed opportunity,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Even with the proposed changes, the government will get more revenue from student debt indexation than from the PRRT.”

“On the government’s own projections, revenue will go down from the PRRT. This is intolerable and shows Labor’s warped priorities.”

“Labor faces a clear choice: work with the Greens to make the gas cartel pay more tax, or work with Peter Dutton to gut environmental regulations for gas corporations.”

“If Labor would get on board the numbers are there in both Houses of parliament to double the revenue from the PRRT changes.”

“Labor’s PRRT changes show the danger of letting fossil fuel corporations write their own tax laws.”

“Labor also needs to ditch its laughable attempt at a wedge by conflating highly contentious changes to a broken gas tax system with badly needed reforms based on the PWC scandal.”

In the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Albanese Government is ensuring the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra remains the destination for Australia’s elite athletes to train, develop and ultimately succeed.

In the 2024-25 Budget, the Albanese Government will invest $249.7 million in the AIS’s facilities in Bruce, ensuring they are modern and fit-for-purpose for Australia’s elite and aspiring athletes.

We will deliver:

• An accessible multi-story accommodation facility.
• A multi sports dome to provide an all-weather, multi-sport indoor training facility with integrated facilities for testing and analysis.
• A new High-Performance Training and Testing Centre.

In addition, there will be a further $10 million for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to work with the ACT Government to develop a Bruce Precinct Masterplan – ensuring the Bruce site is welcoming and fit for purpose for visitors, athletes and their families alike.

Funding will be provisioned in the Budget while a detailed business plan for the AIS site redevelopment is finalised.

These commitments reflect the recommendations made in the recent independent review into AIS Infrastructure and help ensure our high-performance athletes have access to world-class facilities that best support Australia’s sporting success.

‘A Fit for Purpose Australian Institute of Sport: An independent review’ can now be found on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website. The Government’s full response to the review will be released shortly.

The ACT was ignored by the previous government, and the condition of the AIS is just one demonstration of that.

For over a decade the Liberals and Nationals did nothing to invest in the future of Australia’s elite athletes, and did nothing to support infrastructure for those living and working in the ACT.

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

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We want to give our athletes the best chance of bringing home gold at Brisbane and every competition before and after those games.

“The upcoming Budget will ensure the Australian Institute of Sport remains in the Capital, where it belongs, and ensure it once again becomes the world-leading high-performance centre it was designed to be.

“What is crystal clear is that under my Government – Canberra will always get the support, investment and respect that Australia’s national capital deserves.”

Minister for Finance, Katy Gallagher:

“For more than 40 years, the Australian Institute of Sport has been a much-loved venue for athletes, for Canberra locals and for visitors to the ACT.

“It’s played host to school excursions, sporting matches and concerts, but we know in recent years it’s fallen into disrepair due to inaction from the Liberals and Nationals.

“The Albanese Government is investing almost $250 million into the AIS so it can once again become the vibrant community hub that Canberrans know and love.”

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

“The Australian Institute of Sport should be a place where elite athletes want to be to help achieve their full potential.

“We are investing in the Institute so it can be that place.”

Minister for Sport, Anika Wells: 

“For 2032 Games success, the need for sport investment is now as we know it takes up to eight years to prepare an athlete for the highest level of competition.

“When it was first built, the AIS was so successful in preparing our medal winning athletes that it was replicated by sporting nations around the world and became the benchmark for achieving athletic success.

“Today, our government is investing in the AIS so we reach those benchmarks again as we commit to delivering world standard training facilities ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

ACT Acting Chief Minister, Yvette Berry: 

“This is a great day for Canberra. The commitment to the AIS in Canberra will not only create local jobs, but it also appropriately recognises the city’s role as the nation’s capital.

“It places the Institute and its facilities at the heart of a modern sports, health and education precinct in Bruce for decades to come.

“We welcome the Albanese’s Government plan to restore this national asset and to work together to plan for the precinct’s future.

“I also acknowledge the advocacy of the many local sporting groups and Canberrans who have continued to passionately advocate for the AIS’s place in Canberra’s future and who have helped to achieve this outcome.”

Australia and Tuvalu are taking the next steps in enacting our shared vision for the Falepili Union, which will help safeguard our collective peace, security and sovereignty.

During the bipartisan visit to Funafuti, Australia and Tuvalu committed to a joint statement and explanatory memorandum, which outline how the Agreement will deliver on its key objectives.

Today we announce that Australia will invest more than $110 million in response to immediate priorities:

• $50 million (in 2024-25) to support Tuvalu to secure its first undersea telecommunications cable, alongside $25 million from likeminded partners
• $19 million in additional support to extend the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP), taking Australia’s total contribution to TCAP to $38 million
• $10 million in immediate budget support (over 2023-24 and 2024-25) to ensure delivery of critical services
• $15 million for a new National Security Coordination Centre in Tuvalu

Recognising the importance of protecting Tuvalu’s critical maritime resources, Australia will also fast track the replacement of Tuvalu’s Guardian-class Patrol Boat.

Our two countries are working together to also deliver on the Falepili Union’s vision for development, mobility with dignity, security upgrades and security cooperation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia has elevated our partnership with Tuvalu, underpinned by our historic Falepili Union. Together we will protect the future of Tuvalu’s people, identity and culture.

“Australia is investing in projects that will have a real impact for the people of Tuvalu, including the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project which is reclaiming land, and Tuvalu’s first undersea telecommunications cable.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“Australia and Tuvalu are neighbours and friends. Australia’s support will help Tuvaluans to continue to live and prosper in their territory, retaining their deep, ancestral connections to land and sea.

“We will continue listening and delivering on Tuvalu’s priorities to ensure the long-term prosperity of its people.”

Axed science programs, distressed scientists, a toxic culture, and plagued icebreaker are just some of the issues stemming from failures in the Australian Antarctic Division’s governance and funding model, a Senate inquiry has found.

The inquiry’s report, released today, made 16 recommendations to prioritise Antarctic science and fix systemic issues at the AAD. This report has been supported by government and opposition senators. Key recommendations include:

• A 25-50% increase in funded Antarctica shipping days going forward, to enable more dedicated Antarctic and marine science voyages
• A review into the “one ship model” and how the AAD can access other shipping arrangements that allow the Nuyina more time for dedicated marine science voyages
• An immediate commitment of ongoing funding to research institutions – such as IMAS/UTAS – to continue their critical Antarctic science programs (e.g.: Special Research Initiative)
• A commitment that the delayed Decadal Plan for long-term Antarctic science funding and governance be delivered or “operationalised” no later than financial year 2025/26.
• That new transparency and accountability measures for Antarctic science funding commitments are clear in future Budgets
• A review into the AAD’s logistics and operations branch’s culture and governance, with the aim of finally delivering on a long-term integrated planning model at the AAD
• Lifting the current freeze on recruitment and advertising 20 new job positions

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

“Antarctica and the Southern Ocean play a significant role in regulating global weather patterns and studying them is more critical than ever to understanding our planet’s rapidly changing climate. 

“Australia has a 42% claim to Antarctic territory – we’re meant to be leaders in Antarctic science. Yet this Senate inquiry shone a light on how our government agency that’s designed to facilitate critical science on the icy continent lost its way. 

“A point of great concern repeatedly raised in evidence to the Committee is that Australia has not conducted a dedicated marine science voyage to the Antarctic or Southern Ocean for five years, or a marginal sea ice expedition for ten years. 

“Evidence collected by the inquiry also revealed the number of scientists on Australian Antarctic bases has more than halved over the past decade, science capabilities have declined over time, and our global reputation as a leader in Antarctic science has suffered as a result.

“Science at the AAD was deprioritised by the previous government, causing devastating impacts on the Division’s culture. Underpinning this was a staggering degree of incompetence in Division’s governance, which ultimately led to a bewildering overspend and budget cut process that prompted the Senate inquiry in the first place. 

“The good news is there’s cross-party support for Antarctic science to be front and centre to the mission of the AAD. This should start with a priority funding commitment for an extra 50-100 Antarctic shipping days per year, as well as reviewing the business case for acquiring a second vessel to support Australia’s presence in Antarctica, as recommended by the Committee. 

“Our $500m state of the art icebreaker and floating science platform has been plagued with problems and delays to service since it was commissioned five years ago, and accessing a second ship – especially for logistics support – should be a no-brainer.

“More than ever our planet depends on us understanding the Antarctic region, and we can’t do that without scientists on the ice. Increasing shipping days for the Nuyina to operate 300 days a year will ensure there are no excuses for not having dedicated Antarctic and Southern Ocean science voyages. 

“The recommendations made by the inquiry are critical and should not be controversial, and I look forward to scrutinising their implementation in the months and years to come.”

The Greens have urged Labor to lift all income support above the poverty line in the upcoming budget, with the weight of evidence given to a Senate inquiry into Australia’s cost of living crisis calling for an immediate increase to Centrelink payments.

In dissenting comments to the Liberal-controlled Select Committee on Cost of Living’s second interim report, the Greens have quoted more than 50 organisations that are all singing from the same song sheet when it comes to raising JobSeeker and Youth Allowance.

Greens Social Services spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“We’re now 18 months into this inquiry, and the most consistent and frequent recommendation the committee has received in 190 written submissions and 17 public hearings is that income support must be raised.

“The overwhelming evidence we have heard is that by keeping Centrelink payments well below the poverty line, Labor is keeping millions in poverty and insecurity and putting lives at risk. 

“The Liberals’ minority report, which has been rejected by both the Greens and Labor, ignores the weight of testimony provided to the inquiry and reads more like an IPA wishlist than a serious attempt to parse the evidence.

“But the evidence was clear: the single most effective way to tackle the cost of living crisis is to raise the rate of income support payments. 

“How many more reports and inquiries and recommendations from hundreds of experts and organisations and people with lived experience will this government ignore? 

“Labor have got to get their priorities in order. Tax breaks for property investors, giving hundreds of billions of dollars to billionaires and corporations and the fossil fuel industry doesn’t help the average Australian get through this cost of living crisis, and does nothing for the millions struggling to survive on Centrelink poverty-payments.”

Today a Senate inquiry interim report into Australia’s national cultural policy has called for greater support to the Australian festivals sector to cope with rapidly rising overheads after a string of cancellations. The report also recommends legislative action on local content quotas for streaming giants as a matter of priority.

The Greens have called on the Albanese Government for an arts support package in Tuesday’s federal budget to provide this much-needed support.

Greens spokesperson for the arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The arts in Australia are being crunched in the cost of living crisis and they need support in Tuesday’s Federal Budget.

“The Senate has heard compelling evidence that the Government should step in to mitigate the rapidly rising cost of overheads, like insurance premiums, particularly for those small, medium and local Australian music and arts festivals.

“This is not just about the big name, corporate backed festivals, but more importantly, it’s about supporting local and independent festivals.

“Live performance events bring significant economic benefits that flow through to jobs in hospitality, tourism, trades and other sectors. This would be a minor budget measure that would make a significant difference.

“I am hopeful that the Government will respond to the needs of the sector in next week’s budget.

On local screen content quotas for streaming giants, Senator Hanson-Young said:

“The Greens have long called for streaming giants like Netflix, Disney, Amazon and Stan to reinvest 20 percent of their Australian earnings in local content. It is vital that all Australians see themselves and their communities reflected on their screens.

“The Government had promised to have these quotas implemented by 1 July this year – legislation is now well and truly overdue. I urge the Government to introduce legislation as a matter of urgency.”

The Immigration Minister Andrew Giles must have something to hide because nothing else can explain why he refuses to front up and answer questions.

Giles remains in hiding as more questions arise about the Albanese Labor government’s mishandling of the released detainee who allegedly bashed a cancer survivor during a violent home robbery.

If anyone can find Giles today these are the two serious questions he needs to answer:

One. Why did the Labor Government not oppose bail when Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan appeared in court for allegedly breaching his visa conditions?

Two. Who signed off on the visa condition that meant Doukoshkan was not required to wear an ankle bracelet?

Reports today confirm Doukoshkan was required to wear an ankle bracelet when he appeared in court in February but he was not required to wear an ankle bracelet at the time of the alleged bashing offence. What happened?

This Labor Government is being crushed under the weight of its own incompetence.

Sky News has reported today that the government is even misleading itself, with ministers issued incorrect talking points as they try to deflect blame and attention away from their incompetent mishandling.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil chose not to hear questions or provide answers about the government’s failures on Sunrise this morning.

Australians deserve better. They deserve straight answers, but this government is hiding.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles lied to the Australian people that the Labor Government was monitoring all the criminals it had released from immigration detention, including the one who went on to allegedly bash a cancer-surviving grandmother.

Gile went on ABC radio in March to defend the Albanese Government after it was revealed that detainees arrested for breaching their visa conditions would have their charges dropped because the Labor Government had issued them with invalid visas.

During the interview, Giles tried to reassure the Australian people that “there has been no change to the strict monitoring arrangements for every one of these people” released by Labor into the community, including seven murderers, 37 sex offenders, and 72 violent offenders.

“There has been no changes to the monitoring arrangements, as I’ve said consistently, and indeed, as senior officials of the federal police said in Senate estimates only weeks ago, these are people who are being constantly monitored. We know where they are. And all of these visas have been reissued.” — Andrew Giles, ABC AM interview with David Lipson, 13 March, 2024. https://minister.homeaffairs.g…

One of those detainees, Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan, appeared in court this week charged with the brutal bashing and robbery of 73-year-old Ninette Simons.

It has now been revealed the government allowed Doukoshkan to remove his GPS tracker following a recommendation from the Commonwealth’s community protection board.

The Minister for Immigration either lied to the Australian people about the government’s monitoring regime or he didn’t know what was happening in his portfolio on an issue of critical importance to public safety.

Either way he has to go.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a close friend of Giles, but he needs to put that friendship aside and act in the best interests of all Australians, who deserve to be safe in their homes. He needs to sack the Immigration Minister.

Fuelled by high inflation because the Albanese Government can’t get spending under control, Labor’s HECS debt chaos is a mess of its own making.

“Today’s announcement is all trickery and deceit and doesn’t fix Labor’s student debt trap that has hit 3 million Australians,” Senator Henderson said.

“Under Labor, student debts will still increase by a crippling 11.1% (3.9%, 3.2% and 4% as reported), driving up the average loan by $2,800.

“A HELP-HECS indexation rate of 4% this year would be the highest in 23 years.

“Under the Coalition’s strong economic management, low inflation meant indexation averaged just 1.7% pa.

“Whether it’s student debt, housing or paying the bills, young Australians continue to suffer acute cost-of-living pain under this incompetent Labor government,” Senator Henderson said.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said student debt is only skyrocketing because of Labor’s homegrown inflation.

“Australians are paying the price for Labor’s economic mismanagement. The best way to address growing HECS debts is to fight Labor’s homegrown inflation at its source by reining in spending and strong budget management. Instead, Labor has let spending and inflation run out of control to the point that inflation is now stubborn, sticky, and homegrown.

“Today’s announcement is a glaring admission from Labor that real wages have been going backwards under their government.

“The policy announced will provide marginal relief to Australians struggling to pay down their debts with the rising cost of living, with experts expecting that over the next year indexation will still exceed 4%.

“With the last budget forecasting WPI to exceed CPI from 2023-24, this change will only have an impact if Labor are expecting further collapses in real wages like Australians have experienced since the election.

“There remain a number of questions Labor must clarify, including what the backdated proposal will mean for students who paid down their debts following the 7.1% indexation.

“Labor’s response to inflation continues to put band aids on bullet wounds. To provide cost of living relief for all Australians, Labor must deliver a budget that puts downward pressure on its homegrown inflation.”