It will be ‘lights out Australia’

Australia’s energy grid is under imminent threat of blackouts as soon as this summer as the Albanese Government’s energy plan drives the premature closure of baseload energy without any guarantee of replacement.

The Australian Energy Market Operator today sounded a dire warning, signalling the increased likelihood of significant energy shortfalls as renewable energy investment stalls.

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien said these warnings come as a direct consequence of Labor’s radical energy experiment.

“The market operator’s latest report is another frightening wake-up call for an incompetent federal Labor government,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Labor’s radical experiment with Australia’s energy system has created a looming crisis, with an increasing threat of blackouts as soon as this summer.”

“Australians are already paying some of the most expensive energy bills in the world and now they have been told their lights may not turn on when they need them.”

“It will only get worse if Labor continues down this dangerous path.”

The report comes as both Federal and State Governments grapple with the closure of coal fired power stations, including New South Wales’s Eraring Power Station which provides 20% of the State’s electricity.

The Shadow Energy Spokesperson called on Labor to scrap its ideological approach to energy.

“Labor must immediately stop its ideological crusade against energy technologies it doesn’t like that reliably keep the lights on,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It must adopt an ‘All the Above’ approach to energy – as the Coalition has done – to ensure a balanced mix of technologies power our grid into the future.”

“Renewables are an important part of the mix but Labor is setting them up for failure, not success, by demanding a renewables-only grid.”

“It beggars belief that while the rest of Australia grapples with soaring energy bills and an increasingly unreliable grid, our energy Minister continues to claim his policies are ‘improving the strength of the grid’.”

One year but little action on Xinjiang report

Today marks one year since the significant report by the United Nations Human Rights Office found human rights violations, including possible crimes against humanity, have been committed against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region of the People’s Republic of China.

Disappointingly there has been little action from the Albanese Government in response to this report. Despite repeated calls from the Uyghur community in Australia and offers of bipartisanship from the Coalition, Labor has chosen not to utilise the responses available to them.

The Albanese Government inaction stands in contrast to the actions taken by the European Union, UK, US and Canada who have pursued those responsible with targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes.

The Coalition, again, offers bipartisan support to the Foreign Minister and Albanese Government to use the Magnitsky-style sanctions at their disposal and send a strong message that Australia is serious about these human rights violations.

We urge the Government to build upon the bipartisan approach which delivered Australia’s Magnitsky-style sanctions, to act in a manner more consistent with Minister Wong’s pre-election statements and to accept the Coalition’s offer without further delay.

The Coalition strongly supports the OHCHR recommendations calling for the prompt release of all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty and the urgent independent investigation of all allegations of human rights abuses.

Since 2018 the Australian Government has consistently, publicly and directly with the Chinese Government, raised grave concerns about the reports of human rights abuses against ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

We also acknowledge the trauma of Uyghurs in Australia, who hold fears for their loved ones in Xinjiang, and in some cases have faced harassment and intimidation for sharing their stories publicly.

The Coalition restates our support for the UN to be given unrestricted access to Xinjiang to continue their independent investigation, and for those found to have committed human rights abuses to be held accountable.

Government rejects critical child safety recommendation from esafety commissioner. Inexplicable decision means government won’t act on age assurance

The Albanese Government has today announced its refusal to act on a critical recommendation aimed at protecting children from pornography and other online harm.

In a major report to Government, Roadmap for Age Verification, the eSafety Commissioner has recommended a pilot of Age Assurance technologies. On page 8 of the Roadmap the eSafety Commissioner included in its Recommendations for the Australian Government:

Trial a pilot before seeking to prescribe and mandate age assurance technology.

This was a significant report, commissioned by the Coalition Government, that considered options to protect children online. The report has been with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland since March this year and was not released until today.

At the same time as releasing the Report, the Minister has shut down plans for the trial recommended by the eSafety Commissioner.

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said this was an extraordinary response by the Government.

“Every day, thousands of children access pornography online. As the eSafety Commissioner’s report notes, this can have very damaging impacts. And children are also accessing a large volume of other damaging content, such as material related to self-harm,” Mr Coleman said.

“The US Surgeon General has stated that there is ample evidence that access to damaging material online is harming the mental health of children. This is a defining issue of our era, and governments must take strong steps to protect children.

“An Age Assurance system would require technology companies to take specific steps to identify under-aged users and stop children from accessing dangerous material.

“The Government has refused to even trial an Age Assurance program, despite a clear recommendation from the eSafety Commissioner. It’s impossible to understand why the Albanese Government would not even trial such a system.

“On one hand we have a Government that wants to regulate political speech through its appalling Misinformation Bill. On the other we have a Government that refuses to trial crucial technology to keep children safe online. Minister Rowland’s decisions continue to defy logic, to the great detriment of Australians.”

Rallying call to stop Voice

As the Prime Minister announces the date for the Voice Referendum, October 14th, we face a critical juncture in our nation’s history. In these last remaining weeks before the referendum, the Left will be more resolved than ever to rally all their resources for the Yes campaign and redouble their efforts to turn around the disastrous polling that they have been facing these last few months.

We mustn’t allow them to hoodwink voters in this final stretch before polling day. Those of us who stand against this madness mustn’t get complacent. Voters have woken up to Albanese’s divisive agenda, but we must continue fighting until this threat to our national unity is buried.

As Australians who cherish the values that have defined our great nation, we cannot allow this left-wing lunacy, which has already infiltrated so much, to enter even our Constitution.

What is at stake here is the very core of our national identity. The radicals pushing for this change want nothing more than to undermine our values, our traditions, and our unity. They seek to create a parallel structure that would only fracture our society and provide an opening for those who want to undermine the foundations of our democracy.

We have seen the devastating consequences of these left-wing ideologies in other parts of the world; we cannot stand by and allow our great nation to be consumed by the same divisive forces. We must stand firm to show everyone who wants to divide and subvert our foundational institutions that we are still One Nation. We must redouble our efforts to ensure Australians stop this divisive agenda and Vote No.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Adam Fennessy PSM as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Mr Fennessy is an accomplished public sector leader including as the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries and then the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning between 2013 and 2017. Mr Fennessy was the Victorian Public Service Commissioner between 2020 and 2022. He was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2018 in recognition of his outstanding public service to government departments in Victoria.

Mr Fennessy is currently the Dean and CEO of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

With his strong subject matter knowledge in primary industries, including well-established relationships with industry, and significant experience in organisational transformation, Mr Fennessy will be able to make an immediate contribution to the strategic leadership of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the broader Australian Public Service.

The five year appointment begins on 18 September 2023.

The office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was vacated on the retirement of Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, on 4 August 2023. On behalf of my government I thank Mr Metcalfe for his dedicated service and leadership, including as Secretary of three Departments of State since 2005.

STATE AND FEDERAL LABOR GOVERNMENTS FAST-TRACKING EXTINCTION OF GREATER GLIDER THROUGH DESTRUCTION OF THEIR NATIVE FOREST HABITAT

The Greens have condemned the Forestry Corporation of NSW for threatening endangered species by logging the habitat of the great glider in Tallaganda state forest.

They are calling on state and federal governments to urgently act to scrap the Regional Forest Agreements to end native forest logging and protect endangered species.

Australian Greens’ spokesperson for forests Janet Rice said: 

“This forest and these gliders are national heritage – the Commonwealth has a responsibility to protect them, particularly in light of how much forest burnt in 2019 in NSW and Victoria. 

“It shouldn’t be up to the vandals of the NSW forestry commission to send greater gliders closer and closer to extinction. 

“If we want zero extinctions as Tanya Plibersek has promised then we need to end native forest logging across the country immediately.

“Forests are going to be under even greater threat from fire in the future with more extreme conditions due to global heating.

“The Regional Forest Agreements have allowed for decades of reckless destruction of native forests across Australia, pushed native wildlife to the brink of extinction, endangered our water supplies, heightened bushfire risk, and made the climate crisis worse.

“Native forest logging is a dying industry and there’s no way around it. 

“We need a permanent, national ban on native forest logging and a just transition plan for forestry workers.” 

NSW Greens’ spokesperson for forests Sue Higginson said:

“The NSW Government must immediately pause all plans to log Tallaganda Forest. We can not allow Greater Glider extinction logging and make no mistake, that’s what this is. 

“There are dozens of Greater Glider den trees in Tallaganda that are proposed to be logged, but Forestry Corporation have only mapped a single tree for habitat protection across the 5,000 hectares that they want to destroy.

“Forestry Corporation are legally required to conduct pre-logging fauna and flora surveys but they can not have done this adequately as their report has drastically under-assessed the Greater Glider habitat and population in this area that is critical for the survival of the Greater Glider.

“I’ve called on the NSW Minister for Environment and the Environment Protection Authority to use their powers and issue an immediate stop work order for logging operations in Tallaganda State Forest until an independent review of the Greater Glider habitat can be undertaken.

“The NSW Government has committed to zero extinctions in NSW but the continued logging of critical Greater Glider Habitat, one of only two remaining in the state, is a blatant failure to take the necessary actions to prevent the extinction of Greater Gliders.”

SA MAKE OR BREAK IT STATE IN THE REFERENDUM

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is urging all South Australians to support the YES campaign as it kicks off in Adelaide today.

“Today’s YES campaign launch is a historic moment for our country, and it’s taking place in Adelaide because South Australia is a crucial state in this referendum.

“SA is the make or break state in this referendum. The positive polling results we have seen today show the Yes vote leading narrowly, but that it can’t be taken for granted.

“There will be no “maybe” box on the ballot paper. It is either Yes or No. Yes for doing what is right, or No for continuing the wrongs of the past.”

“SA was the first State to give women the vote and now we can take Australia forward again. 

“Now that the official YES campaign has kicked off, I urge all South Australians to get involved and help us get this really important reform across the line.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be out and about around the state campaigning to make sure South Australia returns a strong YES vote.”

Senator Hanson-Young will be attending the announcement of the date event in Adelaide this morning.

GREENS WELCOME REFERENDUM ON 14 OCTOBER, SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN FOR YES

The Greens have warmly welcomed the announcement of the referendum on 14 October and recommitted their support for the campaign for Yes.

South Australian Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Barbara Pocock represented the Australian Greens party room at the government’s announcement in Adelaide this morning, and Greens Leader Adam Bandt campaigned in Melbourne this morning and will visit Adelaide on Friday.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“As the first political party to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, the Greens are proud to support the campaign for Yes.

“First Nations people are the experts on First Nations policy. When they give advice, governments must listen and act.

“A successful Yes vote at this Referendum is a step towards justice for First Nations people, and towards the solutions that First Nations people have been fighting for for decades.”

Greens portfolio holder for First Nations and Yamatji Noongar woman, Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“A successful Referendum will amplify First Nations voices. Our voices will be heard, and the government will have a responsibility to listen and act.

“First Nations self-determination will lead to better outcomes in housing, health, education and more.

“Together we demand a future where no matter who we are, we are all treated equally, and First Nations people are no longer left behind.

“I want to see this happen in my lifetime, for my children, for my Elders, for my mob, for every First Nations person and for every Australian. We must not squander this moment.

“The Greens were the first party to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full. The first step is a successful Yes at the Referendum in October.”

Joint statement on the nuclear-powered submarine propulsion challenge

The Opposition is calling on the Prime Minister to stand up to his union mates and reaffirm Labor’s commitment to AUKUS.


Reports that the Australian Education Union (AEU) are considering boycotting a STEM program, inviting high school students to participate in a competition to design nuclear-powered submarines (the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Propulsion Challenge), are concerning.

Australia is less than four years away from Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) at HMAS Stirling. We face a massive task ahead to prove to our partners that we can safely own, operate, maintain, and regulate nuclear-powered submarines.

We all have a responsibility to encourage young Australians to get involved in this nation-building task and educate them about the benefits AUKUS will have for generations to come.

But commentary coming out of Labor and the unions is unsettling and puts our requirement to be ‘sovereign ready’ at risk.

The Prime Minister must show leadership by standing up to the AEU and guarantee that the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Propulsion Challenge will go ahead.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Adam Fennessy PSM as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Mr Fennessy is an accomplished public sector leader including as the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries and then the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning between 2013 and 2017. Mr Fennessy was the Victorian Public Service Commissioner between 2020 and 2022. He was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2018 in recognition of his outstanding public service to government departments in Victoria.

Mr Fennessy is currently the Dean and CEO of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

With his strong subject matter knowledge in primary industries, including well-established relationships with industry, and significant experience in organisational transformation, Mr Fennessy will be able to make an immediate contribution to the strategic leadership of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the broader Australian Public Service.

The five year appointment begins on 18 September 2023.

The office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was vacated on the retirement of Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, on 4 August 2023. On behalf of my government I thank Mr Metcalfe for his dedicated service and leadership, including as Secretary of three Departments of State since 2005.