Category: Australian News

Today, the government has responded to the report by the Parliamentary Inquiry Into Conflict Decision Making by affirming its decision to refuse giving the parliament a vote, thus ensuring that Australians can be dragged into more illegal wars at the whims of the United States.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Peace and Foreign Affairs said: 

“The Government’s response to the War Powers inquiry is proof that the Albanese government is refusing to embrace meaningful reform of Australia’s archaic and unaccountable process for going to war.” 

“No other democracy in the world has an executive government that holds such unilateral power to send troops to war.”

“The Labor party took a promise to the election to conduct a fair inquiry into how Australia goes to war. The Defence Minister and Foreign Minister have spent the past two years doing everything in their power to unwind that promise; including stating their opposition to meaningful reform before the inquiry’s completion.

“We have seen over and over that the mechanism for sending Australians to war lacks accountability and results in significant human disaster. Hundreds of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and, to this day, ADF personnel find themselves in overseas conflicts that were never subject to debate, vote, or scrutiny.” 

“Today ADF personnel are still deployed to conflict zones globally without any meaningful engagement done with the Australian people or the parliament about why they are there, the contribution to national interest or the flow on effects these conflicts have.”

“The proposed changes by the government leave our Australian community vulnerable to the whims of the United States. The decision to go to war should be a vote of the Australian Parliament. When Australians get dragged into the next war the Australian Labor party should spare us their feigned outrage because the truth is they had the opportunity to stop it and didn’t, the blood will be on their hands.”

The Australian Greens, in collaboration with the Australian Cleft Lip and Palate Community, are proposing amendments to the Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023. If supported, it will grant children with Cleft Lip and Palate  access to crucial speech therapy services under Medicare’s Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme

The community has been advocating for improved access to speech pathology services for more than 13 years. Affordable access to speech therapy plays a pivotal role in the lives of children with cleft lip and palate conditions; boosting their self-esteem, and enhancing their overall quality of life. 

The current exclusion of speech therapy services from the Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme places an unjust financial burden on families.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Health and Disability has said: 

“It’s beyond time for the Medicare Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme to incorporate a greater number of speech pathology sessions for individuals with cleft lip and palate. The current provision of only five speech pathology sessions per year falls short. Today, the Greens are proposing amendments to expand the Medicare Cleft Scheme to encompass 26 sessions over a 12-month period.” 

“I have personally heard from parents of children with cleft lip and palate who have expressed that the current allowance of five speech pathology sessions per year is inadequate. The absence of additional Medicare-covered sessions forces them to incur thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. This puts them in the difficult position of choosing between providing their child with life-changing support, or meeting basic necessities such as rent and food. 

“The Australian Community is rallying behind this change. A change.org petition addressing the issue has immense public support, with over 14,000 signatures.

Statements from The Cleft Palate and Lip Society (ClefPALS) Community Advocates: 

Jessica Beckman, the campaign manager for CleftPALS and a mother of a three-year-old with cleft lip and palate vividly portrays the challenges faced by these families. 

“There are too many children suffering from developmental delays from not having access to speech therapy, which leads to other mental anguish. Australian kids shouldn’t be getting bullied at school for not being able to talk properly.”

“In 2009, CleftPals wrote to the then Parliamentary Secretary for Health, and now Minister for Health, Mark Butler, asking for speech therapy support. That request was ignored. Now is the time for Minister Butler to act; he should commit to providing fair and equitable access to speech therapy services for our cleft kids”.

Timothy Delivin, President of CleftPALS NSW, whose kindergarten-aged son Joshua struggles with clear speech, underscored the “significant financial burden that is placed on families with a cleft kid with sessions with a specialist costing up to $190 per hour!”

The Greens are in solidarity with tireless campaigning groups like End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda, The STOP Campaign and the National Union of Students who continue to shine a light on sexual violence on campus, and support their calls for an independent mechanism to hold universities to account on sexual assault.

LActing Greens Leader & Greens spokesperson on Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“While it’s great that the Government has appointed Patty Kinnersly to their working group on uni governance, there is so much more they must do to keep students safe.

“The Government must establish an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence and commit to funding another student safety survey. A working group to examine the issues is just not good enough on its own, when we know decisive action is needed now.

“Every student has the right to study in a safe, respectful environment, without fear of being sexually assaulted or harassed.

“Sadly though, far too many uni students continue to experience sexual violence across the country, especially women, non-binary people, people with disability, and First Nations people. For many, these traumatic experiences can totally upend and ruin lives.

“Both governments and universities have failed to act, despite knowing for years about the shocking prevalence and damaging effects of sexual violence on campuses.

“The Greens stand in solidarity with tireless campaigning groups like End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda, and the National Union of Students — who have bravely shone a light on sexual violence on campus, and who are holding the government and universities to account for their abject failures.”

Greens spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“There is an epidemic of sexual assault on campus and universities and governments need to stop trying to brush it under the carpet.

“Labor is in government, they have all the levers. Students need to know their safety is being taken seriously. Parents need to know their kids are safe in residential halls. Universities need to be forced to take action.

“End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda and The STOP Campaign continue their calls for an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence, and the Greens support those calls.

“The 2021 National Student Safety Survey found that 275 students are reporting assaults on campuses across the country every week, but that survey was done in the middle of COVID lockdowns. We need to know the true extent of the epidemic of rape on campus once students are back to post-pandemic campus life.

“Universities Australia have said it is up to the vice-chancellors whether they run another student safety survey, and that they haven’t yet decided. That prevarication is unacceptable – student safety surveys must be funded and committed to by both government and universities. You can’t fix the problem by hiding it. These are the same vice-chancellors who canned the $1.5 million consent education program Universities Australia was funded to provide, because of the archaic mindset of a few old dinosaurs in charge of our tertiary institutions.

“We are still waiting on a response to Questions on Notice from Universities Australia regarding whose archaic opinions were relied on in the decision to pull the plug on its consent education campaign, but it’s pretty clear that if they don’t want to provide sexual consent education to the adults on its campuses, it should hand back the $1.5 million it was provided to do so.

“Despite the tireless efforts of advocates like End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda and The STOP Campaign, who Minister Clare met with last week, far too many students, particularly women, still feel unsafe at uni. The Greens support their calls for an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence.”

A Senate inquiry into the current funding mismanagement of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has been established. It comes following the Albanese Government’s failure to acknowledge rising fears within the AAD about what science programs will be axed as a result of the division having to cut its operating budget by $25 million.

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

“It’s time to put politics aside and get to the bottom of why the AAD is short $25 million and has to cut scheduled science programs this summer.

“Now isn’t the time for splitting hairs over the semantics of what went wrong – Antarctic science is too important and too time critical for that.

“What needs to be thoroughly scrutinised is why the AAD is set to lose $25 million from its operating budget and what decision-making process is being employed to determine which science programs are being deemed “critical” and which programs are being cancelled.

“This is a highly distressing time for some of Australia’s best scientists and a government seemingly unconcerned about cutting Antarctic science programs is not acceptable, especially not for those now facing job insecurity as a result.

“The fact the Minister is still spinning that there are no budget cuts is incredibly unhelpful and shows the government is more focused on shifting blame than tackling the matter head-on. 

“We have internal documents identifying Antarctic science projects that can’t be supported ‘due to budget constraints’ and a leaked email from the Head of the AAD revealing it will lose 16% of its operating budget – the situation speaks for itself. 

“Hopefully the Senate can assist the Albanese Government to clear up this troubling situation, and make sure science programs are prioritised and fully funded as originally planned.”

The Australian Greens will not be supporting the motion to disallow 60 day dispensing, as moved by the Liberals. 

Following consultation with consumers and health care providers, the Australian Greens Party Room supports the community’s access to cheaper medicines, which will come into effect from the 1st September 2023. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for health said: 

“We’ve heard from the community that their priority is cost of living relief, additionally the move to 60 day dispensing will support disabled and chronically ill people as they will undertake fewer trips to the pharmacist.

“We are incredibly proud that after years of the Greens calling for the change, the government has agreed to support better access to medicines for people with opioid dependency.

“Through our negotiations, the Greens have pushed the Government to announce measures that will provide additional support to regional and rural pharmacies, along with a commitment to bring forward the negotiation on the next Community Pharmacy Agreement. 

“We strongly encourage the Minister to commence negotiations on the Community Pharmacy Agreement in good faith with the sector, and implement an updated agreement that prioritises measures to support the communities access to community pharmacies.

“The Greens are committed to making a more universal and accessible healthcare system for all of the community and we will continue to push for reform that achieves this.”

One week out from its National Conference, it’s clear Labor’s factions have forced the Albanese Government into another about-face in relation to Australia’s policies on Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Labor’s back-room decisions on Israel and the Palestinian territories have everything to do with managing factional differences ahead of the Labor National Conference and nothing to do with advancing a lasting two-state outcome.

It’s clear the Albanese Government is undertaking more consultation with factional bosses than with those impacted by these changes, including the Israeli Government.

Foreign Affairs Minister Wong has previously criticised unilateral decisions that undermine a two-state solution, yet now appears committed to Labor making its own unilateral decisions without any genuine consultation.

These decisions prompt many questions, such as whether a determination of certain territories to be “occupied Palestinian territories” is accompanied by determinations on the precise boundaries of such territories? Without that, what exactly is the determination referring to?

Equally, will a declaration of settlements as being illegal result in a change to Australia’s position on key motions at the United Nations, including votes within the last year where Australian officials said that such motions “will not help bring the parties together”?

These latest acts of the Albanese Government come on top of the disgraceful handling by Labor of the changes to Australia’s recognition of the Israeli capital, which was marked by disrespect for a Holy Day and a gross lack of consultation.

The Coalition remains committed to supporting a lasting two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine co-exist. It is extremely regrettable that Labor’s internal differences are undermining the consistency of Australia’s position on these matters.

National Cabinet will next meet in Brisbane on 16 August 2023.

The key priority for the meeting is to discuss progress on housing and planning reforms, including proposals to increase housing supply and affordability.

Consistent with National Cabinet’s 2023 priorities, First Ministers will also discuss health reform ahead of a dedicated health meeting planned for later in 2023.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“I am looking forward to meeting with First Ministers this month for positive and constructive discussions on Australia’s national priorities.

“Our key priority for this meeting is increasing housing supply and affordability across Australia.

The Albanese Government’s new international development policy will advance Australia’s interests in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and ensure we are a partner of choice for our region.

The new long-term policy – the first in almost a decade – will drive the Government’s aid investments in tackling regional challenges like poverty, economic growth, healthcare, infrastructure investment, climate change and gender equality.

It will deliver a development program that is effective, responsive, transparent and accountable: fit for the challenges and opportunities of our times.

Australia will invest more in locally-led solutions, creating local jobs and economic opportunities and building genuine, respectful partnerships. A new fund will be established to provide direct support to community organisations in the region and drive local development outcomes.

The Government’s commitment to gender equality and climate action will be at the heart of the development program. New targets will ensure Australian development assistance tackles climate impacts and improves the lives of women and girls.

The new policy will underpin the Government’s record international development investments, which are delivering $1.7 billion in new spending over five years and a commitment to long-term growth of the development program.

A new performance and delivery framework will guide the implementation of the new policy and measure the effectiveness of our efforts.

The Government will also improve development skills and expertise in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, after nine years of Coalition cuts and neglect.

At the same time, the Government has released the Development Finance Review, conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, accepting all eight recommendations.

This will boost the Government’s partnerships with impact investors and philanthropists, encouraging greater flows of private finance towards development outcomes in the Indo-Pacific.

As recommended by the Review, the Government will establish Australian Development Investments, a new vehicle providing up to $250 million as a catalyst for private impact investment in the Indo-Pacific.

The new development policy and Development Finance Review were informed by extensive consultations in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific. We thank all who participated for their important contributions.

They are part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to rebuild and revitalise Australia’s development program to ensure our aid investments are delivering a better future for our region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“Australia is using all elements of our national power to advance our interests and shape the world for the better.

“Development and prosperity underpin peace and stability.

“This new policy reflects who we are. Australia is there, not only in times of crisis, but is working with the region to strengthen its resilience and to help deliver its aspirations.

“The new policy will guide how Australia’s development program works alongside our diplomatic, defence and economic engagement.”

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

“The Albanese Government is rebuilding and reinvesting in Australia’s development program after the Liberals and Nationals slashed $11 billion and neglected development expertise.

“We are responding to the priorities of our partner countries and helping to lift people out of poverty, building resilience and strengthening relationships in our region.

“We will invest in local solutions that deliver a double dividend – creating local jobs and delivering direct economic benefits on the ground, while also improving the development impact of Australia’s investments.”

The Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner has partnered with the Medical Journal of Australia to produce a special supplement that shines a light on the important role education plays in developing and growing Australia’s regional, rural, and remote health workforce.

The reality is people who live in country areas of Australia are generally less healthy than those in our big cities. They have a higher burden of disease and are more socioeconomically disadvantaged.

At the same time, in the vast majority of instances, the number of employed full-time equivalent registered health professionals decreases on a per-population basis the more remote the location is.

Governments have long understood that students who undertake their health and medical studies in rural and regional Australia are more likely to practise in country areas. Australia’s first rural clinical school was established in Traralgon, Victoria, in 1992, and the first university department of rural health, in Broken Hill, NSW, in 1996.

National Rural Health Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, said progress had been made to narrow the gap in healthcare workers on a per-population basis between metropolitan and country areas.

‘However, more sustained effort, with new ideas based on what we have learned in recent decades, is necessary to deliver healthcare equity for regional, rural and remote Australia,’ Professor Stewart said.

‘My office has worked with the Medical Journal of Australia and key rural health training and education stakeholders, including the National Regional Education Commissioner, the Hon Fiona Nash, on a special supplement that focuses on what we’ve learned from our continued investment in this important area.

‘It also looks at what’s needed to better support growing and retaining the rural and remote health workforce – an outcome that is so vital to address the health inequities experienced in country communities.

‘This special supplement provides us with reflections and evidence on what is working, and what can be further done to improve access to health services in rural and remote communities.

‘We know there are many opportunities to influence where clinicians work; we must now focus on how policy can support rural and remote community needs.”

The supplement is available on the Medical Journal of Australia’s website and through Wiley Online Library.

Today the Greens are delivering the results of the extensive public consultation on the first ever bill to legalise adult use of recreational cannabis across Australia. 

A total of 8,916 individual responses on our survey were received and we received 38 detailed submissions in response to our consultation paper. This is in addition to thousands of calls, social media messages and real life conversations. 

The results show an extremely strong level of support for legalising cannabis with a single national cannabis market that allows for home grow and prioritises co-ops and small business involvement. Respondents told us they don’t want an overly corporatised scheme and how it is important to ensure any tax rate doesn’t force up prices and drive people back into the illicit market. 

The bill delivers on this, with a “grassroots” market that also creates $28 billion in anticipated public revenue in the first 9 years of operation.  

The consultation has led to a significant number of improvements to the final bill which will make a gold standard scheme for all Australians.

• Quality and labelling to set out labelling requirements for cannabis and cannabis products including safety and dosage information, strength and chemical composition
• Penalties – we will amend the bill to provide a clear requirement for serious or repeated breaches of licence conditions to result in serious consequences for the licence holder – not just employees.
• Home grow and production – we will amend the bill to explicitly allow people to make products like brownies or gummies at home for personal use, we will also explicitly require that grow at home cannabis not be accessible to the public.
• Young people – we’ll add a new requirement to store cannabis where it’s not readily available to minors and give the regulator the capacity to impose other safe storage if needed like child safe containers for edibles for example.
• Advertising – we will make clear that the ban on advertising won’t stop cafes and dispensaries from point of sale advertising or having an authorised online presence. 

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: 

“Using the collective wisdom of almost ten thousand respondents we know the Greens will be tabling the most popular and effective bill possible to legalise cannabis for the whole country. 

“We have made improvements around labelling, storage, manufacture, advertising, penalties and more as a result of this consultation process. 

“It’s not enough to just decriminalise cannabis, the community is demanding a comprehensive plan for legalisation that will provide safe access to cannabis and cannabis products, end over policing and draw people away from the illicit market. 

“From what we’ve heard in this consultation I believe this model, with these improvements that people have asked for, provides the right plan to create a single, legal national cannabis market. 

“There is an extraordinary level of excitement and engagement with this plan, and people are on standby to speak with their local MPs around the country to push for this to become law. 

“With political courage and public support we can make this law,” Senator Shoebridge said.  

READ THE REPORT: LEGALISING CANNABIS BILL 2023 (PDF)