Category: Australian News

Today, on World Day against Trafficking in Persons, we reaffirm the Australian Government’s commitment to tackling these abhorrent crimes.

This year’s global theme is to ‘reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind’.

The Government is committed to bolstering our efforts to counter human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery, working with partners at home and abroad to disrupt these global crimes and enhance support for victims and survivors.

To mark this day, the Attorney General’s Department alongside the Australian Federal Police and civil society partners is delivering a national social media awareness campaign to encourage us all to ‘Look a little deeper. Human trafficking happens in Australia’.

The campaign will be translated into multiple languages to boost its reach. In particular, it aims to raise awareness of the false promises used by perpetrators to deceive and recruit victims into modern slavery.

The Albanese Government is delivering an ambitious policy program to address the insidious scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery. This includes:

• $24.3 million boost to the Support for Trafficked People Program over the next four years;
• $8 million over four years to establish Australia’s first federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner;
• $2.73 million over the next two years through the Modern Slavery Grants program;
• $1 million to United Nations trusts supporting victims of trafficking rehabilitate and recover;
• Up to $24 million of Official Development Assistance over the past financial year; and
• Support for the first facility dedicated to combatting trafficking in persons in Southeast Asia.

Our efforts have been recognised globally, with Australia maintaining a Tier One ranking in the US Government’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report for 20 years in a row.

Australia continues to speak out on the issue in global forums, including as a co-chair of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime.

Late last night, an Australian Army MRH-90 helicopter impacted waters close to Hamilton Island.

A search and rescue commenced immediately.

Sadly, the four aircrew who were on board are yet to be found.

The families of the four aircrew have been notified of this incident.

Our first thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing.

All Australians hold them in our hearts and we hold onto hope as the search and rescue teams go about their work right now. We have the utmost confidence in their professionalism and skill.

As the extreme climate crisis cooks the planet, Greens Acting Leader Mehreen Faruqi has called on the Prime Minister and the Labor government to heed the UN’s warning and show global leadership by committing to no more coal and gas.

Fires and extreme heat waves are ravaging the Northern Hemisphere, as the UN and the World Meteorological Organisation warns July will be the hottest on record and describes the situation as “global boiling.”

Greens Acting Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“Coal and gas is fueling this extreme climate crisis and Australia is one of the biggest exporters of fossil fuels. Labor must show global leadership and act now.

“The Prime Minister and Labor must stop approving new coal and gas projects and push for the world to do the same.

“Greens pressure has got some climate action, but we need much much more and Labor is making the climate crisis worse with Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approving one climate bomb after another with no signs of slowing down.

“What we are seeing in the Northern Hemisphere will hit Australia this summer and people will ask what did the Prime Minister and Labor do?

“Climate scientists, the UN and the International Energy Agency have all issued unambiguously apocalyptic climate warnings, and still, this year Labor approved three new coal projects.

“There is no room for new coal and gas if we want a liveable planet. The only forces that want new fossil fuels are the climate-wrecking, morally bankrupt fossil fuel corporations, and they’ve got both Labor and the Liberals doing their bidding.”

The Greens have slammed the Albanese Government’s decision to cut $25 million from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) as an attack on science. 

An email sent to AAD staff earlier this month shows the division is set to cut approximately 16% of its operating budget. 

As scientists warn of a reduction in Antarctic sea ice equivalent to a once every 7.5 million year event, the Greens are calling for the budget cuts to be reversed and for the Albanese Government to commit to increased funding for Antarctic science programs this summer, especially critical ice sheet programs. 

Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said: 

“The Albanese Government’s decision to cut $25 million from the Australian Antarctic Division is an attack on science and could undermine Australia’s important commitment to the Antarctic Treaty. 

“I’m hearing a number of concerns expressed about science programs in the Antarctic being cancelled because of these budget cuts. 

“There’s never been a more important time to increase Antarctic science funding. Scientists are currently warning of a reduction in Antarctic sea ice equivalent to a once every 7.5 million year event.

“Unprecedented low ice coverage has scientists stunned, and is of significant global concern. There couldn’t possibly be a worse time to be cutting the operating budget of the AAD, particularly with critical ice sheet scientific programs scheduled for this summer.

“The Greens want these budget cuts to be immediately reversed and for the Albanese Government to commit to increased funding for Antarctic science programs this summer, especially in relation to southern ocean and climate science programs. 

“If the Albanese Government can find $10 billion to spend on a new fleet of Hercules planes, it must guarantee, at a minimum, the promised $7.4 million for research focused on studying the destabilisation of Antarctic ice sheets.

“The Government must uphold Australia’s leadership and commitment to the Antarctic Treaty and the critical globally significant and internationally collaborative science programs that underpin this.”

Introduction:

A startling revelation has surfaced, shaking the foundations of Australia’s property market. Senator Malcolm Roberts of One Nation has unearthed evidence pointing to a significant disparity between official government statistics and the number of Australian homes foreigners purchase. This revelation has sparked urgent calls for an official investigation into the issue, raising concerns about housing affordability and national interests.

The Discrepancy in Numbers:

Official records from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) indicate that only 0.74 per cent of residential dwelling transactions in 2021-22 involved foreign buyers. However, a well-respected NAB survey of real estate agents suggests a different reality. The survey reveals that foreign purchases accounted for over two per cent of established homes and four to eight per cent of new dwellings during the same financial year.

Senator Roberts’ Call to Action:

Senator Malcolm Roberts insists that the FIRB fails to capture the full extent of foreign purchases in Australia. His urgent call for Treasurer Jim Chalmers to launch an official investigation aims to address the glaring discrepancy in statistics and shed light on the true state of the property market.

Implications for the Australian Property Market:

The emerging scandal has significant implications for the domestic property market:

1. Housing Affordability Concerns: If foreign ownership is more widespread than believed, it could exacerbate the already challenging housing affordability situation for Australian citizens. Increased competition from foreign buyers might drive up prices and limit locals’ access to the property market.
2. National Interest and Security: Foreign ownership of many residential properties raises national interest and security concerns. The influence of foreign entities on local communities and decision-making processes is a crucial consideration.
3. Policy Review: The government may need to reevaluate foreign investment policies and tighten regulations to ensure transparency and accountability in property transactions involving foreign buyers. Stricter controls can help protect the interests of Australian citizens and maintain market stability.

Conclusion:

Senator Malcolm Roberts’ exposure to the potential foreign ownership scandal demands immediate attention. The glaring disparity between official government statistics and real estate agents’ data requires a thorough investigation to grasp the true extent of foreign purchases in the Australian property market. Policymakers must strike a careful balance between encouraging foreign investment, safeguarding national interests, and housing affordability for Australian citizens. The nation can only address this pressing issue and ensure a robust and fair property market for all through comprehensive action.

Further revelations in the Nine papers today about corruption allegations and Pacific offshore detention reinforce the need for a Royal Commission into the operations of Home Affairs, Acting Greens Leader Mehreen Faruqi said today.

According to the reports, then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was warned by the AFP about bribery risks associated with a businessman who was nonetheless awarded a multi-million dollar contract just weeks later. The allegations also show that money continued to flow to entities long after AUSTRAC warned about potential corruption and money laundering.

According to the reports, the company embroiled in the allegations continued to be contracted under the current Labor government.

acting Greens Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“The Prime Minister must establish a Royal Commission which examines the entire cruel history of our immigration detention system as well as this latest Home Affairs scandal.

“These allegations are deeply troubling. Peter Dutton must explain what he knew and Labor must explain why these contracts continued on their watch.

“At the same time as it was ruining the lives of refugees, the whole offshore detention system was clearly embroiled in questionable contracts and dodgy deals. There needs to be a full and open inquiry.”

“This is the true cost of Australia’s shameful obsession with offshore processing at all costs: money that could be spent establishing safe pathways for people seeking asylum  and refugees ends up lost in the rivers of gold flowing to questionable contractors all with the Australian government’s blessing.”
 

Despite the tireless efforts of advocates like End Rape on Campus and Fair Agenda to hold universities accountable, far too many students, particularly female students, still feel unsafe at uni.

The Greens support calls on the Albanese government to establish an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence.

Greens spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“The 2021 National Student Safety Survey found that 275 students are reporting assaults on campuses across the country every week. Without major changes, thousands of students are at risk. 

“Universities have a clear responsibility to provide a safe environment for students, with 275 sexual assaults in a university setting each week, it’s clear they are failing. 

“Universities can play a key role in ensuring students understand consent. If Universities Australia 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.

“A recent report showed universities have chosen not to provide the educational resources young adults need, because of the archaic mindset of a few old dinosaurs in charge of our tertiary institutions.

“Allowing the prudish nonsense of a minority of vice-chancellors to shelve a government-funded campaign is embarrassing enough, but Universities Australia attempting to hide the decision is outrageous.”

“An independent authority would be able to monitor what universities are doing to deal with sexual violence, whether those responses are working and have the power to impose consequences for those unis who don’t make the grade.”

Acting Greens Leader & Greens spokesperson on Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“Universities have been hotbeds for sexual violence for far too long, especially for women, non-binary students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and those with a disability. 

“The current system of self-regulation is completely failing students and causing lasting harm to so many people. Universities are failing in both preventing sexual violence and in responding to it.

“Universities must actively build and promote a culture that does not tolerate sexual assault, violence or harassment of any form.

“We need an independent authority with powers to not only monitor and evaluate universities on their work to end sexual violence on campus, but to also impose consequences for universities who are failing to protect students.” 

Australia’s biggest gas polluter, Woodside Energy is deploying its war fuelled profits to hound and intimidate peaceful Disrupt Burrup Hub protestors and force them into bankruptcy.

The use of SLAPP suits (strategic lawsuits against public participation) is a legal tactic to financially and emotionally wear down effective public protestors and intimidate and silence anyone else who might join the movement to stop new coal and gas projects. They were famously used in 2004 by Tasmanian forest logging company Gunns.

Protestors have targeted Woodside’s gas expansion plans in the Burrup Hub, which contains the oldest collection of rock art in the world and is a deeply sacred place for traditional custodians. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will have to accept or reject the plans over coming months.

Acting Greens Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“Woodside is a corporate villain, pure and simple. They are destroying the planet, reaping billions in profits, they have the Labor and Liberal parties wrapped around their fingers and now they are trying to bankrupt two women who dared challenge their dangerous expansion plans.

“These SLAPP suits are straight out of the playbook that Tasmanian native forest logging company Gunns used against Bob Brown and 19 other environmental campaigners. Thankfully the only one out of them that is bankrupt now is Gunns.  

“Woodside might have huge resources and the Labor and Liberal parties on their side, but the climate movement has a growing number of people desperately committed to stopping new coal and gas and preventing climate collapse.

“The Greens support disruptive peaceful protest that draws public attention to the reality that  coal, oil and gas companies are causing the climate crisis.

“We will be watching the conduct of the WA police closely. WA police have a chance to come to the right side of history, sever their cosy relationship as Woodside’s private law enforcers and not assist the fossil fuel giant in intimidating climate activists.”

Today, we are hosting a landmark Gender Equality Symposium on the sidelines of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brisbane.

The Symposium will bring together leaders from across our region and the world, emerging women’s leaders, human rights advocates, athletes and academics to advance Australia’s interests in gender equality and human rights.

Speakers will include the former Afghan women’s football team captain Khalida Poppal, Australian Olympic basketballer Patty Mills, Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario OAM and US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken.

The Albanese Government is determined to ensure the FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, drives progress, not just for women’s sport, but for women everywhere.

Clear and consistent dialogue, including at events like the Gender Equality Symposium, is key to the Albanese Government’s approach in shaping the world for the better.

The aspirations we champion in our region – peace, stability and prosperity – can only be achieved if we continue to see progress on gender equality.

When women and girls are empowered, and barriers to participation are removed, economies grow faster.

Pursuing gender equality isn’t just right, it’s a vital national interest.

The Albanese Government has grossly misled Alice Springs residents over a community safety emergency response package which has denied equitable funding to high-risk indigenous students in local schools.

In May, Education Minister Jason Clare announced that 46 Central Australian schools would share in $40.4 million for ‘On-Country Learning’ to improve school attendance and engagement as part of a package of measures to combat youth crime in Alice Springs.

The schools were asked to ‘develop tailored solutions to better engage children and young people in school and provide them with the wrap-around support they need to succeed.’

Indigenous independent school, Yipirinya School in Alice Springs, where 300 students are enrolled many of whom are vulnerable and suffering acute disadvantage, has been advised by Mr Clare it will receive only $329,000, not the nearly $1 million it was expecting.

It is understood that 10 independent and catholic schools, including Yipirinya School, will receive only $2 million while the lion’s share of the $40.5 million will go to government schools, funding calculated under the ‘Gonski’ School Resource Standard and not for the purpose of combating the Alice Springs crime wave.

“This funding was meant to keep young people in Alice Springs at school, off the streets and out of jail. The Albanese Government has disgracefully plugged a territory government funding hole rather than use this money to combat youth crime,” Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson said.

“In propping up the Northern Territory government which is providing only 59 per cent of the 75 per cent funding required under the School Resource Standard, Jason Clare has profoundly misled local schools.”

“Yipirinya School’s plan to build a satellite school at Burt Creek, 60 kilometres north of Alice Springs, is now in ruins. An ‘on country’ satellite school would have supported many aboriginal students who currently have to travel up to 300 kilometres a day to attend school. The money Yipirinya will receive will barely cover the running costs of school buses for one semester,” Senator Henderson said.

“The Albanese Government is all about selective voices. They have no interest in listening to local voices when they don’t like what they have to say,” said Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

“The Albanese Government has turned its back on Yipirinya School which is desperately seeking funding to build boarding facilities to keep children safe at school. Once again, some of the most high-risk students in Alice Springs have been betrayed by a government that is all talk, and no action.”

“The Alice Springs emergency response package was meant to combat the Alice Springs crime wave which has brought my home town to its knees. Yet, almost eight months on, Labor has barely rolled out a cent and communities are still in need,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

“The government parades the schools funding as for On-Country Learning but they cannot tell us how this will get children back into schools. They still can’t even explain what On-Country Learning means or how it will get children back into schools and keep them safe,” said Senator Nampijinpa Price.

“Where is the fairness in slashing funding from schools which are most in need?”

“Communities in Central Australia can expect $2 million to be spent on CCTV cameras and lighting. Yet $7 million will go towards ‘strong governance.’ Which of these will help members of the community sleep safely at night?” Senator Nampijinpa Price concluded.