Category: Australian News

On 20 May, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Quad Leaders Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States, in Hiroshima for the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit.

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries committed to promoting stability, resilience and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Australia, India, Japan and the United States share a vision for a region that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where all countries can cooperate, trade and thrive.

Quad Leaders discussed regional challenges and ways to deepen existing Quad cooperation, including in the areas of climate and clean energy, health security, infrastructure, critical & emerging technology, cyber and space. Leaders released a Joint Leaders’ Statement, and the Quad Leaders’ Vision Statement, setting out a shared vision for the Quad and the Indo-Pacific region.

Leaders announced the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit outcomes demonstrating the Quad’s positive, practical agenda, and highlighting the Quad’s commitment to deliver for the Indo-Pacific. Key outcomes include:

• A ‘Quad Statement of Principles on Clean Energy Supply Chains in the Indo-Pacific’ and, to implement these principles, a ‘Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program’ that will accelerate access to affordable, reliable and secure clean energy in the Indo-Pacific;
• A ‘Quad Health Security Partnership’ that will boost the region’s capability to respond to future disease outbreaks and other health emergencies;
• A ‘Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience’ to help Indo-Pacific countries access resilient infrastructure – in a way that is fit for purpose and meets their needs;
• A ‘Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program’ that will support the Indo-Pacific’s next generation of engineers, consultants and government officials to deliver high-quality, sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure; and
• An Open RAN (Open Radio Access Network) deployment in the Pacific that will be the first of its kind and will help improve digital connectivity and access to advanced telecommunications technology.

Australia’s engagement in the Quad complements our engagement in the Indo-Pacific bilaterally and through regional institutions, such as ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum.

Prime Minister Albanese looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Sydney next week.

the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“While the Summit couldn’t take place in Sydney as planned, I’m pleased to have convened a Quad meeting with counterparts today to discuss pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region and deepening the Quad’s cooperation.”

“The Quad Leaders coming together in-person sends a strong message about Quad unity and what the group is able to achieve together. Australia is always better off when we work together with our close friends and partners, and engage openly and constructively.”

“At its core, the Quad’s agenda is positive and practical. I was delighted to announce the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit outcomes, which take forward the Quad’s work on climate change and clean energy, infrastructure and connectivity, health security, and critical and emerging technology. We’re delivering for the Indo-Pacific, and following through on our commitments.”

“I am proud of what we have delivered through the Quad so far, and I will continue to work closely with my Quad colleagues in support of an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where sovereignty is respected.”

The Greens again call on the Albanese Government to hold the big polluters to account and regulate Australia’s plastic packaging industry. 

The call comes after a sensational plastic waste export ban backflip by the Government which exposes just how broken the nation’s waste and recycling systems have become.

Greens spokesperson for waste and recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said: 

“An export ban on sending plastics overseas for recycling should have signaled a welcome boost for Australia’s recycling industry – particularly for procurement processes – but successive governments have failed to take simple but critical steps to make us self-sufficient waste and recycling managers.

“We’ve had six years to come up with a plan to deal with our waste problem, but no government has been brave enough to deal with the elephant in the room, which is regulating plastic packaging in this country.

“The recycling sector has consistently called for legally binding and mandatory national packaging targets in order to have the confidence to invest in upgrading the infrastructure necessary to process plastic and other waste.

“In 2020 Labor voted in support of a Greens amendment to the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 that would have seen Australia’s National Packaging Targets mandated in law. Sadly the amendment failed by one vote, with multinational packaging corporations winning the day by convincing the Coalition and One Nation to vote in favour of big business. 

“Plastic producers need to clean up their act and take responsibility for the mess they make, and governments need to enforce this through laws and binding regulations. There is nothing complicated about this, it should have been fixed years ago.

“The system is broken. People’s trust has been broken. The Albanese Government must regulate Australia’s plastic packaging industry now.” 

I am very pleased to advise that Dr Kenneth Elliott has been released after more than seven years in captivity in West Africa. Dr Elliott is safe and well and has been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their children.

The Australian Government, like the Elliott family, has worked tirelessly toward Dr Elliott’s release.

We acknowledge the strength and resilience Dr Elliott and members of his family have shown through the most difficult of circumstances.

We extend our thanks to the Australian officials who have worked over many years to secure Dr Elliott’s release and to provide support to his family.

Dr Elliott and his family have asked for privacy, and we ask that the media respect their wishes at this time.

The following is attributable is to the family of Dr Elliott:

“We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us.

“We express our relief that Dr Elliott is free and thank the Australian Government and all who have been involved over time to secure his release. We also continue to pray for those still held and wish them freedom and safe return to their loved ones.

“At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength. We thank you for your understanding and sympathy.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong today announced financial sanctions and an export ban, targeting sectors of economic and strategic significance to Russia.

These additional targeted measures aim to slow Russia’s war machine.

Australia’s action is part of a push by international partners, who are meeting at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima this week.

Australia has already sanctioned more than 1,000 individuals and entities who are supporting Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.

The new financial sanctions will target 21 entities and three individuals, including:

• Subsidiaries of Russian state-owned atomic energy corporation Rosatom that are involved in nuclear research, infrastructure development and weapons manufacturing.
• The Russian entity created to take over Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
• Russia’s largest petroleum company Rosneft.
• Russia’s largest gold company Polyus PJSC.
• One of Russia’s largest steel companies Severstal PJSC.
• Defence entities supporting Russia’s war.
• Five Russian banks with operations across the Russian Federation.

The Australian Government will also implement a ban on the export of all machinery and related parts to Russia and areas temporarily under Russian control. This will prevent Australian goods from aiding Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Australia stands with Ukraine and pays tribute to the unwavering resilience and courage displayed by the Ukrainian people. We mourn the incalculable losses that Ukraine continues to endure and acknowledge the far-reaching negative economic impacts Russia’s invasion has had on the world, including in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia again calls on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory and end this war.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Australia stands with Ukraine. We pay tribute to the unwavering resilience and courage displayed by the Ukrainian people.”

“Australia again calls on Russia to cease its illegal and immoral war against the people of Ukraine.”

“We will continue to work with the G7 and international partners to address the global impacts of Russia’s invasion.”

“This includes food and energy insecurity, which is a significant concern for our own region.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said:

“This action targets sectors of economic and strategic significance to Russia.”

“This includes the financial, energy, defence and metals sectors that aid and sustain Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

“We are also banning exports of Australian machinery and related parts to Russia to slow its war machine.”

“Russia cannot be allowed to infringe upon another country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Export ban consultation

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will shortly commence public consultation on the export ban, with implementation of the ban to follow.

Businesses or individuals that wish to participate in consultation on the machinery export ban should subscribe to alerts with the Australian Sanctions Office: Australia and sanctions – Contacts and links

The cost of Labor’s Stage 3 tax cuts, withheld from media on Budget night, amounts to a Budget black hole of $313 billion over the decade, according to Greens-commissioned analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office. This is a massive 23% increase on previous estimates.

The Stage 3 tax cuts will continue to turbocharge inequality, disproportionately rewarding men at close to double what women receive, with 65% of the benefits flowing to men over the next decade.

$157 billion, just over half of the total cost of stage 3 tax cuts over the decade, will flow to people earning over $180,000 a year. In the latest year of data, only 3.6% of people earned over $180,000 a year. Previous analysis has shown that the top 1% of earners will receive more than the lowest 60% of income earners combined.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Labor’s tax cuts for the rich are ripping money away from everyone else,” Mr Bandt said. 

“Labor’s keeping renters in crisis and people in poverty while giving $313 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy. 

“Instead of freezing rents or getting dental into Medicare, Labor’s giving tax cuts to politicians and billionaires.

“Labor’s Stage 3 tax cuts for the wealthy are a massive black hole, sucking in money that should be spent on services for everyone.

“Labor’s Stage 3 tax cuts are a $313 billion handout to the rich, dismantling our progressive tax system and driving Australia towards US-style inequality.

“Food bank queues are growing and people can’t pay the rent, but Labor’s giving billionaires like Clive Palmer a $9,000 a year tax cut.

“Labor’s $30b a year in handouts for the rich is more than 60 times their affordable housing spend. How can Labor spend over $30b a year on tax cuts for the wealthy, but not $5b a year for public housing as the Greens want?”

Greens spokesperson for Economic Justice, Nick McKim said:

“Labor’s stage 3 tax cuts are a body blow to Australia’s progressive income tax system,” Senator McKim said. 

“It is unconscionable that a PM who got elected on a story of growing up in public housing would so cynically pull the ladder up behind him.

“The idea of giving $313 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy instead of freezing rents, lifting Centrelink above the poverty line and building public and affordable housing is beyond disgraceful.

“In Australia the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness is now children under 11. Homelessness is now a real threat to any person or family that experiences a bit of bad luck.

“Millions of people are stuck on poverty payments because the budget apparently can’t afford to allow people to both eat and pay rent, and report after report shows there’s not a single rental affordable to people on Jobseeker, while many workers are paying 60% of their income in rent.“

Today, the Community Affairs Legislative Committee held a hearing into Labor’s proposed Income Management Reform Bill, which essentially reintroduces a Cashless Debit Card 2.0 and further entrenches compulsory income management.

The SmartCard is provided by the same company, Indue, who ran the Cashless Debit Card scheme, and is effectively the Cashless Debit Card by another name.

Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for Social Services, said:

“The Labor party has yet again betrayed people on income support with this Cashless Debit Card 2.0. 

“Labor pledged to end compulsory income management in opposition. Now they’re in government, Labor’s proposed SmartCard is just the Cashless Debit Card with a different name and colour.

“If anyone thinks that Labor’s SmartCard Bill is only about improving technology, this hearing would have quickly disabused them of that notion. 

“This bill goes far beyond technology; it introduces a sneaky and insidious framework that will significantly expand the Minister’s power to roll out compulsory income management in new areas, despite Labor’s campaign against CDC in opposition.

“If this bill passes the Senate in its current form, Labor will be going further than the Liberals did in allowing the expansion of the racist and entirely ineffective compulsory income management system.

“There’s no evidence that compulsory income management works, and we’ve heard from witness after witness today that this racist, paternalistic policy framework only does damage to individuals and communities, especially to First Nations people.

“The SmartCard bill doesn’t even contain a sunset clause like the CDC legislation did. Labor campaigned to end compulsory income management, yet this bill will entrench it.

The Minister for the Environment has indicated her decision to approve the Isaac River coal mine in Queensland, giving the green light for destruction of endangered koala habitat.

Responding to this decision, Greens spokesperson for Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“In the same week the Albanese Government gave next to nothing in the Budget for protection and restoration of the environment, the Minister has signalled her intent to approve a new coal mine in endangered species’ habitat.

“This cynical announcement comes at the end of Budget week to avoid scrutiny.

“The Environment Minister is on track to be no better than the last one in the Morrison Government.

“You cannot meet a zero extinction target while destroying habitat. This government clearly isn’t serious about saving our wildlife.

“Australia’s environment laws are clearly broken. Polluting projects are failing to be assessed for the emissions they create. We desperately need a climate trigger which will stop new coal and gas in its tracks.”

Responding to the Minister for the Environment’s excuse for approving the Isaac River coal mine, Greens spokesperson for Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Minister Plibersek is defending her decision to approve a new coal mine because the law says she can. Well, the Minister herself has admitted that the law is broken.

“In 2023 there is no excuse for environmental approval to be given to new coal or gas projects without considering climate pollution.

“If the Albanese Government is truly committed to net zero, then introducing strong environmental laws with a climate trigger must be a priority.

“Polluting projects are failing to be assessed for the emissions they create. We desperately need a climate trigger to stop new coal and gas in its tracks.

“It is the Environment Minister’s job to strengthen our environment laws as an urgent priority, not use them as an excuse to pass destructive projects. Our climate and wildlife cannot afford further delay.

“All new fossil fuel approvals should be put on hold until we have a climate trigger in our environment laws.”

Today I announce the appointment of Advisory Board members for the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

The new Advisory Board brings together distinguished Australians with diverse perspectives and expertise across business, community, education, the arts, academia and national security.

The Advisory Board will help guide the Foundation in its work to support governments, businesses, and communities build links and strengthen constructive engagement with China, consistent with our national interest.

I am pleased to reappoint Ms Pru Bennett as Chair and make the following Advisory Board appointments:

• Mr Rowan Callick OBE, author and journalist
• Dr Yin Cao*, curator of Chinese Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Ms Wesa Chau, CEO, Cultural Intelligence
• Mr Philip Chronican, Chair, National Australia Bank
• Dr Courtney Fung*, Associate Professor, Macquarie University
• Mr Douglas Gautier AM, CEO and Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival Centre
• Ms Marina Go*, Non-Executive Director Transurban, Energy Australia and others
• Dr Jade Little*, Chair, Australia-China Youth Dialogue
• Professor Sharon Lewin* AO, Director, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
• Professor Duncan Lewis* AO DSC CSC, former Secretary Department of Defence
• Mr Richard McGregor*, Senior Fellow for East Asia, Lowy Institute
• Professor Rory Medcalf AM, Head, ANU National Security College
• Professor Brian Schmidt AC, Vice Chancellor, Australian National University
• Ms Jan Adams AO PSM (ex officio), Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I thank outgoing Advisory Board members for their significant contributions and look forward to the Foundation’s continued work across communities, business, education, health and science, climate change, culture and the arts.

*Denotes a new appointment to the Advisory Board.

Responding to this week’s budget, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“It’s beyond disappointing that the Government has kept the punitive and universally despised activity test, which locks thousands of the most disadvantaged children out of accessing early childhood education and care. Even the Government’s own Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce recommended abolishing the activity test.

“The early childhood education and care workforce desperately need a pay rise and recognition for the important work they do. However, Labor has just tinkered around the edges, with more funding for professional development and skills building whilst ignoring the elephant in the room- wages. 

“Despite soaring student debt making news everyday, and the fact that a student debt avalanche will hit on 1 June unless the Government intervenes, there is nothing in this budget to ease the burden for all those with student debt. 

“Uni students are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with many regularly skipping meals, falling behind on rent and being forced to abandon their degrees in favour of paid work. Unfortunately, this budget will provide scant relief, with Youth Allowance and Austudy being raised by a measly $2.85 a day.

“While extra university places in STEM disciplines are welcome, the Government’s stated purpose of these places to support AUKUS is gross. Universities are best placed to contribute to peace not warmongering.

“The Greens welcome the investment in more fee free TAFE places, but rather than one-off measures, we need sustained, long-term investment in public TAFE and the abolition of fees altogether.”