Category: Australian News

Ahead of joining the NTEU picket line at the University of Sydney staff strike this morning, Deputy Greens leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit must address the job insecurity crisis in higher education.

Senator Faruqi said:

“There is a scourge of insecure, casualised work in higher education. University workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

“If we want our universities to deliver the highest quality teaching, learning and research, we have to invest in staff, treat them fairly and stop their exploitation.

“The upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit is an opportunity for the government to hammer out its response to this crisis – and not a moment too soon. We need action on casual conversion, secure jobs, fair pay, wage theft and increased public funding for our universities.

“As a proud NTEU member and former university lecturer, I know first hand how working conditions on our campuses have deteriorated rapidly over the last few decades. This is shameful and unacceptable.

“Industrial action at Sydney has been ongoing for months. It’s utterly cooked that university workers have to sacrifice their time and wages to stand up for their basic rights at work — fair pay, decent conditions and a secure job. Solidarity!”

Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, has responded to the announcement by BHP that it will pay a record dividend by calling for a Mining Super Profits Tax (MSPT).

“Australia needs a Mining Super Profits Tax.”

“BHP shareholders are rolling in cash but the Australian public who own the resources are being shortchanged.”

“Mining giants are posting obscene profits on the back of commodity booms, but the benefits are going to corporate executives and shareholders rather than to Australians who are struggling with the spiralling cost of living.”

“This is depriving the government of revenue and helping fuel inequality.”

“PBO analysis for the Greens shows that if the Rudd Government’s original Resource Super Profits Tax had been in place over the last decade, the Federal Budget would have been better off to the tune of $50 billion.”

“PBO analysis also shows that a new Mining Super Profits Tax (MSPT) would bring in $108 billion over the next decade.”

“The new government should announce a MSPT alongside reform of the PRRT and a market-wide super profits tax on big companies in the October Budget.”

“But this is unlikely to happen because mining corporations have used political donations to buy outcomes from both major parties.

“Taxes on the excessive profits of big corporations would fund genuine cost-of-living relief such as dental into Medicare, full mental health care, and free childcare.”

Ahead of joining the NTEU picket line at the University of Sydney staff strike this morning, Deputy Greens leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit must address the job insecurity crisis in higher education.

Senator Faruqi said:

“There is a scourge of insecure, casualised work in higher education. University workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

“If we want our universities to deliver the highest quality teaching, learning and research, we have to invest in staff, treat them fairly and stop their exploitation.

“The upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit is an opportunity for the government to hammer out its response to this crisis – and not a moment too soon. We need action on casual conversion, secure jobs, fair pay, wage theft and increased public funding for our universities.

“As a proud NTEU member and former university lecturer, I know first hand how working conditions on our campuses have deteriorated rapidly over the last few decades. This is shameful and unacceptable.

“Industrial action at Sydney has been ongoing for months. It’s utterly cooked that university workers have to sacrifice their time and wages to stand up for their basic rights at work — fair pay, decent conditions and a secure job. Solidarity!”Back to All News

A space start up exchange, research identifying drought-resilient chickpeas and a disability‐inclusive virtual healthcare pilot are among the recipients of this year’s Australia-India Council (AIC) grants.

The announcement comes as we celebrate 75 years of India’s independence, as well as thirty years of the AIC.

Over that time, the AIC has helped advance Australia’s foreign policy and trade interests – strengthening the people to people and institutional bonds between Australia and India.

The grants program is key to fostering understanding and encouraging collaboration between our two countries.

There are nine successful projects that will receive a share of $935,000 of funding, including:

• The University of South Australia’s space start-up exchange and trade visit, which will connect deep technology space companies and their respective research, industry and investment networks and fast-track market entry and investment.
• The University of Western Australia’s mapping of fish biomass on the continental shelves of India and Australia, which will generate data on blue carbon storage capacity.
• The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University’s investigation into mango cultivars and their pollinators which will inform industry recommendations to both India and Australia to respond to the impacts of climate change.
• Flinders University’s collaboration with Murdoch University and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics which will identify high-performing chickpea variants with low water and nitrogen requirements for increased drought tolerance and reduced fertiliser use.
• The Nossal Institute’s “Virtu-Care” which will produce a tele-health care model that specifically meets the health and rehabilitation needs of people with disability.

The full list of successful grant recipients is available on the AIC website.

The Greens urge Labor to publicly recommit its opposition to PEP-11 after revelations of the former PM’s extraordinary intervention to kill the unpopular project.

Reports that Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as resources minister and used the power to roll his own frontbencher over PEP-11 have led to the project’s proponent indicating it may seek to overturn the government’s decision.

If Labor remains serious about stopping PEP-11 it should bring on and vote for the Greens’ Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Fight for Australia’s Coastline) Bill, which would put the demise of PEP-11 beyond doubt and prohibit any future petroleum exploration or production in the area for good. 

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

“We knew at the time that the former PM’s unprecedented intervention to stop offshore oil and gas drilling in PEP-11 was a political decision, given the strong community opposition to this project in several blue-ribbon federal electorates under threat from climate-conscious independents. 

“What these latest revelations demonstrate more than anything are the extreme measures the former PM was willing to take to retain power, and in turn that drilling for fossil fuels off our coastlines is a significant matter of public interest that is deeply unpopular. 

“While Anthony Albanese seeks legal advice on this matter, he should put the minds of those in Northern NSW at ease by immediately recommitting opposition to PEP-11.

“It’s deeply concerning that Advent Energy and subsidiary Asset Energy have indicated they may seek to overturn the government’s decision to reject the PEP-11 project. 

“If Labor remains serious about stopping PEP-11 it should bring on and vote for the Greens’ Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Fight for Australia’s Coastline) Bill, which would stop PEP-11 beyond any doubt, and prohibit any future petroleum exploration or production in the area for good.”

The first step in Western Sydney’s Aerotropolis development kicked off today with work beginning on the first critical piece of energy infrastructure for the area. 
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the start of work on the new $38.8 million Bradfield Zone substation marks the beginning of the once-in-a-generation development that will change the face of Greater Sydney.
 
“This new 90-megawatt substation is an important step in building the backbone of electricity supply for the Bradfield Estate, providing capacity to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“This is just the start of a huge investment in infrastructure for the Aerotropolis, including for roads, public transport, health facilities and schools that will support our growing population.
 
“Having the right infrastructure in place will be vital to the success of the Western Parkland City, ensuring it is a great place to live, work and invest for generations to come.”
 
The NSW Government released the final Precinct Plan for the Aerotropolis in March this year, paving the way for the development of around 6,500 hectares of land surrounding the Nancy Bird Walton Airport.
 
Member for Mulgoa and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Tanya Davies said Aerotropolis will be the catalyst for the biggest ever jobs boom for Western Sydney.
 
“This new substation will allow over one million square metres of warehouse, factories and office space to be developed, creating up to 10,000 new jobs in the Bradfield City Centre alone,” Mrs Davies said.
 
“Western Sydney is booming and we expect to around 1.4 million people will be living in the Parkland City by 2036. The development of the Aerotropolis will also support the creation of around 200,000 jobs.”
 
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said the Western Parkland City, centred around the Aerotropolis, is an incredible opportunity for the people of NSW.
 
“Through the final precinct plan, we’ve laid the foundations for five new precincts that will not only see a boom in highly-skilled jobs in Western Sydney, but will also facilitate the building of around 11,400 new homes, beautiful new parklands and open space to create a world-class city.”
 
For more information on the Aerotropolis Precinct Plan and the Greater Western Parkland City visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/Priority-Growth-Areas-and-Precincts/Western-Sydney-Aerotropolis 

Onshore manufacturing of life-saving mRNA vaccines took a major step forward today, with the Australian Government, Moderna and the Victorian Government finalising all arrangements for the 10-year partnership.

Under the agreements, an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility will be built at Monash University, helping protect Australians against future pandemics, supporting local industry and creating highly skilled local jobs.

Moderna will also establish its headquarters and a Regional Research Centre in Victoria.

Once operational, the facility will be able to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses every year.

Once this critical onshore mRNA capability is established, Australia will reduce its dependence on imported mRNA vaccines and our vulnerability to supply disruptions or delays.

It will give Australians local and ongoing access to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine – Spikevax – and give us an onshore mRNA manufacturing capability in the event of a new pandemic, such as avian influenza or another new pathogen, vaccine-resistant COVID-19 variants or a global resurgence of infections.

The partnership will lead to a world-class mRNA ecosystem based in Melbourne, attract highly skilled staff and expand local capability through joint ventures with leading Australian research organisations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a once in a generation challenge that gives us a once in a generation opportunity to come back stronger and better than ever.”

“The pandemic has shown us how important local manufacturing capability is to our security and to our health.”

“This significant deal will protect Australians and Australian sovereignty.”

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said:

“This agreement means that Victoria will be home to Moderna’s only mRNA manufacturing and finishing centre in the Southern Hemisphere.” 

“We have the skills and the equipment needed to deliver this vital onshore capability – it will save lives, create jobs and strengthen Victoria’s position as a national leader in medical manufacturing.”

“The pandemic has shown us how important it is to have strong sovereign capacity – we’re not wasting a second in making sure we have access to the vaccines we need to keep Victorians safe.”

Minister Butler said:

“I was honoured to sign an agreement today with my Victorian Government counterpart – Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford – to finalise this 10-year strategic partnership.”

“It was a pivotal step in helping protect Australians against future pandemics while supporting local industry.”

Minister Husic said:

“Australia has the world-class capabilities needed to develop and produce the next generation of medical technology, matched with leading researchers and a highly skilled workforce.

“This landmark agreement signals the Australian Government’s commitment and support for sovereign manufacturing capability in critical industries.”

Minister Pulford said:

“We warmly welcome Moderna to Melbourne – this facility and research centre together with Victoria’s world-class science and health tech will generate major medical breakthroughs.”

“We’ll keep making the big, bold investments needed to make sure we have the best research, the best facilities and the best treatments to keep Victorians safe and healthy.” 

Moderna General Manager Australia & New Zealand Michael Azrak said:

“We look forward to being a part of the Monash Clayton precinct and contributing to the R&D ecosystem in Melbourne and across Australia.” 

Today marks two years since Australian citizen Cheng Lei was detained in China. 

Our thoughts today are with Ms Cheng’s family, including her two young children, with whom she has had no contact since she was detained. 

Ms Cheng faced a closed trial in Beijing on 31 March 2022. She is yet to learn the outcome. 

Since Ms Cheng was detained in August 2020, the Australian Government has consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms. 

We will continue to support Ms Cheng and her family, and to advocate for Ms Cheng’s interests and wellbeing. 

Ahead of tomorrow’s Education Ministers meeting, the Greens have called on federal, state and territory governments to address teacher shortages once and for all by properly funding public schools and giving all teachers a long overdue pay rise.

Greens spokesperson on schools Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“It’s not very complicated: to attract more teachers to public schools and provide a world-class education for our kids, governments must properly fund all public schools and pay all public school teachers more.

“Teachers, unions, parents, carers and experts have been telling governments for years that this is the solution to teacher shortages, yet they continue to fiddle at the margins, hoping that the latest incentive scheme will magically do the job.

“There’s no point in trying to cajole more teachers into the profession when public schools are underfunded, pay and conditions are going backwards and morale is low.

“And it’s frankly insulting to hard-working teachers everywhere to talk about new programs to attract the ‘best and brightest’ and reward ‘outstanding teachers’ when existing teachers are so undervalued and underpaid.

“The government’s own numbers show that by 2025 the shortfall for secondary teachers will be over 4,000.

“If governments don’t work together to address the underlying issues of low pay across the board, chronic under-resourcing for public schools and low morale, we are going to see even more hard working teachers leaving the profession.

“Labor must come to the table with a plan that lifts resourcing for public schools to meet the minimum School Resource Standard and raises the pay for all public teachers significantly.”

The Australian Greens say today’s report into workplace culture in NSW Parliament shows that the toxic boys club of politics extends beyond Canberra.

NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Deputy Leader and member of the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards said:

“The Broderick report is nothing short of traumatic and devastating. Sadly, however, it does not surprise me that this is what has been revealed about my old workplace.

“The sexist and racist underbelly of parliamentary work has been exposed again and again, and needs to end. Bullying and harassment cannot just be accepted as part of our political culture. It has to be eradicated at all levels.

“As a member of the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards, which is looking at enforceable codes of conduct for parliamentary workplaces, I’m committed to making sure that the highest standards are set and followed. It’s beyond time to get this done, and to implement all the recommendations of the Jenkins report.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to set the best example for others to follow. That means a safe and respectful workplace free from bullying, harassment, sexual assault, sexism and racism. Nothing less is acceptable.”

Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Senate Leader and spokesperson on women said:

“Today’s report has devastating similarities to the appalling behaviour in federal parliament outlined in Commissioner Jenkins’ Set the Standard report just last year. It’s yet another wake-up call about the need to do politics differently.

“We need more diverse, inclusive, and respectful parliamentary workplaces to end the toxic old white boys club that has allowed bad behaviour to go unchecked for too long.

“Toxic behaviour is not confined to parliament, and the Greens will continue to call for a positive duty on employers to make all workplaces safe and national efforts to address the gender inequality that drives this behaviour.”