All the news from around Australia
Today the focus must be on Jewish Australians, indeed all Australians, as we mourn the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack.
This is a National Day of Mourning and my responsibility as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party is to Australians in mourning.
I have grieved with the Bondi Chabad community and stood with them in their synagogues, their homes and at many funerals. I will again stand with them tonight at the Opera House, as we make clear that ‘Light Will Win’.
Greens MP Sue Higginson had written to the Police Commissioner urging him to facilitate a peaceful march through central Sydney on 26 January despite the inability for a form 1 protest authorisation.
“Street marches are an accepted and anticipated part of Invasion Day rallies which have taken place on 26 January for nearly a century. It’s clear the Commissioner has recognised this and rightly bent to the will of the people,
“Last Sunday I attended the rally against Blak Deaths in Custody which occurred under these restrictions in Hyde Park and I was utterly astounded at the wasteful number of police in attendance. The number of police required to prevent a peaceful street march on Sunday far exceeded the number of police that would be required to facilitate a peaceful march through the streets, I certainly hope police have woken up to the absurdity of these broken laws,
“At Sunday’s rally hundreds of people declared that they will march on Invasion Day, restrictions or not. It’s frankly a relief to see the police have chosen to accept that the people have the right to assemble and the absolute will to march for First Nations justice,”
“Australians care deeply about First Nations justice, gathering and marching this Invasion Day has never been more urgent. 2025 saw record rates of First Nations Deaths in Custody and more First Nations kids locked up than ever before. The fact is we are not closing the gap, under the Minns Labor Government the gap is widening,
“We still need to question why these restrictions are in place, it seems fairly obvious they have been extended to try to continue to capture the pro Palestine protest movement and in particular any protest against the Israeli President’s apparent visit in early February,
“It’s downright frightening that Labor Premier Chris Minns, who is shamelessly pro-Israel, has given himself the tools to try and silence dissent against the Israeli Government. That is how authoritarian regimes operate, not democracies,” Ms Higginson said.
In a week dominated by controversial hate speech laws there’s been one piece of genuinely good news that deserves to be celebrated: the Greens working with gun safety advocates have secured a commitment from the Government to establish a National Firearms Safety Council. This is an historic win for evidence-based firearms policy that might otherwise have been lost in the headlines.
The commitment was communicated by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to the Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters. The Greens will work with the Government to ensure the composition of the board meets community expectations.
We thank the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Gun Control Australia and the Public Health Association of Australia for their continued advocacy and work calling for a National Firearms Safety Council.
Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
“The passage of the new firearms laws this week includes several crucial gun safety measures that advocates have campaigned for over many years, and we have now also secured a commitment from the Government for a National Firearms Safety Council.
“The Council will provide evidence-based oversight to ensure firearm laws consistently prioritise public safety across Australia which is exactly what the Greens and advocates have been calling for.
“A Firearms Safety Council is an important future-proofing of our new gun laws against politically motivated deals struck by politicians to weaken laws and harm community safety.
“We also know that as technology advances and data is more deeply understood, that there will be future changes to gun laws we can and should make and having a body focused on public safety advising the government on this will be critical.
“This is in addition to the National Gun Buyback which we know from the 1996 National Firearms Agreement is an important way to reduce the number of high risk firearms in circulation.
“Likewise these new laws have strengthened background checks based on strong intelligence sharing and will meaningfully contribute to community safety.
“This achievement came from listening to gun control advocates, survivor groups, and our community who care deeply about community safety.
“The Bondi massacre exposed dangerous flaws in our national firearms laws that the Greens have been highlighting for many years including the proliferation of private arsenals in suburban homes. (See our website www.toomanyguns.org)
“We’re not America and in Australia there is no right to have a gun, owning a gun is a privilege not a right, and the community expects our laws to be based on careful regulation for public safety.
“Now we need state and territory governments to follow through with restrictions on firearms capable of mass shootings through a new National Firearms Agreement and take steps to do their part on gun buybacks.
“We have worked with gun control advocates including survivors of gun violence for many years and this is a much deserved win for them and the community.”
The Greens spoke to media following a community workshop organised by a coalition of concerned residents and advocates regarding the details of the Development Application (DA) for a greyhound racing complex to be located at 32 Perc Griffith Way, Orange. The DA is currently being considered by Orange City Council and proposes to reconfigure the old unused harness racing track into a greyhound racing track, clubhouse, over a hundred greyhound kennels and a 123 space car park and 16 space car-and-trailer parking area.
“The community here in Orange has made it clear they don’t want this socially irresponsible development of a proposed greyhound track, whose plans and community impacts keep morphing and changing but stubbornly refuse to stack up.
“Since GBOTA first announced plans to build a new mega greyhound facility in Orange – at the time touted as a so-called “Centre of Excellence” – the Orange community has loudly and consistently voiced objection to this misuse of public land which has already been earmarked as an ideal area for housing and residential growth.
“The Greens oppose the expansion of the greyhound racing industry in NSW. The people in Orange and surrounding areas deserve so much better than being lumped with a track that will be used to exploit greyhounds, welcome increased gambling and its associated social harms into the local community, and prop up an industry that should have been shut down years ago.
“In the decade since it was almost shut down, the greyhound racing industry has shown that it is incapable of reform, with dog injury and death rates higher than ever. The recent report from Commissioner Drake was scathing, and yet here we are with the greyhound racing industry continuing as if it hadn’t lost its social licence years ago.
“For so long as this cruel gambling-fuelled industry is allowed to continue, where the objective of making money overrides all concerns for animal welfare, we will continue to see unacceptable animal abuse.
“Greyhound racing has had its second chance. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars in public money it has been handed, dogs are still dying at the hands of this industry. It’s time to shut greyhound racing down for good, not continue to open more unwelcome tracks.”
“The proposal to bring greyhound racing to Orange should be rejected by our community and by Orange City Council. The site proposed for the greyhound track was identified in our 2022 Local Housing Strategy as a potential residential growth area. With the upcoming Redleaf development on Council land nearby the land has a much greater value to our community as a future stage in delivering new homes, including affordable housing.
“Now that concrete plans for the proposed development have been submitted, it’s clear that the claimed social and economic benefits of the track to the community and region were massively overblown. And the proposed track won’t deliver a so-called ‘Centre of Excellence’ that prevents the harms and risks associated with the existing greyhound industry – in fact, it would barely meet the minimum standards set for the industry.
“I’ve argued from the outset that the proposal to hand this site over to greyhound racing is against our community’s interest and that the arguments for bringing a track to Orange don’t stack up. Now that the Development Application is under consideration, I encourage community members to engage with the proposal and voice their concerns about the problems with the plans to give the greyhound industry a track in our city.”
A new generation, Gen X, has taken over as Australia’s richest property owners, thanks to boomers downsizing and ‘passing on the baton’. Meanwhile, house prices in all capital cities, apart from Canberra, are now at their highest-ever levels according to new data, with six capitals now in the ‘million-dollar club’.
The Greens say this is yet further proof of a housing crisis that’s spiralling out of control. Labor must wind back tax breaks for property investors, or younger first home buyers will continue to be locked out as housing inequality worsens.
Australian Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:
“We don’t have a functioning housing system in Australia; we have a generational lottery, where young people are faced with a lifetime of renting, precarious leases, and a housing market rigged against them. Housing should not be an intergenerational tug-of-war.
“Australia’s housing system is rigged for the wealthy; it’s a system designed to drive up the cost of housing, generating enormous wealth for the few while increasing rents for the many who haven’t won the generational lottery. Instead of everyone having a roof over their head, houses have become an investment asset class – which fuels intergenerational inequality.
“Massive tax breaks for wealthy property investors are cooking our housing system. Negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts let cashed-up investors outbid everyday Australians — and young people, single people, low income workers are the ones paying the price.
“This is why the Greens have secured a Senate inquiry into intergenerational housing inequality. The Greens’ inquiry will interrogate the full scope of Australia’s intergenerational housing inequality, including the $181b tax breaks for wealthy investors that are locking out first home buyers, as well as the political barriers to reform.
“We know tax breaks for wealthy property investors are a key driver of the housing crisis and intergenerational inequality but Labor refuses to act. This government has an opportunity to fix the housing crisis — but if they keep dodging real reform, they’ll lock a whole generation out of ever owning a home.”
Australians deserve moral clarity when confronting antisemitism, hate and extremism, and the Albanese Government has failed to provide it. Instead of careful, considered lawmaking, it put forward deeply flawed legislation.
The Coalition engaged constructively and in good faith. The Shadow Cabinet met on Sunday night, examined the legislation, and unanimously agreed on a clear path forward in the national interest.
The unanimous Shadow Cabinet decision was to negotiate specific fixes with the government and having secured those amendments, members of the Shadow Cabinet were bound not to vote against the legislation.
Those fixes narrowed the scope of the bill, to ensure Islamist extremists could be more easily deported and neo Nazi groups readily disbanded.
I acknowledge this was a difficult issue for the Nationals’ party room and that they had three different positions across both houses of the Parliament. Some members voted against the legislation, another voted for it and several took a deliberate decision to abstain.
When the Coalition reformed in May last year, the foundational principle underpinning that agreement was a commitment to Shadow Cabinet solidarity.
Yesterday, in several conversations, I made it clear to David Littleproud that members of the Shadow Cabinet could not vote against the Shadow Cabinet position. The Shadow Cabinet was unanimous in its endorsement to support this Bill subject to several amendments that we did then secure. This has been acknowledged by Nationals’ Senators this morning.
Last night, three Nationals senators were unable to maintain that Shadow Cabinet solidarity. This is an unfortunate circumstance and one that requires action. I thank David for understanding this.
Senator Bridget McKenzie, Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Ross Cadell have each offered their resignations from the Shadow Cabinet, as is appropriate, and I have accepted them.
All three Senators have written to me confirming that they “remain ready to continue serving the Coalition in whatever capacity you consider appropriate…”
I have asked each to continue serving in our Coalition team, across their various parliamentary and committee duties, but from outside the Shadow Cabinet.
I have also asked the Leader of the Nationals to provide three new nominees for appointment to the Shadow Cabinet and I await his advice.
Maintaining a strong and functioning Coalition is in the national interest. The Coalition exists to serve the Australian people. But Shadow Cabinet solidarity is not optional. It is the foundation of serious opposition and credible government.
I am proud of the Liberal Party I lead and my Shadow Cabinet team. We took a decision, in the national interest, to step up and fix legislation that the Albanese Government badly mishandled.
The Liberal Party will always strongly defend freedom of thought, freedom of worship and freedom of speech.
Family First is worried it may be banned as a “hate group” after the Liberals backed Labor’s antisemitism, hate and extremism laws.
There are plenty of radical activist groups that don’t like our advocacy for women’s and children’s rights or against mass immigration and want us shut down. Now they can claim woolly terms like ‘social, economic and psychological harm’ as justification to launch criminal proceedings against us,” National Director Lyle Shelton said.
The minister has unprecedented powers to abandon due process and shut down organisations at the behest of activists who claim their feelings are hurt.
This is a stake in the heart for free speech and freedom of religion.”
Mr Shelton said he has been pursued through the courts for six years under Australia’s existing regime of deeply flawed “hate speech” laws.
The Liberals voting for yet more ill-defined ‘hate speech’ laws will do little to stop Islamic terror, but it will entrap mainstream Australian groups who speak their minds on things like LGBTIQA+ child gender clinics, Islamic extremism and the traditional definition of marriage.
After some promising signs last week, the Liberals abandoned the fight for freedom of speech and freedom of religion and capitulated in a late-night deal with Australia’s most anti-free speech government.”
Mr Shelton praised the Nationals and One Nation for voting against the new “hate speech” bill.
Mr Shelton welcomed the banning of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a terrorist group banned in many European and even in Islamic countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.
Groups with links to terrorism have no place in Australia and Family First had long called for its banning here.
Inciting violence is where the line should be drawn when crafting hate speech laws.
Sadly laws against inciting violence were not enforced or strengthened since Muslims and left wing activists started supporting Hamas in the wake of October 7.
Clearly the Albanese Government has used the antisemitism crisis it created to dust off its anti-free speech agenda with the Liberals happy to play the part of useful idiots in the latest clampdown on freedom in Australia.”
Mr Shelton said Family First was standing candidates at the upcoming South Australian, Victorian and NSW elections who will fight to repeal the anti-free speech provisions of state-based “hate speech” laws so freedom can be restored.
ACT Greens Member for Ginninderra, Jo Clay, has expressed concerns following the announcement that the Big Splash site has been repossessed by its Lenders, and called on the ACT Government to immediately step in to save the site.
“It’s really disappointing that the ACT Government didn’t move faster to step in and address this issue. It was clear from the start there were serious issues in relation to the management of the site,” said Ms Clay.
“I’ve lost count of how many times I asked the ACT Government when they would start hard enforcement action, issue fines or consider a lease termination. But instead, the Minister took a backseat and we watched the inevitable slowly unfold.
“Big Splash is an iconic Canberra landmark that this Government has allowed to fall into ruin. That’s simply not good enough, the residents of Belconnen – and indeed broader Canberra – deserve better.
“The Government must now step in to save Big Splash and those conversations need to start today. Government ownership of the site is the safest pathway to ensure the community gets a pool on the site.
“It is imperative that this site be retained as a recreational area and I support the calls from Friends of Big Splash for a 50m pool and waterpark on the site. I’ve also heard good ideas for hydrotherapy and an indoor sports and recreation centre.
“There are many in our community calling for these options as part of a better planned use of the site and we’ve seen architect plans drawn up for such a facility. This is a key opportunity that Government must not miss.
“There’s a huge amount of passion amongst the community, but the current situation means the future of the site is precarious. The government must step in and ensure this site is retained for the good of the community,” said Ms Clay.
The Greens call for federal leadership and funding for more effective shark bite mitigation measures in the wake of four incidents in just three days at NSW beaches.
Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
“The four incidents at NSW beaches in the past three days have ignited public discussion about what creates the perfect storm for shark encounters to spike, and how best to reduce risks to both ocean-goers and marine wildlife.
“This has again highlighted the urgent need for federal government leadership, starting with establishing a national summit of experts to drive shark risk education campaigns and provide better information and resources to the states.
“This is something the Greens and shark experts have been calling for governments to implement for years.
“A Greens-led Senate inquiry into shark mitigation found the issue requires a nationally coordinated approach and the federal government needs to show leadership in striking the right balance between reducing the risk of shark encounters and conserving nature.
“The Senate inquiry recommended governments help keep ocean-goers safe by supercharging investment in modern-day alternatives to outdated and ineffective shark nets and lethal drumlines. This includes investing in public education, shark shield personal deterrent devices, shark spotter programs, eco-shark barriers, and bite-proof wetsuits.
“Resorting to lethal shark mitigation measures, such as nets and drumlines, is a lazy and ineffective approach – and evidence now shows these measures may attract sharks to beaches, where they can feed on captured marine wildlife.
“Palming off responsibility for shark bite mitigation to the states is a cop-out given many sharks and other marine creatures killed in lethal shark control programs are federally protected species.
“If we want to transition from lethal shark control programs that don’t work, to more effective and sophisticated approaches that protect marine wildlife and ocean-goers, the federal government has an important role to play.
“For the last decade successive federal governments have shown no leadership on this critical matter of public interest – and it’s time for that to change.”
Greens NSW MLC and spokesperson for Energy, Abigail Boyd, has condemned the decision by Origin Energy to again extend the life of all of Eraring power station’s generators to 2029.
“Today’s decision by Origin Energy to again extend the life of Eraring power station is a direct product of government failure by the NSW Labor government. The government’s lack of ambition and urgency, resulting in the decision to extend Eraring from 2025 to 2027, sent a go slow signal to the market, and this 2029 decision will compound this dangerous failure.
“Keeping any coal power station open longer is a cost-of-living and human health disaster. Not to mention the devastating climate impacts it will cause. This is the reality under a Minns Labor government that simply doesn’t take our climate and environmental responsibilities seriously.
“The prolonged operation of an ageing coal fired power fleet, as well as gas peaking, is the worst thing that can happen to the power bills of energy consumers in this state. These companies keep operating because they want to extract every available dollar in price gouged profits from energy consumers from their ageing and polluting assets.
“If Eraring Power Station is extended for a further two years at full production of 16twh, will contribute to taking us upwards of 50% further away from our legislated emissions reduction targets each year of operation, or around 3.5% of our total emissions budget.
“Despite persistent warnings that NSW is already not on track to achieve our legislated climate targets, the NSW Labor government has been continuing on a business as usual trajectory. Recent policy decisions by the NSW Labor government are actively contrary to our energy security and emissions reduction targets.
“There are enough renewables and power lines on track to be delivered in time to replace Eraring in 2027, but new increased demand imperils system security requirements.
“Origin Energy, in their market announcement, directly referenced risks to system security highlighted by AEMO in its recently released Transition Plan for System Security. That report identified the unmitigated growth in new data centre developments as a key transition risk – large data centres are projected to rapidly become major loads on the system, with over 10 GW lodged connection enquiries (some single data centres exceeding 1 GW) in New South Wales by the end of 2024-25.
“AEMO have said new large inverter based loads, in particular data centres, present system security risks including through power system oscillations, sudden load loss or ramping, transient stability, and increased inertia requirements. But it is these project the NSW Labor government is seeking to expedite, with 23 massive projects in the works under a new fast tracked assessment process.
“Having pushed the NSW Labor government in recent budget estimates hearings, answers I received today to my questions on the impact of data centre developments on NSW climate and environment confirm the NSW Government is pursuing a dramatic ramping up on data centre developments in the stunning absence of any plans or guardrails.
“These decisions are the epitome of the rudderless NSW Minns Labor government, with no vision or plan for the safety, prosperity and wellbeing of the people of NSW.”
