Category: Australian News

Labor’s nightmare 2026 Budget continues to grab all the wrong headlines for the Albanese Government. The PM even appears to have pulled his communist Treasurer Jim Chalmers away from the microphones and cameras because he’s doing such a bad job defending the Budget.

Here are some pertinent facts in the debate about capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing.

There are about two million property investors in Australia and 75% of them own only one investment property. Another 19% own only two. That represents about 2.3 million homes for renters. Between 2006 and 2024, state governments have cut public housing stock from 341,000 to 298,000. This demonstrates that it’s the private sector – mostly made up of mum-and-dad investors with one rental property – which provides the overwhelming majority of rental accommodation in Australia.

After reducing public housing, state governments also made things worse by scapegoating private investors for the housing crisis and making property a much less attractive investment with more restrictive tenancy laws. Investors have been pulling out of the market as a result – especially in Victoria – and making rentals even more scarce.

Albanese’s changes to negative gearing – a measure which allows investors to offset investment losses – only further reduces the incentive to buy a rental property. He and his many ministers who own investment properties won’t be affected, but anyone looking to invest in a nest egg property independent of the government won’t be able to use this measure. Labor is pulling up the ladder behind them and leaving young Australians looking up.

One Nation drew the line this week: our policy is to continue to allow investors to negatively-gear up to two investment properties. We support Australians who work hard and invest in their future. Labor is trying to punish them to sustain its unsustainable spending. Enough is enough. You don’t fix a national housing crisis by reducing the ability of investors to provide rental accommodation. You fix it by slashing immigration to reduce housing demand and banning foreign ownership to increase housing supply.

Australia will once again take centre stage for world sport when the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) kicks off in Sydney this October.

The Albanese Government is backing the tournament with a $12.4 million investment to support the successful planning, logistics and delivery of the event across nine host cities in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The investment includes a strong focus on supporting the women’s competition, as women’s rugby league continues to go from strength to strength.

The RLWC will feature standalone women’s, men’s, and wheelchair tournaments, with 26 teams from 16 nations competing in 51 matches across 5 weeks.

Fans will see the men’s and women’s teams sharing the stage across a number of double-headers providing great entertainment and showcasing the very best of rugby league to audiences around the world. 

As Australia prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2026 Rugby League World Cup is another opportunity to showcase our world-class sporting culture on the global stage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Australians love rugby league and this World Cup is a chance to show that to the world.

“This is about packed stadiums, local jobs, children seeing their heroes up close and communities coming together around a game they love.

“The World Cup will bring communities together across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, strengthen regional ties and create memories that fans will never forget.

“Australia has a proud track record of hosting world-class sporting events and this is another chance to show the world what we do best.”

Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:

“This investment will deliver an incredible tournament in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Games and will create more opportunities and inspiration for kids to hit the field.

“With women’s rugby league continuing to grow year-on-year, the RLWC provides a platform to inspire young people, grow the game further and get more women and girls into sport.

“That’s why we’re getting involved in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, to make sure it’s the best possible event it can be, and to showcase why Australia is a world leader in delivering international sporting events.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, The Hon Matthew Wale CBE, to Canberra for a Leaders’ Meeting on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.

The visit will mark Prime Minister Wale’s first official international visit since taking office in May 2026, and follows a phone call between leaders on Friday, 15 May 2026.

Prime Minister Wale will be accompanied by senior Cabinet ministers from the Solomon Islands Government.

Australia and Solomon Islands are committed to advancing a peaceful and stable region through enhancing our development and economic partnership, strengthening our security cooperation, and bolstering climate resilience.

Prime Minister Albanese will host Prime Minister Wale and his delegation at Parliament House to discuss opportunities for further economic, development and security cooperation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I congratulate Prime Minister Wale on his recent appointment and look forward to welcoming him to Australia.

“Prime Minister Wale’s decision to make Australia his first official international visit emphasises the importance of the relationship between our nations.

“Despite the global challenges we confront, we recognise we are stronger facing these together as partners.”

Key facts:The Australian Koala Foundation’s Save the Koala Month returns throughout September (1–30 September), with Save the Koala Day falling on Friday 25 September this year.
The campaign encourages individuals, schools, workplaces, and community groups to celebrate koalas whilst taking meaningful action to protect their future in the wild.
Fundraising is a key focus, with supporters invited to organise events such as school activities, workplace morning teas, community fundraisers, or online donation drives.
Supporters can also get involved by sharing educational resources, donating directly, shopping at the Save the Koala Shop, adopting a koala, or purchasing trees through AKF’s Plant-A-Tree programme.
Further details about this year’s campaign are yet to be announced, and the AKF is encouraging Australians to save the dates and begin planning how they will get involved.

The Australian Koala Foundation is reminding supporters across Australia and around the world to mark their calendars, with Save the Koala Month returning this September!

Held annually from 1 September to 30 September, Save the Koala Month is one of the Australian Koala Foundation’s most important campaigns, encouraging people to celebrate Koalas while taking meaningful action to protect their future in the wild.

Koalas may be one of Australia’s most beloved and recognisable animals, but the AKF know that admiration alone will not secure their future. This September, AKF is inviting individuals, schools, workplaces and community groups to stand for Koalas and the protection of their homes, by getting involved and fundraising in support of Koala conservation – for the benefit of all creatures great and small.

Fundraising will be a key focus this September, with AKF encouraging supporters to start thinking about how they can take part. Whether through a school event, workplace morning tea, community fundraiser, online donation drive or something creative of their own, every effort helps support the work needed to keep Koalas in the wild.

Supporters can also take part by sharing AKF’s educational resources, donating directly, purchasing from the Save the Koala Shop, adopting a Koala or supporting AKF’s Plant-A-Tree program, where trees purchased online are planted at Quinlans, one of AKF’s Environmental Reserves.

More details about this year’s Save the Koala Month campaign will be announced soon!

For now, AKF is encouraging Australians to save the dates, start thinking about how they can get involved and prepare to do their part this September.

Save the Koala Month

1 September – 30 September,

Save The Koala Day

Last Friday in September – this year will be Friday 25th September

More to come soon.

· CPA Australia warns of complexity, uncertainty as reform Bill introduced
· Government’s decision to legislate first, consult later is concerning
· Accountants and financial advisers will be left to advise clients on a half-built tax system
Australia’s largest accounting body CPA Australia has warned the Government’s tax reform legislation risks creating a more complex and uncertain system, after the Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced into Parliament today.
While the Bill delivers the core elements of the Federal Budget’s tax package – including changes to capital gains tax (CGT), negative gearing, the Working Australians Tax Offset and the proposed standard deduction – but leaves critical components unresolved.
CPA Australia Tax Lead Jenny Wong said the most structurally significant measure for private business and family wealth had been deferred.
“This Bill is consistent with the CGT and negative gearing changes announced in the Budget, however the proposed minimum tax on discretionary trusts – arguably the most consequential reform for private business owners – has been split into a separate Bill, leaving a major gap in the system,” Ms Wong said.
Ms Wong said the Government’s decision to introduce sweeping reforms before completing consultation was deeply concerning.
“We would encourage the Government to consult first and legislate later. Introducing significant tax changes into Parliament before properly engaging with affected stakeholders is not how tax reform should be done,” Ms Wong added.
Ms Wong said consultation is still ongoing on critical technical issues, including the treatment of capital gains for small and start-up businesses, interactions with managed investment trusts and tax consolidation.
“Despite these issues still being worked through with additional concerns raised by stakeholders, the legislation has been introduced. This leaves small businesses, investors and everyday Australians with material uncertainty about how these changes will apply to them,” Ms Wong said.
CPA Australia warned that implementing the changes in stages risks undermining investment confidence.
“We acknowledge this is the first tranche of legislation, with more to follow. But Australians cannot plan their financial futures based on half a tax system.
“Implementing reform in tranches creates a two-tier system – where some Australians know where they stand and others do not. That uncertainty has real consequences for investment decisions being made right now.”
Ms Wong rejected comparisons with past reforms such as the GST.
“The GST was the product of years of consultation, negotiation and public debate. This is fundamentally different – a Budget-night announcement followed by staged legislation, with key elements still unresolved,” Ms Wong added.
CPA Australia said the immediate impact of the negative gearing changes highlights the practical challenges of the legislation.
“Negative gearing was wound back on Budget night for investors buying established homes – but the Government hasn’t shared what counts as a ‘new residential dwelling.’ That definition will be written by the Minister, after the Bill passes. This creates avoidable uncertainty at a time when Australians are making significant, long-term financial decisions.”
Ms Wong said the reforms contradict the Government’s stated objective of simplifying the tax system.
“The Government has committed to making tax time simpler, but this package does the opposite,” she said.
“It introduces a new tax offset, a new instant deduction, a new inflation-based CGT framework, a minimum tax rate and revised negative gearing rules, each with different start dates, transitional arrangements and carve-outs.
“That is not simplification – it is layering new complexity onto an already complex tax system.”
Ms Wong said multiple start dates, grandfathering provisions and exemptions will make the tax package arguably one of the most complex in recent memory.
“Australians will need to navigate overlapping rules depending on when assets were acquired, how income is earned and how structures are set up,” Ms Wong said.
“Accountants and financial advisers will be left guiding clients through a system that is still being built, with further changes flagged but not yet legislated.”
CPA Australia is encouraging the Government to reconsider its approach and work more closely with industry.
“We urge the Government to work with us and other stakeholders to get this right. Tax changes of this scale deserve genuine engagement, proper consultation and a complete legislative package that gives Australian and the market the certainty they need. We look forward to consulting with the Government on the next stage of CGT changes.”
 

About CPA Australia     
CPA Australia is Australia’s leading professional accounting body and one of the largest in the world. We have more than 176,000 members in over 100 countries and regions. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. A CPA is a Certified Practising Accountant. More at cpaaustralia.com.au

New Delhi, India

1. We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States of America, met in New Delhi on 26 May 2026 for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India.
2. We convene at a time of not only great challenges, but also unprecedented opportunities. In the midst of conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and strains on global supply chains, we reaffirm that peace, stability, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific hinges on upholding international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. We reaffirm our commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We recognize the immense potential of innovation, emerging technologies, and trusted partnerships to drive economic prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. We strongly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo, including by force or coercion, which escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability.
3. We affirm our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific that allows countries to develop resilience and strengthen capacity to determine their own paths. To that end, we concur on further enhancing cooperation and advancing concrete initiatives to deliver tangible benefits to the region.
4. Developments in key maritime regions have underscored the vulnerability of critical sea lanes and the risks posed to the uninterrupted flow of commerce. These challenges carry significant implications for the Indo-Pacific, which remains central to global trade and connectivity. Disruptions to maritime transport and supply chains have far-reaching consequences for global fuel, food and fertilizer security as well as the safety of seafarers.
5. We discussed the situation in the Middle East/West Asia and reaffirm our support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and hope for lasting peace in the region. We reiterate the importance of adhering to international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to navigational rights and freedoms, and the safety and uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. We condemn the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and oppose any future measures that are inconsistent with UNCLOS, including imposition of tolls.
6. We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region. We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and coercive actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of freedom of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and flares, and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea. We are seriously concerned by the militarization of disputed features.
7. We emphasize the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. We re-affirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS, and reiterate that the award rendered ten years ago by the Arbitral Tribunal is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.
8. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with relevant UNSCRs and urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the relevant UNSCRs. We condemn North Korea’s unlawful development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. We also express grave concern over North Korea’s malicious cyber activities, and IT worker activities, which fund North Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. We will continue to support efforts to address contraventions of North Korea-related UNSCRs. We urge all UN Member States to abide by their international obligations under the UNSCRs to implement sanctions, including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel.  We express deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global non-proliferation regime. We reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
9. As we advance our shared objectives for the region, our cooperation with and support for ASEAN centrality and unity, and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific-led regional groupings, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) remain unwavering.
10. We remain concerned by the continuing conflict in Myanmar and its impact on the region. We reaffirm our support for ASEAN’s efforts and call for the immediate cessation of violence; the release of those unjustly detained; a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and dialogue between all parties and affected groups involved in the conflict. We are also concerned about the impact of the crisis on regional security and the spread of transnational crimes.
11. The Quad partners remain committed to working with regional partners, to address these wide-ranging challenges through tangible initiatives focused on the four key pillars of maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. Through these practical initiatives, we continue to deliver tangible benefits to the Indo-Pacific region.

Maritime and Transnational Security

12. Addressing maritime security challenges requires coordinated, agile, and forward-looking responses. We welcome India’s operationalization of the Indian Ocean Region programme of the Quad Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram. We will work to develop a Common Operational Picture (COP) across the Indo-Pacific by drawing upon the existing IPMDA efforts. We will further strengthen our contribution to regional maritime domain awareness by coordination of maritime surveillance efforts through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) initially in the Indian Ocean Region as well as through subject matter expert exchanges and tabletop exercises. IPMSC, with integration of latest technological developments, will augment IPMDA by enabling Quad partners to share real-time information and provide an enhanced picture of vessels in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
13. Following the success of the first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission from Palau to Guam in July 2025, India will host the next edition of the Mission to strengthen interoperability and knowledge-sharing to best address unlawful maritime activities across the region.
14. We unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism and the horrific terrorist attacks perpetrated at Pahalgam in India on 22 April 2025, and Bondi Beach in Australia on 14 December 2025. We call for decisive and sustained international efforts to combat terrorism in accordance with international law, including action against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities and their proxies, affiliates, sponsors and financiers. We are committed to working together with our international and regional partners in a comprehensive manner to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to threats posed by terrorism, violent extremists who engage in violent, criminal, or terrorist acts and by the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
15. The Quad remains deeply concerned about the proliferation of online scam centres within Southeast Asia and surrounding regions which are linked to the spread of other transnational crime, including trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, sexual extortion, illicit financing, and other forms of cybercrime. We will deepen cooperation, particularly law enforcement and regulatory engagement including strengthening partners’ ability to combat online scam centres and associated transnational organised crime.

Economic Prosperity and Security

16. We acknowledge that economic security is fundamental to Quad partners and the Indo-Pacific region, and commit to deepening economic security cooperation and develop key initiatives to support a resilient and prosperous region. We reiterate our grave concerns over the use of economic coercion and non-market policies and practices including arbitrary export restrictions, price manipulation, and disruptions particularly on critical minerals that impact global supply chains and critical industrial sectors. We underscore the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains and the need to avoid reliance on any one country.
17. To advance our vision for fair and diversified critical minerals markets, we are pleased to announce the Quad Critical Minerals Framework, which will guide how Quad partners can leverage economic policy tools and coordinate, including in concert with the private sector, investment to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, including in mining, processing, and recycling.
18. Disruptions to global markets for energy products and important downstream derivatives such as fertilizers, fall heavily on the Indo-Pacific region. Recognizing shifts in the global energy landscape, we are launching the Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security to cooperate on energy security and resilience. Quad partners will work together to ensure open, well-functioning and stable energy markets, and resilient and diversified supply chains. Maintaining open trade flows in essential goods is critical for the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.
19. The Quad is committed to supporting trusted and resilient infrastructure. Following the successful Quad Ports of the Future Partnership Conference hosted by India in October 2025, which was aimed at advancing the Quad vision for resilient and secure ports, we are proud to announce that the Quad countries will work, in coordination with the Government of Fiji, to advance port infrastructure and associated activities in the country.
20. We recognize that trusted undersea cable systems are the backbone of the global digital economy and essential to secure, reliable, and resilient connectivity across the Indo-Pacific. We also emphasize the need to protect undersea cable networks from risks, including threats and sabotage, through closer coordination and information sharing. In this regard, Quad partners have provided tangible support to ensure that all Pacific Island Forum countries are connected via undersea cables by 2026 to secure their digital futures. We will continue to explore opportunities to support future undersea cable connections, in the region to further provide trusted redundancy. We welcome ongoing efforts under the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, including the Wavelength Forum hosted in New Delhi in July 2025, which brought together governments and industry to advance cooperation in strengthening cable infrastructure.

Critical and Emerging Technology

21. Trusted collaboration in critical and emerging technologies underpins our ability to protect security interests, strengthen supply chains, and sustain competitive, strong economies. We reaffirm our commitment to building secure, resilient digital ecosystems and supporting next-generation technologies, including 5G, 6G, and AI. In this context, we recognize that open, and interoperable architectures built on sound technical standards can help enhance network security and foster innovation, and reduce reliance on single-vendor systems. Quad countries will advance work in the coming months on next-generation communications standards; a workshop on digital identity standards; and a Track 1.5 on standards workforce development.
22. The Quad welcomes Pax Silica as a pillar of our shared economic security agenda. We recognize that AI represents a transformative force for our long-term prosperity — and reliable supply chains are indispensable to securing its benefits.. We welcome efforts to deepen partnership across the full technology stack, from critical minerals and advanced manufacturing to compute, semiconductors, and trusted networks. Together, we welcome efforts to advance a comprehensive economic partnership grounded in trust, technological complementarity, and a shared commitment to lasting prosperity.
23. Quad partners reaffirmed the importance of biomanufacturing and committed to strengthening collaboration with trusted stakeholders to ensure strong and resilient key pharmaceuticals supply chains.

Humanitarian Assistance and Emergency Response

24. The Quad reaffirms its shared commitment to advancing practical cooperation on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad has made significant progress in strengthening interoperability and information sharing and we will continue to deepen our engagement with regional partners and relevant international organizations to enhance rapid response capabilities and improve coordination mechanisms to ensure timely, effective disaster response across the Indo-Pacific.
25. We continue to exchange information and coordinate responses during disaster situations across the Indo-Pacific. Partners coordinated responses to the Enga landslide in Papua New Guinea (2024) and the Myanmar earthquake (2025), demonstrating Quad commitment to practical support and cooperation. The tabletop exercise (TTX) and Strategic Working Group meeting in Honolulu in 2025 significantly enhanced collective preparedness and response capacities. The development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), post-crisis review mechanisms, and strategic communications frameworks have advanced Quad HADR cooperation.
26. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening Quad health security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific to better prepare for and respond to future health emergencies.  We will work together with regional partners to advance resilient health infrastructure that promotes the well-being of the people and prosperity in the entire region.
27. We welcome the continued progress of the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN), launched as a pilot initiative at the Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2024, to leverage shared logistics capabilities to support civilian response to large-scale natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific to save lives, boost recovery efforts, and provide support for regional partners. Building on the successful conduct of a TTX in April 2025 and a Field Training Exercise during Operation Christmas Drop in December 2025, we intend to further operationalize the IPLN through a structured series of engagements, including a second TTX to be hosted in Japan in 2026. These efforts will support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to facilitate multi-modal logistics coordination, and enhance capabilities in staging, sustainment, and operations.  
28. As four leading democracies and maritime nations, we remain committed to a region where all countries can prosper free from coercion. We look forward to the convening of the Quad Leaders’ Summit, the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and continuing our engagements that advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The ACT Greens have welcomed the Government’s decision to reinstate the Rent Relief Fund, following pressure from the Greens, community groups and renters.

The fund provides crisis payments of up to $2,500 to renters in acute financial stress. It had been cut despite evidence it was helping prevent evictions and homelessness across Canberra.

“When former Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury, tabled a petition demanding the Government to restore the fund last year, the sector, frontline services and renters made it clear: this fund works,” said ACT Greens Leader Jo Clay.

“It was wrong for the Government to call it a temporary COVID measure. It kept people in their homes and out of crisis. The Rent Relief Fund proved to be a critical part of providing wraparound support to vulnerable private renters.

The fund provides targeted, short-term support to people facing rental stress or sudden hardship, helping stabilise tenancies and ease pressure on homelessness services.

Ms Clay said the scheme must now be properly funded, accessible, and available to those who need it.

“We welcome its return, but it should never have been cut. Vulnerable Canberrans have gone months without a key lifeline.

“This must be more than a temporary fix. We need sustained investment in keeping people housed.”

The Greens will continue to push for stronger action on housing affordability, including more public and community housing and ongoing cost-of-living relief.

“Every Canberran deserves a safe, secure home. Restoring this fund is an important step, but more must be done,” Ms Clay said.

91% skipping meals, 60% eating expired food and 1 in 5 eating from bins – New Salvos Report exposes Cost-of-Living Emergency for Australia’s Poorest

The Salvation Army today issued an urgent warning that Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is spiralling into an emergency for the nation’s most marginalised people, with a new report revealing nearly one in five (19%) people surveyed saying they had eaten from bins and three in five (60%) saying they had eaten expired or spoiled food in the past 12 months. 
 
The new report surveyed 4,400 Australians seeking emergency relief support from The Salvation Army and revealed widespread food insecurity and severe financial distress, with 91% saying they skipped meals in the past 12 months and almost one third (32%) saying this happened daily. 
 
The report also found one third (35%) said they survived on only one meal a day and 67% said they watered down food or drinks to make them last longer. 
 
One community member who received support from The Salvation Army said, “We starve, it’s that simple. We drink water because it fills us up. We walk a bit to take our minds off this horrible life we are in, and we beg whoever we can for help.”
 
Another community member simply said they “go without food, find thrown-out food, look in bins” in order to survive.
 
Children are increasingly bearing the brunt of the crisis, with 35% of parents saying their children had gone to school hungry and almost 6 in 10 (59%) households with school-aged children saying kids had missed school because families could not afford transport costs in the past 12 months.
 
“It is deeply confronting to see so many people across our community pushed to such desperate levels of hardship, where parents are skipping meals, children are going to school hungry and people are eating spoiled food or even eating from bins simply to survive,” says Major Bruce Harmer from The Salvation Army.
 
“No one in Australia should be forced to choose between heating their home, feeding their children or buying medication, yet this is the reality facing more and more people every single day.”
 
The report highlighted widespread “energy poverty”, with 84% of respondents going to bed early to keep warm, 63% living in darkness, relying on candles and torches, and almost half (49%) using public places such as shopping centres or public bathrooms to avoid using electricity at home.
 
Medical care is also increasingly out of reach, with over half (51%) unable to afford to see a doctor, dentist or optometrist, 46% unable to afford prescription medication and one quarter (25%) relying on hospital emergency departments instead of visiting a GP.
 
Another mum who received support from the Salvos said , “We never have enough food. We buy what is cheap and rely on help and food banks. I am very careful about our electricity use. My oldest son has been making do this year with only one school shirt. We put water in dish soap, shampoo, cleaning products, and other items to stretch them. We rarely buy milk, but when we do, we add water to make it last longer. We don’t spend money on clothing. We often fill prescriptions late or don’t take them daily to stretch them out further.”
Further findings from the report included:
· 82% said they had gone an entire day without eating in the past year.
· 87% said they avoided using heating or cooling over the past year due to cost pressures
· 77% said they had been unable to properly heat or cool their home in the past year
· 90% have experienced being unable to afford public transport or fuel for their car
 
The Salvation Army is calling on Australians to support its vital work, with demand for assistance continuing to rise across homelessness, emergency relief, financial hardship, family violence, youth services and community meals. The Salvos’ Red Shield Appeal is aiming to raise $41 million to support those doing it tough across the nation.
 
“Our report surveyed thousands of people who reached out to the Salvos for emergency relief support, with 90% saying they would not have managed financially without the help they received,” Major Harmer adds.
 
“But the need is growing rapidly and we cannot do this alone. Right now, your support can help provide food, financial assistance, safe shelter and hope to Australians doing it incredibly tough.”
 
Across Australia last year, through The Salvation Army’s network of over 400 centres and 2,000 services, the Salvos provided:*
· Assistance to one person every 17 seconds
· More than 1.74 million sessions of care to over 228,000 people in need
· Over 1 million nights of safe accommodation
· More than 1.4 million meals to those who accessed our homelessness services.

Today I will travel to India to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and hold the Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.

In these uncertain times, the Quad is a vital partnership – four nations working together to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific region.

Together, Australia, India, Japan and the United States are delivering concrete outcomes on shared interests including maritime security, critical minerals supply, infrastructure development and disaster relief.

While in India I will hold the 17th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with my counterpart, Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar.

Australia and India’s partnership has never been more consequential.

As Comprehensive Strategic Partners, Australia and India are deepening cooperation in trade and investment, defence and maritime security, climate and energy transition, strategic technology, and education and skills; with an enduring social connection at the heart of our partnership.

The Albanese Government will continue to strengthen Australia’s relationships and work even harder in new and existing coalitions like the Quad as we keep building Australia’s future in an ever less stable world.

Senator Faruqi joined family, friends, and supporters at Sydney International Airport this morning to welcome home seven of the brave Australian participants on the Global Sumud Flotilla: Neve O’Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, and Anny Mokotow.

These Australians were among the hundreds of humanitarians kidnapped and imprisoned by Israel while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Many participants have reported physical, psychological, and sexual abuse while imprisoned by Israel.

Lines attributable to Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice:

“It was an honour to welcome home to our brave Global Sumud Flotilla participants who have kept our hope alive and who carried with them not just aid, but humanity, love, and a commitment to a free Palestine.

“The kidnapping, abuse, torture, and violence they were forced to endure at the hands of Israel is depraved, but I can see that their spirits remain unbroken. We are so proud and grateful to all of them and their families. They give so many others the inspiration to keep speaking out for Palestine and holding our own government to account.

“The world has been horrified to see the treatment by Israel of civilians on a legal mission to deliver life-saving aid and break the illegal siege of Gaza, just as the world has been horrified by Israel’s genocide, mass murder and starvation of Palestinians over the last two and a half years.

“Israel was able to abuse and torture Australians so brazenly only because it has been given full cover, impunity and active support by countries like Australia to keep committing and escalating their crimes against Palestinians.

“Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong should be ashamed for calling Israel a friend and an ally, not only because of the abhorrent abuse of flotilla activists, but because of Israel’s ongoing and brutal occupation, apartheid and genocide of Palestinians.

“It is frightening how little the Labor government cares about Palestinian lives or indeed the safety of our own citizens.

“If Labor gives a damn about peace, international law or justice, they need to stop shaking hands with the architects of this genocide and they need to stop believing Israel’s lies and propaganda. Instead, they must sanction Israel, end the arms trade and cut ties. Useless words expressing grave concern mean nothing when people in Palestine and Lebanon are being killed every single day.”