Category: Australian News

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong officially launched this year’s National Science Week at the University of Wollongong (UoW) today.

New South Wales is set to transform into a vibrant hub of scientific activity this week, with more than 90 public events across the state showcasing the global impact of scientists and their work.

This year, UoW has assumed the important role of host institution, responsible for ensuring the smooth running of National Science Week. Their provision of grant funding to the many science outreach organisations involved is integral to the work of countless scientists and researchers across the state.

UoW is also the home base of Inspiring Australia NSW and Science Space, two of the official partner organisations responsible for making this year’s National Science Week such a success.

In Sydney, major events have already taken over some of the city’s most popular public spaces, including Science in the Scrub at Western Sydney Parklands and Science in the Swamp at Centennial Parklands on Sunday, which featured live demonstrations and ‘Meet a Scientist’ stalls where visitors could ask expert researchers all their curly questions.

In the classroom, schools across NSW will host workshops, guest speakers, and activities that bring science to life to inspire the next generation of scientific innovators.  

In the regions, Science Week will see events in all corners of the state, from expert talks in Port Macquarie diving into the science behind saving lives at sea, to Bundanon’s Science Week Symposium, exploring the hidden ecologies of the Shoalhaven.

Supported by the NSW Government in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government through Inspiring Australia, National Science Week is Australia’s largest celebration of science and technology.

The full NSW National Science Week event program can be found on the National Science Week website, where events can be searched by location, topic, date or format.

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be launching National Science Week at the University of Wollongong, celebrating its role as a leading institution in innovative STEM research and funding for New South Wales.

“National Science Week is one of the most exciting events in the calendar, sparking curiosity among young and old.

“It’s a unique chance for everyone to gain a new appreciation of how scientific work improves our everyday lives.

“By making science accessible to all, we can inspire future generations and foster a culture of innovation and curiosity.

“The NSW 2025-26 Budget included $80 million to bring the Minns Government’s Innovation Blueprint to life.

“A key component of the $80 million in funding for the Innovation Blueprint is $20 million to establish an Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund, which will help us better capitalise on our world-leading scientific research sector.”

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said: 

“National Science Week is the perfect occasion to celebrate our achievements and showcase the incredible scientific talent we have right here at home.

“The events across Sydney, the Illawarra and beyond give the public the opportunity to connect with the exciting work our talented scientists are producing here in NSW.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“National Science Week is an excellent opportunity to showcase the groundbreaking work being done in our region, which puts us at the cutting-edge scientific advancements.

“Putting research and science in the spotlight this week at the University of Wollongong will help to inspire future generations and make sure important advancements driven by science and technology continue to receive the support they need.”

Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong Max Lu said:

“I thank Minister Chanthivong for his leadership in science engagement throughout NSW. We are delighted to host the launch of National Science Week at UOW Science Space, and are committed to promoting science awareness, fostering the exchange of ideas, and championing innovation both within NSW and across Australia.

“This event welcomes enthusiastic young learners who are passionate about science. 

“UOW is one of the leading universities in Australia where students are empowered to excel academically and grow intellectually.”

Australia welcomes the commitment made at the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 7 August to fully and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, including the establishment of an ASEAN-led observer mechanism.

The meeting is an important step towards de-escalating tensions and supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

Australia commends ASEAN’s efforts, and the leadership of Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, to facilitate the ceasefire.

We strongly support ASEAN’s leadership including the Special Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia on 28 July 2025 and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statements of 27 and 31 July 2025.

Australia urges both Cambodia and Thailand to honour the ceasefire, uphold their obligations under international law, exercise maximum restraint, and continue to resolve the dispute through peaceful means consistent with the UN Charter, ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

We commend the GBC Meeting as a practical representation of ASEAN’s role in reducing the risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, managing crises, and preventing disputes from escalating into conflict.

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom strongly reject the decision of the Israeli Security Cabinet on 8th August to launch an additional large-scale military operation in Gaza. It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law. Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.

We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this terrible conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables the provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, as the worst-case scenario of a famine is unfolding in Gaza. Hamas must release all hostages without further delay or precondition and must ensure they are humanely treated and not subject to cruelty and humiliation.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. We call on the Government of Israel to urgently find solutions to amend its recent registration system of international humanitarian organisations, to ensure these vital actors of humanitarian aid can continue their essential work again in line with humanitarian principles to reach the civilians in need in Gaza. Their exclusion would be an egregious signal.

We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity. A political resolution based on a negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.

The Israeli Government’s announcement that it plans to occupy Gaza, forcibly displace over one million people and continue the genocide must be condemned and followed by swift action from the Albanese Government.

After two years of inaction, this must be a red line for the Albanese Government. Sanctions to the level of what was introduced against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine, including an end to the two-way arms trade with Israel, are a necessity.

The Albanese Government has ignored the continued breaches of international law by the Israeli Government. The Greens, human rights organisations and millions of people have been calling for sanctions. It’s time the Albanese Government listened.

Russian-style sanctions on Israel would halt millions of dollars in trade that fuels the occupation and genocide in Palestine. These sanctions must also be extended to the Security Cabinet of Israel, which has just signed off on another bloody escalation in the genocide.

Greens Senator and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“What we’re witnessing in Gaza goes beyond military strategy, it’s the systematic erasure of Palestinians through forced displacement and occupation.

“This is entering the final stages of a genocide.

“It’s not good enough for the Albanese government to still be debating how strong our language should be.

“Recognition of the Palestinian State is being used by the Albanese Government not as a fundamental right all people have to self-determination, but as a distraction from the fact that they have taken next to no material action against the State of Israel. Increasingly harsh statements will not feed people, it will not stop the Israeli war machine. Sanctions will.

“If Australia were to end the arms trade with Israel and stop the export of F-35 fighter jet parts, the Israeli fleet would, over time, be grounded. That is what action looks like.

“If the same sanctions regime that applies against Russia were applied against Israel, then today’s decision by Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet would see each of them hit with Magnitsky sanctions.

“The time is now for immediate and strong action, and we can look to the actions taken against Russia as a clear guide, end the two-way arms trade and sanction key decision makers, including the Security Cabinet.

“This is a fundamental test for the Albanese Government. Either they believe in international law and will enforce it against Israel, or they will continue to hide in Donald Trump’s shadow. One is a pathway towards decency and independence, and the other is one of complete moral surrender.”

Today’s public housing inquiry heard devastating evidence that the Allan Labor Government’s tower demolition plan is built on coercive relocations, ignored alternatives, and a secretive privatisation model.

From the first witnesses, the message was clear – the relocation process is traumatising, unaccountable, and deeply harmful. Residents have been pressured to leave with little or no support – some told to “pick a home” off realestate.com.au, others given verbal ultimatums. Advocates described elderly tenants in tears and migrant residents unable to access critical information.

The Law Institute of Victoria’s Dr Bill Swannie and former Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell AO KC condemned the project as a breach of international law, labelling this as “forced displacement backed by eviction,” and confirmed he will be making a complaint to the United Nations.

Witnesses also exposed the disturbing lack of transparency surrounding the decision to demolish. No documents have been released showing that refurbishment was ever properly assessed, despite repeated government claims that the towers are “beyond repair”.

Expert architects from OFFICE told the inquiry that refurbishment is not only viable, but it would also save $354 million, deliver more modern, environmentally sound homes, and avoid the devastating health and social harm of relocation.

Instead, the Labor Government is pressing ahead with the Ground Lease Model (GLM) – a delivery model that was repeatedly discredited by expert witnesses today, being laid bare as a political fix designed to give the illusion of retaining public land while actually providing no public housing and handing control of a public asset to private consortiums.

Researchers from RMIT slammed the model’s total lack of transparency, describing it as a “black box” of tax subsidies and responsibility shifting, shielded from Freedom of Information laws, with no public oversight. They told the inquiry there is no evidence the model is effective, that the risks are unknown, and that it’s “by design” and that similar models have already been banned or abandoned in the UK following cost blowouts, governance failures, and tenant harm.

The inquiry heard that the Ground Lease Model is just an investment opportunity for superannuation funds that will leave taxpayers footing the bill, paying billions in subsidies and government payments required to prop it up from day one.

Homes Victoria and the Housing Minister will be fronting the inquiry that was secured by the Greens tomorrow.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“There was never any justification for Labor’s plan that’s well and truly falling apart during this inquiry which has heard repeated, damning evidence of coercion and secrecy.”

“It’s profoundly unsettling watching just how little thought went into this reckless plan, given the devastating impact it will have on people’s lives and the housing crisis.”

“There’s more evidence being presented in this inquiry than Labor has ever managed to provide and now it’s time for Labor to reckon with the fact that this plan cannot be defended, and no one’s defending it, except those who are going to profit from it.”

A Teal proposal to jack up the GST and apply it to fresh food and utilities, rather than increasing taxes on big corporations and the super wealthy, shows totally warped priorities, the Greens say.

“Kate Chaney’s plan to raise the GST to 15% and apply it to fresh food and utilities is a lazy idea,” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“If we want to make people’s lives better we should make big corporations pay their fair share of tax and use the revenue to provide genuine cost of living relief. 

“Since the pandemic the cost of essentials has skyrocketed, and the best idea the Teals can come up with is to make food more expensive?”

“If we are serious about easing cost of living pressures we should be making big corporations and the super wealthy pay their fair share of tax.”

“One in three of the biggest corporations pays no tax at all. The ultra-wealthy stash billions in trusts and tax shelters. But instead of ending those rorts, the Teals want to hike up taxes on baby formula and electricity.”

“The Greens will fight any attempt to make inequality worse. We’ll keep pushing for a fairer tax system where big corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share.

The Australian Greens welcome ACOSS’s calls to urgently address the unfair tax breaks that benefit property investors, as well as their call for redirecting funds to building more social housing.”

Momentum is growing – ACOSS joins a chorus of stakeholders, including the ACTU and banks, calling on the government to wind back negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount ahead of the Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable.”

Under the Greens 2025 election policy, both negative gearing and the CGT discount would be grandfathered to one existing investment property and removed on all second and subsequent properties, ensuring “mum and dad” investors with a single investment property are not negatively impacted, while disincentivising future speculative and unproductive investment in the property market.”

Greens spokesperson for housing Senator Barbara Pocock:

“Every day these tax handouts keep flowing to wealthy property investors, the housing crisis gets worse. They’re cooking our housing system and fuelling intergenerational inequality. Ending the housing crisis is possible, but it’s up to Labor.”

“Momentum is growing – we’ve seen calls from across the sectors – unions, banks, economists, welfare groups – all urging the government to take action. It’s absolutely imperative that changes to negative gearing and CGT concessions are on the Economic Roundtable agenda. Winding back the tax discounts for wealthy property investors is the obvious first step in fixing our housing crisis.”

“Labor has a choice – it can help fix this housing crisis by reforming the tax discounts for wealthy property investors or it can choose to continue with a system that locks out first home buyers and increases rents. It could choose to redirect funds to build more public and community housing.”

“Let’s be clear – these are tax breaks for wealthy property investors, which come at a cost to first home buyers and owner-occupiers. These are tax breaks that increase levels of homelessness, which advocacy groups have said is the worst in living memory – increasing by 10 percent under this Government since it was elected in 2022.”

“Unless the Government makes the necessary reforms to the tax concessions for property investors, we’ll continue to see house prices rise and rents spiral. The Greens stand ready to work with Labor to action this urgent reform.”

Lines attributable to Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim:

“Negative gearing and the CGT discount is a gift to wealthy investors that’s helped turn housing from a human right into a speculative asset.”

“They are some of the most destructive tax concessions in the country. They drive up prices, fuel inequality, and help to shut an entire generation out of home ownership.”

“Labor should listen to what the housing advocates, equality stakeholders and Greens have been saying for years, and bring reform to these unfair tax handouts for property investors into the parliament.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to New Zealand from 9 to 10 August to join Prime Minister the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon at the annual Australia–New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.

Australia and New Zealand share a deep and enduring bond as friends, neighbours and allies. Australia has no closer partner, and both countries are committed to strongly backing Pacific-led solutions to the region’s challenges.

Leaders will discuss opportunities to further develop our Single Economic Market, strengthen defence and security cooperation, shape the international environment and enhance our partnership in the Pacific.

This visit follows the Australia–New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting hosted by Prime Minister Albanese in Canberra in August 2024.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“As neighbours, friends and family, the bonds between our countries, our economies, and our communities are unmatched.

“I am delighted to visit New Zealand to meet with Prime Minister Luxon for our Annual Leaders’ Meeting.

“I look forward to discussing how we can work together to build on our Single Economic Market, modernise the rules-based trading system, deepen our alliance, and back our Pacific partners.”

The following is commentary on an article by Kate Uren syndicated and that appeared in The Courier Mail.

Chanel Contos, the activist who successfully lobbied for “consent” lessons in schools, is now pushing for children as young as 11 to be taught about pornography through what she calls “porn literacy.” Yes, you read that right, pornography in classrooms.

Claiming the average age of first exposure to porn is 11, Contos argues this should trigger a national rollout of explicit content discussions in schools. She wants this added to the national curriculum by 2026, believing kids are better off being “educated” about porn rather than being left to figure it out themselves.

These perspectives deny the fact that many parents are able, capable, and willing to meaningfully engage their children with the negative effects of pornography.

This extremist new campaign fits neatly into the increasingly inappropriate content being pushed onto children under the guise of education. It’s yet another example of ideological social engineering being driven into our schools.

Contos, who’s now studying public policy at Oxford, says boys are more hostile now to her message, blaming online influencers and what she dubs the “manosphere.” (it’s always those pesky boys on the left, isn’t it? She believes “gender-restrictive attitudes” are creeping back into the conversation. One wonders if she considers healthy boundaries, parental authority, or traditional family values to be “restrictive” too.

Another academic, Professor Alan McKee, echoed the activist chorus, arguing that sex ed is too “biological” and needs more focus on relationships and intimacy. Apparently, talking about intimacy and pornography with children is the next frontier.

One Nation’s view: enough is enough. Senator Pauline Hanson has recently raised her concerns about what’s being discussed in classrooms, with harrowing stories from her own family of young children wanting to discuss genitals after these types of conversations were raised in classrooms.

Let’s be clear. Pornography in the curriculum is precisely why more and more parents are fed up with what’s happening in our schools.

At this point it is also worth inserting a little history lesson. Many states, including Queensland, banned pornography right up until the 1990s. Police would raid newsagents and other outlets to confiscate inappropriate material. The left took to the streets and marched in support of letting everyone have access to pornography, and in Queensland at least, the left-wing Labor government of Wayne Goss opened the Sunshine State to pornography.

You read that right. The left used to march in support of access to pornography. It was family-based conservatives that opposed it and warned what might happen if society became open season for access to degenerate material.

Sex education, if it’s going to exist at all, belongs in high school, in a framework that supports safe, loving, respectful relationships, not explicit content about pornography or warped ideological trends. Teaching primary-aged kids about porn doesn’t protect them; it confuses them, sexualises them prematurely, and undermines the role of parents. Frankly, our opinion is that the proposal has the potential for abuse, like grooming.

One Nation warns this path is no different from society opening access to pornography in the 1980’s and 1990s. Isn’t it ironic that that same side of politics, the radical and extremist left, is now trying to put a lid on all the problems that result from pornography. We warned them then, and we warn them again.

One Nation will always stand for the protection of our children, the rights of parents to raise their children according to their values, and a return to common sense in our classrooms.

Antipoverty Centre says government must end Centrelink payment suspensions after Ombudsman report shows government has unlawfully cancelled payments 

6 August 2025 – Welfare recipients and community sector organisations are calling for an urgent intervention by government to stop Centrelink payment suspensions that cause severe financial hardship and turmoil in the lives of poor people.  

Today the Commonwealth Ombudsman released the first report of its investigationinto administration of the compulsory activities known as “mutual” obligations. Maladministration of the Targeted Compliance Framework has caused thousands of welfare recipients to have their Centrelink payment reduced and cancelled unlawfully, though the full scale of payment impacts is not currently quantifiable. 

For example, nearly 350,000 payment suspensions were issued just in the first quarter of 2025, affecting more than 280,000 people out of the roughly 800,000 who had requirements during the period.¹ 

The Ombudsman’s investigation commenced in February 2025 and exposes disturbing failures on behalf of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Services Australia that show total disregard for the lives and wellbeing of welfare recipients, which cause catastrophic consequences for hundreds of thousands of people.  

• The Ombudsman has found that DEWR unlawfully cancelled welfare recipients’ payments, including 45 people whose payments were cancelled after the Department had decided to stop cancelling payments.
• The Ombudsman’s report makes clear that DEWR and Services Australia must make decisions that are not only lawful, but are also fair and reasonable, and use their discretion wherever possible to protect people from being thrown into destitution.
• The Ombudsman report indicates that there are concerns of the potential for a much larger scale of unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable decisions being made not just by government departments but also by private job agencies who have the power to stop people’s Centrelink payments.

Every person who has had a hand in operating these unlawful systems should feel deep shame and be held responsible for the damage done to people in poverty. The release of this report is a step towards justice for every person who has been subjected to harmful behaviour while on a Centrelink payment and for those who have spoken up about the abuse they experienced.  

For the first time, welfare recipients may feel their experiences are being taken seriously and their lives being treated as valuable by someone in a position of power.² 

The Antipoverty Centre, supported by organisations listed below, is calling on the government to immediately: 

• Stop all Centrelink payment penalties, including suspensions, reductions and cancellations, related to compulsory activities.
• Commit to permanently removing the Targeted Compliance Framework – a program that has caused significant harm.

For background information and key statistics see: https://1drv.ms/w/c/5406945b74ee978d/ERDofg1hGMVIs_hJZL7jCzYBckO6uEltERrqhRgjZULVbg 
1. Antipoverty Centre analysis of published compliance data. Some people have received multiple penalties during this period. Figures are lower than in other periods due to an extended pause of penalties in the new year related to IT issues. Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Targeted Compliance Framework quarterly data; Department of Social Services, Disability Employment Services Targeted Compliance Framework monthly data. 
2. See: https://bit.ly/PunishmentForProfitReport; https://www.auwu.org.au/survey-results; https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Education_and_Employment/JobActive2018/Report; https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Former_Committees/Workforce_Australia_Employment_Services/WorkforceAustralia

JobSeeker recipient Cheyanne McRae said:  

“Employment services have caused more harm and damage than it could ever rectify. I don’t know how anyone who justifies or contributes to this issue doesn’t see a monster in the mirror every night.” 

Antipoverty Centre spokesperson Jay Coonan said:  

The release of the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report is a significant moment for every person who has been subjected to compulsory activities while on a Centrelink payment.  

Welfare recipients have been documenting the extreme harm caused by compulsory activities for years and consistently pushed for the government to stop harm by abolishing the cruel and infantilising rules they call “mutual” obligations. It has never been more obvious that this must happen. 

Amid this scandal, outsourced employment services are still wielding payment suspensions as a weapon against welfare recipients, threatening and penalising people who can’t even afford to live. 

The Ombudsman’s report confirms our belief that this system has been run by public sector cowboys for years. It hasn’t been aligning with policy, law or administrative principles and this latest report only scratches the surface. The government has systematically breached its duty of care in its quest to deny people of financial life support.  

People in the system have little ability to resist unfair and unlawful decisions or receive any compensation for harm suffered.  

Like Robodebt, the “mutual” obligations system causes immense distress and hardship to hundreds of thousands of the poorest people across the continent. The community expects the government to ensure people who need a Centrelink payment can survive and thrive, not spend billions a year on finding ways to cut our payments while lining the pockets of outsourced “employment” services. 

We are relieved that this report can lead to scrutiny of this industry, and hope that the voices of welfare recipients may finally be heard and the suffering to end.  

This is only the tip of the iceberg. 

In response to today’s report, the following organisations are supporting the call to stop Centrelink payment suspensions immediately and end the Targeted Compliance Framework:  

Anglicare Australia  

Australian Council of Social Services  

Disability Advocacy Network Australia  

Economic Justice Australia  

Inclusion Australia  

People with Disability Australia 

Single Mother Families Australia  

Sweltering Cities 

Women with Disabilities Australia