Category: Australian News

The Albanese Government is securing a continuous pipeline of shipbuilding work in Western Australian and creating thousands of jobs through the execution of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with Australia’s newly established Strategic Shipbuilder, Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia Pty Ltd.

For too long, the Australian shipbuilding industry has lacked the consistent work needed to develop a competitive and reliable shipbuilding capability. This has had a flow-on effect of hindering the development of Australian-made Defence capabilities and resilience in our shipbuilding industry. 

The Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement will provide the framework for a steady pipeline of projects to be delivered by Austal, granted it continues to perform and meet a range of conditions. This arrangement will enable the stability and long-term planning required to accelerate the delivery of sovereign defence capabilities in Western Australia that meet the needs of the Australian Defence Force over the coming decades.

As the Strategic Shipbuilder, Austal will work closely with local industry and supply chains to develop the skills and resources required for this task. 

The Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement builds on the already‑established pilot program between Defence and Austal, and will see the delivery of dozens of vessels, including:

• 18 Landing Craft Medium for the Australian Army, and subject to further approvals and negotiations, the build of eight Landing Craft Heavy.
• Two new Evolved Cape class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy. 

Together, the Landing Craft Medium and Landing Craft Heavy projects are expected to create 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs. 

The Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement will also play a vital role in the establishment of a Commonwealth Defence Precinct at Henderson – underpinning tens of billions of dollars of investment in Defence capabilities in the West over the next two decades and supporting in the order of 10,000 high‑skilled jobs.

As one of two major shipbuilding hubs in Australia, Henderson is an asset of national importance and pivotal to the build and sustainment of vessels for the Australian Defence Force.

The Albanese Government is committed to working with the Cook Labor Government to develop the industry, infrastructure and workforce needed to secure continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“The Albanese Government is delivering on our promise to grow Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment industry – supporting continuous naval shipbuilding and jobs in Western Australia.

“Implementing the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement will not only support the delivery of Army’s littoral manoeuvre capability, it will also contribute to a strong, sovereign industrial base capable of responding to Australia’s evolving needs.

“This is part of our broader investment into the Western Australian economy over the coming decades including at HMAS Stirling and throughout the state’s north.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“The execution of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement will secure continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia, providing generational benefits for local industry, who play a vital role in keeping Australia safe.

“It also supports the Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda, and our commitment to growth within the defence industry, through the delivery of Defence shipbuilding projects on‑shore and boosting our sovereign supply chain.

“The Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement will secure Australia’s place in the changing global environment, will help build a stronger and more resilient shipbuilding industry, and will end the boom-bust cycle.”

The Albanese Government is accelerating the delivery of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet with the selection of the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s future fleet of general purpose frigates. 

Following a rigorous and competitive tender process, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Mogami-class frigate was assessed as best able to quickly meet the capability requirements and strategic needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The upgraded Mogami-class frigate boasts a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, a 32 Cell Vertical Launch System, and is fitted with surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles.

The decision comes months ahead of schedule – reflecting the Albanese Government’s commitment to transforming the ADF into a more integrated, focussed force. 

The Government acknowledges the competitive, high-quality proposal submitted by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and thank them for their commitment and professionalism throughout this procurement process. 

Defence will now proceed with the next stage of the procurement process with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the aim to enter early into binding, commercial contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the government of Japan in 2026.

The Government’s response to the Independent Analysis of Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet outlined that the first three general purpose frigates would be built offshore. This accelerated program will see the first three frigates built in Japan – with the first scheduled to be delivered to Australia in 2029 and operational in 2030. 

That means, under the Albanese Government, the Navy will receive its first new surface combatant five years earlier than planned by the former Coalition government. 

Successful consolidation of the Henderson precinct in Western Australia will enable the remainder of the build to be constructed locally, in line with the Albanese Government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding. 

Over the next two decades, tens of billions of dollars will be invested in defence capabilities in the West, supporting in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled jobs. This forms part of the Albanese Government’s $55 billion investment over the decade for Navy’s surface combatant fleet. 

Australia’s new general purpose frigates will replace the Anzac-class frigates and will be equipped for undersea warfare and air defence.

Alongside the Hunter-class frigates and the upgraded Hobart-class destroyers and advanced missile investments, the general purpose frigates will be an essential part of the Albanese Government’s plan to more than double the size of Navy’s surface combatant fleet.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“This announcement is another example of the Albanese Government’s focus on investing in the capabilities we need now and into the future, to meet Australia’s strategic circumstances.

“The upgraded Mogami-class frigate will help secure our maritime trade routes and our northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal naval surface combatant fleet. 

“The Albanese Government is delivering these commitments at pace, as part of our sustained commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding in the West – driving jobs, investment and infrastructure for decades to come. 

“We thank both Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, as well as the governments of Japan and Germany for their focus and cooperation throughout this procurement process.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“Today, we are taking another step towards delivering a much larger and more lethal Navy, with stealth frigates that will reassure our allies and deter our adversaries.

“The upgraded Mogami‑class frigate is the best option for our Navy, boosting its capability to put to sea. 

“It will take our general purpose frigates from being able to fire 32 air defence missiles to 128 missiles, giving our sailors the cutting‑edge weapons and combat systems they need to prevail in an increasingly complex environment. 

“This decision comes months ahead of schedule, reinforcing our commitment to deliver of capability at speed and at a lower overall cost to taxpayers. It makes good on our commitment to deliver four times as many warships in the next 10 years compared to the plan inherited by the former Coalition government.”

Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina today announced $447,808 in funding for 18 new community infrastructure projects through the NSW Government’s 2025 Community Building Partnership Program (CBP).

The Member for Ballina has assisted more than 100 community organisations and delivered nearly $4 million in grants through this program since being elected in 2015.

Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP said:

“These community based grants supply a much-needed source of funding for grassroots projects and organisations that are so often doing the heavy lifting in terms of providing social supports.”

“We know that this program adds value to the work that community based, not-for-profit organisations do to improve the lives of people and the quality of our natural environment.”

“I congratulate all of the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing the positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes in our community.”

“The next round opens in September, contact my office if you would like more information.”

About the Community Building Partnership Program

The Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 22,400 community projects since it commenced in 2009.

Local not-for-profit community organisations and councils were eligible to apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, with up to $450,000 allocated per electorate.

For more information, visit the Community Building Partnership website: nsw.gov.au/cbp

The full list of successful projects and funding amount in the Ballina electorate for the 2025 round are:

Organisation	Project Title	Funding received
Byron Community Centre Ltd	Kitchen, Laundry and Storage upgrades for Fletcher Street Cottage	$30,732
Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW	Berth for New Rescue Vessel for Marine	$22,000
Ocean Shores Country Club Ltd	Shade cloth replacement and seating	$21,167
One Vision Productions Pty Ltd	Mobile Hub for First Nations Youth	$68,800
Byron Environment Centre Inc	Repair and restoration of boardwalk at Cumbebin Wetlands	$21,555
Queer Family Inc	Community transport for geographically isolated people, as well as young, vulnerable and disabled people to essential programs	$30,000
Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club Ltd	Shade and scoreboard restoration	$17,798
Ballina Masonic Centre Incorporated	Solar battery installation.	$57,968
OzFish Unlimited Limited	Fish habitat restoration trailer	$12,200
BAY FM COMMUNITY RADIO INC	Upgrade of Studio 2	$21,198
Fripp Oval Sports Club Inc	Amenities block refurbishment	$17,600
Alstonville Tennis Club Inc	Accessibility improvement	$19,400
Suffolk Park Tennis Courts	Shade and Seating	$16,984
Brunswick Byron Netball Association Incorporated	PA system	$14,131
NSW RFSA on behalf of Main Arm Rural Fire Brigade	Equipment for new fire station	$19,500
The Corporate Trustees of the Diocese of Grafton	Accessible pathways for the community	$10,000
Bangalow Public School Parents and Citizens Association	Shade sails for the playground area	$30,000
BRUNSWICK HEADS PUBLIC SCHOOL P & C ASSOCIATION	Native edible garden and outdoor kitchen	$16,775

Labor Premier Chris Minns is facing strong internal dissent from fellow Labor MPs as he doubles down on targeting future protests, including across the Harbour Bridge.

Greens justice spokesperson and solicitor Sue Higginson MLC will seek to repeal the Police move-on powers in NSW that are designed to limit protest, as the courts find against the police attempting to prevent peaceful protest.

The NSW Police are facing questions on their choices last week, as they unsuccessfully sought to challenge the March for Humanity and blocked protestors from dispersing safely in North Sydney, unilaterally declaring a last minute end to the protest and causing a choke point with a police blockade.

Labor Ministers Penny Sharpe and Jihad Dib joined several Labor MPs in marching across the Harbour, as Labor MPs Lynda Voltz, Julia Finn, Jo Haylen, Stephen Lawrence, Tony Sheldon, Bob Nanva, Alison Byrnes, Sarah Kaine, Cameron Murphy, Anthony D’Adam, and Ed Husic defied the Premier to join the March along with former Labor Premier Bob Carr.

Greens justice spokesperson and solicitor Sue Higginson MLC said:

“Labor Premier Chris Minns is acting strangely and is not listening. He has lost authority over his own caucus and on matters too significant to ignore”,

“The Premier has come out saying he has no regrets about his fierce opposition to the history-making March for Humanity and is now making clear his opposition to future marches across the Bridge,”

“There are no current plans to march across the Harbour Bridge again, the moment has happened, it was yesterday, and the question now really has to be: where was the Premier? What was more important for the Premier, that he could not attend the March for Humanity? There may be good reasons he did not attend, but the people do deserve to know”,
“The Premier also needs to understand that he has absolutely no legal power to block protests, as the courts have confirmed and nor should he,”

“Chris Minns doesn’t understand how the law and democracy works. He’s seeking to override the will of the people and is influencing the police with his personal opinion and his own ignorance and arrogance. This is not what a Premier should do, it is dangerous,”

“The Premier has spent months trying to shut down peaceful protests for Palestine and recently we saw the violent police assault on Hannah Thomas as she was peacefully gathered at a pro-Palestine protest in Belmore. We know police impunity and their misunderstanding of the excessive powers they wield contributed in part to the police violence. Police spent last week trying to challenge the community in the court, asserting that they had the authority to prevent peaceful protest. The role for police here is actually planning for the safe management of the community dispersing from the Harbour Bridge in North Sydney,”

“Protest in NSW is a critical feature of our democracy, and the State’s response to protest can make the difference between whether it is safe, peaceful and understood. At the moment this is at risk in NSW because the Premier has driven a narrative of intolerance and oppression,”

“It is time to reset the system, that’s why I am moving in Parliament this week to remove police powers to move on peaceful protestors, powers that were first introduced by the Perrottet Coalition Government to target climate protestors and then added to by Minns in his attempt to target pro-palestine protesters,”

The Albanese Government is rebuilding the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – driving the highest recruitment in 15 years, slashing separation rates, and keeping the force strong at over 61,000 full-time personnel. 

Over the last three years, the Albanese Government has focussed on introducing bold and targeted initiatives to address the declining recruitment and retention rates inherited from the former Coalition government, and set Defence up for long-term growth. 

These efforts are delivering results and for the first time in years, the ADF is growing. 

• In 2024-25, the ADF enlisted 7,059 permanent full-time personnel – the highest annual intake since 2009-10 and 17% increase on the previous year. 
• As at 1 July 2025, the permanent and full-time ADF workforce reached 61,189 people – higher than the targeted growth path for 2024-25. 
• More than 75,000 applications to join the ADF were received in 2024-25 – the highest number in five years and 28% year-on-year increase, compared to the same time last year. 
• Importantly, retention has also improved. The ADF-wide separation rate fell to 7.9% – well below the ten-year average and a dramatic turnaround from three-years ago.

The ADF is now well on track to meet the Albanese Government’s target of 69,000 permanent Average Funded Strength by the early 2030s – a key outcome of the 2024 National Defence Strategy and the 2024 Defence Workforce Plan, which provides a credible and budgeted pathway to grow the Defence workforce. 

While there is more work to be done, these results highlight significant progress in attracting and retaining the skilled workforce required to build the future Defence Force. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles: 

“It is essential that Australia has the Defence Force it needs to help protect its strategic interests, and that is why we have made significant investments to support our current Defence workforce and grow it for the future. 

“When the Albanese Government came to office we inherited a personnel crisis. Throughout the near-decade the Coalition was in office, the ADF grew by just 2,000 people. 

“In 2025, the ADF is now growing again for the first time in almost four years. While there is much more work to do, we are confident these positive trends will continue. 

“The Defence Workforce Plan centres our efforts to recruit and retain the highly specialised and skilled workforce required to meet capability needs.” 

Minister for Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh: 

“Thanks to our recruitment and retention initiatives the Australian Defence Force is seeing increased applications, enlistments and more people staying in service than we have in years. 

“It’s fantastic to see more and more Australians signing up for an exciting and fulfilling career in the ADF. 

“These efforts are complemented by our ongoing efforts to retain our personnel in service for longer, with improvements to how Defence personnel and their families are supported at work and at home. 

“A stabilised and strengthened workforce is the foundation that we need to continue to grow, to reskill and transform to have the future workforce required to deliver against the 2024 National Defence Strategy.”

The Albanese Government is today making a further humanitarian contribution in response to the catastrophe in Gaza.

Australia will provide an additional $20 million to support organisations with the scale and capacity to respond quickly to deliver food, medical supplies for field hospitals and other lifesaving support to women and children in Gaza, following the announcement of new humanitarian corridors.

The Australian Government has now committed more than $130 million in humanitarian assistance to help civilians in Gaza and Lebanon since 7 October 2023.

As with all our humanitarian assistance to Gaza, we’re delivering our aid with key partners, including close coordination with the United Kingdom and humanitarian organisations.

The Australian Government’s new package of support includes:

• $2 million for relief support with the UK, through our existing partnership arrangement
• $6 million to the UN World Food Programme for the provision and distribution of food supplies
• $5 million to UNICEF for nutritional support to children at risk of starvation
• $5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet essential needs, including access to healthcare
• $2 million to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, expanding our cooperation with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to provide medical supplies to support the operation of field hospitals in Gaza.

This funding supports the efforts of our international partners in addressing the most urgent need of innocent civilians in Gaza.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong:

“Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice.

“The suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end.

“Australia will continue to work with the international community to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and a two-state solution – the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.”

International Development Minister Dr Anne Aly MP:

“We’re working with partners to deliver immediate and sustained life-saving assistance to the people of Gaza. They must be allowed to do their vital work and deliver aid at scale.

“Australia’s additional funding will bolster international efforts to address urgent needs in Gaza. It will provide urgently needed food and healthcare.

“We continue to call on Israel to allow immediate and unimpeded aid access into Gaza.”

The ACT Greens are alarmed by Labor’s inaction on climate change and nature restoration, saying work in progress when Greens previously held the portfolios have ground to a halt.

Following questioning in Budget Estimates on Friday from the ACT Greens, it was uncovered that the ACT Labor Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water has no vision and is dragging her feet on climate action.

ACT Greens Leader and former Minister for Energy, Water and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury said one thing Labor can do to show they are taking climate action seriously is to progress the next ACT Climate Change Strategy, given the current one ends this year.

“The next strategy should be almost ready to launch but the Labor Minister couldn’t provide any clear update on where it’s up to, or when we might see it,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“There is no excuse. Towards the end of my term as Minister, I instructed the Directorate to prepare options for the development of the new Climate Change Strategy for consideration by the incoming Minister in November 2024.

“It usually takes about 12 months to prepare, consult and then get Cabinet approval for a new strategy. Nine months later and we still can’t get a timeline.

“During the hearings, the Head of ACT Climate Change Council, Arnagretta Hunter, said that Canberra needs to plan for 55 degree days. We know more extreme weather events are coming and that we need to better equip Canberra to remain resilient in the face of these threats.

“At the election Labor promised almost nothing on climate action, but did say there would be ‘no backwards steps’. Clearly they also meant no steps forward.”

ACT Greens Deputy Leader Jo Clay said Labor is going backwards on environmental care, and that the green spaces and key environmental areas that currently make Canberra a great place for people, animals and plants, will further decline without major ongoing investments in nature.

“Environment is clearly at the bottom of ACT Labor’s list of priorities. In the hearings they doubled down saying they won’t boost much-needed funding for environment and nature care delivered by environmental volunteers,” Ms Clay said.

“These are the organisations that maintain Canberra’s green spaces, keep nature thriving across our suburbs and generate a strong sense of community, belonging and mental wellbeing across the ACT.

“Just a few months ago, in their Close to the Edge report, the ACT’s Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment damned the “demonstrably inadequate” environmental funding from ACT Government.

“The report stated ‘It is therefore hard to take the view that biodiversity protection is a genuine priority for the ACT.’

“I had hoped Labor’s new Environment Minister would take the Commissioner’s recommendations seriously, but it’s clear that is not the case.

“The Greens are still driving environmental protection from the crossbench this term, with the Labor Government sitting in the back seat.

“It’s only because of Greens work alongside the community that the ACT will set an urban growth boundary, fund efforts to save the Canberra Earless Dragons from extinction, protect all of Bluetts Block and recognise the environmental, cultural and agricultural values of the Western Edge and Eastern Broadacre areas.”

The ACT Greens have condemned the Federal Labor Government for pushing the critically endangered Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon towards extinction, following news today that the Environment Minister has given the green light for the Canberra Airport Northern Road development to go ahead.

Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Jo Clay said that despite the community’s best efforts, with hundreds of people backing calls to save the critically endangered Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon, Labor has once again chosen the interests of business over people and planet.

“The approval of the Northern Road at Canberra Airport is a blow to the community and sends a message that our Federal Government does not care about nature,” said ACT Greens Deputy Leader Jo Clay.

“The offsets and conditions in this road development approval are an attempt to buy the goodwill of the community in exchange for habitat degradation, the annihilation of one of our local critters and potentially the uplisting of many other species who live in temperate grasslands.

“The reality is there are very few patches of this habitat in Australia. Let’s be clear – the impacts on the dragons and grassland habitat are entirely avoidable, and not compensated for by the conditions attached to the development.

“We call on the ACT Labor Government to use all compensation funding from the road development to protect remaining natural temperate grassland habitat – otherwise there will be nowhere left in the wild to reintroduce dragons from the breeding program.

“Hundreds of Canberrans wrote to the current Environment Minister, the former Environment Minister and all Independent and Labor Parliamentarians for the ACT, urging them to help save the dragons and stop the road. For the few that actually responded, they insisted they care about the environment.

“But actions speak louder than words – and it’s not a one off, it’s a trend. The Federal Labor Government has time and time again sided with corporations over the very people and planet they were elected to stand up for.

“In the three months since the election – and despite Labor claiming Australia voted for climate action and protecting the environment – they’ve approved the climate-wrecking extension of the dirty gas North West Shelf facility to 2070 and are now pushing the Earless Dragon towards extinction.

“Our national environmental laws have been failing for years – Labor threw in the towel last term to reform our systems and genuinely put people and the planet ahead of vested interests.

“Now we’ve seen the Canberra Earless Dragon added to their failures of no new extinctions, right behind Tassie’s Maugean Skate casualty thanks to Labor backing the dirty salmon industry.

“The ACT Greens are calling on the Federal Government to fix broken environmental laws before we see more native animals lost to Labor constantly choosing business over people and nature.”

BACKGROUND:

• The Northern Road Development was granted approval in 2009 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, subject to varied conditions. These conditions were set without any consultation with the ACT Government. A Grassland Earless Dragon Recovery Team was responsible for implementing a Recovery Plan at that time. They advised the road would have minimal impact on the population if it went around the core habitat area.
• In 2023 the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon was uplisted to ‘critically endangered’ – the last stop before extinction. The former ACT Greens Environment Minister and community secured a commitment from Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider protections for the earless dragon before this road progresses.
• The ACT Government 2024-25 budget included funding for emergency response measures to rescue the Canberra Earless Dragon from extinction.
• Construction was first reported by the media on Monday 24 February 2025. In these articles, Canberra Airport Group are reported to have agreed to pause a section of road construction that bisects the largest area of intact grassland habitat.
• Following news coverage, the ACT Greens contacted both Minister Plibersek’s office and the Canberra Airport Group on 25 February 2025. This was followed up with a formal letter to Minister Plibersek on Wednesday 5 March 2025. To date, there has been no response.
• The ACT Greens formally wrote to the ACT Chief Minister and ACT Environment Minister on Sunday 2 March 2025 seeking urgent action to elevate the issue with their Federal counterparts and ensure the Canberra Airport Road does not make a species extinct.
• The Australian Greens wrote to Minister Plibersek on Thursday 6 March 2025 calling for the Minister to intervene and revoke the road development.
• The ACT Greens were alerted on Thursday 13 March 2025 that construction has recommenced on the road. Ms Clay visited the site and confirmed construction vehicles operating on Friday 14 March 2025.
• The ACT Greens met with the Canberra Airport Group on Thursday 1 May to hear their plans for the road, its purpose and review their environmental studies on site. Following the Greens meeting, the Canberra Airport Group also met with local ecologists.
• The 2025-26 ACT Budget invested $4.5m into breeding programs for the Canberra Earless Dragon and temperate grassland habitat restoration.
• On 22 May the ACT Greens wrote to the new Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt expressing the community’s grave concerns about the proposed development of the Northern Road at the Canberra Airport precinct and urged him to uphold his government’s commitment of no new extinctions and ensure no further work is undertaken on the site until there is evidence showing the proposed mitigation measures work. A response was received on Tuesday 29 July.
• The approval decision is dated Wednesday 30 July and was uploaded to the EPBC Act Public Portal on Friday 1 August.

The Australian Greens welcome the ACTU’s calls to urgently address the unfair tax breaks that benefit property investors, as well as their call for a 25 percent levy on coal and gas exports at Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Economic Roundtable.

The Greens’ have taken policies for changes to the CGT discount and negative gearing to successive elections. In 2025 the Greens’ policy to wind back these generous tax concessions to property investors which supercharge house prices was announced at the National Press Club in April.

Under the Greens 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.

The Greens also welcome the ACTU’s demand for a 25 percent tax on coal and gas export revenue. As former Treasury head Ken Henry has argued, fossil fuel exporters reap vast profits while paying minimal tax here and sending those profits offshore.

Greens Leader and spokesperson on Climate and Energy, Larissa Waters:

“People and nature should be the beneficiaries of the economic roundtable, and the mega profits of big companies should be in the government’s sights.

“We can’t fix the housing crisis unless we scrap massive tax discounts that give property investors a leg up while locking first homebuyers out of the market.

“It’s absolutely imperative that changes to negative gearing and CGT concessions are on the Economic Roundtable agenda. Young Australians shouldn’t be locked out of home ownership while a small cohort of investors get an unfair tax advantage.

“The cost of climate change shouldn’t be left to ordinary Australians. Fossil fuel exporters are mainly foreign companies that pay little to no tax and send their profits offshore along with our gas or coal. 

“It’s time these big polluters paid their fair share, including for the damage they are causing to ordinary Australians whose cost of living and livelihoods are being exacerbated by climate change.

“A 25 percent levy on fossil fuel exporters should be on the summit and the government’s agenda. 

“Nurses, teachers and community workers already pay more tax than oil and gas companies. That simply isn’t fair, especially when those industries’ emissions are driving more extreme weather events that we all suffer through.

“Australia urgently needs comprehensive economic reform that tackles both the housing crisis and the climate crisis. 

“The Greens would be happy to see reforms in all of these areas come to the senate and to work with Labor to pass them.”

Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens housing spokesperson:

“If the Government genuinely wants to fix the housing crisis, scrapping tax breaks for wealthy property investors – such as the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing – is an essential and long overdue reform.

“Let’s be clear – this is a tax break for wealthy property investors, a tax break which comes at a cost to first home buyers and owner occupiers. This is also a tax break that increases levels of homelessness, which have increased by 10 percent under this government since it was elected in 2022.

“Massive tax breaks for wealthy property investors are cooking our housing system. Instead of everyone having a roof over their head, houses have become an investment asset class – which fuels intergenerational inequality.

“Instead of funding tax breaks for rich property investors, this government could be redirecting funds to building more public and affordable housing.

“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.”

Six reserves and parks along the inner Sydney Harbour have been added to the NSW State Heritage Register, recognising their unique cultural, environmental, and industrial histories while safeguarding Sydney Harbour’s natural beauty for generations to come. 

Nestled across one of the most stunning harbours in the world, the ‘green necklace’ is a series of iconic cultural landscapes around the headlands and water planes that connect the northern and southern shores.  

The Green Necklace is formed by:  

• Badangi Reserve, encompassing Berrys Island Reserve and Wollstonecraft Foreshore Reserve
• Ballast Point Park, an acclaimed park in Birchgrove built on a former Caltex Oil site
• Balls Head Reserve in Waverton, a rare surviving natural headland that was dedicated as a public reserve following an environmental campaign in the 1920s and 30s
• Berrys Bay (Carradah Park) in Waverton, the former site of a BP refinery
• Yurulbin Park and Foreshore in Birchgrove, an early example of the successful transformation of industrial land to public use, recapturing the qualities of an Indigenous landscape. It was the site of the launch of the Australian government’s Local Government Reconciliation Program in 1994.

These landscapes represent the ever-evolving nature of land and water use on Sydney Harbour, showcasing the change from undisturbed bush to industrial use to green space preservation.  

Each park and reserve has its own story that has been shaped by thousands of years of Aboriginal connection and more recent layers of industrial, artistic and community history. They reflect how people have interacted with, altered, and valued the land over time.   

Listing these landscapes means their heritage value will be safeguarded into the future, in a context where Sydney’s built environment is fast growing. The listing is a shift away from traditional listings such as physical buildings and instead recognises the importance of a cultural landscapes and the environment in NSW’s rich history.  

The ‘green necklace’ was coined in a 2018 cultural landscape study by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW. The listing follows extensive consultation with local councils, heritage experts, and community groups.  

Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe said: 

“These parklands really are the jewels in the Sydney Harbour crown and their inclusion on the State Heritage Register ensures their stories, fabric and significance are preserved for future generations.  

“They are not only green spaces but living archives of Sydney’s cultural and industrial evolution, and a reminder of the rich and enduring Aboriginal history we are surrounded by. 

“I want to acknowledge the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects for starting this listing process many years ago, and congratulate them on the wonderful outcome of their work and advocacy.” 

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said:  

“The addition of Ballast Point and Yurulbin Park to the State Heritage Register marks the final transformation of these former industrial sites to some of the world’s most beautiful harbourside parks.  

“The advocacy of many people including Tom Uren and Paul Keating is what has led to this magnificent outcome.” 

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW President, David Moir said: 

“AILA commends the Minister for her foresight in protecting these critically important landscapes.  These iconic landscape elements, integral to the internationally significant Sydney Harbour setting, are foundational to the city’s identity as a global destination. 

“Through visionary landscape planning and design, once-derelict industrial sites have been transformed into inclusive public spaces where communities can connect with nature in an increasingly urbanised environment.

“Their inclusion on the State Heritage Register and the commitment to their ongoing conservation reflect enduring community values and a deep respect for our shared landscape legacy.”