Category: Australian News

The ACT Greens are calling for two months of free public transport in Canberra during this extraordinary fuel crisis following similar moves by the Tasmanian and Victorian governments.

“Canberrans are at a loss with the rapid increase in the costs of fuel and questions over whether fuel will even be available at the pump,” said Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Transport.

“Free public transport will reduce fuel demand and save thousands of dollars for those who are struggling to put food on the table,” said Mr Braddock.

“In the middle of a fuel crisis, it’s the least the government can do.”

Last week, ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals teamed up to vote against free public transport funded by a 25% tax on gas exports.

“This was a sensible, climate conscious solution which would’ve brought immediate relief to all Canberrans. Instead, the major parties ganged up to vote this down, putting the needs of Canberrans firmly behind their own.

“It’s time for the ACT Government to rise to this moment and join the growing number of states around Australia making public transport free during the fuel crisis.”

“In uncertain times like these, ACT Labor shouldn’t be looking out for their mates in the fossil fuel industry. They should be empathising with Canberrans and working to ease their cost-of-living pressures.

“If we can afford fare-free Fridays, we can afford two months of free travel during this fuel crisis.

“Public transport in the ACT has been under-done for decades. It needs a significant amount of investment, and a commitment from the Government to get the network moving.

“We can start that here and now with free public transport for the period of the crisis, and permanently for students, seniors and other concession-holders who need ongoing cost of living relief.

“The Commonwealth should also be chipping in. If they can drag the chain on renewable energy, while signing us up to an illegal war in Iran, they can help pay for the consequences faced by Australians.”

The Australian Greens push to tax gas exports at least 25% is gaining momentum, with a newly won Select Committee to look at taxing Australia’s oil and gas, setting the ground for changes in the May budget.

The Select Committee will be chaired by Greens spokesperson for resources, Senator Steph Hodgins-May, who will seek to dismantle the gas industry’s excuses for not paying billions in taxes despite soaring windfall profits. .

At a time of instability and rising pressure on Australia’s energy security, the inquiry will examine how fairer taxation of gas exports could deliver billions in public revenue to ease the cost of living and reduce reliance on imported fuels.

Recent polling shows strong and growing support across the political spectrum for making gas corporations pay more for selling Australia’s resources.

Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters:

“Gas corporations are ripping us all off and paying virtually no tax. While people are struggling to pay bills and seeing the cost of living go through the roof, gas corporations shouldn’t get a free ride.

“For years rich gas corporations have got most of their gas for free, shipped it overseas for maximum profit, and now they’re making eyewatering profits off the back of the war.

“The free ride is over. People are fed up with gas industry greed and Labor’s refusal to tax gas corporations to fund cost of living support. This is money that should be helping people pay the bills and have what they need to live a good life.

“This Inquiry will put the rich tax-dodging gas corporations under the microscope, dismantle their excuses for paying no tax, and build momentum for fairer tax in the upcoming budget.”

Senator Steph Hodgins-May:

“This inquiry into a gas tax comes at a crunch moment. The gas cartel is poised to cash in on global conflict while Australians are being smashed with rising bills at home.

“A 25 per cent tax on gas exports could raise $17 billion a year. Money that could slash power bills, fund free public transport, and fast-track electrification so we can end our dependence on gas for good.

“This Inquiry will interrogate the outdated talking points of gas corporations, expose how they avoid paying their fair share of tax, and recommend how we get to a tax system that benefits Australians, not greedy gas corporations.”

“It is a moment of reckoning for Labor. Will they stand up to vested interests and make gas corporations pay or will they let them continue to write the rules?

The Prime Minister convened a virtual National Cabinet meeting today to discuss Australia’s national, coordinated response to support our fuel security and supply chain resilience in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

First Ministers acknowledged the conflict is contributing to heightened volatility in global energy markets, with flow-on impacts for domestic supply chains and prices. Leaders noted the situation remains dynamic and evolving, underscoring the importance of governments being well-prepared for a range of potential scenarios.

While Australia is in a secure position currently, it’s the responsibility of all governments to plan ahead for every scenario. First Ministers today agreed to the National Fuel Security Plan to coordinate a consistent response across the Commonwealth, states and territories.

The plan outlines how governments will work together to keep Australia open and the economy moving. First Ministers noted that early voluntary action, coupled with new supply measures, can defer or mitigate the need for stronger measures.

Every Australian can play a part to make sure fuel continues to get to those who need it the most. Our collective approach is guided by four levels of action.

Today the National Cabinet is announcing Australia is currently at level “Keeping Australia moving”, having transitioned through “Plan and Prepare”.

The four stages are as follows: 

1. Plan and prepare 
2. Keeping Australia moving 
3. Taking targeted action
4. Protecting critical services for all Australians

The plan outlines the indicative settings at each level, with roles and responsibilities allocated across governments and industry partners.

Minister Bowen provided an update on Australia’s supply outlook. The Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator, Anthea Harris, provided an update on the progress of the Fuel Supply Taskforce. Leaders noted the newly formed Fuel Supply Coordinators group has met twice and will continue to meet twice weekly. Leaders agreed the Fuel Supply Coordinators will be critical to ensure alignment of effort across all levels of government, especially for cross-border considerations.

Leaders reinforced their commitment to securing fuel supply for Australian industry and households, while also shielding Australians from higher prices. Leaders acknowledged the longer the conflict in the Middle East goes on, the more significant the impact will be for global supply chains, fuel prices, and the wider economy.

The National Cabinet will continue to assess whether higher levels of action are needed and will plan accordingly. Any shift in level will be signalled by the National Cabinet, including through consultation with relevant industries and sectors, to ensure additional measures are well-designed and work efficiently.

First Ministers concluded by noting that as their governments work through the immediate challenges, they must all build fuel and energy resilience to shield the Australian community and industry from future global shocks. At the heart of this is unlocking affordable and sovereign energy to underpin Australian industry, lower power prices, and maintain Australia’s status as a trusted and reliable energy exporter.

This media statement has been agreed by First Ministers and serves as a record of meeting outcomes.

Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister 

Chris Minns MP
Premier of NSW

Jacinta Allan MP
Premier of Victoria

David Crisafulli MP
Premier of Queensland

Roger Cook MLA
Premier of Western Australia

Peter Malinauskas MP
Premier of South Australia 

Jeremy Rockliff MP
Premier of Tasmania

Andrew Barr MLA
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory

Lia Finocchiaro MLA
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory

Following a meeting of the National Cabinet today convened by the Prime Minister, the Australian Government will halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months.

The halving of the fuel excise will reduce the cost of fuel by 26.3 cents per litre.

This will reduce the cost of a 65L tank of fuel by nearly $19.

The spike in fuel prices as a result of the war in the Middle East is hurting Australians and causing financial stress. This will help to provide some relief.

The halving of the fuel excise will commence from April 1 and run to 30 June.

Further, the Albanese Government will reduce the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to zero for three months to help truckies continue their vital work for our nation. The Government will also defer the next scheduled increase in the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge by six months.

Australians are encouraged to use public transport wherever possible to help conserve fuel for the regions, and we welcome existing moves to cut the costs of public transport.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will continue to monitor fuel prices to help ensure that the lower excise rate is fully passed on at the bowser.

While Australia’s fuel supply outlook remains secure in the near term because of the actions the Albanese Government has taken, the longer this war goes the worse the impacts will be.

We are acting now to prepare and shield Australians.

Since the conflict commenced four weeks ago the Albanese Government has taken swift action on fuel. We have: 

• Passed new laws to double penalties for petrol companies for price gouging
• Appointed a national Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator and Taskforce
• Released 20 per cent of Australia’s petrol and diesel fuel reserves, targeted at regional areas
• Changed fuel standards to get more fuel flowing
• Changed diesel standards so Australia’s refineries can supply more diesel
• Tasked the ACCC to ramp up fuel price monitoring and issue on-the-spot fines.
• Engaged with international partners to keep supply flowing, including securing a supply agreement with Singapore.
• Introduced laws to make sure companies pay truckies fairly when fuel prices spike
• And introduced legislation to underwrite the purchase of fuel by the private sector.

Today National Leaders also agreed and released a National Fuel Security Plan.

The Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister Bowen continue to engage key international counterparts to help ensure the continued flow of fuel and diesel shipments to Australia from our trade partners. We will continue to keep Australians updated on these discussions and developments.

The Australian Government will be announcing more measures to prepare the nation for supply chain challenges over coming days and weeks.

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to deliver capabilities to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at pace with the first batch of Australian‑built Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) already rolling off the assembly line.

The first seven Boxers built at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s facility at Redbank in Queensland have now been completed, marking a major milestone for our sovereign defence industry. A total of 211 Boxers will be built for the ADF under the partnership with Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) that is boosting domestic supply chains and creating high-skilled jobs nationwide. This includes the 25 Boxer CRVs built in Germany and already in service with the Australian Army.

The partnership with RDA also underscores growing defence industry collaboration between Australia and Germany to deliver critical capabilities for both of our militaries. More than 50 Australian companies have been contracted to support RDA in delivering the new fleet of Boxers, providing work for more than 500 people around the country. 

In addition to these Boxers, RDA will also produce more than 100 Australian‑made Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles for the German Army, in a contract worth more than $1 billion to the Australian economy. 

The Boxer is one of the world’s most advanced armoured vehicles – designed to keep soldiers safe in the toughest conditions. The new vehicles will provide superior protection, firepower and mobility, supporting new long-range strike capabilities that are protected and enabled by a credible, amphibious-capable combined arms land system. 

Boxer CRV variants include reconnaissance, command and control, joint fires and surveillance, repair, and recovery. The reconnaissance variant features a turret fitted with a 30mm automatic cannon and an anti‑tank guided missile system.

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“This announcement reflects the Albanese Government’s commitment to a future made in Australia that is providing superior protection and firepower to our ADF personnel but also supporting industry and creating jobs around the country.

“We proudly welcome the first seven Australian-built Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles, a world-class capability forged with Australian expertise and Australian steel to protect our soldiers on operations.

“Rheinmetall Defence Australia, their industry partners and a highly skilled Aussie workforce have partnered to deliver this home-grown capability for our ADF. But this partnership with Rheinmetall also shows how closely Germany and Australia are working together on critical military capabilities.”

The Albanese Government has taken a major step toward establishing domestic manufacturing of priority components for anti-ship cruise missiles, delivering another important boost to the nation’s guided weapons capability.

Today, the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP and German Minister for Defence, Mr Boris Pistorius observed the signing of a Letter of Intent between Defence and German warhead manufacturer TDW. 

The Letter of Intent establishes Defence and TDW’s shared ambition to strengthen guided weapons manufacturing in Australia. Defence and TDW will explore options for the manufacture and maintenance of warheads for the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile in Australia, creating opportunities for local Australian businesses to enter the global supply chain. 

The Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile are modern anti-ship cruise missiles that can be deployed against highly capable enemy warships or land-based targets. 

This activity supports the Albanese Government’s investment of up to $850 million to establish local manufacture and maintenance of both missiles at a new world-class facility near Newcastle, in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia. This investment includes up to $137 million dedicated to establishing domestic manufacturing of priority missile components, including warheads.

It is also part of the Albanese Government’s commitment of $16-21 billion over the decade to accelerate the establishment of a sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise.                               

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“This Letter of Intent with TDW marks a major step forward in building a Defence Future Made in Australia that will strengthen the Australian Defence Force, grow our resilience and support our partner nations through exports. 

“It advances the Government’s commitment to establish Australia as a leading Indo-Pacific hub for cutting-edge missile manufacturing, placing local businesses at the forefront to enter global supply chains. 

“This demonstrates how we are working hand-in-hand with proven international partners to strengthen Australia’s sovereign manufacturing of guided weapons and explosive ordnance.”

Today I announce the appointments of three experienced career officials to lead Australia’s diplomatic posts in Ho Chi Minh, Kolkata and Guangzhou.

I am pleased to confirm the following appointments:

• Ms Kate Wallace as Australia’s next Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City
• Mr Bernard Lynch as Australia’s next Consul-General in Kolkata
• Ms Maree Ringland as Australia’s next Consul-General in Guangzhou.

Australia’s diplomatic network enables us to promote our interests in peace, security, trade, investment and other areas of cooperation.

As we work to shape a future for the better, our diplomatic corps are fundamental to strengthening relationships and building resilience in an ever less stable world.

I thank the outgoing Consuls-General for their important contributions to advancing Australia’s interests across their respective tenures.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission has launched a formal inquiry into the NACC’s performance of its functions, examining how effectively Australia’s key anti-corruption body is operating. This follows significant community concern that the NACC is failing to deliver on community expectations and has been mired in scandals about conflict of interest management. 

Submissions from the public and stakeholders are open until 29 May 2026, with the Committee due to report by 26 October 2026. The inquiry page is here.

Senator Shoebridge, Greens Justice Spokesperson and member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the NACC David Shoebridge: 

“Australians have been watching the NACC operate in the shadows for years and with this inquiry it’s time to drag this body into the light.”

“NACC has no public hearings, no regular updates and zero cooperation with whistleblowers and complainants. That is a recipe for destroying public trust, not fighting corruption. 

“As one of the many people who have lodged complaints with the NACC I know how people feel when they report serious corruption concerns and are met with total silence for months ticking over to years. 

“I hope that with this inquiry the public can get a voice to tell us directly their thoughts on the processes and functions of the NACC and how to fix it. For too long this entire conversation has been captured by the Labor and Liberal parties who are so conflicted. 

“What I repeatedly hear from the public is that they think the NACC is a joke, a hamstrung and secret tribunal that is fundamentally failing to root out federal corruption. 

“This inquiry has been called while the Inspector is undertaking a separate and independent investigation into concerns about the NACC Commissioner’s actual or perceived conflicts of interest. To respect that independence it is right that this inquiry does not cover that same ground.

“The test of this inquiry is simple: will it produce a pathway to a NACC that the public can actually see doing its job? To do that it will have to give a pathway for serious reform so that whistleblowers are respected, the cloak of secrecy is pulled back and people can see how corruption is being tackled,” Senator Shoebridge said.

After months of delay and failure of the Government to act on a Digital Duty of Care, the Greens will introduce new laws to keep all users safe online. The “Fix our Feeds” bill will be introduced into the Senate next week. 

Greens spokesperson for communications, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young: 

“This verdict confirms what we’ve known for years: social media platforms are deliberately designed to keep people hooked, just like cigarettes or pokie machines. 

“These multi-billion dollar companies are making massive profits off a product that is deliberately designed to be addictive, even when it’s harmful. 

“Big tech is the new big tobacco – an industry that makes its profits off selling addictive, toxic and harmful products.

“Despite promising 18 months ago to implement a Digital Duty of Care – a law that requires social media companies not to cause harm to their users – the Government has done nothing and is still sitting on its hands.

“Toxic algorithms flood our social media feeds day after day. It’s time to give Australians the power to control what we see in our feeds. Every user should have the freedom to choose what type of content they want to see and to opt out of toxic algorithms. 

“Right now, big tech giants are allowed to set their own rules. There is no requirement forcing these companies to make their platforms safe to use, even when they know they are doing harm.  

“A Digital Duty of Care would force big tech giants to prevent harm before it happens – not just apologise after the damage is done.

“The Greens will introduce new laws that will help keep everyone safe online because the Government has refused to act.  

“The Greens Fix our Feeds Bill will allow users to opt in or out of predatory algorithms, giving them a safer online experience. 

“Social media apps shouldn’t be able to rig their algorithms to force dangerous content on users for the sake of making mega profits.”

Minns Labor attacks Aboriginal land claims by stealth through Crown lands bill
The Minns Labor Government has introduced the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 and then tabled the statutory review report two days later, in a highly flawed process that appears designed to avoid proper scrutiny of major changes affecting Aboriginal land claims inside what is being presented as routine legislative reform.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council has publicly warned that the bill would hollow out Aboriginal land rights, and a statewide conference of Local Aboriginal Land Councils is descending on NSW Parliament this morning to oppose it.

Greens MP, spokesperson for the environment and Solicitor Sue Higginson said:

“This bill has sparked major opposition because people can see exactly what it is, an attempt to make serious changes to Crown lands law, including changes that impact Aboriginal land claims, through a process designed to avoid proper scrutiny,”

“The High Court made it clear that the State cannot defeat an Aboriginal land claim by pointing to a lease on paper where the land was not actually being used when the claim was made. This bill is designed to get around that decision by letting the Minister retrospectively change the use of Crown land after the fact, to defeat a claim that was valid when it was lodged. This is an injustice in the making and an attempt to avoid the return of crown lands subject to Aboriginal land claims,”

“The Government introduced the bill first and only tabled the statutory review report two days later. That is a highly flawed process in any circumstance, but it is especially unacceptable where the bill affects the already narrow and hard-fought framework for Aboriginal land rights,”

“The NSW Aboriginal Land Council is unequivocal in their opposition, and today a statewide conference of Land Councils has come to Parliament to make that opposition visible. When First Nations communities across NSW are forced to mobilise like this, the Government should understand it has lost any claim to having handled this issue in good faith,”

“ The Law Society of NSW has come out this morning clearly opposed to the Government attempting such a radical and unfair reform by stealth. When both the peak legal body and the peak Aboriginal land rights body are raising alarm, the Government cannot pretend this is ordinary or non-controversial reform,”

“If Labor wants to make major changes to Aboriginal land claims, it should do so openly, directly, and in consultation with the people whose rights are affected. It should not hide behind the language of a statutory review while trying to push through changes that many people in the Parliament, and I suspect many people in the Labor caucus, do not yet fully understand,”

“The Greens will scrutinise every provision of this bill and oppose any measure that weakens Aboriginal land rights, narrows access to land justice, or shifts more power back into the hands of the State over land that was never ceded,” Ms Higginson said.