Category: Australian News

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel to Belgium and Germany this week. 

In Brussels, the Deputy Prime Minister will attend the 33rd Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Germany.

The Ukraine Defence Contact Group comprises more than 50 nations and coordinates the delivery of military aid to Ukraine.

The Deputy Prime Minister will then travel to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, the premier foreign affairs and security forum in Europe.

While at the Conference, the Deputy Prime Minister will hold a series of high-level meetings with key partners from NATO and the Indo Pacific. 

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles:

“In an increasingly complex security environment, Australia’s partnership with NATO is more important than ever. 

“Australia and Europe’s interests and strategic challenges are inextricably linked, which is why we must work together to support international rules and principles.

“Australia is unwavering in our support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion. 

“I look forward to meeting counterparts in Brussels and Munich, and welcome productive discussions on how we can work together to face the shared challenges in our regions.”

New Cotality data shows rental affordability is at a record low as rents rise 2.5 times faster than wages, while ABS data today shows investor lending continues to skyrocket to record levels.

• Cotality monthly housing data shows that national rents have risen 2.5 times faster than wages over the past five years, with renters in deep housing stress spending an average of 33.4% of their income on rent. 
• ABS data published today shows that investor lending is up 23.6% over the year.At the same time as the first three months of Labor’s 5% deposit scheme, investors received $43 billion to invest in their housing assets, more than double the amount going to first-home buyers. An unsustainable increase of 31.8% over the year.

The Greens say this is further proof of Labor making the housing crisis worse, with explosive expansion in wealthy property investor spending and more and more renter stress. Labor needs to stop prioritising wealthy property investors over renters and first-home buyers.

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“The ABS data shows the biggest winners of Labor’s 5% deposit scheme are property speculators who rushed into the market, certain that the government’s policy was going to push up property prices and they were right.

“Double the amount of lending has gone to property investors than first-home buyers in the first three months of Labor’s scheme – a frankly unbelievable $43 billion in three months.

“Property investor lending increased by 31.8% over the year, the clearest sign yet that the worst of Australia’s housing crisis is yet to come.

“Renters are footing the bill for a market stacked in favour of investors, while their wages can’t keep up. 

“Australia is in a national housing crisis that is spiralling out of control and renters are being squeezed dry in a landlord-driven market.

“Amid rising cost-of-living pressures, renters are having to fork out more than one-third of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. 

“How is it fair that renters are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis while investors profit from tax incentives such as the capital gains tax discount?

“Across the country, renters are in deep financial strife while governments hand out huge tax perks to property hoarders. Labor must scrap these tax breaks.

“Labor’s policies, such as the changes to the 5% deposit scheme and $181 billion tax breaks for wealthy property investors, are pushing house prices up and up, forcing rents to skyrocket.

“For decades, successive governments have turbocharged house prices and driven up rents, putting billions of dollars in the pockets of property investors, property developers and the banks. 

“Rather than giving billions of tax breaks to wealthy property investors, the government needs to cap rents and invest directly in social and affordable housing, renting it to people who need it at prices they can actually afford.”

The Victorian Greens say that thanks to their amendment that passed last week, Labor now has both the power and the responsibility to force developers to contribute their fair share of public, community and genuinely affordable housing in new activity centres.

The Greens say that with draft maps released today, the real question for renters, young people, and millennials bearing the brunt of the housing crisis is – are we even going to be able to afford them?

The Greens support well-planned density near public transport, but we need to do it properly. That means homes that are genuinely affordable to rent and buy, family-sized apartments, strong environmental and design standards, green space, and the proper services and infrastructure to support growing communities.

Labor accepts political donations from the property industry and in return has given special treatment to property developers, handing them public land, and all the power over what gets built, where it goes and who it’s for.

Last week, the Greens secured a historic amendment to planning laws creating a “head of power” – a new legal mechanism that allows state and local governments to mandate public, community and affordable housing in new developments.

For the first time, there is no excuse for failing to require developers to contribute their fair share.

The Greens are calling on the Allan Government to commit to a mandatory minimum of 50% public, community and genuinely affordable housing requirements across all activity centres before final plans are locked in later this year.

Victorian Greens housing spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“It’s all well and good for Labor to release draft plans today, but the real question renters, young people and everyone being smashed by the cost of housing will be asking is: will we actually be able to afford these homes?

“Developers aren’t thinking about affordability, they’re thinking about profit. The changes we secured to planning laws mean that Labor now not only has the power but the responsibility to force developers to contribute their fair share of public, community and genuinely affordable housing. They have the power now – there’s no excuse not to use it.

“Greater density near public transport and services should be an opportunity to build better communities, with genuinely affordable homes, good design and green space. But Labor is kidding themselves if they think developers will prioritise those things unless they’re forced to.”

The Victorian Greens have warned that the Allan Labor Government should cancel Herzog’s visit to Melbourne. It comes after the Supreme Court granted extraordinary powers to Victoria Police ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit. The Greens say the visit will only heighten tensions and make everyone less safe.

Just two days after scenes of violence and police brutality on peaceful protesters in Sydney, Victoria police have been granted additional powers ahead of his visit tomorrow. 

Greens MPs wrote to Premier Jacinta Allan yesterday calling for Herzog’s visit to be cancelled, citing the United Nations Commission of Inquiry finding that Herzog has incited genocide. The letter warns that his presence in Victoria will escalate community distress and increase the risk of police violence.

Victorian Greens Spokesperson for Justice, Katherine Copsey:

“After what we saw in Sydney, people are rightly concerned about police violence. If the Premier was serious about keeping the community safe, she would cancel Herzog’s visit.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“The Premier could cancel Herzog’s visit, it’s irresponsible and unethical to roll out the welcome mat to someone who has been found to incite genocide.”

The Prime Minister should immediately summon the Laotian Ambassador for a formal explanation following revelations that those responsible for the deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles by ethanol poisoning have only received fines of just AUD$185. 

Australians are rightly shocked. Four other tourists, two Danish women, a US tourist and a British woman, also died in this mass poisoning event.

A year ago we learned the Laos Government was refusing Australian Federal Police assistance in the investigation. A year ago Australians were told by the Albanese Government that the matter was in hand. At the time the Leader made the point on Channel 7’s Sunrise.

We now know there has been no meaningful justice for Holly and Bianca, and their families did not learn of these outcomes from their own government but via the British woman’s family.

Australia makes a significant contribution to Laos through our foreign aid program and other development assistance. 

The Albanese Government should  remind the Laotian Government of the important contributions Australian taxpayers make to key programs in Laos in-line with the friendship between our two countries. 

It is in that same spirit of friendship and cooperation that Australians rightly have an expectation of proper justice and accountability for the deaths of two young Australians.

The Albanese Government must also explain the clear failures of consular support and diplomacy in this instance, and why the families of Holly and Bianca were not kept properly informed of these developments.

Holly and Bianca deserve justice, their families deserve answers and Australia should be using every diplomatic lever at its disposal to secure both.

One small step into space operations means a giant leap in capability for our ADF.

Today I can announce that Australians gravitating towards a career in the ADF can now apply for a job in Defence’s new frontier of space.

Direct-entry recruitment is now open for two new roles, Space Operations Officer and Space Operations Specialist.

These exciting new roles will grow the ADF’s capabilities in space operations, a critical domain as we respond to the most challenging strategic environment since the Second World War.

This marks a significant step in building Australia’s sovereign space workforce. 

The space workforce will progressively be employed across the full spectrum of space mission sets, which include:

• Satellite communications 
• Position, navigation and timing 
• Space domain awareness 
• Missile warning 
• Satellite operations 
• Space control 
• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance 
• Environmental monitoring

Successful applicants will undertake specialist space training at the Defence Space and Cyber School, located at a new dedicated facility, the Florence McKenzie Building at HMAS Harman.

The building’s namesake, Florence McKenzie, was Australia’s first female electrical engineer, and a pioneer of modern signalling and technical military training, laying foundations for many of the technologies relied upon in modern space and cyber operations.

She recognised the importance of cutting-edge technical training for military personnel and played a vital role in boosting the Royal Australian Navy’s signalling capabilities in World War Two.

The purpose-built facility named in her honour provides a range of signals- and cyber-focussed training and simulation courses for units across the ADF including the Army, Joint Operations Command and Joint Capabilities Group.

To learn more about a space career in the ADF, visit www.adfcareers.gov.au

The Australian Government is gravely concerned by the sentences handed down to Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants in Hong Kong today.

Our thoughts are with their family members and supporters at this difficult time.

The prosecution of Mr Lai and his co-defendants has had a chilling effect on free speech in Hong Kong.

We continue to call on China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with UN Human Rights Committee recommendations, and to call for the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Australia has consistently raised human rights concerns directly with the Hong Kong and Chinese governments at the highest levels. We will continue to do so.

Today I announce the appointments of four experienced career officials to lead Australia’s posts in Singapore, Ukraine, Lebanon and Israel.

I am pleased to confirm the following appointments:

• Ms Robyn Mudie as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Singapore
• Mr Geoff Bowan as Australia’s next Ambassador to Ukraine
• Mr Neil Hawkins as Australia’s next Ambassador to Israel
• Mr Tom Wilson as Australia’s next Ambassador to Lebanon

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

Australia’s relationships with our partners will be deepened through these appointments, building our connections abroad and increasing our ability to influence where it matters.

I thank the outgoing High Commissioner and Ambassadors for their important contributions to Australian diplomacy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded a successful visit to Indonesia, further strengthening Australia’s relationship with one of our closest neighbours and friends.

Prime Minister Albanese and the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, signed the historic Australia–Indonesia Treaty on Common Security.

Reflecting the close friendship, partnership and deep trust between Australia and Indonesia, the treaty takes our defence cooperation to a new level.

To further enhance the bilateral security relationship the Prime Minister announced a number of new initiatives, including: 

• Supporting the development of joint defence training facilitates in Indonesia.
• Offering to establish a new embedded position for a senior Indonesian military officer in the Australian Defence Force.
• Building ties between future military leaders through expansion of the Junior Leaders’ Forum Military Education Exchange.

Australia and Indonesia also agreed to strengthen two-way investment through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Government and Indonesian Sovereign Wealth Fund, Danantara.

The agreement will increase cooperation and information sharing and help identify opportunities for increased two-way investment, enhancing our shared economic security and resilience.

It builds on work to deepen Australia’s economic engagement with Indonesia, which is of enormous value to both countries, and is a key part of Australia’s broader effort to diversify our economy, through growing markets in Southeast Asia.

The Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security is available here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Australia and Indonesia share deep trust and an unbreakable bond as neighbours, partners and friends.

“This historic treaty recognises that the best way to secure peace and stability in our region is by working together.

“By strengthening our economic and security engagement with Indonesia, we are working to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous region – that benefits both Australians and Indonesians.

“I thank President Prabowo for inviting me back to Indonesia, and look forward to continuing to work productively together to further enhance our relationship.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“The Jakarta Treaty 2026 takes the Australia-Indonesia relationship to a new level.

“We know our security comes from our relationships and our region, and there is no more important partner for Australia than Indonesia.

“This treaty is about being there for each other in challenging times, and strengthening the foundations of our cooperation.

“It is a sign of the deep trust and close friendship between our nations and our leaders.”

The Australian Government is improving maritime infrastructure in the Pacific with the completion of new and upgraded boat harbours on the Tuvaluan islands of Nui and Niutao.

The improvements were jointly funded with the Asian Development Bank, with Australia investing $21.4 million through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.

This investment reflects Australia’s ongoing commitment to delivering the priorities of the Government of Tuvalu under the landmark Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union.

The upgraded harbours will make it easier to travel between islands, connecting families, ensuring delivery of essential goods and services, and unlocking economic opportunities.

Maritime transport is the lifeline of Tuvalu, connecting nine islands across an exclusive economic zone of nearly 750,000 km2.

The Nui and Niutao boat harbours are built to withstand climate challenges and include integrated adaptation measures that protect against rising seas and extreme weather by keeping communities safe and livelihoods secure during severe weather events.

Safety measures such as 24-hour solar lighting, guard rails and signage make travel safer for everyone, particularly women, people with disability, elderly passengers and children.

For more information, please visit: Tuvalu | The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP)

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“Together with Tuvalu, Australia is delivering crucial climate-resilient infrastructure that connects people, supports livelihoods, and creates economic opportunities for generations to come.

“Australia is a partner our region can count on to listen and act on the priorities of the Pacific family, ensuring our region is more peaceful, stable and prosperous.”

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy:

“The completion of the Nui and Niutao harbours reflect Australia’s commitment to delivering high-quality long-lasting infrastructure for the benefit of all Tuvaluans, as part of the Falepili Union.

“Australia will always listen to the priorities of the Pacific family – and work to deliver resilient and local solutions that make our region stronger.”