Category: Australian News

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 

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.