Category: Australian News

The Greens have committed to nominating the Takayna/Tarkine for World Heritage listing and declaring it a new National Park, delivering long-overdue protection for one of the most precious and irreplaceable landscapes on earth.

“It is time to finally protect this globally significant place for future generations,” Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.

“Takayna is a living link to deep time. It holds stories from the age of Gondwana and 60,000 years of continuous Aboriginal connection to country.”

“Instead of being destroyed for short-term profit, Takayna deserves to be celebrated, protected and restored as a cultural and ecological treasure.”

The Greens will:

• Nominate Takayna/Tarkine for World Heritage listing through a boundary extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
• Declare it a National Park under Tasmanian law to provide strong protections and formal identity
• Invest $9 million to support the nomination process and establishment of the new park

“Takayna/Tarkine contains Australia’s largest remaining temperate rainforest and over 60 threatened species.”

“It’s home to ancient rock carvings, vast shell middens, and rare ecosystems that are among the last of their kind anywhere in the world.”

“World Heritage listing is about preserving nature as well as recognising country, culture and connection.”

“For decades, scientists, Traditional Owners and local communities have called for this. The old parties have ignored them. The Greens will act.”

“This is about pride in our place. It’s about building a future where Tasmania is known not for what we’ve destroyed, but for what we’ve protected.”

The Greens have committed to nominating the Takayna/Tarkine for World Heritage listing and declaring it a new National Park, delivering long-overdue protection for one of the most precious and irreplaceable landscapes on earth.

“It is time to finally protect this globally significant place for future generations,” Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.

“Takayna is a living link to deep time. It holds stories from the age of Gondwana and 60,000 years of continuous Aboriginal connection to country.”

“Instead of being destroyed for short-term profit, Takayna deserves to be celebrated, protected and restored as a cultural and ecological treasure.”

The Greens will:

• Nominate Takayna/Tarkine for World Heritage listing through a boundary extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
• Declare it a National Park under Tasmanian law to provide strong protections and formal identity
• Invest $9 million to support the nomination process and establishment of the new park

“Takayna/Tarkine contains Australia’s largest remaining temperate rainforest and over 60 threatened species.”

“It’s home to ancient rock carvings, vast shell middens, and rare ecosystems that are among the last of their kind anywhere in the world.”

“World Heritage listing is about preserving nature as well as recognising country, culture and connection.”

“For decades, scientists, Traditional Owners and local communities have called for this. The old parties have ignored them. The Greens will act.”

“This is about pride in our place. It’s about building a future where Tasmania is known not for what we’ve destroyed, but for what we’ve protected.”

Labor’s promise to cut $6.4 billion in spending by reducing consultants’ contracts and outsourced service delivery is meaningless unless the Government commits to firm targets to cut spending across all departments and agencies, according to Greens spokesperson on Finance and the Public Sector, Senator Barbara Pocock.

While Labor claims to have already made savings of around $5 billion on external contracts, spending on consultants had only come down by $40 million in 2024 with the bulk of those savings coming from a reduction in external labour hire contracts.

Lines attributable to Senator Barbara Pocock:

“In the wake of the PwC scandal, Labor has convinced everyone that their crackdown on contracts with the Big 4 consulting firms has led to reduced spending on consultants, but it hasn’t. During their first year in office consulting contracts were cut by almost $100 million but in 2023-24 Labor’s total spend on consultants rose to just over $643 million, roughly $40 million less than the Morrison Government spent in 2021-22.

“All this talk about getting rid of consultants from the public service is just a smoke screen for business as usual. There has been a reduction in contracts going to the Big 4, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte and EY, but instead of bringing that work back into the public service, the Government has simply outsourced nearly all of it to smaller consulting firms.

“The Greens have argued relentlessly since the PwC scandal came to light that core government work should be done by public servants and while Labor has made bold statements about doing that, they have failed to make any real progress.

“I made some very clear recommendations following the two Parliamentary inquiries into the Government’s use of consultants, advocating targets for a phased reduction in spending on consultants across all departments and agencies. Why won’t Labor commit to the Greens policy of reducing spending on external consultants by 15% each year over five years?

“Leaving it up to each agency to set its own targets does not guarantee real immediate action. Government departments have become so reliant on the consulting industry that only mandated targets to reduce outsourcing will get the results needed to bring core work back into the public service. Peter Dutton’s promise to cut 41,000 jobs from the APS will inevitably lead to a consultants feast in a return to worst excesses of the Morrison era.

“Both major parties need to commit to building a strong public service with the capability to deliver the level and quality of service that Australians expect and deserve, without feathering the nests of private interests who routinely fail to provide value for money, are often riddled with conflicts of interest and who remain unaccountable to the ordinary Australians who pick up the tab for their over-priced services.”

The Greens have committed to pushing for $20 million in the next Parliament to establish a multipurpose Hazara Community & Cultural Centre in Melbourne’s southeast. 

The Hazara community in Australia is one of the largest in the world, outside of Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the majority living in Melbourne. Many in the Hazara community are new Australians, arriving in recent years, often fleeing the brutality of the Taliban, who are currently repressing and persecuting Hazara culture and community. 

Following the generational long war in Afghanistan, Australia has a moral obligation to support the people of this country. As the Australia-Hazara community rebuilds and adds so much to Australia’s proud multicultural society, there is a need to support the community to ensure they continue to thrive.

The Hazara Community & Cultural Centre proposal aims to address longstanding gaps in community infrastructure, trauma-informed support, culturally inclusive spaces, and employment pathways. 

The Greens are proud to support the Hazara diaspora, and we want to ensure they are provided places to celebrate their culture, connect and share with their community.

The Greens have announced a plan to transition the industrial fish farming industry to land-based operations starting with an immediate exit from Macquarie Harbour to save the critically endangered Maugean skate.

“For too long, the salmon corporations have treated Tasmania’s oceans like a dumping ground, and the old parties have let them get away with it,” Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.

“Labor and the Liberals have worked hand-in-hand with big salmon corporations to weaken environment laws, and trash Tassie’s coastline. The Greens will stand up to them.”

The Greens’ plan will immediately remove fish farms from Macquarie Harbour and begin the transition of the entire industry onshore and into clean, sustainable operations that don’t pollute the environment or threaten species with extinction.

The plan would invest $50 million of Commonwealth funding for:

• Marine environmental remediation to clean up the mess the salmon corporations have caused
• Rigorous independent monitoring of salmon farms to ensure compliance with animal cruelty and environmental standards
• A jobs transition package for Macquarie Harbour fish farm workers

Importantly, the industry would receive no Commonwealth funding for the transition.

“Salmon multinationals have for decades made obscene profits based on animal cruelty and environmental harm. The Greens would force them to pay for their own transition.”

“The Greens will act on the science, protecting the environment, and backing communities instead of toxic salmon farming corporations.”

“Only the Greens will take on the powerful salmon industry and deliver a future where our marine life, our workers and our communities all have a fair go.

The Australian Greens Victoria have referred behaviour by volunteers for the Liberal and Libertarian parties to the Victorian Police following a series of incidents at early voting centres.

Police were deployed to the early voting centre in Melton yesterday after incidents involving sexual and racial harassment of Greens volunteers, and have been contacted regarding a second early voting centre in Croydon following a number of threats of violence and intimidating behaviour towards Greens volunteers and Candidate for Deakin, Amy Mills.

Incidents at early voting centres have been individually raised with the Australian Electoral Commission, and with the Liberal Party and relevant candidates prior to contact with police.
 

Spokesperson from the Victorian Greens:

“We’ve received reports of intimidating and aggressive behaviour, physical threats of violence and both sexual and racial harassment targeted towards Greens volunteers and candidates. 

“No one should be confronted with intimidating or aggressive behaviour when volunteering on election day or trying to vote. Aggressive and intimidating behaviour at polling booths is undemocratic and should not be tolerated by any party. The Liberals should have volunteers removed as soon as these serious reports are made.

“Threats of violence towards candidates or volunteers are unacceptable and individual matters have been referred to the police.”

The Greens have today announced a plan to lower the retirement age and lift the age pension above the poverty line, allowing Australians to retire earlier on a liveable income.

Greens leader Adam Bandt announced the plan in the party’s target seat of Richmond in northern NSW, along with Social Services spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne and Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan.

By lowering the pension age from 67 to 65, recipients who benefit would on average receive $18,000 more a year. This includes those moving from JobSeeker to the Age Pension.

There are currently 54,295 JobSeeker recipients who are aged over 65. Since 2017 the proportion of people older than 65 receiving JobSeeker, DSP or the Carer Payment has doubled.

The commitment will largely benefit older women who are more likely than men to face the prospect of poverty in old age. The majority of JobSeeker recipients aged over 65 are women.

The pension rate was raised from 65 to 67 by the Rudd Labor government in 2009, with the Greens opposing the decision at the time.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“In a wealthy country like ours, no one should retire into poverty. The Greens will fight for the right to retire earlier at 65, with an income that will actually pay the bills and support older Australians to enjoy the retirement they deserve.

“There is a poverty crisis among older Australians and it’s worse for older women, who are one of the fastest growing groups facing homelessness.

“One in three big corporations pay no tax, while thousands of older Australians are struggling to get by. By making billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax, older Australians can retire earlier with a liveable income.

“In a minority Parliament, the Greens will keep Dutton out and restore respect and dignity in ageing by getting Labor to return the pension age to 65, and raise the pension rate above the poverty line.”

Greens spokesperson on Social Services and Government Services, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Thousands of older people are in physically demanding, minimum wage jobs or accessing the much lower JobSeeker rate because successive Labor and Liberal governments have failed to give them the support they need.

“Older people deserve better from their government. The Greens will return the pension age to 65 and lift the pension above the poverty line, providing a well-deserved earlier retirement with liveable income support.”

Greens candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan:

“This region has among the highest house prices and least affordable rents in the country. We know too that this is the most climate-impacted, with house insurance becoming unaffordable for tens of thousands of Richmond households. Yet the pension has remained below the poverty line. In a wealthy country, housing stress and homelessness should not be an issue for our elders.

“I only need a 1.8% swing to win this seat from the same MP who has held it for 20 years. If I’m elected, I’ll work with Labor and the Independents to lower the pension age, and raise the pension rate above the poverty line.”

New analysis shows that public schools will have $18 billion ripped away due to Labor’s plan to push full public school funding back to 2034. 

The federal government’s share of public school funding is currently set at 20%, but is due to rise to 25% (40% in the NT) in order to reach the bare minimum funding required by Australia’s public schools. Analysis of budget papers and Labor’s statements reveals that the timeline for raising the federal contribution has been pushed back, with the vast majority of new funding planned for after 2029. 

Already struggling public schools will miss out on around $3 billion each year between now and 2029 when compared with raising the federal contribution from 2026. Labor’s plan sees an estimated $5.8 billion ripped out from NSW public schools by the end of the funding deal, with Victoria losing $5 billion and Queensland losing $4.4 billion. 

Peter Dutton has repeatedly committed to only funding public school agreements “as the numbers appear in the budget papers.” With promised funding not in the budget due to Labor pushing meaningful increases out past the forward estimates, Labor have handed Dutton a free pass to gut public school funding if he gets into office. Dutton’s positioning on only committing to expenditure detailed in the forward estimates has “all the hallmarks of the Abbott/Pyne abandonment of the Gonski funding plan in 2013” according to education expert Trevor Cobbold. 

Under the Greens’ plan the Commonwealth share of spending on public schools will rise in 2026 to 25% – except in the Northern Territory where it will be 40% – rather than making public school kids wait another decade for the bare minimum.

The Greens plan for public schools also includes free lunches and an annual payment of $800 made to families at the start of the school year for each child attending a public school, helping to meet growing out-of-pocket costs like uniforms, technology and school supplies.

The Greens are the party of public education, and the only party committed to fully funding our public schools in 2026.

Comments attributable to Greens spokesperson for Primary and Secondary Education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“I think public school parents and teachers will be shocked at how much is being ripped out of their school. And what’s worse, this leaves the door open to funding cuts if Peter Dutton gets his way. 

“With Labor giving up on fighting inequality and the Liberals ideologically opposed to the very existence of public education, only the Greens are fighting for our public schools.

“This election is an opportunity to elect strong local Greens MPs that believe in public schools, or more major party backbenchers that will leave public schools underfunded for another decade.

“Every child deserves a free, world-class public education, and that’s what the Greens are committed to delivering – we think kids starting school next year deserve a fully funded education now, not in ten years.

“If you’re worried about your public school getting the funding it needs, we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.”

Today, as the Last Post cuts the silence of dawn, we pause to honour and reflect on more than a century of Defence service and sacrifice.

110 years ago today, Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the beaches of Gallipoli under heavy fire, in the battle that would begin the Anzac legend.

Little did they know, their story would shape both our nations for generations to come.

Today we honour them, and all those who have served in our Defence Force in the years since. We pay tribute to the fallen, lost in service of our nation.

Members of the Defence Force, veterans and their families will proudly march together, many wearing the medals of their ancestors.

As we recite the Ode of Remembrance, we are reminded of the courage and sacrifices made by generations of service personnel and the families who support them.

The Last Post will ring out over a silent crowd as a solemn farewell to the fallen: their duty done; their sacrifice remembered.

We give thanks to all current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force and their families.

As our nation comes together in gratitude, we reiterate our commitment to providing the care, support, and recognition our veterans and their families deserve.

We do not forget.

Lest we forget.

Responding to reports the LNP has committed $90m toward a domestic violence strategy Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women, Larissa Waters said:

“The LNP are clearly desperate to pretend they care about women.

“More than 20 women killed in Australia this year by violence and Dutton’s allotted a measly $90m in the LNP’s ‘domestic violence strategy’, announced just nine days before the election.

“$90 million is what Mr Dutton thinks ending FDSV is worth, when frontline services have been saying they need $1 billion a year. Only the Greens have committed to fully funding frontline services.

“DV disclosure schemes are one piece of the puzzle, but not the most important one.

“The LNP’s plan is not about protecting anyone. If Mr Dutton truly cared about protecting women and children, he’d match the Greens $15 billion commitment to fully fund frontline services and prevention efforts.

“The Greens’ plan prioritises survivor-centred policies and if we made the 1 in 3 big corporations that pay no tax contribute their fair share, we could make sure women and children are safe.”