Category: Australian News

An elected Dutton Coalition Government will take decisive action to reverse Australia’s worsening road safety crisis, with a comprehensive package of measures to make our road network safer and more productive for all Australians. 

A Coalition Government is committing: 

$250 million increase to the Roads to Recovery program, immediately lifting funding to $1 billion per year commencing 2025-26, helping local governments maintain and upgrade safer local roads;  

$10 million to establish a new Driver Reviver Site Upgrades program, supporting volunteer and community organisations to improve existing driver reviver rest stops and establish new ones; and 

$6 million over three years to expand the scope of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to oversee a national no-fault crash investigation pilot, to better understand the root causes of crashes and identify mitigation strategies.  

Recent data from the Australian Automobile Association shows that 2024 was the deadliest year on Australian roads since 2012. The objective of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 is to halve road deaths, yet the road toll last year was 18.5 per cent higher than when the strategy began.  

Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, said improving road safety was critical.  

“In 2021, the Coalition Government led the development of a National Road Safety Strategy in partnership with all states and territories, to reduce road trauma and save lives. Yet, in recent years, road fatalities have steadily increased. Australia is now further from achieving the Strategy’s goals than ever before. Our roads are deteriorating, and the consequences are devastating. 

“Last year alone, 1,300 Australians lost their lives on the road. Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy, and behind every statistic is a grieving family and a devastated community. 

“As we head into the Easter long weekend, this is a timely reminder for everyone to please stay safe on the roads.” 

Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Mr Tony Pasin MP, said Australia’s road safety crisis required national leadership. 

“Under our plan, we will make road safety a priority and gain a better understanding of the causes behind the alarming trend towards year on year increases in road deaths.,” Mr Pasin said.   

“We have listened to the community and road safety experts, and we will set the wheels of change in motion to arrest the rising road toll and get the National Road Safety Strategy back on track.”  

A Dutton Coalition Government will act decisively to reduce road trauma, support local infrastructure, and restore national leadership on road safety.

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will deliver $2.6 million over four years to Street Side Medics.

Street Side Medics is a free mobile GP service that provides health services to people experiencing homelessness across New South Wales and Victoria.

Since 2022-23, the organisation has delivered 902 clinics, more than 5,050 GP consultations and had more than 11,780 total patient interactions.

They deliver services including health examinations, immunisations, pathology services, nutritional advice and minor surgical procedures.

This election commitment will provide Street Side Medics additional funding to continue delivering mobile medical services in NSW and Victoria across Woolloomooloo, Manly, Parramatta, Hornsby, Blacktown, Surry Hills, Marrickville, Wollongong, Melbourne CBD and St Kilda.

It will also support the organisation to expand to new locations, strengthen existing services to meet rising demand and invest in workforce development.

Homelessness is the tough reality for too many Australians. The Albanese Labor Government is making meaningful progress in tackling it. Among our measures is the $9.3 billion, 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness.

This provides funding to the states to help those who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness and supports the effective functioning of Australia’s social housing and homelessness services sectors.

Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I was given the great privilege of launching Street Side Medics in Melbourne in 2024.

“This program began with Dr Nour and his vision to ensure people who are experiencing homelessness don’t fall through the cracks and miss out on the healthcare they need.

“So much stems from the barriers that stand between homeless people and access to medical care. Barriers that span the spectrum from cost, to lack of awareness, to mistrust of the medical system.

“Street Side Medics erase those barriers. I am so proud to announce Labor will deliver $2.6 million to ensure these vital services continue.”
 
Health Minister Mark Butler:

“Street Side Medics has provided medical support for people experiencing homelessness for years.

“Their vans provide mobile medical services, and they do a fantastic job. 

“Labor is proud to support the incredible work of Dr Nour and his team of hundreds of volunteers who provide care to those facing disadvantage.”

Dr Daniel Nour, Founder of Street Side Medics: 

“I founded Street Side Medics with a simple belief: that no one should be denied healthcare because of their circumstances. Today’s announcement allows us to carry that mission even further. 

“Healthcare access should never be a privilege. This funding ensures that thousands of vulnerable Australians can receive the care they deserve, right where they are. 

“We’re deeply grateful to the Albanese Labor Government for recognising that health equity is a national priority – this support will help us change and save lives.”

Our festival sector is in turmoil. The cost of living crisis, skyrocketing cost of insurance and the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change have been wreaking havoc on festivals big and small across Australia.

Festivals have long been the beating heart of the local music industry and are essential to growing audiences for Australian artists.

Festivals are not only important for our arts and music industry but also support local tourism, hospitality and retail businesses.

The Greens will allocate $20 million a year to provide a critical lifeline to Australian festivals.

The Greens will fight for:

• $20 million a year in grants for festivals, including higher maximum grants and the ability to use funds for developing on-site infrastructure, from within the Greens’ $200m per year Arts funding commitment;
• $2m for a review to investigate the market failure of insurance in the live music industry and options to establish a government backed insurance scheme
• The creation of a festivals strategy through Music Australia to ensure federal and state government coordination and support
• Tax offsets for touring artists and venues that host live performances
  • 10 per cent tax offsets for the costs of hosting live music
  • 50 per cent tax offset for travel expenses
• Support that can benefit small businesses running festivals with the establishment of a small business incubator and extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off until July 1 2026

The package will have a particular focus on supporting local and independent festivals and is part of the broader arts package already launched by the Greens.

Quotes attributable to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the Arts:

“Our festivals are in crisis. Over the past few years we have seen the cancellation after cancellation of loved and iconic festivals. It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry.

“The Albanese Government made some big promises to the arts industry when they were first elected, almost 3 years on they have failed to deliver. A plan for the arts is nothing without the funding required to support the industry.

“The Greens plan for supporting our festivals takes a holistic view of what the sector needs. This means direct support in the form of grants, a review of the market failure in insurance for live events, a federal strategy for the sustainability of festivals across the country into the future and tax offsets for both venues and artists.

“Festivals are an essential part of the music ecosystem and an important part of our culture. It’s how Australian artists build new audiences that help set up their careers and it’s how young people build a love for live music.

“Festivals matter, they particularly bring our regions, like the Northern Rivers, to life. Festivals inject money and enthusiasm into our local communities from the cities to the regions.

“I am excited to be making this announcement at Bluesfest, an iconic Australian festival and a great example of how investment in the arts drives local, regional economies.

“The Greens always have been and always will be the party for the arts. This election, to support our arts and creative industries you have to vote Green.”

Greens spokesperson for communications, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responds to reports the Prime Minister personally intervened to prevent action on gambling advertising.

“The Albanese Government has failed to act on the scourge of gambling ads, despite the pleading of their own backbenchers and even their own Communications Minister.

“Today’s news that the Prime Minister personally intervened to protect the gambling lobby is disturbing. The Prime Minister may not have the guts to stand up to the gambling lobby – but the Greens will act.

“Throughout this term of parliament, the Greens offered a number of times to facilitate the passage of legislation to ban gambling ads. In a minority government it will be a key ask of the Greens in any negotiations.

“As families have sat down to watch the footy over the long weekend, they have continued to be bombarded by gambling ads despite the mountain of evidence we have been given about how dangerous these ads are.

“Peta Murphy, was right, the experts and the evidence are clear: gambling ads do significant harm and they must be banned immediately, just like tobacco ads.”

The Greens have today released a new analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office which shows the cost of negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts will skyrocket to $180.5b over the next 10 years (2026-27 to 2035-36).

These tax handouts overwhelmingly benefit Australia’s wealthiest investors, leaving renters and first home buyers worse off. The vast majority of the two tax concessions will go to the top 10% of income earners, according to the distributional analysis done by the PBO. 

76% of capital gains tax discounts for residential property investment will go to the top 10% of earners in 2025-26, and negative gearing is similarly skewed with 40% of the benefit going to the top 10% of investors.

These tax concessions make it easier for a wealthy property investor to buy their fifth house, than for someone to buy their first. The system is stacked against renters and first home buyers, and the Greens have announced a policy to end tax handouts for wealthy property investors with more than one investment property, to make housing actually affordable for renters and first home buyers.

Parliamentary library analysis (available on request) based on independent economic research shows that changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount such as those proposed by the Greens would allow more than 850,000 renters to move into a home they own by shifting the market away from wealthy property investors and towards home ownership.

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“The leaders’ debate saw Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton furiously agreeing on $180 billion in handouts for property investors that turbocharge house prices and deny millions of renters the chance to buy their first home.

“Experts have slammed the major parties’ housing policies as a ‘dumpster fire’ that will push up house prices even further. 

“With Liberal and Labor making the housing crisis worse, you can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.

“The Greens are the party of renters and first home buyers, and we will make reforming negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount a priority in the next Parliament, including when there’s a minority government.”

Max Chandler-Mather MP, Greens Spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness:

“With house prices up 50% in the past 5 years, it’s terrible that Labor and the Liberals are taking policies to this election to push prices up even further.

“According to one expert, house prices will rise between 8 and 15 per cent this year alone depending on which of Labor and Liberals will win the election. That’s not acceptable.

“The Greens will right the wrongs of decades of housing failure and end the tax handouts for investors with more than one investment property that are turbocharging house prices and denying renters the chance to buy a home.

“How is it fair that a young family loses at an auction to an investor buying their 10th property because that investor has massive tax handouts from the government?

“Labor and Liberals are putting $180 billion into the pockets of wealthy property investors and banks, and renters and first home buyers are the losers.

“Renters are powerful at this election. By voting Greens, you can keep Dutton out and push Labor to reform negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount and finally start to truly tackle this housing crisis.”

The Greens would make IVF more affordable for all by doubling the Medicare rebates, and removing the remaining discrimination against gay male couples accessing subsidised IVF treatment through altruistic surrogacy.

Last week, the Government made welcome changes to permit single and gay women to access subsidised IVF by updating the definition of infertility. But by excluding altruistic surrogacy, Labor’s changes mean male same-sex partners still miss out.

The Greens plan will fix that and make IVF more affordable and accessible for everyone.

Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and Spokesperson on Women

“It’s time Medicare rebates stopped discriminating against gay couples, and supported all Australians who want to use IVF services by making it more affordable.

“The Greens are once again ready to take bold action to help people while the major parties tinker around the edges.

“For years the medical definition of infertility excluded LGBTIQA+ people from claiming Medicare rebates for IVF leaving the queer community to pay more for IVF.

“We welcome Labor expanding the definition to include single or gay women, but male same-sex partners and those without someone who can carry their baby still miss out.

“Altruistic surrogacy is legal nationwide, however the government neglected it in the new definition.

“This leaves gay male intended parents without Medicare support for IVF, because they can not carry the pregnancy themselves, even though the treatment is identical to other infertility cases.

“Right now, those needing IVF due to genetics, sexuality, or injury are forced to pay $16,000–$18,000 per cycle – three times what parents on Medicare support pay. Cost should not prohibit a future family.

“Both the Greens initiated Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare Inquiry and the Medicare Review Taskforce have recommended expanding Medicare rebates for IVF services. 

“Medicare rebates for IVF need to be offered to those who need it, so that everyone can have access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare.

Stephen Bates, spokesperson on LGBTQIA+

“When it comes to altruistic surrogacy, same-sex couples are still unable to access the same support as their heterosexual peers. The costs for LGBTIQA+ couples are astronomical and this financial barrier is stopping them from starting a family.

“We urge Labor to work with the Greens to fully implement the recommendations of the Inquiry and Taskforce, to cover LGBTIQA+ families under Medicare.”

Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens:

“Today’s announcement by Labor isn’t action, it’s delay disguised as progress. 

“It is now six months since the election, and all we have is an announcement that a tender will take place sometime in the future–we have no actual tender, no chair of the inquiry, and no detailed terms of reference.

“Labor has not announced anything new today.

“Given that at the end of last term, all parties agreed that a review was needed, and we are now six months along from the election, it begs the question of what the delay is?

“The fact is Labor’s approach slows poker machine reductions by a staggering 40% as compared to the pace achieved  by the Greens over the last seven years. 

“When the Greens were in the driving seat of gambling reform, machines were being pulled out faster — now, under Labor, progress is slowing dramatically.

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will make the tax system simpler and deliver more cost-of-living relief by introducing a $1,000 instant tax deduction from 2026-27.

The reform will allow taxpayers to choose to claim a $1,000 instant tax deduction instead of claiming individual work-related expenses, saving time and money.

Taxpayers won’t need to collect receipts for deductions less than $1,000 and will save on the costs of professional tax advice.

It means more than one in three taxpayers will only need to make six clicks to tick their tax return.

As a result of the instant deduction:

• 5.7 million taxpayers (39 per cent of taxpayers) who currently claim less than $1,000 in deductions will benefit.
• The average amount of annual tax relief for those who benefit is $205.
• Australians earning between $45,001 and $135,000 could get a benefit of up to $320.
• Around 88 per cent of those that benefit would have a taxable income of less than $135,000 in 2026-27.

This is tax reform that cuts red tape and relief that comes on top of our new tax cuts for every taxpayer, helping Australians keep more of what they earn.

This election commitment will provide more permanent cost of living relief and make tax time quicker and easier for 5.7 million taxpayers.  

When our tax cuts to every taxpayer are fully implemented, the average full time income earner on $103,000 will receive $2,790. This will rise to up to $3,110 when combined with this reform, for those taxpayers who weren’t already claiming deductions.

The time saving alone from reducing the burden of record keeping on millions of taxpayers is estimated to be worth about $200 million a year.

To be eligible for the instant tax deduction, taxpayers have to earn labour income. People who only earn business or investment income and no labour income can continue to claim their deductions in the usual way.

Taxpayers claiming more than $1,000 in work-related deductions will still be able to do so in the usual way. Charitable donations and other non-work related deductions would continue to be claimed on top of the instant tax deduction.

This new tax reform builds on Labor’s substantial and responsible cost-of-living relief which also includes tax cuts, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines and childcare, student debt relief and higher wages.

It forms part of the Government’s substantial tax reform agenda, which includes reforms to multinational tax, the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and to make super tax concessions fairer, and our build to rent tax breaks, production tax credits and tax cuts for every taxpayer.

The introduction of the instant tax deduction will cost $2.4 billion over the forward estimates.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Labor is building Australia’s future.

“We have already delivered a tax cut for every taxpayer, and we want to continue to reform the tax system to slash red tape and make it easier for people to keep more of what they earn.

“This is good for workers and good for our economy.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“We’re reforming the tax system to make it easier, simpler and faster to do your taxes.

“This is tax reform and additional, modest tax relief at the same time.

“Our economic plan is all about lower taxes and higher wages for workers.

“This election is a contest between a Labor Government making tax time easier, cutting taxes and delivering cost-of-living relief, and the Liberals who will hike up taxes and have no ongoing plan to help with the cost-of-living.”

The Greens say the election housing battle lines are now clear, with Labor tinkering around the edges while prices soar, Dutton’s debt plan set to send prices into the stratosphere, while only the Greens will tackle negative gearing and capital gains tax handouts that are pushing prices out of reach of renters and first home buyers.

The major parties are only acting on first home buyers after years of Greens pressure, and while it’s good to see Labor starting to take the problem seriously, by leaving investor tax handouts flowing and rents uncapped, the problem will only get worse. 

The Greens said they won’t stand in the way of Labor’s changes to the first home guarantee scheme or further investment in housing construction. However, the Greens on Sunday reiterated their urgent call for action to stop the housing crisis getting worse, including grandfathering negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount handouts to one property only, capping rent increases and government investment in public housing.

The Greens have also said Peter Dutton’s plan is a dangerous debt trap that could push house prices to skyrocket even further out of reach of renters and first homebuyers. Dutton’s plan announced today will lift house prices with more money entering the market, and mean that after the first five years of what is typically a 30 year mortgage, first home buyers will see a massive spike in their mortgage repayments.

Labor’s plan also won’t lower mortgages for first home buyers, keeping them in housing stress. According to CoreLogic data, the average house price in Australian capital cities is over $1 million. With a 5% deposit under Labor’s First Home Guarantee scheme, a borrower faces repayments over $6,000 a month, or nearly three quarters of the average full-time income, meaning home ownership remains out of reach for the vast majority of renters.

The government’s proposal to build more homes is over 8 years and will at best mean only approximately 80 homes per electorate per year starting in two years. 

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:

“Renters and first homebuyers are on the national agenda because of the Greens.

“The election housing battle lines are now clear. Labor tinkers while prices soar, the Liberals will send prices even higher, but the Greens will fix investor tax handouts and cap rents.

“We won’t stand in the way of Labor’s policy, but tinkering around the edges won’t be enough to stop house prices skyrocketing because of tax handouts to wealthy property investors, and Peter Dutton’s plan is a dangerous debt trap that could push house prices into the stratosphere.

“Under Labor’s plan your mortgage will still be huge, Peter Dutton will make it even bigger, and neither of them are doing anything about rents. 

“While Labor and the Liberals give $176b in handouts to wealthy property investors, house prices will continue to skyrocket out of reach of renters.

“To fix the housing crisis we urgently need to reform negative gearing and the capital gains discount, cap rent increases and get the government to build homes people can genuinely afford.

“Tinkering around the edges means allowing house prices to continue to soar and generations of renters locked out of affordable housing altogether.

“After today’s announcements, the choice is clear. 

“If you’re worried about your rent or mortgage, you can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.

“The Greens are the party of renters and first homebuyers, and in minority government the Greens will get Labor to take real action to fix the housing crisis.”

Greens Housing and Homelessness spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather MP:

“Jim Chalmers once said that reforming negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount was the most meaningful lever the government could pull on housing affordability. He was 100% right. 

“While the Greens won’t oppose Labor’s tinkering around the edges, the reality is the only way we finally give millions of renters a chance at home ownership is by scrapping negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount for property investors with more than one home. 

Now that Labor has acknowledged it possible for the government to directly fund the construction of housing for first home buyers, the Greens will push Labor to adopt our full plan to establish a government developer to directly build 610,000 homes sold and rented to renters at capped prices.

“With regards to the home guarantee, we’ve seen the show before, another first home buyer scheme promising the world, but all that happens is house prices and bank profits keep going up, while more and more people are locked out of home ownership forever.

“While Labor tinkers and Dutton proposes dangerous debt traps that will turbo charge house prices, the Greens will use minority parliament to push Labor to reform negative gearing, cap rents and establish a government developer to build 610,000 genuinely affordable homes for renters.”

Today Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury will introduce legislation to the ACT Legislative Assembly which will enshrine housing as a human right following calls for such a move from stakeholders.

“Like education or healthcare, affordable housing is an essential service and key to living a life with dignity. From childhood through to adulthood, housing provides the basis for stability in all aspects of our lives, and should be treated by government accordingly” said Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury. 

“For too long, politicians across the nation have treated the government’s role in the housing market as providing for private profit, rather than safeguarding our community from the skyrocketing cost of finding and keeping a home. 

“This Bill introduced by the Greens will set the groundwork for a complete rethink of the government’s role in  housing, providing a starting point for deeper, more ambitious discussions about how the government can ensure  quality, affordable homes for all Canberrans.

“This means that when new laws are introduced in the Assembly, the government will need to think about the fundamental right to housing. This includes considering how it affects things like home security for Canberrans, affordability, access to essential services like water and electricity, as well as location and accessibility. All the components that create a good home.

“For existing renters who live in public housing, this will also mean the government has a clear responsibility to ensure homes are free of mould, free of water damage, have proper ventilation and are warm in the winter. 

“This legislation is a direct response to the community’s conversation during the 2024 ACT Election, calling for politicians to recognise housing as a human right, ensuring greater accountability for the quality of housing in Canberra.

“Following our public consultation on the draft Bill, the ACT Human Rights Commission and other organisations like Canberra Community Law have affirmed the importance of incorporating the right to housing into the Human Rights Act. 

“Their submissions show that including this right will have a real and significant impact on the lives of thousands of Canberrans in the rental and housing market.”

Submissions from the ACT Human Rights Commission and Canberra Community Law can be accessed online.