Category: Australian News

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will make a billion-dollar investment to roll out even more places Australians can go for free, public mental health care backed by Medicare.
 
The $1 billion commitment continues the Albanese Labor Government’s work to fill the gaps in support with new free mental health services that are better matched to the needs of each Australian.
 
This election commitment includes an ongoing and sustained uplift in mental health funding.
 
The $1 billion mental health commitment includes:

• $225 million for 31 new and upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres
• More than $200 million for 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace services
• $500 million for 20 Youth Specialist Care Centres for young people with complex needs
• $90 million for more than 1,200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers.

The new network of 20 Youth Specialist Care Centres will close another critical service gap in our mental health system, ensuring young people in what mental health experts call “the missing middle”, get the specialist help they need.
 
Filling “the missing middle” service gap means young people with complex mental health needs, like personality disorders, eating disorders and early psychosis, can get the ongoing and intensive care they need, outside of hospital.
 
As we expand the range of free services backed by Medicare, the Medicare Mental Health phone line (1800 595 212) and website (medicarementalhealth.gov.au) will help Australians find the free service that is right for them.
 
This package builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s existing work to roll out free mental health care:

• Establishing the new National Early Intervention Service from 1 January 2026, which anyone can access for free mental health support. Approximately 150,000 Australians are expected to use the service each year, getting free support early, without waiting for a referral or being worried about a gap fee.
• Establishing 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres that offer free walk-in mental health care.  We are upgrading their clinical capability to ensure every centre provides free access to a psychiatrist and psychologist, either on-site or on-call.
• Established 12 Perinatal Mental Health Centres to provide support to new parents.
• Expanded the headspace network to more than 175 centres.
• Restored the bulk billed telehealth psychiatry Medicare rebates so Australians living outside metropolitan areas get equal access to clinical mental health support.
• Expanded the mental health workforce with more than 4,000 psychology scholarships, internships and training places.

Providing more free, public mental health services for Australians with different levels of need will help to relieve pressure on the subsidised services provided by private psychologists.
 
It will take pressure off the Better Access program, support psychologists to work to their full scope of practice and spend more time treating people with moderate and high needs.
 
This is in stark contrast to Peter Dutton’s plan to increase demand for private psychologists’ services, which will drive up gap fees and make wait lists longer.
 
Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
 
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
 
“I want everyone, and especially young people, to be able to access the mental health care they need.
 
“We will deliver $1 billion to roll out more services and locations Australians can go for free, public mental health care backed by Medicare.
 
“Whether you need short-term support or ongoing care, young or old, we will ensure that a free, mental health service backed by Medicare will be there for you and your family.
 
“Only Labor has a plan to strengthen Medicare.”
 
Health Minister Mark Butler:
 
“Peter Dutton isn’t ready for government or the hard work of policy development or reform, and nowhere is this clearer than in mental health.
 
“Peter Dutton is promising to repeat the mistakes of the past, by piling more demand on private psychologists, driving up gap fees and making waitlists longer.
 
“You can’t double the number of sessions without doubling the number of psychologists, or you create a bottleneck that means tens of thousands of Australians get no help at all.”
 
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride:
 
“Labor introduced Medicare, and we are making sure mental health care and free services are at the heart of communities.
 
“All Australians deserve access to quality care, close to home. That’s why we’re expanding the network of free services right across the country, including in regional and remote Australia, better matched to people’s needs.
 
“As a former mental health worker, I am determined to make sure that all Australians receive the care they need and deserve.”
 
Carolyn Nikoloski, CEO, Mental Health Australia:
 
“This is a landmark investment that recognises the challenges the community is facing.
 
“Mental Health Australia welcomes this comprehensive package, that will fundamentally increase access to free mental health support across the country.
 
“It also responds to some of the real pressures the sector is facing, by growing the pipeline of the mental health workforce, so that we can better respond to the community’s mental health needs, both now and into the future.”
 
Professor Patrick McGorry, Orygen:
 
“Australians will be relieved and grateful that a re-elected Albanese Government will respond decisively to the youth mental health crisis by strengthening headspace, building a network of strong specialised youth mental health centres to support all primary care providers, and expanding a diverse and skilled mental health workforce.
 
“All Australians, especially young people and their very worried parents, will deeply appreciate this ground-breaking commitment to build the next stage of our world leading system of youth mental health care and to respond to the dramatic increase in prevalence that is causing widespread suffering and undermining our society.”
 
Jason Trethowan CEO, headspace
 
“The commitments respond to the increasing and innovative ways for headspace to provide support to more young people when experiencing a difficult time especially when it comes to their mental health challenges”.

The Greens welcome the national conversation stimulated today by an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report which highlights the need for stronger government leadership to ensure Australia’s food system is resilient enough to withstand current and future challenges – but are disappointed the report appears to downplay the risks of an accelerating climate breakdown. 

The Greens warn that immediately mitigating emissions and showing policy leadership on meeting global climate targets is paramount to ensure global food security into the future.

Greens spokesperson for agriculture, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“This report rightly highlights how Australia has taken its food security for granted for too long, operating under the false assumption that the world will stay the same as it’s been in living memory. 

“The climate crisis is changing the world so rapidly that the assumptions, policy approaches and economic frameworks that have traditionally supported Australia’s food security are no longer fit for purpose.

“The most important thing any government can do to help farmers and guarantee food security is radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including banning all new coal and gas projects and rapidly transitioning to renewables. 

“This simple but critical message was notably absent from this ASPI report, even though it identified climate change as a threat to food security. 

“Only focussing on agricultural adaptation measures to address climate-related risks without recommending the need for meaningful emissions reductions is like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. 

“This report is a timely reminder that few industries are more impacted by climatic disruption than farming. Many farmers are still putting off implementing carbon or methane reduction farming techniques, partly due to perceptions of cost and productivity, lack of technological readiness, but also a lack of policy clarity and support. 

“By investing in climate action policies and sustainable practices that reduce methane emissions, increase on-farm renewables, and future-proof agriculture, the Greens are working to create a resilient and flourishing food system.”

The NSW Government has announced $180,000 in funding to increase access to treatment and support services for people living with macular disease.

The one-off grant will support national charity Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) to minimise the impact of the disease on the 1.9 million Australians living with it and their families.

Macular disease is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in Australia and this grant will support the organisation to reduce the impacts of macular disease through prevention and early detection, supports for those living with it, and further research into the disease.

MDFA provides information and advice through programs such as a confidential helpline (1800 111 709), peer support groups, and services to support people living with the condition, those at risk of the condition and their families.

The Foundation also advocates for patients in NSW to receive affordable anti–vascular endothelial growth factor eye injections which can slow and, in some cases, prevent vision loss.

Without treatment, people with macular diseases such as neovascular AMD, diabetic macular oedema and retinal vein occlusion will lose their vision.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“Macular disease impacts around one in seven Australians over the age of 50 years and in some cases can even lead to blindness.

“The NSW Government is supporting Macular Disease Foundation Australia to ensure more people across NSW who are at risk of this disease have access to sight-saving care and support.

“Through this work more people than ever before will have access to better treatment and support options which could improve the quality of life for them and their loved ones.” 

Chief Executive Officer Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Dr Kathy Chapman:

“Today marks a significant moment in Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s fight for sight. With the generous support from the NSW Government, we are pleased to be working with NSW Health to drive access to sight-saving treatments so no Australian needlessly goes blind from macular disease.

“This backing brings us closer to a future where accessibility and affordability are no longer barriers to health and well-being. No one should face macular disease without access to the treatment they need to keep their vision.”

Registrations are now open for the annual Rural Women’s Gathering on Saturday, 25 October 2025 in Lismore.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $30,000 towards this event to encourage women from across regional, rural and remote New South Wales to get together, to connect and learn.

Organised by Lismore Council with support from the Rural Women’s Network, the theme for this year’s program is “Connect to the Heart”. The Gathering, held at the Lismore Quadrangle, will showcase a diverse program that includes inspirational talks, entertainment, writing and AI workshops, music, arts, local businesses and catering and community vendors.

Keynote and guest speakers include:

• Keynote speaker: Shanna Whann, Founder and CEO of Sober in the Country, spokesperson, and 2022 Australia’s Local Hero.
• Guest speaker: Madeleine West, Partner of Safe on Social, Logie-nominated actor, bestselling author, and co-creator of the podcast Predatory.
• Master of Ceremony and speaker: Lissie Turner, CEO of The Prana Project, therapist, and advocate for change.

Tickets are $85 for the program, including lunch at one of a selection of incredible Lismore eateries.

A full weekend of activities has been planned from Friday 24 October to Sunday 26 October so that attendees can stay and enjoy Lismore for the whole weekend.

Lismore (Bundjalung nation)is located in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, 45 minutes from Byron Bay and is surrounded by lush rainforest, national parks and has a rich indigenous history.

This event will help boost the local tourism economy on the North Coast which has been affected by the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and recent floods.

The Rural Women’s Gathering has been held annually around different regional and rural towns in NSW for more than 30 years. It’s an opportunity for the host town to showcase the strength of their community, their region, culture, talent and attractions to women who attend from all corners of the state.

To learn more about the Rural Women’s Gathering, order The NSW Rural Women’s Network: 30 Years Strong – A History of the Rural Women’s Gathering through the Rural Women’s Gathering webpage.

Register for the Lismore Gathering now at: www.nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/rural-womens-network/rural-womens-gathering.

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarity said:

“Congratulation to Lismore on hosting such an exciting event. The committee have done a great job of putting together this program of festivities and I really encourage people to get out there and visit the Northern Rivers region.

“Women in our regional communities are doing extraordinary things and the Rural Women’s Gathering provides a great opportunity to share their experiences, and in turn help other women to better support their communities.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“The Rural Women’s Gathering has a great history and is a staple of the Rural Women’s Network calendar. It’s a fantastic opportunity for women from regional, rural and remote New South Wales to make friends, find new connections, and learn from each other as well as expert guest speakers.

“Each year brings something different, and I am excited to meet talented and exceptional women from across the state, embodying the essence of each of their country towns.

“I encourage women from regional, rural and remote areas in New South Wales to show your support for regional women and the community in Lismore and come along to what is going to be an exciting event.”

Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin said:

“This will be a great event, and I’m so glad that we will have the privilege of welcoming so many wonderful women to our Lismore community.

“I want to thank Lismore Council for the contribution they’ve made, and it’s great that we get to host so many fantastic people from all around the state.”

Mayor for Lismore, Steve Krieg said:

“I look forward to welcoming the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering to Lismore, which plays an important role in regional communities. It is a privilege to host the Gathering and I am sure they will enjoy their time here.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for local women to network with like-minded women from other regional areas and share their experiences and skills.”

Keynote speaker, Shanna Whann said:

“Most won’t know this, but Lismore and its surroundings were home to me in another life and hold some good memories. I am humbled to be invited back – and my goal as always – is to help equip others with a decade of extremely hard-earned experience from my alcohol harm advocacy through Sober in the Country by sharing our work around health, mental health, mateship, and social inclusion.”

“We survivors of hard times and catastrophes are uniquely bonded.”

Today, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced that he will be slashing the number of international students by 80,000 and tripling the cost of student visa applications to $5,000 at Group of Eight universities, in a bid to “ease the housing crisis.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Higher Education, has slammed the announcement as a blatantly racist and dangerous attack on international students — a cynical attempt to scapegoat migrants and international students for a housing crisis they didn’t cause.

Senator Faruqi:

“You know an election is coming when, like clockwork, the racist dogwhistling, scapegoating and blaming international students and migrants for the housing and rental crisis starts.

“Dutton and his Trump-mirroring Liberals have no solutions to offer on housing or higher education, so as usual they take the divisive, racist route.

“Dutton’s plan to slash student numbers and triple visa fees is a cynical ploy to stoke fear and division in the lead-up to an election. It’s a smokescreen to cover up the Coalition’s own failures and inaction.

“Labor must take responsibility for starting this round of punching down on international students with the caps they pushed for last year. We knew this was going to turn ugly and harm so many people of colour living in this country.

“The facts are clear, we’ve seen the evidence: international students are not the cause of skyrocketing rents or unaffordable housing. That responsibility lies squarely with successive governments who have refused to build enough public housing and prioritised lining the pockets of wealthy property investors.

“We need real solutions to the housing crisis — not racist blame games. It’s time to kick this racism out of our politics once and for all. 

“The Greens are the only party offering transformational solutions to match the scale of the problem. If you want change, you have to vote for it.”

The Victorian Greens say that the public housing residents’ class action is just the beginning and that residents across the 44 public housing towers will continue to resist and fight back as Labor steamrolls ahead with their disastrous plan that will displace thousands of people in a housing crisis. 

The lawsuit that included 479 households from the three towers in North Melbourne and Flemington argued that the Victorian Labor Government failed to properly consider the residents’ human rights when they decided to demolish the towers, and that other alternatives – such as retrofitting the towers – weren’t even considered. 

Since Labor’s plan was first announced, they’ve refused to provide documents to justify the demolition of the towers, failing to produce documents to the parliament and the courts as part of this case. 

The Victorian Greens attempted to compel the documents through the parliament and Labor blocked 148 out of 156 claiming ‘executive privilege’ to keep the documents secret. From what the Greens did receive it implies that the plan to demolish and privatise the towers was based on nothing more than a few dot points on the back of an envelope. 

The Victorian Greens say that the case has made it clear that residents do not want to be kicked out so Labor can privatise the public housing estates, and that this is only the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s plans to demolish their homes.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri: 

“This case has made one thing clear, residents do not want Labor to demolish their homes so the public housing estates can be privatised. This is just the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s bad plan. This plan that wants to tear down homes and displace thousands of public housing residents in a housing crisis has never stacked up. It’s only a matter of time until the wheels fall completely off.” 

Leader of the Victorian Greens and member for Melbourne, Ellen Sandell: 

“The outcome today is disappointing for the brave North Melbourne and Flemington residents who took the state Labor government to court, but the fight is not over. Residents are speaking out, they deserve to have their voices heard and the Greens are going to keep standing alongside them to oppose Labor’s demolition and privatisation of public housing.”  

Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has strongly condemned Peter Dutton’s latest remarks about cracking down on so-called ‘woke’ ideology at universities. She warned that this is yet another dangerous attempt by the Coalition to police academic freedom, silence progressive voices, and impose ideological control over higher education institutions.

Senator Faruqi: 

“The Coalition’s pathetic Trump-style attempt to control what’s taught in our universities will be nothing short of authoritarian censorship. It is dangerous, unwanted and has no place in our universities. 

“This is the latest desperate effort by Peter Dutton and the Liberals to manufacture a culture war to distract from their lack of genuine policies or solutions to the issues people are facing. When it comes to education, the Coalition has no vision beyond control, fear and division. 

“Ministerial interventions in university curricula are an attack on academic independence. What’s next—Dutton personally vetting lecture notes? 

“Universities must be places of inquiry and rigorous debate, not vehicles to serve conservative politicians looking for cheap headlines.

“Let’s be clear: The Coalition cannot stand the idea of young people engaging with progressive ideas or questioning the status quo.

“This election the Greens will keep Dutton and his Trump-like politics out and get Labor to act on wiping all student debt and making uni and TAFE free. You can’t keep voting for the two major parties expecting a different result—if you want change, you have to vote for it.”

The Minns Government must act within this term of Government on all the recommendations from the Drug Summit Report, given that they don’t go as far as many summit attendees were calling for, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and drug law reform and harm reduction spokesperson.

“The report from the drug summit doesn’t go as far as what experts have told successive Governments is needed to reduce drug harm and save lives. It’s clear that recommendations sought from a majority of stakeholders at the drug summit have been softened to make them politically palatable for a risk-averse Premier,” says Cate Faehrmann.

“The number one priority for the majority of attendees to reduce drug harm was to remove criminal penalties for drug use and possession. It’s extremely disappointing that this was not a recommendation.

“However, a recommendation around the need to reform drug diversion laws is welcome. The vast majority of people caught with a personal quantity of illegal drugs are still charged and sent to court since the law came into place last year. This reform is urgent.

“There is an urgent need to reform our drug driving laws so that medicinal cannabis patients can drive when not impaired without the fear of being charged with driving with the mere presence of THC in their system. It’s extremely welcome to see this recommendation in the report. I have given notice of a bill that would provide a medical defence for people who are prescribed medicinal cannabis. I urge the Government to work with me so we can get it done this year. 

“The report has recommended the use of drug detection dogs and strip searching cease during the current trial of drug-checking services at music festivals, with consideration to extending this to all music festivals. There doesn’t seem to be any logic as to why this can’t extend to all music festivals immediately rather than appeasing the police. The Coronial Inquest into Deaths at Music Festivals found that the presence of drug dogs can lead people to engage in riskier drug-taking behaviour which can have fatal consequences.

“I thank Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden for their work on the drug summit and in producing this report, despite its shortcomings. None of these recommendations are surprising or radical and they can all be easily implemented in this term of Government. I look forward to working with the Government and across party lines to see these recommendations implemented,” said Cate Faehrmann.

The Victorian Greens say that the public housing residents’ class action is just the beginning and that residents across the 44 public housing towers will continue to resist and fight back as Labor steamrolls ahead with their disastrous plan that will displace thousands of people in a housing crisis. 

The lawsuit that included 479 households from the three towers in North Melbourne and Flemington argued that the Victorian Labor Government failed to properly consider the residents’ human rights when they decided to demolish the towers, and that other alternatives – such as retrofitting the towers – weren’t even considered. 

Since Labor’s plan was first announced, they’ve refused to provide documents to justify the demolition of the towers, failing to produce documents to the parliament and the courts as part of this case. 

The Victorian Greens attempted to compel the documents through the parliament and Labor blocked 148 out of 156 claiming ‘executive privilege’ to keep the documents secret. From what the Greens did receive it implies that the plan to demolish and privatise the towers was based on nothing more than a few dot points on the back of an envelope. 

The Victorian Greens say that the case has made it clear that residents do not want to be kicked out so Labor can privatise the public housing estates, and that this is only the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s plans to demolish their homes.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri: 

“This case has made one thing clear, residents do not want Labor to demolish their homes so the public housing estates can be privatised. This is just the beginning of residents fighting back against Labor’s bad plan. This plan that wants to tear down homes and displace thousands of public housing residents in a housing crisis has never stacked up. It’s only a matter of time until the wheels fall completely off.” 

Leader of the Victorian Greens and member for Melbourne, Ellen Sandell: 

“The outcome today is disappointing for the brave North Melbourne and Flemington residents who took the state Labor government to court, but the fight is not over. Residents are speaking out, they deserve to have their voices heard and the Greens are going to keep standing alongside them to oppose Labor’s demolition and privatisation of public housing.”  

The Victorian Greens have secured a number of critical changes that help to get the balance right to protect LGBTQIA+ and disabled people against hate speech and provide essential safeguards for marginalised and overpoliced communities. 

The Victorian Greens offered the Labor Government a progressive pathway to pass hate speech laws and following constructive negotiations, the Greens have secured critical changes that improve the Bill in line with advice from human rights, legal, faith, multicultural and community stakeholders. 

These changes are aimed at providing protections against hate speech while ensuring we have appropriate safeguards to prevent criminalising marginalised and overpoliced communities. 

The changes include a requirement for decision makers – like police and the courts – to consider the social, historical and cultural context intended to capture power imbalances between parties in criminal cases. In addition, third-party oversight in criminal prosecutions will be retained, limiting police overreach by requiring police to obtain the DPP’s consent to prosecute.

To ensure that cases are handled fairly and in the public interest, the Bill will also now explicitly specify its purpose to “address systemic injustice and structural oppression,” and to provide protections for people with a protected attribute while promoting “full and equal participation in an open and inclusive democratic society without impeding robust discussion.” 

The Greens have secured a narrowing of the scope to the expanded religious exception so that there are clear limitations to prevent the LGBTQIA+ and other marginalised groups from being vilified under the guise of religion. 

Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri says that the changes secured by the Greens significantly improve the Bill so that we get the balance right and to protect the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities from hate speech while providing safeguards to prevent police overreach and the criminalisation of already marginalised and overpolicied communities.

Greens MP, Gabrielle de Vietri: 

“No one should experience hate based on who they love, their race, religion, or if they have a disability and that’s why it’s been so important that we get these laws right.” 

“The Greens have long called for protections for LGBTIQA+ and disabled people and have secured critical changes to make sure that these laws do what they’re supposed to. We’ve ensured this bill protects people against hate speech with safeguards in place to prevent these laws from being misused, especially against marginalised and overpoliced communities.” 

“We’re pleased that Labor has worked with the Greens to pass a progressive bill instead of caving even further to the Liberals and right wing campaigns on such important laws for our LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities.” 

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Equality, Aiv Puglielli: 

“This is an historic moment for LGBTQIA+ people who have been advocating for the protections to be expanded to protect our community from hate speech for years.” 

Victorian Greens spokesperson for Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism, and Disability Rights, Anasina Gray-Barberio: 

“People with disabilities are disproportionately discriminated against and that’s why it’s crucial that we’ve got laws that protect people with disabilities from hate speech. 

“No one should be discriminated against or targeted because of their race. We know that multicultural and First Nations communities are the most impacted by overpolicing and that’s why it’s so important we have these safeguards in place that will prevent these communities from being unfairly targeted.”