Category: Australian News

Today I announce the appointments of eight highly qualified individuals to lead Australia’s posts in Rarotonga, Suva, the Holy See, Wellington, Koror, Port Moresby, as well as Australia’s engagement with the UN in Geneva and our international work on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism.

I am pleased to confirm the following appointments:

• Ms Susannah Hodson as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.
• Mr Peter Roberts OAM as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji.
• The Hon Keith Pitt as Australia’s Ambassador to the Holy See.
• Mr Daniel Sloper PSM as Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand.
• Mr Toby Sharpe as Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Palau.
• Mr Ewen McDonald as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
• Ms Clare Walsh as Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
• Ms Gemma Huggins as Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism.

Australia is investing in all arms of national power to advance Australian interests and values in our region and the world – to keep Australians safe, to ensure our economic strength – and today’s appointments will bolster these efforts.

I thank the outgoing ambassadors and high commissioners for their important contributions.

The Albanese Government announced today it will force people in Australia to Nauru after bribing the country with an undisclosed amount of money.

The Albanese Labor Government, at the end of last year, worked hand-in-hand with Peter Dutton’s Coalition to push through the most extreme anti-migrant and anti-refugee policies Australia has seen in a generation.

One of these laws has allowed the Labor Government to bribe countries, like Nauru, to take up to 80,000 people who currently live in Australia. Once they arrive in Nauru, the law gives them no protection from being jailed or returned to the country they fled in fear of persecution.

An Australian offshore detention centre has operated in Nauru for over a decade. Along with a detention centre that previously operated in Papua New Guinea, Australia’s so-called ‘offshore processing regime’ has been directly linked to 14 deaths, including a murder by guards.

In January this year, the UN Human Rights Committee found, in two cases brought by people held in offshore detention, that Australia is responsible for people transferred offshore under the existing regime.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson for Immigration and Multiculturalism, said: “The Albanese Government’s attempt to run to the right of Dutton is cruel and wrong in principle, but it also won’t work politically.

“This posturing by Labor doesn’t build their brand, all it does is legitimise Dutton’s brutal rhetoric on migration and citizenship.

“No one is in immigration detention because they have committed a crime. They are in immigration detention because of a visa issue.

“Today’s announcement entrenches a two-class legal system where you can be subject to arbitrary detention and forced to a country you have no connections to because of where you were born.

“Dozens of other countries face far more pressing immigration issues than Australia, yet no other country has decided to bribe other countries to take people without any regard for human rights.

“What we are seeing is the Albanese Government picking and choosing who gets human rights. When you start picking and choosing who gets human rights, it takes us down a divisive and dehumanising path.

“The Albanese Government has shown no interest in standing up to Dutton and protecting multiculturalism in Australia. When it comes to migration and refugees they have no red lines.

“Make no mistake, history has told us what will happen next: people will die, families will be separated, and the major parties will still blame migrants for problems they created.”

The Greens have called for an urgent independent inquiry into Creative Australia’s shock decision to revoke Australia’s selection to the Venice Biennale, 6 days after awarding the commission to artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Micheal Dagostino.

Citing the capitulation to political pressure, Greens spokesperson for the Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for a full and frank inquiry into the crisis that has now engulfed Australia’s art world and put into question the integrity and independence of the Creative Australia Board.

 The Senator has vowed to hold the agency and Minister to account at the upcoming Senate Estimates, scheduled for Tuesday 25 February, and believes a specific Senate hearing is warranted.

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

 “It’s an appalling capitulation that has plunged arts policy in Australia into crisis.

 “It has undermined the entire integrity and credibility of the newly formed Creative Australia. Succumbing to political pressure from the Murdoch media and conservative politicians has brought the nation’s premium cultural institution into disrepute.

 “Artistic expression must be free from political interference and intimidation. To allow this censorship of artistic thought and expression is to allow an attack on the very values of freedom and peace that are the lifeblood of our democracy.  

 “To award the submission to two of Australia’s great creative minds, only to revoke it 6 days later after political interference sets a dangerous precedent, not just in the art world but for all of our public institutions.

 “This is nothing short of an international arts embarrassment for Australia.

 “There must be a full and frank inquiry into how this decision was made, who was involved and how much it has cost the Australian taxpayer.

 “What role did the Minister for the Arts, or any other members of government have in this cancel-culture calamity?

 “The cancellation of the commission must be reversed, and the original contract with Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino must be upheld.

 “Senate Estimates can’t come soon enough. The agency has failed to stand with the arts community and the public deserves to know the full story.”

The Greens say Australia must stand up for quality journalism, responding to reports today that the Albanese Government will halt the implementation of a News Media Bargaining Incentive policy, over fears of a Trumpian backlash.

Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for Communications & Senator for South Australia:

“Cowering to the bully won’t protect Australia’s interests or ensure public interest journalism is protected.

“The tech bro billionaires and President Trump are a threat to democracy and they will not respect a strategy of appeasement and delay.

“With President Trump acting dangerously outside his jurisdiction, creating chaos not just in the US, but across the rest of the world, Australia needs to stand up for quality public interest journalism now more than ever.

“Reports today that the Albanese Government is abandoning its News Media Bargaining Incentive policy are concerning. Australia should stand up to bullies, not allow them to dictate our public policy.

“The big tech corporations like Meta, X & Google should not be able to profit off the publication and sharing of news content without paying a fair price to the people who produce it.

“The backdown now begs the question, what about all policies that seek to hold the tech giants to account and make platforms safer? From social media age bans, duty of care obligations and scam laws, is the Albanese Government abandoning those too?

“Donald Trump is not our President – and his anti-truth, anti-journalism agenda should not dictate policy here in Australia.”

The Albanese Government is supporting a $95 million upgrade of Papua New Guinea’s Kimbe Port to improve freight services and resilience to climate change, while fostering economic growth and creating local jobs.

The upgrade is financed by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), and will involve the demolition and reconstruction of wharf structures and the rehabilitation of existing facilities.

This project forms part of the broader AIFFP-funded PNG Ports Infrastructure Investment Program, which aims to strengthen connectivity and supply chain efficiency across Papua New Guinea.

The program, developed in partnership with the PNG Government, will also upgrade Oro Bay, Daru, Lae and Kavieng facilities.

Pacific Marine Group Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract by PNG Ports Corporation Ltd for Kimbe Port Marine improvement works.

The Kimbe Port upgrade is supporting local jobs via local construction companies and supply chains, with a minimum target of 30 percent expenditure on local content.

The works are scheduled to begin in early 2025 and conclude in 2026.

More information can be found on the AIFFP project page.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“Since the Albanese Government was elected, we have made the Pacific, including our relationship with Papua New Guinea, a priority.

“Through this project, and the broader Ports Program, we are responding to PNG priorities, and helping our neighbour become more economically resilient and secure.

“Australia is a trusted partner for major infrastructure projects in the Pacific, with transparent investment to support high quality construction and utilising local labour to create jobs and support the local economy.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy:

“The Albanese Government has been working hard with Pacific nations to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

“With more than 90 per cent of internationally traded goods in Papua New Guinea transported by sea, maritime infrastructure is critical.”

“Pacific countries look to us first to support their development and economic needs. Australia is proud to support the re-development of Kimbe Port, particularly as PNG marks the historic milestone of 50 years of independence.”

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Torres Strait Treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea, which entered into force on 15 February 1985.

In addition to defining the maritime boundaries between Papua New Guinea and Australia, the Treaty protects the ways of life of traditional inhabitants in the Torres Strait Protected Zone.

The Treaty’s unique provisions allow Torres Strait Islanders and Papua New Guineans from Treaty Villages free movement across borders for traditional activities, such as traditional fishing, cultural and religious ceremonies, social gatherings and trade.

It is particularly important to reflect on the Treaty’s success this year as we look forward to marking the 50th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence in September.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“The Torres Strait Treaty recognises the kinship between our two countries and our people, reflecting the deeply important relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea as neighbours, friends and equals.

“We will continue working closely together to advance our shared interests and ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy:

“The arrangements in the Treaty are a reflection of the thousands of years of engagement and cultural connection that exist between Papua New Guinea and Australia.

“Australia remains committed to the Torres Strait Treaty, and its assurance to empower our First Nations people and preserve their traditions, as the longest continuous culture on earth.”

The Greens have slammed the Prime Minister’s announcement today that he will cave in to the Tasmanian salmon industry by weakening Australia’s environment laws if re-elected. The Greens will stand up for the environment and community this election against vested interests.

Nick McKim is Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania:

“Labor has backed in the profits of foreign salmon-farming corporations over Tasmania’s environment and the survival of the Maugean Skate.

“Australia’s environment laws are already too weak. To water them down even further to underpin corporate profits is an outrage and a betrayal.

“The Greens will fight any attempt to erode the protection of Australia’s environment with everything we’ve got.

“This will play very badly for Labor at the election, because right around the state Tasmanian communities are fighting to defend their coastlines from pollution and privatisation by industrial salmon farms.

“Tasmanians have always voted for the environment, and will do so in even larger numbers after this shocking environmental sellout.”

Australian Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The Prime Minister has bulldozed environment laws and his Environment Minister, again. Last week it was caving in to the fossil fuel industry, today it’s the multinational salmon corporations.

“It is clearer than ever that Labor is too weak to stand up to vested interests and protect the environment and native species. They simply can’t be trusted to do the right thing, by the law or by nature.

“Instead of applying the law, the Prime Minister has told industry he will change the rules to suit them at the expense of the community and the environment. This is not leadership, this is a weak capitulation.

“Whether it’s protecting our marine ecosystems, native forests or koalas, neither Labor or Mr Dutton can be trusted – they will sell out to the corporations every time. Only the Greens in balance of power can save our native species and force Labor to act.”

The Greens are calling on the Albanese Government to immediately release its response to UNESCO regarding the endangered Maugean skate.

UNESCO has raised concerns with the Federal government about the risks to the Maugean Skate, yet despite repeated requests the government has refused to make its response public.

A Freedom of Information request for the document was also denied, with no valid justification provided.

“What is the government trying to hide?” Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.

“No doubt the government is embarrassed by its response to UNESCO, but people have the right to know how their Government is responding to the likely extinction of a species and the impact of industrial salmon farming on a World Heritage property.”

“The Government’s own environment department has confirmed that reduced oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour – driven by salmon farming – are the key threat to the Maugean skate’s survival.”

“Australia has obligations under the World Heritage Convention to keep the public informed about threats to world heritage areas, yet the Government is refusing to release this critical information.”

“The Maugean skate is on the brink, and the Government should be taking every possible step to save it.”

“Instead, they are prioritising the profits of foreign-owned fish farming corporations over transparency and action.”

“The world is watching. The Government must release its response to UNESCO and act to stop the extinction of this ancient species.”

The Greens (WA) have today announced their 2025 Climate platform which presents a clear plan for Western Australia to protect our climate, get off gas and turn our state into a renewable energy powerhouse.

The Greens plan for WA includes:

• A Clean Energy Transition Levy on gas revenue
• A Gas Transition Plan for WA
• A 2030 Emissions Reduction Target & Renewable Energy Target

Under WA Labor, Western Australia has become the nation’s worst climate laggard – the only state in Australia without a 2030 emissions reduction target or a 2030 Renewable Energy target, with rising emissions and one of the lowest renewable energy investment rates in Australia.

Western Australia’s fossil fuel exports have significant global impact and consequences. WA is currently the world’s third largest exporter of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), supplying 12% of the world’s total LNG exports.

WA Labor’s claims that our gas has less emissions than coal and is helping Asia to decarbonise are dangerous lies – LNG is a dangerous fossil fuel that is causing significant harm to our climate.

The latest climate science makes it clear that exported gas emits as many, if not more, greenhouse gas emissions than coal. Research from the CSIRO has shown that Australian gas is actually displacing renewables in Asia, not coal – keeping our neighbours hooked on fossil fuels for decades to come.

Contrary to misinformation from the gas industry, fossil fuels are only a small part of WA’s economy. While 220,000 Western Australians work in health care, and 143,000 work in mining, just 11,000 work in oil and gas extraction – making up just 0.7% of the state’s workforce.

Unlike the mining industry, most of the gas industry in Western Australia pays no royalties at all – in fact WA drivers pay more in vehicle registration than the gas industry pays in royalties.

Western Australia is already experiencing devastating climate consequences. Identified as a global drying hotspot by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), since 1970 winter rainfall has declined up to 20% in our southwest, river flows have plummeted and heatwaves spanning water and land have intensified.

Last year was Perth’s hottest, driest summer ever recorded, leading to forest collapse in large swathes of our southwest and deeply challenging conditions for our farmers.

These warming temperatures are also leading to deeply harmful economic consequences for our state. The January 2023 Kimberley flooding cost WA taxpayers over $869 million dollars.

A severe marine heatwave experience in January 2025 threatens valuable industries such as the rock lobster fishery and marine tourism on the Coral Coast.

Only the Greens have a plan to transition workers out of the harmful and dying gas industry and develop good long term green jobs that will last decades into the future.

A Clean Energy Transition Levy on Gas Revenue

WA’s gas revenue arrangements are dated and no longer fit for purpose, with the current tax and royalty arrangements made decades before WA developed its offshore gas industry.^[1]

It is time Western Australian residents received benefits from the gas and condensate transported from Commonwealth waters offshore to onshore processing plants in WA, that are then sold for billions of dollars.

Fossil fuel companies including Woodside, Chevron, Shell, Exxon, BP made an estimated $41 billion in 2023-24 exporting liquified natural gas out of Western Australia.

However, the current royalty arrangements saw WA only receive $680 million[1]  from gas royalties in the 2023-24 budget.

The Greens will push for the WA State Government to work with the Federal Government to establish a new 10% Clean Energy Transition Levy on existing WA gas projects processed onshore.

If applied last financial year, this levy could have earned Western Australia $4.1 billion dollars – still less than half the $9.8 billion dollars that the iron-ore industry contributed to WA state revenue.

The funds raised from the Greens proposed levy will be earmarked solely to pay for WA’s transition into a renewable energy superpower and for paying from the increasing climate damage our state is suffering.

It will directly fund:

• Delivery of critical and life-saving fire and emergency services across the state that are facing increasing demand from climate related disasters. 
• The Greens ‘Renewables for All’ policy which would see Zero Interest Loan Scheme for home renewable energy, EV’s and batteries, a Home Energy Rebate Program aimed at lower income households, a Renewables for Renters initiative and a Solar for Apartments scheme.
• The building of large scale, publicly owned batteries, wind and solar.
• The development of a WA Renewable Jobs Plan
• The development of a Gas Transition Plan for WA
• The establishment of Green Iron Precincts in partnership with the Federal Government, ensuring strategic and sufficient investment in large-scale renewables necessary for the delivery of green iron.
• The building of the required transmission network to deliver large-scale renewable energy projects in the south-west.
• The development of a comprehensive single Common-User Grid Infrastructure Plan in the expanded Pilbara region to deliver large-scale renewable energy, green iron and green minerals projects in the north-west.
• The establishment of an industry-led reuse, recovery and recycling scheme for solar panels, battery storage systems, inverters and related products, creating new jobs and industries from the recovery of these resources.
• The establishment of a decommissioning pathway for offshore and onshore oil and
  gas facilities and ensure the delivery of a multi-user decommissioning facility that maximises recycling of steel and associated construction materials.

A Gas Transition Plan for WA 

The Greens will push for the WA government to commission a comprehensive gas transition study and industry phase-out plan for WA.

No gas industry worker should suffer the anxiety and financial insecurity that comes from losing their job suddenly. Over a carefully planned transition, we can assure gas industry workers that they will continue in gainful, well-paid employment until retirement.

This study will determine the training and support needed to ensure WA gas industry workers are not left behind in the transition to net zero, providing a clear roadmap for how Western Australia can use the expertise and skills within the gas industry to develop new, clean energy export industries.

This in-depth transition plan will be funded by the Clean Energy Transition Levy and will be carried out in consultation with unions and industry.

2030 Emissions Reduction Target & Renewable Energy Target

Western Australia remains the only state without a 2030 Emissions Reduction target or a 2030 Renewable Energy Target in the whole country.

While other states, on average, have reduced their emissions by 55% since 2005, whilst Western Australia’s emissions have increased by 8.3% in that time.

The Greens will introduce a climate change Act for Western Australia that legislates 1.5 degree-aligned targets for emissions reduction and renewable energy for 2030 through to 2050.

Western Australia needs to play ’s part in Australia meeting at 1.5° aligned goal for 2030 and 2035

Greens WA Fossil Fuel Spokesperson Sophie McNeill:

“Roger Cook and Reece Whitby have spent their time in power securing the future of Woodside and Chevron shareholders – not a safe future for our kids.

“The Cook government’s obstruction of climate action is so obvious state Labor MPs are choosing to leave politics to go work in the climate space because they’ll have more chance of helping reduce emissions from outside this government than within it.

“Meanwhile, our state is being increasingly left out of the green boom because of WA Labor’s continued obsession with fossil fuel expansion and new gas.

“If Premier Cook doesn’t change his ways soon, his lasting legacy will be how he chose to support Woodside’s interests over the long-term benefit of WA’s workers and our economy.

“Only through the Greens securing the balance of power will see WA finally come out of the dark ages on climate.”

Greens WA Climate Change Spokesperson Dr Brad Pettitt MLC:

“Gas is part of the problem, not part of the solution. 

“Western Australia is the only state where emissions are still rising and yet the Cook Labor has failed to deliver on its promise to introduce emissions reduction and renewable energy targets that are in line with the science because they are captured by the gas industry.

“This same industry is ripping off Western Australians, making billions of dollars in revenue and paying hardly anything back for the privilege. This arrangement is frankly criminal, and it has to change. 

“Only the Greens have a plan to urgently get off gas, invest in renewable energy and legislate realistic, but ambitious, emissions reduction targets that are in line with climate science to bring Western Australia back on track with the rest of Australia, and the world. 

“The Greens understand that a transition must include a plan to protect workers and communities that are impacted by the transition away from fossil fuels and ensure their long-term economic security as a priority.

“In the face of hotter and drier summers, more dangerous and frequent bushfires and ecological collapse on a scale never seen in this state before the WA community rightly expect better!

“Without a plan as the closure of coal-fired power stations in Collie looms, Western Australia is sleepwalking into long-term reliance on new gas.”

More support is being provided into North Queensland, with more than $100 million in extraordinary grants now available for flood affected primary producers, small businesses and not for profit agencies across flood affected areas.

The grants are the next round of disaster assistance activated by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments to support recovery and resilience for North Queensland communities impacted by recent flooding.

The package activated today includes:

• $72.7 million grants package for flood-affected primary producers in North Queensland.
• $25 million grants package for small businesses and not for profit agencies impacted by the North Queensland floods.
• $2.4 million Rural Landholder Grants for owners or lessees of at least 10 hectares of flood affected land.
• $1 million Emergency Fodder Support for eligible primary producers.

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not for profit agencies impacted by the North Queensland floods.

In addition, grants of up to $10,000 are available to rural landholders or lessees of at least 10 hectares who sustained direct damage but are not eligible for other DRFA primary producer assistance.

This assistance is available to eligible applicants in the local government areas of Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville and Yarrabah.

Primary producers in the Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville and Yarrabah local government areas will have access to an Emergency Fodder Support Package with up to $1 million available for the purchase and transportation of fodder to sustain livestock and mitigate the impacts of flooding.

These extraordinary assistance grants are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under Category C and D of the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

For grant applications, contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946 or via www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

Primary producers wishing to access the Emergency Fodder Support Package should contact the Department of Primary industries on 13 25 23.

More on DRFA assistance is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au or www.qra.qld.gov.au.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“These are tough times, but North Queenslanders are tougher.

“My Government is making sure we’re providing whatever resources are required, right now and into the future as these communities recover.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli:

“Our focus is getting North Queensland back on its feet – fast.

“We’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those affected by the disaster to ensure they can recover quickly and come back stronger than ever.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Small Business Julie Collins:

“These grants will help reduce clean up and recovery costs for North Queensland small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations who were impacted by recent flooding.

Grants like this can make all the difference in helping to ensure impacted North Queensland farmers and small businesses can get back on their feet faster.

“Farmers and small businesses are at the heart of local communities so this funding is critical.”

Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“Farmers, businesses and not-for-profit organisations are central to the North Queensland community, and we know that heavy rainfall and severe flooding has made operations very difficult.

“The grants activated today will support businesses and farmers as the region moved to recovery, it will help farmers feed stock, and repair damage.

“Recovery can take time. Our government is here for the long haul. The Albanese Government will continue working hand in glove with the Queensland Government to support communities in Far North and North Queensland.”

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy:

“Small rural landholders in North Queensland would not be left to fend for themselves on the road to recovery.

“Rural Landholders that have suffered direct damage from the event can also access grants of up to $10,000 to speed up their recovery,”

Queensland Minister for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last:

“The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority is well prepared, with staff on the ground ready to assist.

“These grants are being administered by QRIDA who have dedicated people ready to speak to primary producers, small businesses, not for profits and rural landholders about their applications and provide help where needed.”