Category: Australian News

Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate everything we’ve built together and be optimistic for the future we can shape together.

Whether you are someone whose ancestors have loved and cared for this land for 60,000 years, or whether you are making the pledge of commitment as a new citizen today, all of us belong to the greatest country on Earth, and all of us can take pride in a national story written by the courage of our people.

From those who serve in uniform and keep us safe to farmers battling unforgiving country.

The courage to start a business, drive a breakthrough, study or train for a new career, care for our loved ones and educate our children.

The courage to seek and build a new life here.

The courage to show kindness to those in need, preserve our social cohesion and champion a fair go for all.

The courage of everyone who works hard, makes sacrifices and pushes forward, even when times are tough, because they are driven by that oldest and deepest Australian aspiration, wanting a better life and greater opportunity for the next generation.

The values and character of the Australian people is the story of our history, the continuing inspiration of our present and the very best reason to be optimistic for our future.

Whether you’re heading to the beach having friends over for a barbie, or hitting the road for the long weekend, I wish you all a safe and happy Australia Day 2025.

Following news today that Splendour in the Grass will be cancelled, the Greens have called on the Albanese Government to deliver urgent reform to revive festivals and avert another string of cancellations in 2025.

Greens arts spokesperson and Senator for South Australia, Sarah Hanson-Young:

“Today, music fans and the arts sector are reeling to hear Splendour is cancelled for another year. We can’t afford another year of festival cancellations in the cost of living crisis.

“We’ve seen this sad movie before and it’s a warning to policy makers that unless we see reform that can actually revive the live music sector, 2025 could be another wipeout year of festival cancellations.

“Festivals are about more than just supporting great Australian artists, creating lifelong memories and giving euphoric vibes – thousands of creative workers are employed in the arts sector. Thousands more are employed in the small businesses that rely on the ‘arts-tourism’ factor, particularly in regional Australia. Another year of cancellations will leave painful economic scars in the cost of living crisis.

“Reform is urgently needed if we are to revive our local music and festival culture. We need to look at funding, tax and insurance reforms and the Greens stand ready to work with the Government to deliver a package that can stem the cancellations and allow new and independent operations to flourish. 

“Splendour is one of Australia’s most beloved festivals and there will be a lot of fans, musicians and arts workers coming down today upon hearing this news.”

Today, the ACT Greens have announced Dani Hunterford and Sam Carter as their candidates for the seats of Fenner and Bean, adding the new faces alongside Isabel Mudford for Canberra, Christina Hobbs for the Senate and Jo Rocke for the Senate.

Elected directly by a grassroots, community membership made of nurses, teachers, retail workers, and more, ACT Greens candidates running this election have genuine connections to the people they would represent in Federal Parliament.

“As a community sector advocate and a postgraduate at the Australian National University, I’ve seen firsthand how government policies can shape the lives of everyday people, for better or worse,” said Candidate for Canberra, Isabel Mudford.

“But unfortunately, over the past three years our local representative, Alicia Payne, has consistently voted alongside the least progressive Labor government in living memory – failing to advocate for the changes Canberrans want and need.

“Meanwhile, instead of working for you, the two major parties have been taking millions in donations from big corporations. These corporations donate because it gets them results – all the while our community struggles with the cost of living.

“Unlike the major parties, the Australian Greens refuse to take donations from big corporations. Our movement is powered by everyday people—volunteers from all walks of life. Because of them, we work for the community, not corporate interests.”

“This election, Canberrans have a real choice — more of the same, or community candidates who will listen to the voices in our city, and push for ambitious action on climate, housing, health and the environment.  

The seat of Canberra is a pivotal battleground for the ACT Greens this election. The party are set to build on their strong previous performances in the seat. In 2022, the ACT Greens secured Canberra as a two party preferred contest between themselves and Labor.

Last year the ACT Greens announced Isabel Mudford for the Seat of Canberra alongside former United Nations humanitarian worker, Christina Hobbs as lead candidate for the Senate and educator and policy advisor, Jo Rocke for the Senate. 

Dani Hunterford:

“As a young person, a renter, and a passionate advocate for change working in harm-reduction in the not-for-profit sector, I know that this election presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to make real change,” said Candidate for Fenner, Dani Hunterford.

“But while our community is struggling with the cost of living, the major parties are supporting new coal mines and giving tax breaks to big corporations.

“It’s pretty clear, this election, nothing changes unless your vote does – a vote for the Greens will hold Labor to account and keep Dutton out. 

Sam Carter: 

“As a Paralympian and advocate for people with disability, I’ve seen how government decisions can impact the livelihoods of so many in our community, no matter who they are,” said Candidate for Bean, Sam Carter.

“But instead, Labor and the Liberals prioritise corporate interests over the needs of ordinary people, leaving renters and people struggling with the cost of living behind.

“By voting Greens in this election in any seat, you can elect community members who will fight for fairness and equality—fight for a future that puts people first.”

The Victorian Greens have called out the new Opposition Leader Brad Battin’s offensive and harmful comments towards First Nations Victorians and policy to ‘scrap the Treaty’, saying his Trump-style politics of division shows the party is lurching even further to the right. 

Mr Battin recently chose to attend an interview with Andrew Bolt on right-wing media outlet Sky News, where he reiterated that he would scrap Victoria’s Treaty negotiations and called into question the legitimacy of Victoria’s elected First Peoples’ Assembly, and labelled those attending Jan 26 events and protests as ‘hateful’.

The Victorian Greens say that these are dog-whistling comments in the lead up to January 26 and show total disrespect towards First Nations people in Victoria.

The Victorian Greens say the Liberals are lurching even further to the right and taking a leaf out of Donald Trump’s playbook with this divisive and fear-mongering style of politics. 

the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“It’s gross to see the new Liberal Leader Brad Battin taking another leaf out of Trump’s playbook – going on Andrew Bolt’s Sky News program to take a swipe at our First Nations leaders and re-iterate the Liberals would scrap Treaty negotiations in Victoria. 

“For many people, Jan 26 is a sombre day where First Nations people ask us to listen and reflect on our country’s history, yet the Liberal leader can’t even show some basic respect and understanding on this day. 

“Instead, the Liberal leader is using it as an opportunity to stoke fear and hate to serve his own political agenda. 

“This kind of divisive political point scoring doesn’t benefit anyone, it’s actually just disrespectful and gross and it needs to be called out.”

The Greens are calling for an urgent response to the shocking decline of Tasmania’s east coast little penguin population. 

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“The unprecedented and shocking decline of Bicheno’s little penguin population is a wakeup call to all communities along the Great Southern Reef that the impacts of climate change are with us here and now. 

“Marine heat waves generated by the burning of fossil fuels impact our oceans in so many ways, and these changes to ocean currents, biodiversity and habitat will only become bigger and more dangerous to endemic Tasmanian marine wildlife into the future. 

“Nobody wants to see marine wildlife seemingly vanish along our coastlines, especially not when the species is celebrated by a coastal community and is a crucial part of its identity, economy, and environment – as is the case with Bicheno and its little penguins. 

“There is reason to hope Bicheno’s little penguins will ultimately survive this setback and return, but the science tells us their future will only become more bleak if governments continue to open new fossil fuel projects and fail to address the climate crisis.”

Tasmanian Greens MHA and member for Lyons, Tabatha Badger: 

“The Premier needs to reconvene Tasmania’s Penguin Advisory Group as a matter of urgency, and provide the community with advice and an understanding on exactly what is going on.

“Tasmania’s Penguin Advisory Group was established in 2021 to oversee research and strategies relating to the multiple threats facing little penguins – however it has been inactive now for some time, and it is unclear if it has been disbanded.

“Communities can learn lessons from this summer’s setback and the Penguin Advisory Group would play a critical role in recommending future adaptation strategies. For example, how to look after abandoned and sick penguin chicks when their parents fail to return to feed them Tasmania’s Penguin Advisory Group 

“Penguins’ key food source is sardines, and the community has also expressed concerns about future potential impacts on little penguins from a proposed sardine fishery off Tassie’s coast. This is understandable given the last thing our little penguins need is more pressure on their food sources and foraging behaviour at such a difficult time.

“I urge both the federal and state government to welcome scrutiny in relation to this proposed trial and operate with the utmost transparency.”

Today, the Coalition has announced new action to combat rising anti-Semitism. Where the Albanese Government has shown weakness and failed to combat extremism, a Dutton Coalition Government will show strength and act. 

The firebombing of cars and targeting of homes in Sydney last week follows the horrific attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December in what is now a clear campaign of terror.  

Under Labor, the Jewish community feels under siege and abandoned. 

Last week, the Prime Minister again refused to convene a National Cabinet in response to the attacks in Sydney.  

Today we commit that, if elected, a Dutton Coalition Government will: 

Take a national leadership role expected of the Commonwealth Government, including convening a National Cabinet to combat anti-Semitism and extremism. 

Strengthen the sentencing regime for terrorism by legislating for a mandatory minimum term of 6 years imprisonment for all acts of terrorism under Commonwealth law. 

Amend draft laws currently before the parliament to make it a hate crime to urge or threaten violence towards a place of worship; punishable by imprisonment for 5 years or 7 years in the case of an aggravated offence. 

Introduce mandatory minimum sentences of 12 months imprisonment for the public display of prohibited Nazi symbols, prohibited terrorist organisation symbols, and giving the Nazi salute in public, and increase the maximum penalty to 5 years imprisonment. 

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, said “The shocking rise in anti-Semitism in our country is a national crisis which requires a national response. I first requested the PM convene a National Cabinet on anti-Semitism in November 2023. He failed to do so. Last week I again wrote to him requesting a National Cabinet on this most pressing matter yet he still evades his responsibility.” 

“The Prime Minister talks about taking “action” but real action has been missing from this Prime Minister. The time for talk is over, so today we announce measures that a Dutton Coalition Government will undertake to stop this vile scourge of anti-Semitism in our country in its tracks. If the PM won’t show the strong leadership our country needs, then we will,” Mr Dutton said.  

Shadow Attorney-General, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, said “We must stamp out anti-Semitism in Australia.  The Albanese Labor Government’s weakness has allowed anti-Semitism to run out of control in Australia to the point where we are now experiencing acts of outright terrorism. A clear and strong message needs to be sent to those who perpetrate such evil acts and that is exactly what these proposed new laws do.” 

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator James Paterson, said “A campaign of terror has been unleashed on the Australian Jewish community and those responsible have clearly been emboldened by the weakness of the Albanese Labor Government. Only strong action and real consequences for the perpetrators will bring this to an end. We are sending a clear message today that these acts of terrorism will not be tolerated on the watch of a Dutton Coalition Government.” 

A Dutton Coalition Government will take the strong action required to end the vile scourge of anti-Semitism afflicting our country which has festered for too long and which threatens the safety of our communities. Enough is enough.  

The Albanese Government is building Australia’s Future providing an additional $2 billion to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to support Australian households, workers and businesses capitalize on our natural resources and make the shift to cheaper, clean, reliable, renewable energy.

This new investment, provisioned for in MYEFO, means the CEFC can also offer significant savings for households and small businesses making the switch to renewable energy.

The innovation and investment supported by the CEFC helps deliver reliable, renewable, cost-saving technologies to Australian households and businesses, by unlocking an expected $6 billion of private investment from global and local organisations keen to capitalise on Australia’s future energy ambitions.

Australia has the opportunity to become a renewable energy superpower, with the best resources in the world. We have unlimited potential to build a pathway to secure jobs and economic security for all Australians.

Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australian workers to make more things here.

This is what Building Australia’s Future looks like and only a Labor Government will deliver it.

In 2024 the CEFC, the world’s largest dedicated green bank, invested more than $4 billion in local projects unlocking around $12 billion in private investment that flowed through to regional areas, local Australian manufacturers and industry, and supported over 4000 jobs.  

The CEFC has a major role in helping meet Australia’s emissions reduction targets with its finance helping deliver projects that ensure Australia’s overall emissions continue to decrease.

For example, the CEFC-backed Neoen Culcairn Solar Farm in NSW is expected to create more than 400 construction jobs, generate enough clean energy to power 160,000 homes and deliver local benefits to the region worth some $10 million over its lifetime.

CEFC finance is also helping deliver Collie Battery Stage 2 in WA, which is expected to deliver some 150 construction jobs to the region.

The CEFC works in partnership with retail banks and consumer bodies to help households and businesses to reduce emissions and lower power bills through delivering low cost loans.

Established by the Labor Government in 2012 and saved from abolition in 2014, the CEFC has investment commitment of close to $18 billion in more than 380 major transactions, delivering estimated lifetime emissions savings of more than 160 million tonnes, and seeing $5.4 billion of this capital already repaid.

While the Government has added specific funds to the CEFC such as Rewiring the Nation, the CEFC’s general portfolio has not been recapitalised since it was first legislated in 2012.

The CEFC’s investments are designed to deliver positive returns, as well as delivering energy savings and emissions reduction.

Today’s announcement builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s announcement earlier this week of a record $2 billion investment in the Australian-made aluminium industry, securing more well-paid jobs for Australian workers in our regions and suburbs.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: 

“Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australia to make more things here.

“This boost to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is expected to unlock around $6 billion worth of private sector investment, supporting local good well-paid jobs, energy security and economic growth.

“We are building Australia’s future, not taking Australia backwards.”

the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen: 

“The world is shifting to net zero. That means there are big opportunities and big benefits for Australia, so long as it acts now to make the most of demand for clean energy and inputs globally.

“We’re getting on with the changes needed to make the most of Australia’s natural comparative advantage, having some of the best sun, wind, and critical mineral resources in the world.

“Meanwhile Peter Dutton’s only answer to how he’d make things better is to throw this opportunity away, cancel the programs and the projects that are working to make Australia better right now, and wait 20 years to build the world’s most expensive form of power. It’s madness.”

The Albanese Labor Government is building the workforce Australia needs for the future by backing apprentices to complete their trade in the residential housing sector.

The Government will provide a $10,000 incentive payment – doubling the current level of support – to encourage Australians to train for jobs in this critical sector.

The new Key Apprenticeship Program will establish a Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream in response to the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System.

The review released today found cost-of-living pressures faced by apprentices are steering people away from taking up apprenticeships.

Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australian workers to make more things here and that includes building more homes.

From July 1 2025, eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages, over the life of their apprenticeship to work in housing construction.

Apprentices will receive $2,000 at six, 12, 24, 36 months, and at the completion of their apprenticeship.

Encouraging more people into apprenticeships will ensure we have the workforce to deliver our Homes for Australia Plan, an ambitious target to deliver 1.2 million homes over the next 5 years.

It builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s plan to support more students and trainees through expanding Free TAFE and slashing HECS fees for university students.

The Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System commenced in February 2024 and was led by Dr Iain Ross AO and Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM.

The Review looked at the Incentive System’s performance, how it can align with the broader economic and social objectives of government, and how the system can support high quality apprenticeships.

It also considered how to create a safe training environment for priority apprentice cohorts and the cost of living impacts on apprentices.

The report has drawn on past reviews, research, and input from over 145 public submissions as well as consultations with more than 600 people from across the apprenticeship system.

The Albanese Government is considering the Review’s findings and will consult stakeholders on longer-term reforms recommended by the Review to inform its response.

The Government is also taking additional immediate steps to support the Review’s most urgent recommendations and address ongoing cost-of-living pressures while it undertakes consultation:

• Maintain the 2025 Priority List and extend current Australian Apprentice Training Support and Priority Hiring Incentive payment settings by six months until 31 December 2025. This will provide consistency for employers and cost of living relief to apprentices in priority occupations during the consultation process.
• Increase the Living Away From Home Allowance from 1 July 2025 so apprentices can meet the costs associated with moving to take up an apprenticeship.
• Increase the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment from 1 July 2025 to support employers taking on apprentices with disability.

The program will allow eligible apprentices in construction occupations to receive an additional $5,000 compared to the Australian Apprenticeship Training Support Payment.

The reviewers final report is available at Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System.

the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“Building Australia’s Future is about so much more than bricks and mortar. It is about creating a better life for Australians. It’s about building better education and creating new employment opportunities.

“Our tradies are the lifeblood of our construction sector, and that’s why today we are announcing that apprentices who finish an apprenticeship in the housing sector will receive a $10,000 incentive payment.

“This will support apprentices with cost of living, while ensuring we have the skilled workforce we need to deliver our Homes for Australia plan.

“Only a Labor Government is building Australia’s future.”

the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Clare O’Neil:

“We’re seeing more homes built now than when we were elected – and that’s due to the billons of dollars the Albanese Government has invested in programs like Free TAFE and improved support for tradies.

“More tradies means more new homes, so supporting more apprentices in construction and housing is something we need to get right.

“The long-term fix to housing is to build more homes in our cities, suburbs and regions, and that’s why we’ve started one of the biggest home building program in Australia’s history.”

the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“It is essential that we get the Australian Apprenticeships system right. We need to have a system with more apprentices finishing their training and gaining the skills and qualifications that we need in our workforce.

“The Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System shows apprentices are especially exposed to the cost-of-living pressures. That’s why we are making this initial investment as a first step to help address the financial challenges apprentices and their employers face.

“This cost-of-living measure should encourage aspiring housing construction tradies to take up the call and join this critical workforce.

“Apprentices are the lifeblood of so many Australian industries. The skills they develop are vital ingredients for us to capitalise on our Future Made in Australia plan and deliver the infrastructure to achieve net zero.

“I would like to thank Dr Iain Ross AO and Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM for their comprehensive work in delivering the Review.”

The text of the following statement was released by the Secretary of State of the United States, the Foreign Minister of Australia, the External Affairs Minister of India, and the Foreign Minister of Japan.

Begin text:

We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Washington D.C. to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended. Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.

We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains. We look forward to advancing the work of the Quad in the coming months and will meet together on a regular basis as we prepare for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India.

End text.

A new report by the Australian Conservation Foundation, ACF’s “Extinction Wrapped” , has revealed that more than half of the Australian animal species newly threatened with extinction live in NSW. The report also highlights that the total number of new species threatened with extinction has risen by 41 to a total of 2,138 (as well as 107 ecological communities being threatened with extinction).

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “This report absolutely slams the promise from the NSW and Federal Labor Governments that there would be no new extinctions on their watch,”

“The truth is, the Albanese Government more than doubled the area of threatened species habitat approved to be cleared between 2023 and 2024 – as well as walking away from their proposed National environment regulator,”

“The Minns Labor Government in NSW is fully culpable for abandoning our environment and nature, with the Great Koala National Park still being logged almost two years after Labor were elected to protect it, and changes to biodiversity offsets that were pushed through Parliament on the last sitting day of 2024, will still allow critically endangered species’ habitat to be cleared. It’s political failure,”

“The decline in biodiversity in NSW and Australia is a crisis for all of us, we rely on a healthy environment to live. It’s shocking that neither NSW or Federal Labor understand nor care enough about this,” Ms Higginson said.

NSW Species:

Pugh’s Frog

Alpine Water Skink

Hunter Valley Delma

Granite Belt Leaf-Tailed Gecko

New England Leaf-Tailed Gecko

Common Greenshank

Black-Tailed Godwit

Latham’s Snipe

Grey Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper

Terek Sandpiper