Category: Australian News

Today I announce updates to the Cabinet and the Ministry, following the foreshadowed resignation of Bill Shorten MP as Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services.

I intend to recommend to the Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Sam Mostyn AC, that she make the following changes to the Ministry:

• Amanda Rishworth MP – to become the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
• Senator Katy Gallagher – to become the Minister for Government Services
• Dr Anne Aly MP – to become the Minister Assisting the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

I once again pay tribute to Bill Shorten for his decades of service and the tangible positive difference he’s made to the lives of Australians all over the country and to the NDIS.

These positions will be in addition to the ministerial responsibilities already held by Ministers Rishworth, Gallagher and Aly.

In addition to the above changes, Anika Wells MP, Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport, has been promoted to the Cabinet.

I am proud to lead a strong, united and stable cabinet government focussed on delivering for Australians now, while building Australia’s future.

A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to occur at Government House, Canberra, on Monday, 20 January 2025, at 9.30am.

Nine beaches in Northern Sydney have been closed due to more material washing up that are similar to the human waste found on beaches in the Eastern Suburbs last year. Repeated occasions where wastewater is causing pollution and with no clear source must be addressed by the Environment Protection Authority and Sydney Water.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “The repeated discharge of sewage material onto Sydney Beaches in recent months is a deep sign that there is a systemic failure in Sydney’s waste water management. We know that Sydney loses significant amounts of water through cracked and damaged pipes, it’s time for Sydney Water to tell the public how much sewage is leaking into our environment. If they don’t know, why don’t they don’t know, because they should know.

“Sydney Water has admitted that the human waste on beaches in Sydney’s east last year may have absorbed wastewater discharges indicating that our current treatment systems are not fit for purpose and the question remains, how much waste products are discharged by Sydney Water as part of their ‘normal operations’?”

“We need to have a serious conversation about the accountability of utilities like Sydney Water, and we must do better when it comes to taking responsibility for subjects like where our crap goes. The environment cannot afford for us to just shrug and accept human waste turning up on beaches that are in regular use,”

“If the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) needs to consider what tools they will use to prevent Sydney Water from releasing waste products as part of their normal operations. If that means that Sydney Water’s licence must be varied, or be put on a pollution reduction program – then that’s what needs to happen,”

“In times of drought, we are rightly worried that clean water is leaking into the ground. We need to be just as concerned about the discharges of human waste and toxic chemicals due to inadequate systems and infrastructure. If Sydney Water needs more resources and better tools to get the job done then the Government must stump up,” Ms Higginson said.

Australian Greens Forests spokesperson Senator Nick McKim has written to the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to congratulate them on their decision to deny finance to Tasmanian logging company TP Bennett and Sons, and urge them to ignore the histrionic spin emanating from Tasmanian Forests Minister Eric Abetz.

“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank should be congratulated on their refusal to fund the destruction of Tasmania’s native forests which is contributing to climate change and biodiversity collapse,” Senator McKim said.

“The bank should file the nonsense from Mr Abetz where it belongs. In the rubbish.”

“Mr Abetz has simply regurgitated tired old forest industry spin and completely ignored the fact that native forest logging is cooking the planet and destroying ecosystems.”

“Native forest logging is an industry whose time is up, and Mr Abetz’s desperate dummy spit yesterday shows that he knows it.”

“If more banks had the courage to refuse to fund logging native forests and burning fossil fuels the planet’s climate would not be breaking down around us and ecosystems would not be collapsing.”

“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank should stick to their guns and Mr Abetz should forget about the spin and instead stop the massive public subsidies the mendicant native forest logging industry receives from his government every year.”

Labor needs to come clean about its intentions for the polluting salmon farms that are driving the Maugean Skate to extinction, the Greens say.

“Prime Minister Albanese needs to come clean here,” Greens Senator for Tasmania Senator Nick McKim said.

“Is he going to keep backing the profits of foreign fish farm corporations or will he take action to protect the Maugean Skate from extinction?”

“The EPBC Act isn’t fit for purpose but not for the Prime Minister’s stated reasons. The reason it’s not fit for purpose is that it doesn’t protect the environment.”

“Labor cannot continue to walk both sides of the street. The science is in and salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is driving the skate to extinction.”

“Labor can either continue defending foreign corporate profits, or they can act to protect the Macquarie Harbour ecosystem and save an iconic Tasmanian fish species from extinction.”

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $7.5 million over three years in additional funding to Crime Stoppers. 

This funding commitment will enable Crime Stoppers to expand its operations and protect more Australians from the devastating impact of crime in local communities. 

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton, said “Crime Stoppers is an integral part of the efforts of our communities and our law enforcement agencies to disrupt crime. As a former police officer, I know first-hand of the incredible work that Crime Stoppers does to keep Australians safe. People from around the country willingly provide information to Crime Stoppers that prevents, stops and helps solve crime because people are assured their anonymity is respected.” 

Shadow Attorney-General, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, said “Crime Stoppers is one of Australia’s most respected crime fighting organisations. It provides a safe, anonymous and independent way to report crime, empowering communities to help prevent crime in their own backyard. The Coalition’s funding commitment to Crime Stoppers will help keep Australians safer. This funding is an extremely effective way of fighting crime at a local community level.” 

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator James Paterson, said “The Coalition’s commitment to expanding funding for Crime Stoppers is needed now more than ever. It is the Albanese Labor government’s weakness and incompetence on crime and community safety has put Australians at risk. This funding will allow Crime Stoppers to help address the antisemitism and extremism crisis we have seen over the past year. The Coalition will support Crime Stoppers to make sure all Australians feel safe.” 

In 2023, almost 4,000 arrests and 10,000 charges were laid because of information provided by the community through Crime Stoppers.  On average, there is one contact to Crime Stoppers made every minute across Australia. 

Every dollar invested in Crime Stoppers delivers more than $11 in return value. 

This funding commitment will provide Crime Stoppers with a greater level of financial certainty to help Australia’s law enforcement agencies to crack down on the illicit drug trade, and other violent and non-violent offences. 

A Dutton Coalition Government will get Australia back on track by tackling the crime and anti-social behaviour that threatens the safety of our communities. 

My Government has a vision to Build Australia’s Future, and last week Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and I travelled across the north of our great continent to deliver it.

It’s an ambitious vision to build everything from roads and homes to the health system and education.

In short, all the things that help Australians build the futures they aspire to.

It’s a vision that has at its heart a determination to seize the opportunities that are within our reach, and it begins with Australia’s greatest resource: our people.

After announcing funding to upgrade Queensland’s Bruce Highway, and a visit to the Northern Territory’s Lake Nash cattle station, just one of the many beneficiaries of our resumed trade with China, we flew into Kununurra.

It was a wonderful start to my 27th visit to Western Australia as Prime Minister.

At a community event there, I had the privilege of meeting so many locals.

What it reminded me is that it is people like these who are the lifeblood of our regions.

Their energy, talent and determination are the beating heart of the economy across northern Australia.

And in the words of our Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, a strong north means a strong Australia.

That’s why my Government is doing so much to support regional communities.

Last week we announced a $200 million package to support housing and community infrastructure in regional WA.

More than $90 million of it will go towards the critical infrastructure such as water, roads and power needed for building more than 1360 new homes across the Wheatbelt, Karratha and Lockyer under our Homes for Australia plan.

This plan will see more investment in more social housing and in more private rentals, as well as supporting home ownership through our Help to Buy scheme.

It is a program that is proudly modelled on the successful scheme that has operated here in WA for many decades.

It is important to note that every one of these measures were opposed by Peter Dutton and the Coalition – just as they have opposed all of our measures to help Australians with the cost of living.

While they remain mired in their obsession with obstructing, Labor is getting on with the job of constructing.

We are getting on with building the future by building communities and building opportunities.

As we work to encourage more people to live and work in regional Australia, we know homes are only part of the story.

Northern cities and towns need sporting clubs, parks and upgrades to local precincts – the infrastructure that adds to the liveability that is the heart of any community.

That’s why we are delivering more than $110 million to build and upgrade community infrastructure.

Funding will go to regional areas such as Newman, Kununurra and Carnarvon.

This will encourage more people to live in regional WA and create more economic and business opportunities, and begin writing a fresh chapter in the West’s extraordinary success story.

WA’s success is central to Australia’s success.

We will continue to encourage and foster that economic growth.

That’s why we have granted First Point of Entry to the Ports of Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier.

This will allow for more direct international shipping, meaning businesses, farmers and other industry in the north will be able to import and export goods closer without having to transit through ports such as Darwin or Fremantle.

Consider the scale of the changes that are possible.

Right now, the volume of exports at the Port of Wyndham is 212,199 tonnes.

With the changes to First Point of Entry, we expect exports to increase to over 1.36 million tonnes.

At the Port of Ashburton, we expect exports to be more than 13 million tonnes of iron ore and rare earth concentrates per year by 2030.

Building Australia’s Future is about so much more than bricks and mortar.

It is about creating a better life for Australians, whether it’s through better education, better aged care, better childcare, and better Medicare.

In short: a better Australia for all Australians.

Since we were elected, that has been my Government’s priority.

With a second term, we will keep working and keep building.

While Peter Dutton has made it clear he wants to take Australia backward, we want to keep taking Australia forward to the bright future within our reach.

This opinion piece was first published in The West Australian on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, today announcing over $6 million to improve the everyday lives of North West Tasmanians.

$6 million in Federal funding has been allocated to continue the revitalisation of Devonport’s CBD by delivering Stage 3 of the Local Council’s Living City project.

The funding will complement Council and private investment to upgrade public infrastructure including the construction of a road link and site utilities to unlock land for up to 30 affordable housing units, establish a purpose-built school for young people who have been unable to complete their studies in mainstream schools, and deliver retail sites.

The Devonport Living City project is transforming the city centre for locals and visitors alike, shaping Devonport’s future and strengthening its role as a community and tourism hub for North West Tasmania.

An additional $619,241 has also been allocated to construct the Circular Head Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Smithton.

The hub will house the Rural Health Tasmania Inc. administration team and will be open to other community health organisations.

It will provide a mixed-use shared community space that offers drop-in areas where people can talk with a staff member; engage with social groups, clubs, and educational forums; access health and wellbeing services and programs; or just sit, have a tea or coffee, and relax.

These projects showcase the Government’s commitment to listening to, and working with, local communities, and addressing regional needs.

They are funded through the Albanese Government’s regional Precincts and Partnership Program and Growing Regions Program, which provide investment to transform regional, rural and remote places. For more information, visit: Regional and community programs | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Building Australia’s future relies on critical investments to infrastructure projects – transforming communities and lives.

“This announcement of more than $6 million for North West Tasmania does just that.

“North West Tasmania is a beautiful place to live, work and visit, and my Government wants to ensure it has the infrastructure and housing it needs to continue to grow and thrive.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“Our investments in community infrastructure like the Circular Head Community hub and Devonport Living City project make North West Tasmania an even better place to live, and a place that locals can be very proud to call home.

“Infrastructure projects like these make such a difference to people’s lives. They shape the way we move around the city, and the way we connect with our communities – which we all know is becoming increasingly important.

“Our Government believes in the Devonport’s bold vision with its Living City project, and we’re pleased to be able to help bring this vision to life.”

Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart:

“The Albanese Labor Government is determined to make sure that regional areas like ours are not left behind, and that we get a fair share of the benefits of Federal Government investment.

“As the Federal Government’s representative in the North West I work closely with our local councils and community organisations to make sure they have a strong voice in priority setting.

“Investments like those announced today make our region and our communities stronger.”

Mayor of Devonport City Council Cr Alison Jarman:

“The Australian Government’s funding for Living City Stage 3 is truly the final piece of the puzzle for Devonport’s CBD transformation.

“This financial support unlocks opportunities for dynamic new spaces that will further drive economic growth and enhance community life. We are ecstatic and deeply grateful for this investment, which will transform underutilised land into a thriving hub of education, retail, tourism, and housing.

“This funding helps bring us closer to realising the full vision of Living City and fostering long-term prosperity for Devonport.”

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future through delivering over $10 million to upgrade two key pieces of community infrastructure in Hobart and surrounding regions.

More than $10 million has been allocated to the South Brighton Development Precinct to help unlock up to 600 more homes.

The funding, delivered through the Housing Support Program, will go to critical infrastructure including a new sewerage pump, upgrading local roads and delivering a shared path to connect the development to the Brighton Industrial Hub.

An additional $501,000 has been allocated to the Upper Derwent Valley Precinct to support infrastructure planning to improve connectivity in multiple townships.

Funding will support the development of precinct plans/concept designs, business plans and feasibility studies for the communities of Maydena, Plenty, Hayes, Bushy Park, Glenora, Westerway and Mount Field.

Funding for the Upper Derwent Valley Precinct is provided through the Albanese Government’s regional Precincts and Partnership Program, which provides investment to transform regional, rural and remote places. For more information, visit: infrastructure.gov.au/regional. 

The Housing Support Program is one of a range of measures designed to help achieve the ambitious national target of building 1.2 million new, well-located homes over the next 5 years. For more information, visit: Housing Support Program

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“My Government is building Australia’s Future, allocating more than $10 million to upgrade infrastructure across Hobart and surrounding regions.

“These projects mean more houses for locals and better community facilities to bring them together.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King

“From Brighton to the Derwent Valley, we’re boosting homes and connecting communities by building the infrastructure Tasmanians deserve.

“It’s projects like these that transform the everyday lives of locals – building places they can call home and towns they can be proud of.

“The Upper Derwent Valley precinct will reshape this beautiful Tasmanian region, drawing more visitors to the area and unlocking its potential as a key tourist destination.”

Member for Lyons Brian Mitchell

“Labor understands it takes more than a media release to deliver housing – that’s why we’re funding the critical infrastructure needed to support housing projects.”

A $12.7 million investment for the redevelopment of the Princess Theatre and Earl Street Arts Centre will ensure Launceston’s home of theatre lives on.

The Albanese Government has committed to upgrading the 100-year-old heritage-listed Princess Theatre as well as the construction of a new contemporary Earl Street Theatre, with the hope of ensuring the community stalwart thrives for another 100 years.

During construction, the project is anticipated to create 280 jobs, and once complete, provide an estimated $73.65 million boost to the region’s economy.

This project demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to listening to local voices and funding priorities that benefit Tasmania’s regions.

It is part of our Growing Regions Program which invests in spaces for communities to gather, that promote community connection and shape everyday lives.

Today’s funding follows the $11 million provided for the Launceston Community Precinct project under round 1 of the program. 

The Growing Regions Program delivers investment in infrastructure across Australia’s regional, rural and remote areas. For more information, visit: Growing Regions Program.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Princess Theatre is a vital part of the history of Launceston.

“My Government understands the importance of community and this investment will not only create jobs and boost the local economy, but it will ensure that community spirit in Launceston thrives for decades to come.”

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke:

“The Princess Theatre has been at the heart of the local community for more than 100 years, and today’s announcement means it will live on for generations to come.

“Regional theatres are a lifeblood for communities, injecting new ideas as well as providing support for emerging artists to hone their skills.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King:

“The princess theatre is the heart of Launceston’s CBD. It is an icon of the city and has been for 100 years.

“This continues our ongoing investment into the city of Launceston following projects such as UTAS Stadium and the Launceston Community Precinct.”

Greens call for moratorium on clearing koala habitat at GKNP rally today

What: Press Conference and community rally for the Great Koala National Park

When: 10 am TODAY, Monday, 13 January 

Where: Coffs Harbour – Forestry Corporation Office – 30 Park Ave, Coffs Harbour NSW

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will call for a moratorium on clearing koala habitat and an end to native forest logging at a rally for the Great Koala National Park in Coffs Harbour today.

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens will be putting the environment top of the agenda during the federal election campaign and in any power-sharing parliament which is looking increasingly likely.

“You can’t save koalas while continuing to destroy their homes. Unless we take urgent action to end clearing of critical habitat, koalas will be extinct in NSW by 2050,” Senator Hanson-Young said. 

“Experts have been warning us for years that habitat loss is putting our national treasure, the koala, at risk. Yet the Albanese Government continues to approve the clearing of koala habitat for mining and development including three coal mine extensions just before Christmas.

“Time is up for up native forest logging. It’s time to start protecting nature. 

“The NSW Government promised to protect this precious koala habitat as a national park, yet destruction from logging has only increased.

“Loopholes in our national environment laws continue to allow this destruction to go unassessed. Labor is turning a blind eye to this logging while they should be banning the destruction of koala habitat and working to end native forest logging.

“Saving forests from logging is good for the climate, good for the animals and good for the community. 

“We have the opportunity right now to stop more extinctions and protect endangered wildlife including our precious koala, swift parrot and greater glider.

“Whether it is by the creation of the Great Koala National Park or stronger environment laws that stop the destruction of critical habitat, the Greens urge Labor to save Australia’s great forests from the chainsaws and the bulldozers before it’s too late.”