Category: Australian News

Home Affairs staff using the Albanese Government’s Ministerial Direction 99 did not cancel the visas of 66 criminal non-citizens, including rapists, child sex offenders, violent offenders, and domestic violence offenders.

It has already been reported that Administrative Appeals (AAT) Members allowed 97 criminal non-citizens to remain in Australia because of Labor’s Ministerial Direction 99.

The new Immigration Minister, Tony Burke, must finally be honest with the Australian people about the size of the mess caused by Labor’s Ministerial Direction 99 and apologise for failing on the government’s number one duty to keep the public safe.

The Australian community expects Minister Burke to not only review these departmental decisions to ensure criminals who should have been deported are deported but publicly release the review outcomes.

Ministerial Direction 99 was introduced by then Labor Immigration Minister Andrew Giles on 23 January 2023 providing new guidance for Home Affairs staff and AAT members when considering visas cancelled under the character test provisions of the Migration Act.

According to government answer to a Senate Estimates Question Notice, Home Affairs staff did not cancel the visa of 66 criminal non-citizens because of Ministerial Direction 99, including, rapists, child sex offenders, violent offenders, and drug offenders.

It has already been reported that non-citizens who should have been deported but were allowed to remain in Australia by the AAT because of Ministerial Direction 99 include:

• A serial rapist who attacked 25 women and a child.

• A non-citizen police said possessed, “some of the worst child abuse material in the world”.

• A convicted rapist whose drug-fuelled attack drove his victim into a spiral of self-harm and homelessness.

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan said the Albanese Labor Government introduced Ministerial Direction 99 and then did not undertake a review of its operations even though they were warned it could put public safety at risk.

“A criminal non-citizen allowed to remain in Australia as a result of Ministerial Direction 99 went on to allegedly commit murder,” Mr Tehan said.

“Will Minister Burke not only review these new cases but publish the findings?

“Will Minister Burke be transparent about the risks to public safety caused by Ministerial Direction 99 and guarantee the same mistakes will not be repeated under Labor’s new Ministerial Direction 110?

“This will be a test for Minister Burke on how serious he is about keeping the Australian community safe.

“The last time Minister Burke was Immigration Minister 83 asylum seeker boats arrived in 80 days; will he sit back again as another mess unfolds?”

The Labor Government introduced Ministerial Direction 99 because of a commitment made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to New Zealand Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after she complained that Australia was deporting criminal New Zealanders back to her country.

Labor finally admitted the failure of Ministerial Direction 99 and issued a replacement, Ministerial Direction 110, that came into effect on 7 June 2024.

It has been 12 months since the Play our Way program was announced to provide funding towards female sports facilities, but community sporting organisations have been left in the dark by the Albanese Labor Government.

It has been reported today that applicants to the program have not received any update on whether they have been successful, leaving community sport representatives frustrated by the slow process and funding uncertainty.

The Government committed to this funding package as a back-foot response to the Coalition’s $250 million announcement to support community sporting infrastructure across the country.

The Coalition’s commitment sought to capitalise on the inspiration provided by the Matilda’s World Cup success, to deliver long-term benefits by boosting female participation in sport and supporting grassroots sport.

Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Anne Ruston said that this unexplained delay with the Government’s program is incredibly disappointing, particularly at a time when the sporting prowess of Australia’s female athletes is once again in the spotlight.

“We already knew this announcement was just more rushed policy on the run from Labor. They clearly felt the pressure of being on the back foot as the Coalition took the lead on supporting women’s sport.

“The Albanese Labor Government’s failure to now provide any significant update after all this time just proves their announcement was all about politics. This government must stop prioritising photo opportunities over the real action needed to support sports participation in Australia.

“It is critical that the Government supports the sporting infrastructure communities need as more young Australians are inspired to get out there and get active,” Senator Ruston said.

A project to grow sustainable manufacturing of Australian technology in India, workshops connecting Australian energy transition researchers and start-ups with India, and an artistic duo who will turn Melbourne’s Federation Square into a living canvas are among the recipients of this year’s Maitri Research and Cultural Partnerships Grants.

The Maitri (meaning friendship in Sanskrit) grants are administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations to deepen links with India and allow for closer collaboration between our two countries.

The five Maitri Research Grants will explore opportunities between Australia and India in agribusiness, critical technology, energy transition and advanced manufacturing. This will provide a pathway for commercialisation of Australian research and technical capabilities with India and explore new avenues for industrial collaboration between our countries.

The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support connections between Australian cultural organisations and India’s creative sector. This round will fund fourteen collaborations between Australia and India, including three First Nations collaboration projects. 

For the full list of Maitri Research Grant recipients please see:  https://www.australiaindiacentre.org.au/our-programs/maitri-research-grants

The full list of Maitri Cultural Partnership recipients is available at:  https://www.australiaindiacentre.org.au/our-programs/maitri-cultural-partnerships

Imagery is available at: https://multimedia.dfat.gov.au/fotoweb/albums/Zpdoe-doalJ9Uqv0/

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“I congratulate the recipients of this year’s Maitri grants and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India.

“Whether it’s shared research, commercial innovation, cultural exchanges – or just laughing together – we are proud to support these initiatives, because we understand that human connections and people to people links have always been at the heart of the Australia-India relationship.”

Tim Thomas, CEO, Centre for Australia-India Relations:

“The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support innovative collaboration between small and large cultural organisations in Australia with India’s thriving creative sectors.

“The Maitri Research Grants will assist Australian businesses to harness the opportunities created by India’s economic transformation and build on its track record in innovation.

“They are focused on sectors of the economy that are indispensable for Australia’s future growth.”

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has today published its final report into Operation Tambre , concerning the conduct of Constable Daniel Keneally (former Premier Christina Keneally’s son) in fabricating evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

The report details the failures of the preliminary police internal investigation and former Constable Keneally’s deliberate dishonesty in producing statements that lead to the arrest and imprisonment of Luke Moore, an advocate against police strip searches.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said, “This report paints a damning and callous picture of Constable Keneally, who knew he was lying in his statements and that Luke Moore would face court and jail time, based on those lies,”

“Keneally’s lies led to the wrongful arrest of a consistent advocate against police misconduct and overreach. It is a gross injustice that Moore was falsely sent to prison while Keneally, convicted and his appeal quashed, will avoid jail,”

“The internal police investigation was a failure. Keneally resigned, but only after his failed appeal, and only after the LECC recommended his resignation. Police are routinely found unwilling to hold themselves to account until the courts or the watchdog drag them kicking and screaming,”

“This will no doubt result in yet another successful and extremely costly civil case against the NSW police force, who spent more public money on losing in court last year than the entire operating budget of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission,”

“The flashing neon question now is how many more LECC reports into failed internal investigations does Premier Minns need before he changes this broken system of police investigating police?”

“The LECC does excellent work, but it is reactive, has limited resources and powers and is routinely obstructed by police, who would sooner drag the LECC through the courts than comply with their requests in investigations. A police force we can trust requires a watchdog with proactive powers and teeth.” Ms Higginson said.

The Australian Greens have accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of sending in the trojan horse of economic development, the week before the landmark High Court challenge of the Yunupingu case which is spearheaded by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

At the same time all but abandoning the Uluru Statement, following his speech at Garma Festival today.

The theme of Garma is ‘fire, strength, renewal’ which post-referendum should be a stark reminder to Labor that like the NAIDOC theme this year “Keep the fires burning” – Blak, loud and proud the strength and renewal is about the strength of our leaders like the late Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who first talked about Makarrata at Garma after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott walked back his commitments raised at Garma. 

The very concept of Makarrata is about ‘coming together after a struggle’, with this struggle is viewed as the struggle for the truth and justice for Gumatj and First Nations people. 

Despite Labor previously committing to implement the Statement in full – including both Truth and Treaty – Albanese today tried to talk about everything but Truth and Treaty in a desperate attempt to pull the wool over people’s eyes and ignore and divert the focus and the need for the renewal of Garma’s previous calls of Truth and Treaty.

In the PM’s speech, he failed to say that shifting power to national entities like the Coalition of Peaks or the National Cultural Heritage Alliance will remove the rights for Traditional Owners to solely negotiate and to protect their lands and waters, ready for the next Government raid on critical minerals under the guise of a Renewable Energy revolution.

Australian Greens First Nations spokesperson, Senator Dorinda Cox, said Albanese’s grab bag of announcements today were nothing more than a ‘trojan horse’ to conceal the fact that Labor has walked away from its pre-election commitment to First Nations Justice in the way of Makarrata and is hiding the fact that they are in the High Court next week contesting the late leaders landmark case for just terms compensation believed to be worth $700 million.

The Greens currently have a bill for a Truth and Justice Commission before Parliament, and have urged the new Minister for Indigenous Affairs Malarndirri McCarthy to negotiate with them to get it passed.

Australian Greens First Nations spokesperson, Senator Dorinda Cox:

“It’s clear the Prime Minister is walking away from Truth and Treaty. Despite Labor previously committing to implement the Uluru Statement in full, today Anthony Albanese treated it like the elephant in the room saying let’s leave it to the states and territories.

“Seems he needs a lesson in his own constitutional powers, or is he doing this because of the power of Blak leaders and activists in this country like the late Dr Yunupingu who have left a legacy of fighting for country and culture.

“If Labor abandons its commitment it will be an utter failure for First Nations Justice in this country, it can not continue to sit in our sacred ceremonial places with our leaders and stare down the tip of the spear, without knowing and understanding the consequences of truth, it will come back to haunt you.

“Labor needs to abandon the appeal on the Yunupingu case and publicly support the Greens Bill for a Federal Truth and Justice Commission aka Makarrata.

“The dire reporting again on the Closing the Gap targets need us to be focused on the resilience and strength of our First People, the survival of our culture and our connection to our country must never be diminished or removed under western systems. 

“Standing on the shoulders of our cultural giants is about continuing the fight they left for us and survival requires us to navigate the service systems, and the legal battles to protect our legacies of sovereignty to be truly recognised.

“The Greens are ready to work with the new Minister to get our bill for a real Truth and Justice Commission passed and we will continue to stand with Gumatj and all clans and nations around Australia who are entitled to just terms compensation for mining and the destruction of our traditional lands and waters.”

Today’s landmark signing of a Partnership Commitment by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments and the Yothu Yindi Foundation is a momentous step towards the Yolngu people’s long held vision for a world class tertiary institution in northeast Arnhem Land.

The Garma Institute Partnership Commitment confirms up to $20 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) towards construction of a Yolngu-owned and run tertiary and vocational education facility to provide on-Country learning for Yolngu people from early childhood education to university.

The Partnership was fittingly signed at the 2024 Garma Festival – a year on from the announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of $6.4 million for Stage 1 of the project, which involved consultation and development of a proposal.

This latest investment of $20 million will fund Stage 2 of the project, with the Northern Territory Government investing a further $1.05m (exc GST) and providing in-kind supports, enabling a partnership of infrastructure planning and co-investment.

The Garma Institute Partnership Commitment supports Closing the Gap Priority Reform 1: Formal partnerships and shared decision making, and commits all three parties to working collaboratively towards the successful establishment of the Garma Institute.

The Yothu Yindi Foundation already offers a Yolngu-centred curriculum for school students through the bilingual Dhupuma Barker School at Gunyangara, driving strong school attendance rates and improved education outcomes.

This latest investment will see those students given a pathway to continue their higher education at the Garma Institute.

The Institute is to be community and homelands-led using an adult education model created in consultation with Traditional Owners (Waŋu Wataŋu) and clan (bäpurru) leaders and other strong community leaders.

The Institute will draw from Yolngu culture and Rom (law), and operate as a regional accredited education, training and employment hub that combines a strength-based approach derived from both Yolŋu and Balanda learning and knowledge.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“True to its name, the Garma Institute Partnership is a great example of the impact we can make working in genuine partnership and alongside communities.

“Today, I am proud to announce that – through a new partnership agreement with the Northern Territory Government and the Yothu Yindi foundation – we will be investing $20 million from the Aboriginal Benefits Account to build The Garma Institute.

“A new tertiary and vocational education centre, owned and run by the Yolngu people.

“And a new pathway to higher education, right here on country.”

Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy:

“Connection to culture through on-country learning ensures the best outcomes possible for Yolngu students – keeping young people engaged in school creates a pathway to further education and the endless possibilities for reaching their full potential.”

“I commend the Yothu Yindi Foundation for their dedication to this ground-breaking initiative and their vision for future generations of Yolngu students who can access world-class education on-Country, learning Yolŋu and Balanda knowledge close to home.

“Communities across Arnhem Land and other areas of the Northern Territory have always understood the power of strong partnerships to deliver better outcomes.” 

Chief Minister Eva Lawler:

“My team and I are focussed on providing opportunity for every Territorian no matter where they live.

“The Governments $1 million will go towards assisting the establishments of the Garma Institute, providing more opportunities along the Gove Peninsula.”

Yothu Yindi Foundation CEO Denise Bowden:

“This Partnership Commitment recognises that the Garma Institute will be a game-changer for the region, a state-of-the-art education facility that will preserve and protect Yolngu knowledge, languages, and traditions, capturing and showcasing 60,000 years of unique cultural DNA.

“Offering a suite of tertiary, VET, and bridging courses tailored to the needs of the local community, it will advance education outcomes and create employment opportunities at a critical time for the region.

“It will allow Yolngu to complete the studies of their choice, without having to leave their community and culture behind.

“The Garma Institute has been the vision of Yolngu elders and community leaders for more than two decades, and we’re delighted that the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments are helping to make it a reality.”

Australia is pressing Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations to protect civilians and aid workers, following Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report on the deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.

ACM Binskin confirmed the Israeli Defence Forces’ strikes on their vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making.

This is consistent with the IDF’s own assessment that this “incident should not have occurred” and was a “grave mistake”.

Gaza remains the deadliest place on earth to be an aid worker.

The UN reports that more than 250 aid workers have been killed since the conflict in Gaza began. In recent weeks, at least three UN vehicles have come under attack.

This is why the Australian Government is implementing all of ACM Binskin’s recommendations, including the recommendation for further calls on Israel to improve coordination and deconfliction with humanitarian organisations working on the ground.

We are working with the UN and the international community to press Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations, to ensure the tragic deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues are not in vain and not repeated.

The Australian Government will persist until proper protections for aid workers are in place. The best protection for aid workers – and civilians – is a ceasefire.

Israel’s process to determine accountability for the World Central Kitchen strikes is not over. The Military Advocate General of Israel is still to decide on further action. Our expectation remains that there be transparency about the Military Advocate General’s process and decision. I have written to my Israeli counterpart to this end.

We will continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.

Ms Frankcom dedicated her life to the service of others. She was an Australian we can all be proud of. I again extend my deepest sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues, as I do to those of the other victims.

The Australian Government thanks ACM Binskin for his work. An unclassified edition of his report is available on the DFAT website.

The Victorian Greens have secured a significant integrity reform today, legislating a non-government chair and majority for one of Parliament’s most powerful committees.

The Parliament today passed the Greens amendment to the Parliamentary Standards and Workplace Integrity Bill 2024 which legislates that the chair and majority of the powerful Integrity and Oversight Committee must be independent from government.

Last year, the Greens secured commitments from the government to have a non-government chair and majority of the Integrity and Oversight Committee during this term, but by securing this change in legislation, it means the Chair of this committee will stay in non-government hands into the future, and ensure that after the next election governments can’t go back to marking their own homework.

Unfortunately both Labor and the Liberals voted against further Greens amendments to remove government control of the important Budget estimates process, which is designed to scrutinise Government Budgets and spending, but is deeply ineffective in Victoria due to being government-controlled.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“When it comes to scandals, corruption and integrity measures, Governments should not be allowed to investigate themselves. That’s why the Greens’ win today is so significant.

“We’ve seen scandal after scandal here in Victoria. Clearly Victoria’s integrity and anti-corruption measures are not up to scratch.

“The Greens’ win today is an important first step in fixing Victoria’s broken anti-corruption system, and we’ll continue to push for even more reform.”

Greens spokesperson for integrity, Tim Read:

“We need non-government chairs and majorities on these powerful parliamentary committees in order to properly hold the government to account.

“Government control of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee greatly limits the extent to which non-government MPs can question ministers about their spending, so it’s deeply disappointing to see Labor and the Liberal party joining together to vote against fixing this. ”

The ACT Greens have today announced a range of rental reforms that will go further and faster to ensure that every Canberran has access to a safe, secure and affordable home.

“Housing is a human right. Every Canberran deserves a safe, affordable and comfortable place to live – whether they are a homeowner or a renter,” said ACT Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury.

“Right now, more people than ever are struggling to put a roof over their head. We are in a housing crisis – rents are among the highest in the country and house prices are out of reach for many Canberrans.

“In March 2023, a report from Anglicare Australia showed that none of the properties listed as available in the ACT were affordable and appropriate for essential workers. 

“For decades, Labor and the Liberals have used tax breaks to rig the housing market in a way that builds wealth rather than providing safe and secure places to live.

“That’s why the ACT Greens have a plan to reform the system to address the significant power imbalance that exists between landlords and renters and ensure that every Canberran has a safe and affordable place to live. 

“As part of our plan, the ACT Greens will establish an independent Rental Commissioner to provide a timely and targeted service to resolve rental questions and disputes, and attempt to resolve issues outside of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. 

“Importantly, the Commissioner will be empowered to enforce rental laws and issue fines. This will ensure renters’ rights are protected, without relying on renters to pursue matters themselves through a tribunal – a process that can be prohibitively costly, stressful and intimidating for renters.  

“The ACT Greens will also implement a two-year rent freeze and a subsequent fixed rent cap of 2% of the existing rent. A rent freeze will provide a much needed circuit-breaker for the many renters who are struggling with increasing rents alongside the increasing cost of living. The subsequent caps will create the long term structure change that the system needs. 

“Because we are in a housing crisis, people shouldnt have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their rent – it’s just not good enough. 

“The ACT Greens will ban all unsolicited ‘rent bidding’, to prevent potential tenants offering more than the asking price – which locks others out of the market and increases rental prices. We will also enforce rules on no cause evictions and rent increase limits via the Rental Commissioner – to ensure that renters are empowered to enforce their rights in rejecting illegal rent increases.  

“These and other measures in this policy form part of the Greens broader plan to fix the housing crisis. Renters are at the heart of this plan, because the current system is designed to deliver profit to landlords, not homes for people. The system is stacked against renters and that needs to change. 

“The ACT Greens have worked hard to improve rights for renters, we have banned ‘no cause’ evictions, banned solicited rent bidding and introduced minimum ceiling insulation for rental properties.

“While we have achieved a lot, the Labor and Liberal parties have continually blocked our attempts to deliver better protections for renters such as a rent freeze and improved rent caps. 

“If we are re-elected in October, the ACT Greens will deliver practical and concrete measures to fight for renters and fix the private rental market,” Mr Rattenbury said.

ACT Greens Member for Brindabella and renter Laura Nuttall, who is re-contesting her seat, believes the Government should do more to assist renters with the housing and cost of living crisis.

“The cost-of-living crisis is not getting any better, and we know more and more people are struggling to keep up with basic living expenses,” Miss Nuttall said. “Just over a year ago I was putting off going to medical appointments and putting off paying for medication just to stay on top of groceries. I, like many others, spent a lot of time organising my life around not having quite enough money to get by comfortably. Rent is a huge driver of the cost of living crisis and it shouldn’t be this way.”

“During COVID we saw that the rent relief fund made a huge difference for a lot of people in having a safe place to call home. In a cost-of-living crisis the ACT Greens believe the rent relief fund should exist permanently to help protect renters from the risk of eviction and homelessness and help people manage those unexpected short term financial shocks,” Miss Nuttall said.

“I know first-hand that moving house is expensive and stressful and can be quite unexpected. Renters are often forced to move for reasons outside their control, and requirements such as rental bonds increase the costs even further. We’re talking about people living in rental duress also being $2000 out of pocket for weeks.”

ACT Greens Member for Yerrabi and renter Andrew Braddock said he knows the feeling of powerlessness that renters experience in the market.

“A year ago I was notified that my landlord had decided to sell my house vacant.  I experienced the powerlessness of not being able to guarantee a roof over my head and a home for myself and my young children despite my immense privilege. I had to explain to my children why they needed to pack up their belongings and leave their home at short notice.”

“A Rental Commissioner will help inform renters who are often at a power and financial disadvantage, of their rights and provide accessible avenues to resolve disputes.

“Other practical help including a portable bond scheme and rent freeze, plus permanent rent relief fund will greatly assist renters who are struggling in an unaffordable rental market,” said Mr Braddock. 

I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM as the Auditor-General for Australia.

Dr McLiesh’s 10 year term begins on 4 November 2024.

Supported by the Australian National Audit Office, the Auditor-General is an independent officer of the Australian Parliament and is responsible for auditing Commonwealth entities. The Auditor-General plays an important role in upholding accountability and transparency.

Dr McLiesh is a senior public service leader with more than 25 years’ experience across government, international, not-for-profit and commercial sectors.

In 2017 she was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to social impact investment policy and reform in New South Wales.

Dr McLiesh has served as the Secretary and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Treasury since 2019. Prior to this, Dr McLiesh was the Managing Director of TAFE NSW and a Deputy Secretary with the NSW Treasury.

This appointment follows a merit-based selection process. In accordance with the Auditor-General Act 1997, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit provided its approval to Dr McLiesh’s appointment before I made a recommendation to the Governor‑General.

I thank the former Auditor-General, Mr Grant Hehir for his significant service in the state and federal public service. I also thank Ms Rona Mellor PSM for acting as Auditor-General since February 2024 until Dr McLiesh’s term commences.