Category: Australian News

The Albanese Government’s new Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy will increase access to trusted and reliable news, deliver quality content and foster engagement across the region.

Labor made an election commitment to deliver the Strategy, which will help Australia build closer relationships with countries in our region and restore our place as a partner of choice, as we work towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world.

The Strategy provides a framework to help foster a vibrant and independent media sector, counter misinformation, present modern multicultural Australia, and support deeper people-to-people engagement.

There are three key areas that the Strategy focuses on:

• Support the creation and distribution of compelling Australian content that engages audiences and demonstrates Australia’s commitment to the region.
• Enhance access in the region to trusted sources of media, including news and current affairs.
• Strengthen regional media capacity and capability and boost connections between Australian-based and Indo-Pacific media and content creators.

To help media organisations in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia  provide quality media services, the Government is establishing the Indo-Pacific Media Fund. One of the Fund’s first initiatives is to support the Australian Associated Press to provide targeted training and access to news content in the Pacific.

The Strategy is underpinned by the Government’s investment of $40.5 million over five years from 2022-23 in the ABC to create new content, improve digital engagement, increase ongoing support for media partners in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia, and expand Radio Australia’s FM footprint across the Pacific.

The PacificAus TV initiative is also receiving $28.4 million over five years from 2022-23 to bolster the viability of Pacific regional media and expand access to Australian commercial television programs.

These contributions build on Australia’s longstanding support for the region, such as the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme and the PNG-focused Media Development Initiative which have supported the resilience, independence and professionalism of the Pacific media sector for more than a decade.

To reflect the varied media sectors and Australia’s diverse relationships across the region, the Strategy is accompanied by the Australia-Pacific Media and Broadcasting Partnership, Australia-Southeast Asia Media and Broadcasting Initiative and Australia-South Asia Media and Broadcasting Initiative.

Images and video are available at DFAT’s media library

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Media plays a crucial role in elevating the voices and perspectives of our region and strengthening democracy.

“The Government is committed to supporting viable, resilient and independent media in the region, by deepening media connections and sharing content that builds a richer understanding of modern, multicultural Australia.”

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“A healthy Fourth Estate is imperative in the era of digital transformation and misinformation.

“This Strategy continues Australia’s longstanding commitment to supporting a robust media sector in our region.

“By leveraging Australia’s strengths, we can partner with the region to boost media connections, and foster a diverse and sustainable media landscape.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy MP:

“Australia and the Pacific share close cultural and people-to-people links, and an enduring love of sport. These connections will be further enriched by the boost in Australian content, allowing us to watch, read, and listen to shared stories across the region – from rugby to news and music.

“We also look forward to continuing and expanding our support for media development, including through the new phase of the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme and future opportunities through the Australia-Pacific Media and Broadcasting Partnership.”

Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education Spokesperson has responded to new campus protest rules imposed by Sydney University which include bans on camping, three days’ notice for any demonstration and requirements to obtain approval to use megaphones or even to attach banners to university buildings.

Breaches of the rules allow the Sydney University to dissolve protests, remove property, and direct students and staff to leave parts of campus.
 

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“Students and staff should not need permission to exercise their fundamental right to protest on their own campus.

“What we are seeing here is a despicable attempt by neoliberal, corporate university management to stifle student activism and shut down political expression.

“Staunch campus activism has changed the world. Universities campuses should always be political spaces where students and staff are encouraged to speak out on issues of social, racial and environmental justice.

“Sydney University students  campaign for Indigenous rights, an end to South African apartheid and the Vietnam War. They were on the right side of history then, and they are on the right side of history now with their protests for a free Palestine.

“Sydney University is trying to smother activism and these  rules are a shameful attempt to quash further protests against the genocide in Palestine. 

“Sydney University must dump these shameful anti-protest rules, which disturbingly seem to have been introduced without consultation or notice.”

Labor is once again announcing something that isn’t new or adequate funding for frontline services. Meanwhile, Destroy the Joint report that at least 40 women have been killed by family and domestic violence this year.

Australian Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women, Larissa Waters

“Labor’s announcement today is yet another re-hash of previously committed funding. The 19 projects that will be constructed will be done using $100 million in funding announced in the 2022-23 October Budget.

“The construction of 720 safe places is welcome and desperately needed, but will accommodate at most a mere three percent of women and children seeking housing. Moreover, waiting three years until 2027 for these facilities to be built is cold comfort to women and children being killed by family and domestic violence now.

“This government keeps making announcements, but there’s never any new or adequate funding for frontline services, which is what the women’s safety sector and this crisis of men’s violence demands.

“In 2022-23,73,287 people experiencing family and domestic violence presented to homelessness services. 720 safe places is a drop in a very large ocean of need – at most it could help three percent of people who need help – and they won’t provide anyone safety until 2027.

“With no new funding announced today for crisis accommodation or affordable housing, Labor is forcing women and children to remain in violent households, because there is nowhere for them to go.”

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Antiracism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the Government needs to urgently implement the National anti-racism strategy and fully fund the Race Discrimination Commissioner to ensure all forms of racism are combated.
 

Senator Faruqi: 

“Combating Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism is an important priority, but it seems like the Government is making policy up on the run.

“We already have a Race Discrimination Commissioner which is empowered to fight all forms of racism. 

“Labor is trying to reinvent the wheel instead of backing the solution they already have. The Government should adequately fund the Race Discrimination Commissioner to urgently complete and implement the national anti-racism strategy rather than meddling with its mandate by creating new positions that eat into its remit.

“You can see how little Labor has considered this approach by the fact that the Islamophobia Register wasn’t consulted and the anti Islamophobia envoy was hastily added on to the announcement without even a candidate. Muslims facing Islamophobia in this country should not be an afterthought.

“We need a united effort to defeat racism in this country, which is so pervasive and deep seated, especially against First Nations people. The best way to dismantle Antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other type of racism is by working in solidarity with groups facing hate and racism.

“Australia still hasn’t reckoned with the Christchurch mosque massacre where a man from this country with an extreme Islamophobic ideology killed 51 Muslims.

“If the Albanese Government was serious about tackling racism, they would drop their Trump style immigration policies, stop blaming international students and migrants for their own policy failures and end their own Islamophobic crusade against Senator Payman.”

This month marks 50 years since the landmark establishment of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO).

In July 1974, the Whitlam Labor Government showed global leadership by establishing what is now referred to as ASNO following Australia’s ratification of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

ASNO was one of the first agencies of its kind dedicated to preventing nuclear war and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.

The establishment of ASNO and Australia’s ratification of the NPT has demonstrated Australia’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation to the international community and helped bolster global efforts towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

Over the past 50 years, ASNO been implementing the highest standards of nuclear safeguards to help prevent the misuse of dangerous nuclear material and to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

ASNO has also been central to strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, leading Australia’s efforts to implement the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). This includes hosting 21 stations as part of the international monitoring system, which is critical to detecting nuclear weapons tests, for example, in North Korea.

ASNO is now working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and AUKUS partners to develop a first-of-its-kind safeguard arrangement for Australia’s conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine program that sets the highest non-proliferation standard.

ASNO will continue to work to strengthen global non-proliferation verification standards and support regional partners implement their non-proliferation commitments.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia has a proud history of advocating for non-proliferation and disarmament – and the Albanese Government is continuing this legacy.

“Given that it is nuclear weapons that most risk catastrophe, we must work harder to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

“We will continue to work with others to strengthen the NPT and urge progress on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty.”

An FOI request released today clearly shows Immigration Miniter Andrew Giles deliberately misled the Parliament.

Minister Giles received clear written advice from Home Affairs that drones were not used to monitor immigration detention detainees at large in the community just hours before he made the false claim on television that they were.

In a Sky News interview on 30 May, Minister Giles said:

“There is a quarter of a billion dollars that we’ve invested in supporting our law enforcement agencies to enforce, and that’s enabled things like using drones to keep track of these people we know.”

Five days later, Minister Giles made the embarrassing confession in the Parliament that drones were not being used to monitor detainees and he blamed Home Affairs staff for the mistake.

He told the Parliament during Question Time on 3 June:

“Last week, in an interview on Sky News, I did state that Operation AEGIS was using drones. I relied on information provided by my department at the time, which has since been clarified.”

The FOI shows that Minister Giles received written advice from his department that contains no mention of drones being used to monitor detainees.

The FOI, published on the Right to Know website, requested all documents from Home Affairs that Minister Giles relied upon when he made the incorrect claim that drones were being used to monitor detainees.

In response, Home Affairs provided an email sent by Associate Secretary Emma Cassar at 9:39am on 30 May, just before Giles’ Sky interview at 11:15am, that said:

“Quick points on case monitoring in the community: – Drone footage over accommodation – to ascertain a) property risks, b) proximity to other properties/community/risk settings (eg: licenced venues).”

Click here to read the full email from Home Affairs to Giles.

Click here to read the full FOI request correspondence.

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan said today’s FOI revelation heaped more embarrassment on a Minister who had demonstrated he was not up to the job.

“What is clear from this FOI is that Andrew Giles has deliberately misled the Parliament,” Mr Tehan said.

“One read of the very short and very clear advice from his department and it is obvious that drones were not being used to monitor detainees at large in the community.

“What this FOI proves is that Minister Giles was throwing the department under the bus when he said he was provided advice that required clarification. The advice was very clear and required no clarification. Minister Giles just got it wrong.

“It is even more unbelievable that it took Minister Giles five days to correct his mistake when the advice from his department was written in black and white, suggesting Minister Giles was again hiding from accountability and hoping to avoid responsibility.

“Minister Giles has a track record of dodging responsibility. He refuses to front the media when things go wrong, and this is not the first time he has thrown his department under the bus.

“But it’s the coverup that gets you, and Minister Giles has been caught deliberately misleading the Parliament by blaming Home Affairs staff for his own incompetence.

“Andrew Giles should do the honourable thing and apologise to his department and then resign.

“It has passed time for the Prime Minister to sack this incompetent minister.

“It is now beyond a joke that Giles is still in his job and still making mistakes.

“It just shows how weak the Prime Minister is that he will not sack his factional ally.”

Pauline Hanson has claimed she was ordered not film an interview next to a statue of Mary Poppins because the children’s character is ‘apolitical’.

The One Nation leader was filming an interview with Sky News in Maryborough on Queensland‘s Fraser Coast Region on Wednesday night when she claims a local official threatened to ring the police.

At the start of the interview with Steve Price, the One Nation Leader claimed that as they were setting up earlier, there had been a confrontation off-camera.

‘So a staffer came from the council and told me that I can’t film here next to Mary Poppins, because she’s apolitical, and told me I shouldn’t be here,’ Senator Hanson explained.

‘I told them “get lost, I’m doing the interview here”.’ 

Ms Hanson continued: ‘They said “we’re going to ring the police”… (and) they’ve gone away to ring them.

‘So if the police turn up and you see a confrontation here, you know what’s happening with it, because Mary Poppins is apolitical, and I shouldn’t be actually doing the interview here.’

Ms Hanson then held up an artwork to the camera depicting her as Mary Poppins created by a local.

A defiant Senator Hanson stood her ground as she vowed not to be bullied when she knew her rights.

‘I’m not a pushover, and no one is going to bully me or tell me,’ she continued.

‘I know I’m in my rights, and I can stand here beside my mate Mary Poppins, and I will.’

It’s unclear why Senator Hanson decided to be filmed next to the Mary Poppins statue. 

Senator Hanson also revealed it had been the second time someone had threatened to call the police on her in Maryborough that day.

She claimed the town was ‘run by a bunch of bullies who don’t want to see One Nation here.’

‘I’m sick and tired of these people. This is the second time today,’ she told Price.

Ms Hanson explained she had wanted to inspect the site of an old TAFE.

‘It was built about nine years ago. It’s sitting there in wreck and ruin.’

‘I went on the property to actually have a look at it.’

‘I was told by the security guard, ‘you’re not allowed to come here.”

‘I said, ”I’m here as a Member of Parliament. I want to know where the taxpayers’ dollars are going (with) this facility sitting there”.’

Ms Hanson said the security guard warned he would call the police. 

‘”Good, call the police”, I said. Because I’m going to have a look around,’ she recalled.

Senator Hanson wanted to inspect the site as it could have been used for ’emergency housing, for aged care, for educational purposes’.

The statue of Mary Poppins is located in the Maryborough City Hall Visitor Information Centre and is a tribute to the creator of Mary Poppins, P. L. Travers who was born Helen Lyndon Goff in Maryborough in 1899.

The Albanese Government today announces the appointment of Ms Jillian Segal AO as Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia, as part of our ongoing efforts to preserve social cohesion in Australia.

The conflict in the Middle East has deeply affected communities across Australia.

The appointment of the Special Envoy is a critical step in the Government’s efforts to ensure all Australians feel safe and included.

Every Australian, no matter their race or religion, should be able to feel safe and at home in any community, without prejudice or discrimination.

The Australian Government continues to press for a ceasefire, for civilians to be protected, humanitarian aid to reach Gazans in desperate need, and for all hostages to be released.

We have advocated for a two-state solution on the world stage, at the United Nations.

As Special Envoy, Ms Segal AO will listen to and engage with Jewish Australians, the wider Australian community, religious discrimination experts and all levels of government on the most effective way to combat Antisemitism.

Ms Segal will attend the World Jewish Congress in Argentina next week in her role as Special Envoy, alongside other Special Envoys to combat Antisemitism from around the world.

Ms Segal’s extensive career spans decades in both the public and private sector, including as former President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and as Chair of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership and lived experience will prove invaluable to the Government’s efforts to build a cohesive society, where all Jewish Australians feel safe and can thrive.

Ms Segal has been appointed for a three-year term and will report directly to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

The appointment of Ms Segal as Special Envoy will bolster the Government’s almost $90 million investment in initiatives to tackle the ongoing impacts of the Hamas-Israel conflict in Australia, demonstrating the Government’s firm commitment to listening to and working with affected communities.

The Federal Government will also appoint a Special Envoy for Islamophobia and the details of that appointment will be announced shortly.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“There is no place for violence or hatred of any kind in Australia.

“The appointment of Jillian Segal AO is a critical step in easing the tensions that we see playing out here at home, as a result of the devastating conflict in the Middle East.

“Australians are deeply concerned about this conflict, and many are hurting. In times like this, Australians must come together, not be torn apart.

“We have built our nation’s social cohesion together over generations, and this is why we all must work together to uphold, defend and preserve it.”

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles

“The Albanese Government has zero tolerance for prejudice or hatred of any kind.

“Antisemitic behaviour in Australia, including its recent rise, is unacceptable and the appointment of Ms Segal demonstrates our Government’s firm commitment to tackling Antisemitism head-on.

“Ms Segal’s extensive leadership experience, and decades of advocacy for Jewish Australians will be invaluable as she works with Government to engage with community and take decisive steps to combat Antisemitic behaviour.”

Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Ms Jillian Segal AO

“Combating Antisemitism in Australia has never been more important than it is today.

“The Jewish community in Australia is experiencing valid feelings of fear in the face of increasing Antisemitism.

“Jewish Australians want to feel free to live their day-to-day lives, and also want to feel safe to practice and express their religion without fear. They also want to be able to contribute as they have previously to the vibrant multicultural society that we value in Australia.

“I look forward to working with stakeholders across the community to deliver a safer future for my community, and to strengthen social cohesion and drive a strong, informed and deliberate approach to combating Antisemitism.”

This week, we are pleased to welcome Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the Hon Feleti Teo OBE, to Australia, where he will visit Brisbane, Adelaide and Tamworth and meet with Prime Minister Albanese, senior members of the Government and Opposition, PALM workers and diaspora.

Prime Minister Feleti’s visit is an opportunity to discuss progress on implementation of the Falepili Union, our joint initiative to help safeguard our collective peace, security and sovereignty.

To help grow our people to people ties, and boost connectivity, Australia is pleased to announce up to $40 million in aviation and connectivity support.

We have already made progress on several commitments as part of the Falepili Union, including:

• Tuvalu’s first undersea telecommunications cable, which will deliver transformative digital access and improve connectivity for the people of Tuvalu. After careful planning, works will begin in August.
• After the successful completion of phase 1 of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, which has added significant land to Funafuti, the next phase will commence shortly.
• The first tranche of budget support for critical services has now been provided, and a design team is conducting consultations in Tuvalu in July to support a new economic governance program.
• Australia has confirmed the arrival of a new Guardian-class Patrol Boat in the third quarter of this year.

The historic partnership puts people first, and will help protect Tuvalu’s people, identity and culture, and grow ties between Australia and Tuvalu.

We are honoured to share some of our own history, culture and traditions during the visit and discuss the elevation of our partnership.

We also warmly welcome Prime Minister Feleti’s announcement of the Tuvalu Government’s intention to open a new diplomatic mission in Canberra.

This is a clear demonstration of the growth of the bilateral relationship and will help support the growing Tuvaluan diaspora in Australia as a result of the Albanese Government’s Pacific Engagement Visa and upcoming mobility pathway between Australia and Tuvalu.

Prime Minister Feleti will also meet with Senator Simon Birmingham during his visit.

This follows Australia’s bipartisan visit to Tuvalu in May 2024 and demonstrates Australia’s bipartisan commitment to Tuvalu and the Pacific region.

Work has begun on the much-needed upgrade to Henson Park following a $12.5 million funding agreement between the Federal Government, State Government, the AFL and Inner West Council.

The Albanese Government has long supported a renewal of Henson Park, having first committed to funding its upgrade in 2019.

The investment from the Australian Government of $2.5 million for the upgrade alongside the NSW Government’s $5 million investment, $4.5 million from the AFL and $500,000 from the Inner West Council – plus the Council’s $2.85 million for surface renewal, drainage and improved lighting in recent years – has meant the dream for Henson Park to become an elite venue is almost realised.

Due for completion before the 2025 NAB AFLW and NSWRL Cup seasons, the Henson Park works will update its change facilities and improve accessibility of the heritage King George V grandstand while maintaining the venue’s historic feel.

The upgrades to the ground include:

• Overhauling the interior of the grandstand to modernise the change room facilities, including amenities for women and girls for the first time at this ground.
• Adding two more change rooms and a gymnasium at the rear of the grandstand.
• A multi-use function room behind the grandstand.
• An elevator to the grandstand to improve accessibility to the upper levels.

The ground hosts elite AFLW matches for the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants as well as the Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup Rugby league competition.

AFL Sydney women’s and men’s leagues matches are a mainstay at the oval and it is often a home to the Newtown Breakaways AFL Football Club which uses the oval for its major events throughout the year including its annual Pride Round celebrations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Henson Park has been the heartbeat of Marrickville’s sports community since its 1933 opening and I’m so proud to be part of its renewal.

“Whether it’s AFL or NRL, or other uses of the ground in the future, these upgrades will offer immense benefits to all who step onto the hallowed turf, whether elite players or weekend warriors.”

Mayor of the Inner West Council Darcy Byrne:

“This upgrade will secure the future of Henson Park as the home of the mighty Newtown Jets and a hub for women’s AFL.

“The big crowds that have been attending Sydney Swans Women’s and Jets’ games will only grow in the years to come because of these investments.”

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper:

“Henson Park has an intangible atmosphere which would inspire any sportsperson.

“The NSW people deserve community facilities like this one and it’s a great thing to have so many stakeholders unite to deliver the ground-breaking upgrade to this heritage grandstand and change facilities.

“I can’t wait to see the elite surface of Henson Park be matched by its internal facilities and watch the reaction for the tens of thousands of people who play at this ground over the years.”

AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development Rob Auld:

“Henson Park is one of the premier venues for Australian Rules football in NSW, from the elite NAB AFLW competition through to community football, and with this upgrade it will be one of the best in the country for all players and umpires.

“It’s a venue which clearly means a lot to its community and the AFL is elated to drive the project that will maintain its heritage but bring it into the 21st century and beyond through clever and necessary improvements. Thank you to the NSW and Australian Governments, as well as the Inner West Council for funding and their support throughout the process, it’s an exciting time for Henson and the entire football community.”

CEO of Newtown Jets RLFC Stuart McCarthy:

“Henson Park is Sydney’s greatest natural amphitheatre and a venue like no other. It is iconic, especially to the community of the inner west. It has been the spiritual home of the Newtown Jets since 1936.

“This project provides upgrades to the facilities for both sporting participants, female and male, grassroots and elite, all abilities and the public.

“A sunny winter’s arvo at Henson Park is hands down the best sporting experience you can find in Sydney. Long live many more of them now and well into the future.”