Category: Australian News

Today the Australian Greens have entered into the Senate a motion that calls on the Australian Government to sanction members of the extremist Netanyahu government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The Albanese government has imposed autonomous sanctions on persons and entities connected to North Korea, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Russia, Syria, and Zimbabwe.

Labor have not imposed any sanctions on any people or entities complicit in the genocide being perpetrated by the State of Israel. The Greens say that this shameful inaction, alongside similar refusals by other nations, has given licence to Benjamin Netanyahu’s extreme government to act with impunity.

Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Senator Jordon Steele-John:

“Labor’s refusal to sanction anyone responsible for war crimes being committed by the State of Israel is a disgrace. They have done more to sanction Senator Payman than they have to sanction a state found by the UN to be plausibly committing a genocide,” Senator Steele-John said.

“The Albanese Government has imposed autonomous sanctions on persons or entities connected to a range of governments and regimes, yet have failed to place any sanction on any person or entity complicit in the genocide and war crimes being perpetrated by the State of Israel.

“The Greens have lodged a motion calling for sanctions today, which will be voted on as soon as the parliament returns. The party will be using the break to put pressure on other MPs to back Palestine and apply pressure on Israel to stop the invasion, occupation, and genocide.

“When Labor MP’s get out of Canberra, I expect them to go back to communities disappointed that Labor continues to be a roadblock for an end to the invasion, and to branches furious that their representatives broke an election promise to recognise Palestine.

“Members of the Labor party will have their chance to cross the floor in the House and Senate. With pressure growing on Labor MPs from the Greens and hundreds of thousands of Australians pushing for peace, including from Labor branches themselves, the gutlessness of any Labor member opposing these motions will be on full display.

“The Government has imposed sanctions on Russia, North Korea, Iran – just to name a few – and it is time for the Australian Government to put sanctions on members of the Netanyahu government.”
 

Full text of the motion:

I move – That the Senate –

a) notes that the Albanese Government has imposed autonomous sanctions on persons and entities connected to North Korea, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Russia, Syria and Zimbabwe.

b) notes that despite documented independent investigations by the United Nations that show clear violations of international law, the Australian Government has not imposed any autonomous sanctions on any person or entity complicit in the genocide and war crimes being perpetrated by the State of Israel.

c) calls on the Government to sanction members of the extremist Netanyahu government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

An historic motion for a Senate enquiry into enshrining the right to free speech in the Australian Constitution was narrowly defeated this week thanks to Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers.

Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts moved the enquiry on Monday and while there was little surprise that Labor and the Greens voted it down, there was disappointment that independent senators David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie, Lydia Thrope and David Van didn’t even turn up to vote.

One Nation proposed an enquiry that shouldn’t be controversial by any reasonable measure. But here we are in 2024, when the duly elected government of Australia is perfectly comfortable being seen voting against the protection of freedom of speech.

This enquiry—and a wider debate in the Australian community—on freedom of speech is urgently needed. The Albanese Labor government is determined to suppress our freedom of speech with its ‘misinformation and disinformation’ legislation.

Australians are afraid to express their views, beliefs and opinions in public settings or at work, yet this right is absolutely essential to a functioning democracy.

In some respects, Australians cannot be blamed for being afraid. After everything that happened to Senator Hanson for speaking her mind, they have every reason to be cautious. This situation is only going to get worse unless we can somehow enshrine the right to free speech in the Constitution and protect it against government attempts to suppress it.

Free speech is a right that’s foundational, inalienable and essential. It deserves the protection that only our Constitution can provide. The inquiry sought by One Nation would have looked at the implications, the necessary resources and funding, and the timing of a referendum, preferably held at the same time as an election to save on costs.

But here we are in 2024, where the woke left go to the most extraordinary extremes to silence, censor, de-platform and gag any view that does not meet their approval. Those senators who did not support the enquiry are condemned as opponents of freedom of speech in Australia.

The Albanese Government is getting on with the job of building homes for Australia, with successful recipients announced under Stream 1 of the $1.5 billion Housing Support Program.

A total of 80 projects across Australia will receive funding, including 73 local government projects and seven under the states and territories.

This funding will support master planning and development projects to accelerate housing supply and ensure residential growth in local communities is accessible, affordable and sustainable.

This will help unlock the construction of new homes across Australia.

Some of the successful projects receiving funding include:

• $1.5 million for Blacktown City Council for housing capacity studies and planning strategies around 9 train station precincts, with the potential to deliver 50,000 dwellings
• $1.2 million for the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for a Planning Cadet Program to boost planning capability within regional councils
• $160,000 for Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council for a Future Housing Supply Strategy expected to enable 66 well-located homes in remote Queensland
• $355,000 for the South Australian Department for Trade and Investment to establish a Bachelor in Urban and Regional Planning at Flinders University, to commence in 2025
• $150,000 for Bundaberg Regional Council to undertake precinct planning for 1,300 dwellings (including medium-density, affordable housing) around the Bundaberg Hospital, primarily for hospital workers

 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.

It also forms part of the $32 billion in new housing initiatives we are delivering through our Homes for Australia plan.

States, territory and local governments are encouraged to apply for Stream 2 of the Program which also opens today (9am AEST 5 July 2024).

This $450 million stream will provide funding for enabling infrastructure that supports housing, such as roads and utility connections, and community amenities like parks, footpaths and public spaces.

Applications for Stream 2 of the Housing Support Program will be open until 5.00pm AEST 16 August 2024.

For more information on the Program, including a full list of successful Stream 1 projects, visit Housing Support Program.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Housing Support Program is an important part of our Government’s $32 billion Homes for Australia plan which is building more homes across Australia.

“A place to call home is not a luxury or a nice-to-have, but a fundamental need, and our Homes for Australia plan is making this a reality for more Australians.”

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

“The Albanese Government’s Housing Support Program is helping to turbocharge infrastructure planning so we can deliver more homes, more quickly, for more Australians.

“It’s a critical part of our plan to work with states and territories to help them meet the ambitious national target to build 1.2 million well-located new homes.”

Minister for Housing Julie Collins:

“I urge all councils and state and territory governments to submit their projects for the second stream of the Housing Support Program so we can work together to get more homes on the ground, faster.

“Our Homes for Australia plan is working across the board – more help for renters, more help for homebuyers and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.”

The Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare to deliver a better, fairer and stronger health system and responsible cost of living relief.

In just over 12 months, the network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics has achieved an historic milestone with more than 500,000 free visits across the country.

Half a million presentations since the Albanese Government established the first clinics in June 2023, with Australians receiving treatment for a range of conditions and injuries that are urgent, but not life-threatening.

The milestone coincides with the announcement of the latest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which will be established in the New South Wales area of Queanbeyan, near to the Australian Capital Territory border.

The Brindabella Family Practice, on Morisset Street, was selected to be the Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic through a process led by the New South Wales Government.

The Clinic will open later this month, offering free walk-in care, seven days a week, over extended hours, providing urgent medical care to locals on both sides of the border.

It will reduce pressure on the Queanbeyan District Hospital where, in 2022-23, over 70 per cent of presentations were for semi-urgent or non-urgent matters. 

The Queanbeyan clinic is one of the 29 additional clinics to be established through a $227 million national expansion announced as part of the 2024-25 Budget, adding to the 58 clinics already operating.

There are 16 Medicare UCCs now operating in New South Wales, located in: Albury, Batemans Bay, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Lake Haven, Lismore, Liverpool, Maroubra, Peninsula (Gosford), Penrith, Rooty Hill, Ryde, Tamworth, Westmead, and Wollongong.

There have been more than 87,000 visits in New South Wales, with:

• Almost 1 in 4 by children under 15;
• More than 1 in 4 taking place at the weekend; and
• 1 in 5 weekday visits taking place after 5pm.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are providing the urgent care people need, and all they need it their Medicare card, not their credit card.

“Every day they’re taking the pressure off busy hospital emergency departments.

“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a key way we’re making Medicare stronger, ensuring Australians have access to affordable care, when and where they need it.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:

“Half a million visits proves what an impact our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are having right around the country.

“In the Budget, we invested $227 million to open an additional 29 Clinics, to ensure that more Australians can get medical care when their need is urgent, but not life threatening.

“The Queanbeyan Urgent Care Clinic will help ensure locals on both sides of the border can get free, urgent care, when they need it and fully bulk billed, taking pressure off busy hospital emergency departments.”

Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain:

“The Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is going to make a big difference to residents in Queanbeyan, but also in the surrounding communities of Googong, Jerrabomberra and beyond.

“Instead of waiting for a non-life threatening issue at the emergency department, locals can receive treatment at this walk-in clinic, with no out of pocket costs.

“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the local emergency department and be much more convenient for our communities – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.”

Australian manufacturing is in crisis because of the Albanese Labor Government’s wrong priorities and economic incompetence.

Manufacturing insolvencies have tripled since the last election, domestic energy prices among the highest in the world, invoice defaults at record highs, declines in new orders at lows not seen since the GFC, and growth rates are anaemic for Australian industry.

How can Labor promise a future made in Australia if they cannot keep the lights on today?

While the Coalition will consider today’s legislation, it does not appear to provide any real detail.

The Coalition, along with economists and industry leaders, have raised serious concerns about poor consultation, opaque tender processes, and bad policy.

The reality is this Bill will do nothing to alleviate the pressure Australian manufacturers are facing because of Labor’s economic mismanagement and for too many businesses it is already too late.

As a now removed web page demonstrates this is not the first time Labor has promised Australians a ‘Future Made in Australia’. It is a promise Anthony Albanese was elected on and it is a promise he has categorically failed to deliver in office.

Labor’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund is yet to spend a single dollar.

Energy prices for manufacturers continue to soar and 90 per cent reliable baseload power is set to close under Labor’s flawed ‘renewables-only’ approach.

Yet today with his trademark arrogance the Treasurer is out again promising a Future Made in Australia.

Underscoring Labor’s real motives they are going to spend $45 million of taxpayer funds marketing the Future Made in Australia proposal.

So the test is clear: will the Australian people see ads for a Future Made in Australia before the Government funds projects?

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Industry, Sussan Ley, said Labor were failing manufacturers and focused on winning votes not creating jobs.

“Labor’s homegrown inflation is hurting Australians, families can’t plan for their next grocery shop and businesses can’t plan to keep their doors open, and instead of focusing on delivering an economic plan Anthony Albanese is funding market campaigns to win votes.”

“Australian manufacturers need a proper economic plan: they need cheaper and consistent energy, less red tape and industrial relations settings that work for businesses and employees, not the unions.”

“The Coalition has a plan to provide cheap, clean and consistent energy to return Australia to a manufacturing powerhouse”.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the only thing being “made in Australia” is Labor’s homegrown inflation crisis.

“Labor thinks it can spin and spend its way out of a cost of living crisis. You can’t.

“Labor’s failure to deal with the source of the problem – high inflation – continues to damage the Australian economy and vital sectors like manufacturing.

“Today’s legislation does not provide any clarity for manufacturers who have been suffering under Labor’s economic mismanagement.

“Labor has the wrong priorities and wrong policy settings for a prosperous economy.”

For many years, Pauline Hanson has been warning about the danger of allowing unchecked immigration from predominantly Muslim countries where the population has been exposed to fundamentalist Islamic ideology completely out of step with Australian values of democracy, freedom and separation of church and state.

In her first speech upon her return to Parliament in 2016, Pauline said ‘political’ Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism was being imported to Australia by the major parties too paralysed by woke accusations of ‘islamaphobia’ to restrict or ban immigration from such places.

She also noted Australia was actually exporting Islamic terrorists, and it was true. It was when some Australian citizens travelled to Iraq to join the barbaric Islamic State, or ISIS. Pictures of an Australian child holding a severed head with his terrorist father shamed the nation and horrified the civilised world.

In Australia, there are still radical Islamic preachers calling for ‘jihad’ against Australia and the West, for the genocide of Jews and the destruction of Israel. Due to the Prime Minister’s frailty and ambiguity regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, they are able to get away with it.

And thanks again to Albo’s weakness, a group calling itself ‘Muslim Vote’ has this week emerged to target seats in western Sydney with high Muslim populations, held by senior Labor figures like Tony Burke and Jason Clare. Their initial goal is to force Labor to back the Palestinian cause.

We can all agree it’s unlikely to stop there. Fatima Payman, the 29-year-old hijab-wearing Labor senator from Western Australia – has embarrassed Albo by crossing the floor (traditionally an offence that results in expulsion from the ALP) in support of recognising the non-existent state of Palestine. She’s quit Labor to be an independent, is now talking to infamous ‘preference whisperer’ Glenn Druery and there’s a lot of speculation she’ll be invited to join this ‘Muslim Vote’ group.

Minor political parties have been formed around religion in Australia before. They’ve all been Christian, like Family First, and never particularly successful at the ballot box. They’ve generally stood on a foundation of conservative values many Australians share.

However with 813,000 Muslims now calling Australia home, and Labor hopelessly compromised on religious freedom and the Middle East conflict, we’re now starting to see Muslims exercise political influence.

This influence could not have been brought to bear had Australia’s major parties listened to Pauline’s warnings. But here we are, and it doesn’t bode well for our nation’s future.

The Albanese Government will invest at least $2 billion over the next decade to bolster Australia’s cyber capabilities with the announcement of a strategic partnership between the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Australia to deliver a Top Secret (TS) Cloud for the Australian Government.

This landmark partnership will see AWS establish a sovereign TS Cloud in Australia to deliver resilient information, communication and technology (ICT) services for the Australian Government, generating up to 2,000 local Australian jobs.

AWS is the world’s most widely adopted cloud computing service with a longstanding presence in Australia and specialist expertise in delivering classified cloud services that provide world-class security, reliability and resilience.

The TS Cloud will be purpose-built for Australia’s Defence and National Intelligence Community agencies to securely host our country’s most sensitive information. It will improve our ability to securely share and analyse our nation’s most classified data at speed and at scale, and provides opportunities to harness leading technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The TS Cloud will bolster the resilience of Defence’s communications networks and is a critical enabling capability in supporting the Australian Defence Force’s military operations, and will also support greater interoperability and deeper collaboration with the United States.

This partnership with AWS is a major investment from the Albanese Government and is another important step in implementing the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

This significant investment is part of the $15‑20 billion to 2033-34 to enhance Defence’s cyber capabilities and the $8.5-11 billion to 2033-34 to bolster Defence’s enterprise data and ICT announced in the 2024 Integrated Investment Program.

The joint initiative offers significant opportunities for Australian industry. It will see AWS engage Australian businesses to design and build the TS Cloud, driving innovation and job creation in cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing. Australia’s defence industry will see additional benefits with new opportunities to deliver and integrate new capabilities using these cloud services.

The TS Cloud builds on AWS’ planned $13.2 billion investment in Australian infrastructure to 2027 – the largest tech investment in Australia’s history, supporting the creation of 11,000 local jobs. This is in addition to the $9.1 billion AWS has invested in Australian infrastructure since its launch in 2011.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“My Government is bolstering our defence and national intelligence community to ensure they can deliver world leading protection for our nation.

“This important investment today will help enhance our national security capabilities while creating up to 2,000 local jobs.

“We face a range of complex and serious security challenges and I am incredibly proud of the work our national security agencies undertake on a daily basis to keep Australians safe. We must never underestimate their value and importance. That is what this investment today is about.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles

“The Albanese Government is enhancing Defence’s cyber capabilities as a matter of priority under the National Defence Strategy by investing at least $2 billion to establish and operate a Top Secret Cloud platform which is central to achieving this objective.

“This cutting-edge technology will enhance Defence’s resilience, improve the ADF’s warfighting capacity, strengthen interoperability with key international partners and deliver up to 2,000 Australian jobs.

“This significant investment is a reflection of the Albanese Government’s sensible approach to prioritising the enabling capabilities our Defence Force needs in order to address the complex strategic circumstances we face.”

Director-General Australian Signals Directorate, Rachel Noble PSM

“This is another fantastic example of what we can achieve for Australia when the private and public sector work together in partnership.

“The Top Secret Cloud with Amazon Web Services in Australia will provide a state-of-the-art collaborative space for our intelligence and defence community to store and access top secret data. This will transform how we work together as agencies and partners.

“For ASD, this capability is a vital part of our REDSPICE program which is lifting our intelligence and offensive and defensive cyber capabilities.”

Director-General of National Intelligence, Andrew Shearer

“The Top Secret Cloud represents a truly transformative capability boost for the National Intelligence Community.

“It will drive even closer integration, sharing and collaboration between agencies, greater resilience, and greater interoperability with our most important international intelligence partners.

“As program sponsor on behalf of the National Intelligence Community, ONI considers the Top Secret Cloud will help lay the foundation for a connected, modern and resilient intelligence community. We look forward to working in partnership with Amazon Web Services, the Australian Signals Directorate and other National Intelligence Community agencies on this transformative capability.

the Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector for Amazon Web Services, Dave Levy

“Amazon Web Services is excited to embark on this strategic partnership with the Australian Government, to provide our most innovative, efficient and effective cloud services to help Australia enhance its national defence capabilities and protect its citizens.

“This partnership will enable the Australian Government and its defence and intelligence agencies to securely share information, speed up innovation, and achieve their missions faster. We look forward to supporting the Australian Government’s mission of protecting and advancing Australia’s interests, and remain steadfast in our long-term commitment to Australia, helping drive innovation and improving lives for its communities.”

the Managing Director, Public Sector, Australia and New Zealand, for Amazon Web Services, Iain Rouse

“AWS is uniquely positioned, as a trusted, long-term partner to the Australian government to deliver on this important partnership. This critical national security initiative allows AWS to demonstrate our commitment to not just deliver a fixed set of requirements, but to continuously adapt, enhance and innovate together over the years to come.”

Labor is now isolated as the only party allowing the big supermarket corporations to continue to misuse their market power and price-gouge Australian shoppers, the Greens say.

“The Coalition’s support for divestiture powers in the supermarket sector makes this a moment of choice for Prime Minister Albanese. He can either keep holding hands with Coles and Woolworths, or he can side with Australian shoppers,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“The Greens have long said that a more competitive supermarket sector would mean lower food and grocery prices. It is now only Labor standing in the way.”

“Cheaper food and genuine accountability for the anti-competitive behaviour of corporate supermarket giants is now within reach.”

“The Greens are proud to have led this debate, and to have helped highlight the need for divestiture through our recent Senate inquiry.”

“The numbers are now there to pass laws through the Senate. The Greens are ready and willing to work constructively to urgently deliver cheaper food and groceries.”

“Labor needs to stop supporting their corporate donors and actually work with the Parliament to deliver the powers we need to break up the supermarket duopoly, bring more competition to the supermarket sector and bring food prices down.”

Today I am pleased to announce the appointment of five highly qualified individuals to lead Australia’s posts in Cambodia, Honolulu, Morocco, Nepal and Vanuatu.  

I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Amanda McGregor as Australia’s next Special Representative on Afghanistan.

Based in Qatar, Ms McGregor will work with like-minded countries to call out the Taliban on its abuse of human rights and support the people of Afghanistan.

Our diplomats are the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world. They build influence and prosecute Australia’s national interests abroad.

These individuals will take up the following positions:

• Mr Derek Yip as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
• Mr Greg Wilcock as Australia’s next Consul-General in Honolulu.
• Mr Damien Donavan as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco.
• Ms Leann Johnston as Australia’s next Ambassador to Nepal.
• Mr Max Willis as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Vanuatu.

I thank the outgoing heads of mission, consul-general and the former Special Representative on Afghanistan for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests.

The Albanese Government has again failed to meet its targets to deliver the 500 new frontline domestic violence workers it promised at the election.

After originally pledging to have 200 new workers on the ground by 30 June 2023, and delivering none, the Government revised that number to a target of 352 by 30 June 2024.

The Department of Social Services’ updated figures released today show the Albanese Government has failed to meet this target with only 94 of the promised 352 workers in place. This means only around a quarter of promised workers are in place against the revised targets.

There has been no change in the numbers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania or the Australian Capital Territory since last month’s update. No state or territory has hit its targets.

This means despite repeated assurances from Anthony Albanese and the Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth, and universal calls from the community for increased spending on domestic violence supports, hundreds of critical domestic violence worker roles remain unfilled.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley, called on Anthony Albanese to take responsibility for this failure.

“It has been over 770 days since Anthony Albanese took office and he has failed again and again when it comes to delivering the 500 domestic violence workers he promised,” the Deputy Leader said.

“Anthony Albanese needs to stand up and accept responsibility for failing to deliver the promised 500 new domestic violence workers and fix this. Regardless of your political views, if you care about action on domestic violence, you should expect the Prime Minister to deliver on his commitments here.

“As it stands it is unlikely we will see all 500 promised workers on the ground by the next election and that would be a black mark on this Prime Minister’s record.”

Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence Senator Kerrynne Liddle said every day without the promised frontline workers is a day too many.

“We know in households across Australia, people are experiencing greater intensity of violence or violence is new to their family experience. They should have had the resources that were announced to get their vote in 2022 to assist them,” Senator Liddle said.

These are not just figures, these are workers that should be on the ground supporting women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence – supporting the LGBTIQA+ community, women with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse women and children, and First Nations people.

Australians were told women’s safety would be a priority for this government but instead we see a consistent failure to deliver the workers as promised. This is unacceptable.