Category: Australian News

Today, Tuesday 21st May 2024, the Australian Senate will commence its inquiry into Labor’s proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2024. 

Senator Steele-John, the Australian Greens spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services, and the only physically disabled person in the Australian Senate, will attend both days of the Senate inquiry.

The Bill proposed the most significant changes to the NDIS since it commenced over a decade ago.

Submissions to the inquiry have implored Senators to not pass the bill in its current form. 

Those giving evidence on the first day of the inquiry include disabled people, their representative advocacy organisations, and those involved in the NDIS Review. 

The legislation was developed behind closed doors with representatives from disability organisations required to sign non-disclosure agreements. 

Senator Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services. 

“As the only physically disabled person in the Senate, I feel a great obligation to our disability community when it comes to this Senate Inquiry. 

“The changes proposed by Labor are the end of the NDIS as we know it. 

“The message from the community is clear, Labor should not cut the NDIS and this draft NDIS legislation should not pass in its current form. 

“The Labor government has failed to get the policy settings right. Labor has made the political decision to balance its budget off the back of disabled people; cutting $14.4 billion from the NDIS just last week.

“As it is drafted, Labor’s proposed changes to the NDIS will make life more difficult for disabled people, our families and the thousands of people who are employed within the NDIS. 

“This bill will enable the agency to make significant changes to the scheme without community consultation. So much for nothing about us, without us.

The reality is that right now the NDIS is ‘the only lifeboat in the ocean.’ Removing participants from the scheme to systems that don’t exist, is outrageously poor planning with obviously harmful consequences. This proves the government is more concerned about cutting costs than improving the NDIS for disabled people. 

“I believe Australians want to ensure disabled people are supported to live fulfilling and productive lives. If the government were proposing cuts and changes to Medicare at the scale they are proposing them for the NDIS there would be a revolt. 

“These changes will see every single NDIS participant’s plan thrown up in the air with deep uncertainty about where the chips will fall because the bill will remove power from the hands of disabled people, putting it squarely back in the grasp of politicians and government bureaucrats.” 

The Greens are calling on the Australian government to publicly support the ICC Chief Prosecutor’s decision to press for the arrests of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri.

The findings of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor reinforce what so many in our community already knew; there has been serious and sustained breaches of international law in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and Hamas’ attacks on civilians since the October 7th attacks.
 
Australia cannot proclaim a commitment to upholding an international rules-based order only when it suits us. The ongoing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humans in Gaza must end. The perpetrators must be held to account. 

Australia cannot follow the United States’ complete disregard for the independent court, and cannot follow them in denying genocide in Palestine. 

Every week the parliament has been in session since October 7th 2023 the Australian Greens have been calling on the government to do more, including: 

• Call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire
• Expel Israel’s Ambassador to Australia
• Put sanctions on Prime Minister Netanyahu, his war cabinet and other government members
• End military trade with the State of Israel
• Cancel defence contracts with Elbit Systems

Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Peace:

“The Greens support the ICC Prosecutor in issuing arrest warrants and pursuing the arrest of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders.

“Australia must immediately respond by expelling Israel’s Ambassador to Australia and putting sanctions on his war cabinet. 

“Violence against civilians is never acceptable. Australia needs to call for a permanent and immediate ceasefire to ensure that this genocide ends.

“What is happening in Palestine is deplorable. The IDF is deliberately starving, dehydrating and cutting off Palestinians from aid, with no end in sight. Those responsible must be held to account.”  

Responding to the news of arrests in A-League betting scandal, Greens spokesperson for communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Gambling has no place in our sports. Today’s news is just the latest example – while gambling advertising remains on our televisions, addiction continues to wreck lives, communities and sport.

“Gambling ads on television must be banned as a matter of urgency. By addressing the root of the problem we can not only crack down on actions like those that have come to light today, but ensure we are doing the right thing by our Australian families and communities.

“I have told the Minister we are willing to work with the Government to make this happen, yet it continues to be delayed.

“The power and donations of the gambling lobby cannot be allowed to infect our democracy and sports. Unless we act urgently, the door is wide open for the cashed-up gambling lobby to pressure the Government to water down the reforms we know we need now. We’ve seen this before and we shouldn’t let it happen again.

“The Greens are ready to legislate – it’s time for a red card on gambling ads.”

The Coalition condemns Labor’s last-minute deal to backflip on reducing red tape for Australia’s world-leading gas industry.

Labor’s deal will lock in higher taxes, slower approvals and will raise costs on our resources industry while giving no regulatory relief to boost investment.

Worse, the Albanese Labor government has voted against key elements of their own Future Gas Strategy just a week after Anthony Albanese told an audience in Perth that it signaled his commitment to Western Australian jobs.

This is a direct attack on Western Australia’s export industries that support jobs, and provide the tax revenue that funds Australia’s infrastructure, schools, hospitals and defence forces.

The Coalition was prepared to support the PRRT in exchange for regulatory relief for streamlined regulatory approvals, increased access to industry, research and development funding, and clarified consultation requirements for offshore oil and gas.

Coalition frontbenchers wrote to the Treasurer and Minister King with these requests in November last year.

Treasurer Chalmers told the Australian Financial Review’s Business Summit that the amendments his party has now voted against were a key response to the Coalition’s demands.

Rather than adopt the Coalition’s modest requests, supported by industry, Labor has now voted with the Greens against two of these measures.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Labor’s deal with the Greens to gut their own bill to streamline approvals is a preview of what may come under a Labor-Greens minority government.

“Western Australia and Australia’s resources industry has been abandoned by this government less than a week after promising it a fresh start.

“This is an assault on one of our major export industries, and a clear indication Australian businesses and voters cannot trust a word this Treasurer or Prime Minister say.

“Labor has made it clear: the Greens are their preferred negotiation partners on tax and on economic management.

“After delivering a budget that was more about billionaires than battlers, Labor has voted for activism not Western Australian jobs. Labor has no solution to the cost of living crisis and has no long term plan to support jobs in our resources industry.

“The Coalition will continue to fight for reducing red tape on small businesses and our major export industries.”

Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald said that it was essential that Australia’s gas industry received the regulatory certainty it urgently needs, but Labor’s continued capitulations were delivering higher taxes, slower approvals, increasing the likelihood of blackouts and shortages in the coming years, and ensuring less gas and fewer jobs.

“Labor has today proven itself to be wholly spineless when it comes to gas policy for Australia.

“Not a week ago, the Labor Cabinet was trumpeting the vision of their Future Gas Strategy, yet today the Prime Minister has anointed Adam Bandt the Minister for Resources, allowing the Greens to direct the Government’s resources policy.

“Despite their own Future Gas Strategy outlining the vital need for regulatory reform to support more gas supply, it is clear that this Government is all talk and no action, with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet capitulating to noisy backbenchers and the Greens.

“All Labor has done today is vote for higher taxes, more red tape, and gas shortfalls.”

The alarming rise in the unemployment rate highlights the increasingly tough economic conditions faced by Australians under the Albanese Labor Government.

The April 2024 labour force figures show the unemployment rate increased to an unexpected 4.1% with the loss of 6100 full time jobs, the underemployment rate increased to 6.6% and the number of unemployed Australians increased to 604,200, which is an increase of more than 50,000 since the Albanese Government’s election.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said hardworking Australians are suffering under the Albanese Labor Government.

“Australians’ standard of living has been smashed under Labor’s economic mismanagement. Unfortunately, the Budget this week has proven the government has no plans to restore it,” Mr Taylor said.

“We needed a Budget that restored our standard of living by addressing inflation and cost of living pressures, restored prosperity and created opportunity by supporting small businesses and enhancing incentives to work, and restored budget discipline and honesty,” he said.

“Instead, the Treasurer handed down a big spending, big taxing, big government con job.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said the Albanese Government’s economic and industrial relations policies were making life tougher for Australians.

“There is great uncertainty amongst the business community about the future – particularly in small businesses,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Small business owners feel like they got nothing out of this week’s Budget and have been left to fend for themselves during this cost-of-doing-business crisis,’’ she said.

“They are dealing with the cost, confusion and complexity of the Albanese Government’s ideological industrial relations changes which will make it even tougher for them to employ more Australians,’’ Senator Cash said.

“This Government just doesn’t get small business and in the end that will mean fewer jobs for Australians,’’ she said.

The Albanese Labor Government’s 2024-25 Budget failed to address the urgent health challenges facing Australians.

Primary Healthcare

Once again, the Government put forward a shallow package of measures to ‘strengthen Medicare’, but what they are hiding from Australians is that GP bulk billing has plummeted by 11% under their watch.

Over this financial year alone, the rate has dropped 4% despite the Government spending millions of taxpayer dollars on tripling the bulk billing incentive and on their unproven Urgent Care Clinics.

Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Anne Ruston highlighted how we have seen more than 3 million less GP attendances across Australia, as it becomes harder and more expensive to see a doctor.

“Primary care has literally never been more expensive, with Medicare currently covering the lowest percentage of GP fees on record.

“By ignoring the urgent need to address severe GP workforce shortages, the Budget does not provide the reform need to ensure Australians have timely and affordable access to a doctor.

“This will only put further pressure on Australia’s struggling hospital system, as this primary care crisis pushes patients towards emergency departments,” Senator Ruston said.

That is why the Coalition has put forward our plan to incentivise more junior doctors to pursue a career as a General Practitioner and safeguard Australians’ healthcare access.

The package will invest $400 million to provide junior doctors with direct financial incentive payments, assistance with leave entitlements and support for pre-vocational training.

This will ensure junior doctors who pursue training as a GP in the community are not financially worse off compared to doctors who remain in the hospital environment.

A strong pipeline of home-trained GP graduates is critical to deliver essential healthcare to all Australians.

Mental Health

Australia is facing a mental health crisis. The Budget handed down on Tuesday night has completely ignored the urgency of this fact.

The Albanese Government has failed to ensure that Australians can access the specialised mental health treatment they need, particularly for those suffering from more complex or chronic mental health conditions.

500 days before the Budget, the Government cut the Better Access initiative, ripping away access to Medicare-subsidised psychology services from more than 240,000 vulnerable Australians.

“The Budget did not even try to make up for this cruel cut to mental health support for Australians with chronic mental health conditions,” Senator Ruston said.

“Hidden in the Budget papers was also a decision to abolish the National Mental Health Commission, including the National Suicide Prevention Office.

“This is concrete proof that this government does not consider mental health a national priority.”

As the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reiterated in the Budget-in-Reply, an elected Coalition Government will restore the number of Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions from 10 to 20 on a permanent basis.

Australians facing complex mental health challenges deserve the full level of support that has been recommended for them.

Women’s Health

The Coalition has welcomed the Government’s investment in longer consultations for women suffering from endometriosis and pelvic pain, which they have acknowledged builds on the significant work of the Coalition in this critical area.

But more needs to be done to support women’s health.

As the Opposition Leader has committed, we will continue to support measures and develop policy in this area, particularly in primary care and for menopause and peri-menopause.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations grants round for 2023-24.

In total, 27 grants will be provided to support a range of activities designed to strengthen cooperation and enhance engagement between the people of Australia and China.

The grants will support Australian industry to re-engage with China in areas of economic importance for Australia, including agriculture and tourism. They will also support collaboration on climate change, energy and the environment in line with the statement on joint outcomes from the China-Australia annual leader’s meeting.  

The initiatives receiving grants are listed on the Foundation’s website and include: 

• Support to assist industry sectors build market connections, including for barley/grains, dairy, wool, wine and tourism.
• Research and innovation in decarbonisation, drought-resilience, sustainability, and climate change policy dialogue.
• Equipping the next generation of Chinese-Australian leaders with the skills and expertise to contribute to Australian public debate, including around engagement and collaboration with China.  
• Programs to increase China literacy and the capability of scholars and young professionals to engage with China.

We welcome the appointment of Mr Gary Cowan as Chief Executive Officer of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

Mr Cowan is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) He has served overseas as Australia’s Representative in Taipei from 2018 to 2021, with previous postings to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo.  

I thank former CEO Peter Cai for his contributions to the Foundation as CEO since 2021, and during its establishment phase as an advisory board member.

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Alice Pung OAM to the Advisory Board of the Foundation. Ms Pung is a Melbourne-based writer, editor and lawyer and an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University’s School of Media and Communication.

The Advisory Board helps to guide the Foundation in its work to support governments, businesses, and communities build links and strengthen constructive engagement with China, consistent with our national interest.

Foreign Minister, Penny Wong:

“Central to our approach to Australia’s relationship with China is engaging in the national interest.

“The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations is a key avenue for this engagement, and these grants will further strengthen community and people to people ties.

“Ms Pung’s writing about growing up as a migrant in Australia resonates across diverse communities, and I am thrilled that she is bringing her expertise and insight to the Foundation’s Advisory Board.”

Trade and Tourism Minister, Don Farrell:

“These grants will help to boost engagement and build lasting business and people-to-people connections with China, our largest trading partner and a key contributor to our tourism and international education sectors.”

Australia is imposing targeted financial sanctions, in coordination with international partners, on a further six entities associated with North Korea’s supply of arms and related materiel to Russia.

Australia condemns, in the strongest possible terms, North Korea’s illegal export and Russia’s procurement and use of North Korean ballistic missiles, in support of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

The continued transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The use of North Korean ballistic missiles by Russia increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia’s illegal and immoral war of aggression and undermines the global non-proliferation regime.

Deepening North Korea-Russia cooperation is providing technical and military insights to North Korea, with grave security implications for Europe, the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia will continue to work with our allies and partners to hold Russia and North Korea to account, and address the security threat posed by North Korea.

North Korea must comply fully with UNSC resolutions to abandon its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

All countries should abide by their UNSC obligations in response to North Korea’s violations.

Together with our partners, we call on North Korea to engage in constructive dialogue and move toward permanent peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Australia remains steadfast in supporting Ukraine to defend itself. Today’s announcement underscores that those who provide material support to Russia’s illegal and immoral war will face consequences.

In another major boost for women’s sport, Australia will host the next Women’s Asian Cup.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced Australia as host nation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

It follows Australia’s successful hosting of the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup last year and will again bring the world’s best female football talent to our shores.

Hosting major sporting events, like the Women’s Asian Cup, boosts local tourism, trade, employment and infrastructure.

It also helps grow participation and inclusion in sport at the local, regional and national levels.

The Matildas are still riding the wave of success from last year’s Women’s World Cup where they captured the hearts of the nation.

A record 14 straight sold-out Matildas matches in Australia demonstrates the endurance of the ‘Matildas effect’ and our love of women’s football.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is the oldest women’s international football competition in the world, and will help continue to grow women’s football in Australia and our region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:

“Hosting the Women’s Asian Cup brings the region to Australia, and creates an opportunity to present modern Australia to millions of sports fans in Asia.

“Following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will see sport bring us together again.

Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“Australia is thrilled to be hosting the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

“This is a golden opportunity for us to showcase the continued growth and popularity of women’s sport in this country, and supports the Government’s commitment to gender equality.”

Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:

“I’m proud to be part of a government that is increasing the visibility of women’s sport and creating greater opportunities for women and girls in sport.

“The Women’s World Cup ended all debates about the place of female athletes in sport and now we can continue to celebrate the Matildas in the Women’s Asian Cup.

“Women’s sport is not a phase, is not a nice to have, it is thrilling, it is brilliant and it is here to stay.”

The Greens have secured an agreement with the government to shelve Labor’s offshore gas fast track plan that silenced First Nations voices. After having previously publicly offered to pass government legislation if the gas fast-track legislation was shelved, the Greens will now support the electric vehicles and legislation to lift the PRRT gas tax rate.

The Resource Minister’s Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024 will be amended by the government to remove Schedule 2, Part 2, which bypassed environment laws and First Nations voices. The Greens will pass the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax accountability and Fairness) Bill 2023.

The remainder of the offshore gas bill, which deals with worker’s safety issues, will pass the Parliament today alongside the NVES and PRRT reforms.

Following this major win, the Greens will continue the fight against the government’s Future Gas Strategy and their push for more coal and gas.

The government has advised that any matters relating to this approval process will now be considered as part of the broader tranche 3 of the environment law reform, which has been delayed indefinitely and will come after tranche 2. Tranche 2 legislation has not yet been introduced and the Greens are likely to be in balance of power on that legislation. Effectively, this means any changes cannot occur before the election.

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“The Greens have killed Labor’s gas fast-track bill,” Mr Bandt said.

“This is a big blow to the coal and gas corporations, a big win for the climate and First Nations voices, and it happened because the Greens have power in Parliament.”

“We will continue to fight Labor’s push for more coal and gas all the way to the election and beyond. The Greens have stopped Labor’s dodgy attempt to fast-track new gas mines, but their bid to bypass environmental protections shows Labor will stop at nothing to have more coal and gas past 2050.

“Climate scientists have said there can be no new coal and gas mines, but Labor wants more. You can’t put the fire out by pouring petrol on it. You don’t fix a problem by making the problem worse. With Labor and Liberal now backing more coal and gas past 2050, only the Greens will fight for real climate action.”

Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens First Nations and Resources spokesperson:

“Gas lobbyists have unlimited access to the Albanese Labor government and think they run politics in this country at the cost of cultural heritage, free prior and informed consent and the silencing of First Nations voices. This Bill would have sold our sea country as a commodity to the highest bidder. This is not acceptable.” Senator Cox said.

“The government must now stop opening new climate and environment wrecking gas projects and look to renewable energy.”

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens environment spokesperson:

“Labor’s shameless attempt to bypass our already weak environment laws is dead. It’s incredible that after two years of this government, their much promised ‘fix’ to environmental laws is nowhere to be seen, while harming nature is top priority,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

Senator Nick McKim, Greens Treasury spokesperson:

“The Greens have used our balance of power to stand up to the gas corporations and deliver for the environment and for First Nations people.

“We will see an increase in tax revenue from gas corporations and the rejection of Labor’s attempt to weaken environmental protections on gas mines.

“Standing our ground on Labor’s PRRT Bill has given us the leverage to reject the agenda of the gas cartel.

“When the Government works with the Greens instead of the gas cartel, we can ensure better environmental outcomes and more revenue from a publicly owned resource.”