Category: Australian News

Australia must get on board with the global billionaires’ tax proposed at the G20 meeting, the Greens say.

“As the gulf between super-wealthy and everyday Australians widens, the need for fair tax policy grows every day,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“The G20 proposal is for a 2% annual tax on the world’s richest people, which would be the bare minimum, given the frightening pace at which they have accumulated wealth in recent years.”

“While billionaires have seen their fortunes more than double since the start of the pandemic, millions of Australians continue to grapple with the cost of living crisis.”

“Amid a backdrop of rising inequality and a climate crisis, the global tax on billionaires is a moral necessity.”

“The Greens have long advocated for making billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share, aiming to redirect wealth towards creating a society that values people over profit.”

“By supporting measures such as an annual wealth tax on billionaires, Australia can invest in essential services like healthcare, education, and social services, which have been eroded by years of neglect by the major parties.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will host leaders of ASEAN and Timor-Leste for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne from 4-6 March. 2024 marks 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first external partner.

Australia has strong and far-reaching ties with the region. We are connected by families, friends, education and business.

As a bloc, ASEAN is Australia’s second largest two-way trading partner. More than one million Australians have Southeast Asian heritage.

During the Special Summit, Leaders will discuss bolstering ASEAN-Australia cooperation, our vision for the region’s future and how we can work together to address shared challenges. A focus of the discussions will be on Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, a blueprint for stepping up Australia’s economic links with the region, launched by Prime Minister Albanese in September last year.

Preceding the Leaders’ engagement, there will be a range of meetings and events across four thematic Tracks that will bring together Australians and Southeast Asian business and community leaders, experts and academics to discuss:

• Boosting economic engagement;
• Supporting an accelerated clean energy transition;
• Increasing practical maritime cooperation; and
• Supporting the region’s current crop of emerging leaders.

In addition to the Special Summit, Prime Minister Albanese is honoured to host official Guest of Government programs with a number of Southeast Asian leaders:

• HE Ferdinand Marcos Jr, President of the Philippines;
• The Hon Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia;
• HE Mr Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR; and
• HE Mr Pham Minh Chính, Prime Minister of Vietnam.

The Prime Minister will also hold the Australia-Singapore Annual Leaders Meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore, HE Mr Lee Hsien Loong. He will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor-Leste and with the ASEAN Secretary-General.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Australia is proud to be ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner, sharing 50 years of mutual respect and cooperation with our friends in Southeast Asia.

“Building Australia’s links with the countries of Southeast Asia is a priority for the Government.

“The Special Summit commemorates our shared history and focuses firmly on the future – on how we can deepen our ties and Australia’s engagement with our region.

“Australia sees ASEAN at the centre of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region. Strengthening our relationship ensures our shared future prosperity and security.

“I look forward to welcoming my counterparts to Australia to discuss the shared challenges facing our region, opportunities to enhance our prosperity and how we can build on our strong relationships.”

The Australian Government has imposed Magnitsky-style targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on seven prison officials involved in the mistreatment of Alexei Navalny.

Mr Navalny was detained at the IK-6 penal colony, a maximum-security jail known for its systematic abuse of prisoners. He was regularly mistreated, denied healthcare and placed in prolonged periods of solitary confinement. He died in custody on 16 February 2024.

The Australian Government is deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Mr Navalny. These sanctions are the next step in Australia’s efforts to hold to account those responsible for grave breaches of Mr Navalny’s human rights. We will continue to work closely with our partners to hold the Russian Government and all involved in Mr Navalny’s death accountable.

The Government’s first tranche of Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions, announced on 10 December 2022, included individuals involved in the 2020 poisoning of Mr Navalny.

Australia holds President Putin and the Russian Government responsible for Mr Navalny’s treatment and death in custody. As Australia has made clear to Russia, we join calls for an independent and transparent investigation into Mr Navalny’s death.

We acknowledge Mr Navalny’s heroic contribution to promoting democracy in Russia and his tireless opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s regime – work for which he has paid the ultimate price.

This announcement builds on our recent actions in response to human rights abuses in Russia. This includes sanctions in response to the poisoning, arrest, trial and sentencing of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Australia’s statements in key multilateral forums.

The move towards a credible and secure Digital ID has large potential privacy benefits if done well and clear risks if it is rushed or mishandled. 

Today the Parliamentary inquiry into the Digital ID scheme provided its report on the Bill. The Committee received hundreds of concerned submissions from members of the public and organisations with concerns about privacy, ensuring protections for those who won’t or can’t access digital ID and bias in technology including facial recognition. 

The dissenting report from Greens Senator David Shoebridge describes these concerns in greater detail and is available here in the report. 

Greens Senator and Digital Rights Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: 

“This Bill represents a unique opportunity to rebuild trust in the Government’s digital capability. 

“It is clear from the many hundreds of individual submissions that have expressed serious concerns about the privacy implications of a Digital ID, that the Government has not yet earned this trust. 

“The bill does not create a ‘honeypot’ of new data so it’s unfortunate that the Government is insisting on granting law enforcement bodies access to the scheme.

“Insisting on law enforcement having access to the scheme gives the impression that there is a large and useful data set that police and security agencies will want to access. This is not true, the Bill only allows for the interrogation of existing secure databases that already exist at a state and federal level.  

“Insisting on law enforcement access to the Digital ID scheme creates the false impression that it creates a new honeypot of data and that inevitably undermines public confidence in the reform.

“The Greens want to ensure that a new digital ID does not further the existing digital divide in the community.

“If people can’t access a digital ID, or choose not to have one, then then they must still have reasonable access to critical services and not be excluded from participating in social or economic activities. 

“An inclusive digital ID system must be designed as inclusive from the ground up with particular attention to disability inclusion. A simple step here is including proof of age cards as recommended by Blind Citizens Australia.

“We also share the concerns of many groups that uncritical use of biometric and facial matching data could perpetuate existing biases. There needs to be a solid plan to ensure this isn’t baked into the scheme from the beginning. 

“Every one of these concerns can be addressed by well directed amendments in the Senate and the Greens will be working with the government and other parties to achieve this,” Senator Shoebridge said. 

Prime Minister Albanese and President of the Republic of the Philippines HE Ferdinand R Marcos Jnr reaffirmed the strong relationship Australia and the Philippines share during the President’s first official visit to Australia this week.

President Marcos’ address to a joint sitting of the Australian Parliament highlighted the close cooperation between Australia and the Philippines under our upgraded Strategic Partnership, signed by Leaders last year, and our shared commitment to an open, resilient and prosperous region.

Leaders’ announced the following new Memoranda of Understanding to implement key priorities of our Strategic Partnership, including:

• Enhanced Maritime Cooperation to strengthen our existing civil and defence maritime commitments;
• Cyber and critical technology to harden our resilience against cyber attacks and encourage cooperation on the digital economy; and
• Cooperation between our national competition commissions to enhance effective competition law and policy.

The Prime Minister also announced a new $20 million investment to support the Philippines to reform, and improve access to, its justice system.

Next week the Prime Minister will welcome President Marcos and other Southeast Asian leaders to Melbourne to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue at the Australia-ASEAN Special Summit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“The Philippines is one of Australia’s key partners in Southeast Asia – we share a vision for an open, stable and prosperous region.

“The President’s historic address to the Australian Parliament articulated our shared vision for the region and for the thriving Australia-Philippines relationship.

“Our nations have never been closer, and realising opportunities through our Strategic Partnership will bring great benefits to Australians and Filipinos.

“I look forward to continued discussions with President Marcos at the ASEAN-Australia Summit.”

After tabling his transphobic and homophobic bill to Parliament last year, Senator Alex Antic has brought on a motion today to have his bill referred to committee.

But like everything Antic does, this is just a stunt to justify more hate speech in Parliament.

The Australian Greens LGBTIQA+ Spokesperson, Stephen Bates MP, condemns this bill and Antic’s shameful attempt to import American culture wars to Australia.

Stephen Bates MP, Australian Greens LGBTIQA+ Spokesperson said:

Antic is trying once again to ram through an inquiry for him and his far right buddies to spruik hate and misinformation — putting kids’ lives at risk.

These transphobes are desperate for media attention so they can pretend their fringe views have any relevance here. 

An inquiry is just another platform for stunts and another excuse to go on Sky News After Dark. 

The Senator has the implicit backing of the Liberal Party in introducing his bill and goes to show that you can never trust the Liberals with LGBTIQA+ rights.

We should not give this man and his crusade against trans kids any more oxygen. We should stop this bill and any more fake debate. 

Transphobia has no place in our Parliament. Trans rights are non-negotiable. 

One Nation has always stood side-by-side with Queenslanders who were forced to get the @#!. Many of these people lost their jobs, or abandoned careers, because they wanted control over their bodies, and didn’t want to be injected with what amount to an experiment. One Nation has advocated for these people, pursed their cases, and fought for their rights. 

Now there is hope, with the Queensland Supreme Court ruling, it was unlawful to force many Queensland front line service people to take the %^$.  

Hopefully, justice will prevail, and those who acted unlawfully through the whole saga will be brought to justice. You can’t trample on people’s human rights and think you are magically granted impunity.

From the Courier-Mail – 27/2/2024

Supreme Court bombshell: Qld’s mandatory Covid vaccine orders ‘unlawful’

Dozens of police and health workers have won a mammoth legal battle over mandatory ­Covid vaccination orders after the Supreme Court declared they were unlawful.

Dozens of police and health workers, including paramedics have won a mammoth legal battle over mandatory ­vaccination orders after the Supreme Court declared they were unlawful.

In a 115-page decision handed down by Justice Glenn Martin on Tuesday, he declared police commissioner Katarina Carroll’s direction for mandatory Covid-19 vaccination issued in December 2021 unlawful under the Human Rights Act and banned her from taking any steps to enforce the direction.’’

He also ruled that a similar order by John Wakefield, the director general of Queensland Health’s equivalent vaccination policy, “is of no effect” and Mr. Wakefield should be blocked from forcing paramedics to have the injection.

Seventy four people opposing vaccinations took the state government to the Supreme Court to challenge vaccination directives, they were included in three separate applications before the court.

Two related to police officers or civilian staff, and the third case related to Queensland Ambulance Service workers.

The workers did not have to be vaccinated while their legal fight was underway.

Prime Minister Albanese will welcome the President of the Republic of the Philippines, HE Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos to Canberra from 28 to 29 February for their first official visit to Australia.

President Marcos will address a joint sitting of the Parliament of Australia, in recognition of our two nations’ shared commitment to democratic values and a common vision for an open, resilient and prosperous region.

The President’s visit to Australia follows Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to Manila last year, the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister in 20 years, and the historic elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

Leaders will discuss progress in the Partnership, including greater cooperation on defence and maritime security, governance, trade and investment. From 4 to 6 March, the Prime Minister will host President Marcos and other Southeast Asian leaders at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“President Marcos is a great friend to Australia, and I look forward to welcoming him to Canberra for his first official visit.

“We are ambitious for the future of the Australia-Philippines relationship, which is guided by our historic Strategic Partnership I signed with President Marcos in Manila last year.

“Our nations are deeply connected through our shared regional, trade and investment links, but most importantly through our people, including more than 400,000 people of Filipino heritage who call Australia home.”

The Greens have called on Labor to listen to business leaders like Dr Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest who today called for a climate trigger in environment law at the National Press Club. His call stands in stark contrast to the recent Labor Bill to make offshore gas expansion exempt from existing environment law. The Greens have a bill for a climate trigger before the Parliament.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Environment Spokesperson and Manager of Business in the Senate for the Greens:

“Today Twiggy Forrest backed the growing call for a climate trigger in environment law and I hope that Labor were listening – they should back my bill for a climate trigger before the Parliament right now.

“Twiggy Forrest made the business case for ensuring that big projects should be assessed for their climate damage before being given any environmental approval. Business leaders like Dr Forrest can see that, for the sake of our environment and economy, we need to stop expanding fossil fuels – sadly that stands in stark contrast with too many politicians in our Parliament.

“Our environment laws are broken while they continue to allow the approval of new coal and gas, and increase fossil fuel pollution regardless of the impact on the environment and climate.

“President Biden is considering a similar law to hold polluters accountable and stop new mega LNG gas projects, but Labor is trying to take us in the opposite direction.

“The Greens Bill for a climate trigger will tackle this and I encourage Minister Plibersek to work constructively to pass it. Every time the Minister approves a new coal, gas or native forest logging project the climate and extinction crises get worse.”

Transcript from Twiggy Forrest at NPC today:

“First, I propose a best-for-Australia test which explicitly considers climate impacts when approving and managing new projects. Every project up for government approval must have a climate trigger. That means we must take the climate change and carbon pollution impact into account in any project approval. It will be seen as asinine if we don’t. It’s long overdue that we do. It’s a simple and reasonable government requirement that carbon emissions and global warming automatically be part of any environmental assessment. Energy companies who will quickly pivot – they don’t have to now – will quickly pivot to green energy to meet their contracts. A similar policy is being considered in the United States, where President Biden has caused LNG export projects, pending assessment of their impacts on climate change and other matters of national security. It’s about time.”