Category: Australian News

This week I will travel to Japan to represent Australia at the 10th Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10). The meeting in Tokyo is an opportunity for the Pacific family to discuss regional challenges and Pacific priorities with Japan.

A long-time partner in the Pacific, Japan is a strong advocate for increasing Pacific unity through the Pacific Islands Forum and supporter of the Pacific’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Australia and Japan are working together to deliver on Pacific priorities such as climate resilience, infrastructure, health, and digital connectivity.

Our countries have never been closer; we have a strong relationship underpinned by shared interests and complementary economies. Australia is committed to remaining a long-term energy security partner for Japan as we transition to net zero.

Australia and Japan share the Pacific’s vision for a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous and where sovereignty is respected.

Australia’s nuclear regulator has today approved a license to store waste from US, UK and possibly Australian nuclear submarines at HMAS Stirling off Perth. 

The licence allows the Australian Submarine Agency to establish a ‘Controlled Industrial Facility’ to handle the waste of US and UK nuclear submarines that dock at HMAS Stirling Navy Base, Garden Island, in Western Australia. 

The nuclear regulatory body, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) said in a statement the license is “intended” to cover low-level waste from US and UK nuclear submarines. 

However, the Australian Submarine Agency admitted in the June Senate Estimates hearings that the licence also covers intermediate-level waste. 

ARPANSA received 165 public submissions concerning this licence application, many concerned over the lack of public information concerning the scope of the application, community impact and decision-making. 

The Albanese Labor government are currently in the process of seeking to pass legislation that can make anywhere in Australia a nuclear waste dumping ground with no public consultation or First Nations consent. 

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 also allows for the US and the UK to dump high-level nuclear waste in Australia. 

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Defence, said: 

“We are already seeing the toxic impacts of AUKUS with this move to store nuclear waste from US and UK nuclear submarines off Perth. The community overwhelmingly opposed this application and pointed out the lack of transparency and balance in the approvals process.

“It is remarkable that ASA failed to include in its public consultation material the fact that this license allows for the handling of intermediate-level waste. This waste is significantly more toxic than any other nuclear waste currently stored in Australia.

“While this licence was quietly pushed through, the Albanese Labor Government has stalled legislation in Parliament that would allow unlimited amounts of high-level nuclear waste to be dumped here. 

“This ARPANSA licence looks like a rushed plan B from Labor to avoid the political damage it from pushing its naval nuclear waste legislation while also trying to oppose Dutton’s disastrous civil nuclear plans.”

Senator Dorinda Cox, WA Senator and Greens spokesperson for First Nations, Resources, North Australia, Trade and Tourism said:

“As a First Nations woman, today’s approval of this licence devastates and angers me. It is shameful that although I stood with my community outside Minister King’s office in protest and the voices were clear, they did not want the storage of nuclear waste on their lands, this licence has still been granted.”

“There has been no respect shown to the community and to Traditional owners who opposed this licence.

“I personally raised this lack of prior and informed consent at recent Estimates and was assured consultation would happen. Myself and the Traditional Owners of these lands are still waiting for the basic respect of a meeting to share our concerns and be consulted with. 

“Today’s decision yet again silences our voices and is shameful. First Nations peoples have seen nuclear storage devastate their lands, waterways and communities before. This storage is costly and will destroy irreplaceable cultural heritage, including intangible heritage such as song lines and the local biodiversity.
“Why are the Labor government allowing this to take place in our waters alongside the silencing of First Nations voices again and at the risk and detriment of all Australians? This is shameful.”

The Greens have condemned the federal government for greenlighting the return of a foreign-owned industrial super trawler to operate off the coast of lutruwita/Tasmania.

The New Zealand super trawler has returned to target threatened orange roughy – an endangered deep-sea species which, under Australia’s broken environmental laws, can still be fished.

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:

“When will we learn the lessons of history?

“The infamous historic crash of the orange roughy fishery off the coast of lutruwita/Tasmania, caused by overfishing, is a tale of greed and stupidity that should never be repeated. 

“The Albanese government talks a big game about Australia being a global leader in ocean protection. But how is greenlighting the operation of a foreign-owned industrial super trawler to target an endangered deep-sea species taking global leadership in ocean protection? 

“Big industrial trawlers can do decades of devastating and lasting damage not only to vulnerable marine life like orange roughy but to our precious deep-sea ecosystems. 

“The Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s (AFMA) apparent decision to ignore scientific advice to halve the catch limit in the eastern orange roughy zone risks the environment and puts into question the economic benefits of accessing this fishery.

“What returns are the Tasmanian and Australian people getting from foreign-owned fishing fleets and big commercial quota owners operating off our coastlines?

“The fish are being processed on the industrial vessel meaning there will likely be zero flow-on benefits such as employment to local communities.”

The Australian Greens unequivocally condemn the attack on former president Donald Trump that occurred in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

While election campaigns can get passionate, there is never a justification for violence.

In a democratic society people can speak with their vote, which I hope people in the United States do in November and reject a second Trump presidency.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game has again displayed her determination to stand up for parents and taxpayers – this time earning support for helping to publicise a South Australian council’s plans to stage a kids’ storytime conducted by a local drag queen. 

Since being elected in 2022 Sarah has introduced various bills to defend family integrity and children’s rights, including the Education and Children’s Services (Parental Primacy) Amendment Bill 2024 that aims to give parents more control over the education their children receive on issues of morality, ethics, politics, social values, and identity – including gender and sexuality.  

This latter platform saw Sarah respond to constituents who raised concerns about a planned show titled “Rainbow Storytime”, scheduled to take place today (Monday 15 July) at the Salisbury Community Hub Library. 

Part of a school holiday program, the event is featuring Adelaide drag performer Fifi, who will read stories such as “Chicken Divas” and “Just the Way We Are” to children of all ages. 

Initially, Sarah wrote to the SA Minister for Local Government, plus the Minister for Education, outlining her concerns and the concerns of locals, who were outraged at the Salisbury City Council’s plans. 

Sarah told the ministers that numerous people had voiced their view that shows with adult themes – such as drag acts – are inappropriate for young audiences and said that public funds should never be used for such events. 

She asked about the criteria used to determine the appropriateness of such content, plus the frequency of council-organised events involving adult-themed content. 

“Public institutions must run with integrity and transparency, ensuring that taxpayer funds are spent in a way that is consistent with the expectations and values of the community,” she told the ministers. 

Following that letter, Sarah last week featured in a front-page article in the Adelaide Advertiser about the planned show, telling the paper she believes it is “totally inappropriate for young children” to be encouraged to question their “gender identity and gender fluidity”. 

“There’s a growing concern in the community about teaching children about gender fluidity because we don’t really understand the impact that has on young minds,” Sarah said. 

“They’re adult concepts and it’s confusing for children; I think we just need to allow children to be children, and let them grow up and be who they are without these other influences.” 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with the Governor-General Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, will welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Australia in October this year.

This will be The King’s first visit to Australia as Sovereign.

The King shares a long history with and affection for Australia, having previously made 15 official visits to our nation and having visited every state and territory.

During this visit, The King and Queen will travel to the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.

Official Australian portraits of The King and Queen have now been released and can be downloaded from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

In the official portraits, The King wears The Sovereign’s Badge of the Order of Australia, while The Queen wears the Wattle Brooch which was gifted to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Australia in 1954.

Australians can request printed versions of the portraits through their Federal Member of the House of Representatives or Senator in their state or territory.

Planning is currently underway for the Royal Visit, and more information will be provided in due course.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I am honoured to welcome The King and Queen on their first Royal Visit to Australia later this year, they are always welcome visitors.

“The King has a deep regard for our great nation, and has always spoken warmly of the time he has spent here and the astounding beauty of our extraordinary continent.

“I look forward welcoming The King and Queen back to Australia for this important visit.”

They never give up, those people smugglers.

This is especially the case when they detect an Australian government gone weak at the knees on border security.

There appears to have been a significant uptick in attempts by people smugglers to breach our borders since the High Court released an immigrant detainee last year, only for the Albanese Labor government to panic and release another 148 of them into the community. Quite a few of them have since reoffended, some quite seriously. They were obviously in detention for a reason—to keep the Australian community safe from them—but that doesn’t seem to have entered into Labor’s calculations.

Instead, Labor has sent a clear signal: criminals will roam free if they can make it to Australia.

The people smugglers have listened. Indonesian authorities have detained five suspected groups this year, while another four boats have reached Australia, including two that reached the mainland in Western Australia, and another that reached Christmas Island in May.

This week, there have been two boats carrying a total of around 70 people intercepted and turned back to Indonesia. The people being smuggled are from all over: Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India. It was reported that one group paid up to $15,000 each to people smugglers. It’s a business model that sells false hope, and one of the reasons it makes money right now is because of Albo’s weakness.

Labor – again caving to the fanatics in its left faction, has gotten rid of temporary protection visas, one of the most effective deterrents to people smuggling. These are essentially visas that allow a genuine political refugee to stay in Australia on a temporary basis until conditions in their home country improve so they may safely return. Labor has also dragged its feet on upgrades to patrol boats and surveillance aircraft, needed more than ever now that people smugglers have changed tactics.

Labor must reinstate TPVs to stem the growing tide of people smuggling and make sure we don’t return to bad old days under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, when those incompetent prime ministers oversaw some 50,000 people arrive illegally in Australia on more than 800 vessels. That was the last time we didn’t have TPVs. More than 1200 people died.

We’re not downplaying the difficult task of monitoring millions of square miles of ocean, but is it too much to ask of any government to do one of the most basic jobs a government can have—secure our borders?

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.”