The Federal Labor Government today delivered a made-up $30 billion AUKUS ‘announceable’ for South Australia, that is not backed up by any budget commitment and is a stark political play weeks out from the SA State election.

Only a fraction of these funds are in the budget forecasts, nominally to build facilities at Osborne for the construction of AUKUS submarines over a decade in the future for boats that have not yet been designed.

The AUKUS Agreement is intended to enable Australia to purchase second-hand US nuclear submarines, which experts say is unlikely to occur. Meanwhile, the UK is leading the design and production of the new type of AUKUS nuclear submarine, core parts of which the UK audit office says is ‘unachievable’.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Defence, said: “This $30 billion is a made-up number, we saw the same thing from Labor late last year for the Henderson precinct in WA just weeks before Albanese went to Washington.

“Labor is shameless in announcing these multi-billion dollar, uncosted AUKUS numbers without even a shred of reality, let alone budget commitments, to back them in.

“The real budgeted amount for South Australia is only a fraction of what the Albanese Government has committed to the UK and the US submarine industries. That should show you everything about the priorities of Federal and State Labor.

“We have seen this all before in South Australia, the Government spending hundreds of millions building facilities for French submarines only to spend millions more to tear it all down when the project crashed. We are watching history repeat itself with AUKUS.

“The only secure jobs this will create are for retired Labor and Liberal politicians going to work in the US and UK defence industries after they leave politics.”

Robert Simms MLC, said: “While South Australians are desperate for cost-of-living relief, Labor are wasting billions of dollars on nuclear submarines when we could instead fund healthcare, education and housing.”

Lead Upper House Candidate Melanie Selwood, said: “The major parties are bending over backwards to deliver the doomed AUKUS plan. AUKUS ties our state’s economic future to the US, defence industries, and the storage of nuclear waste. Instead we could be building a future for our state by funding local infrastructure manufacturing, building affordable housing, and investing in educational programs that serve the interests of South Australians, not the US and the UK.”

Topics: Cost of Living, Housing, Labor’s Taxes, Shadow Ministry

E&OE.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

It’s great to be here in Goulburn, with Jane Hume, talking to a young family, Grant and Georgia, about the challenges for them in paying the bills, in owning a home, paying the mortgage every month, and getting by, which is incredibly difficult right now. And we’ve also been talking to a local builder about the huge reduction we’ve seen in the number of new houses coming on because it’s just got too hard to build a house and to find someone who can take that on. 

My top priority as the new leader, and Jane’s as well, is to protect Australians’ way of life and to restore their standard of living. And right at the heart of that is owning a home. Owning a home has always been an essential part of the Australian ideal, of the Australian journey, of what young Australians do as they start a family.

It’s an essential part of being part of this great nation. It’s an essential part of being able to build wealth, but also stability for a growing family. And that’s what we were just talking to Grant and Georgia about. But it is getting too hard. 

Young Australians are giving up hope. Builders are giving up hope that they can find a market for their houses because the costs and times involved are just too great.

And young families who do have a home and have a mortgage, in some cases, are giving up or having to take on second jobs just to be able to make ends meet. This is unacceptable. 

This Labor Government is making life harder for young Australians, Australians wanting to buy a home because it’s just got too expensive to make ends meet.

Interest rates are going up, inflation is surging, and now they’re talking about putting an additional tax on the home. 

If you want more homes, if you want more homes, we don’t need another tax. But that’s what Labor is proposing to do.

We will fight this tax. We will fight bad taxes from a bad Labor Government that’s making life harder for Australians. Jane, over to you.

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

Thanks, Gus. Grant and Georgia are an amazing couple. They work really hard, two jobs each. They have two young kids who spend time at daycare and at preschool, but they can’t seem to get ahead. 

They bought this fabulous house back in 2020, and now they’re even considering selling it and downsizing it just to make ends meet. That’s because interest rates have gone up 13 times under Labor.

They’ve gone up 13 times because inflation keeps going up. That dragon has not been tamed. It makes it really hard when Grant and Georgia get those bills every month.

We saw their electricity bill, which they say has gone up by about 40 per cent since they bought this house. They’ve got childcare expenses, they’ve gone up, and they’ve got rates as well. We want families like Grant and Georgia’s to get a chance to get ahead.

We want families like Grant and Georgia to be able to say, next year is going to be better than this year. Maybe we can wind back one of those additional jobs. Maybe, Georgia, you can go and study and stop doing that second job that she’s taken on.

But it’s hard for Australians right now because this government has really let them down. A Liberal coalition government will focus on families just like Grant and Georgia’s, making sure that they have that chance to get ahead, that they have a chance for a brighter future, both them and for their kids. 

JOURNALIST:

Mr Taylor, it’s one thing to talk about all of these problems. The Opposition has been talking about these sorts of problems for a long time before you came to the job. These are big economic challenges. What are your big solutions? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

We are up to fighting for Australians when it comes to these big economic challenges because they’re hurting Australians, and that’s exactly what we’ve heard.

But we do need to put downward pressure on inflation and interest rates. That means we need to be prudent in government spending. We don’t need waste. We have seen waste from this government, and we’re continuing to see waste from this government. 

We need to make it easier for builders and others right across Australia to do their jobs. If we’re going to have more homes, we’ve got to make it easier to build homes.

It’s really not that complicated, but Labor is making it harder to build homes. More red tape, more regulation, more regulators. That’s not what we need right now.

We need an economy where people can get out and do things, invest in building a house, invest in building their businesses, and if we make it easier for them to do that, it’s going to make it easier to own a home. And that’s the key. 

JOURNALIST:

You say you’re going to fight the tax. I’m assuming you’re talking about any possible changes to capital gains tax?

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

That’s right.

JOURNALIST:

Some economists argue it would cool house price growth, house price inflation. Isn’t that the desirable outcome? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

You know, there’s a pretty simple principle of economics: if you tax something more, you get less of it. If you make it more expensive, you get less of it. It’s the same for houses.

If you whack another tax on homes, you’re going to get less homes. It’s very simple. And Labor doesn’t get it, because Labor has run out of money. So they’re coming after yours. 

JOURNALIST:

Doesn’t the capital gains tax help property investors with 10, 20 homes rather than first home buyers, I’m assuming you’re looking to appeal to as opposition leader? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

You can overcomplicate this. If you put an extra tax on something, you get less of it.

And we need more homes, not less. If we’re going to have more affordability, we need more supply, more homes. That’s the key.

Jim Chalmers doesn’t get this. And that’s why Australians are seeing with him as Treasurer and Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister, it’s getting harder to pay the bills. It’s getting harder to buy a home.

It’s getting harder to run a business. And it’s just getting harder to make ends meet. And we’re going to fight. Jane and I and our team are going to fight every single day for those hard-working Australians who are trying to get ahead, who believe in the Australian ideal and are giving up hope. Well, they shouldn’t give up hope, because we’re here to fight for them.

JOURNALIST:

So that’s one policy they’re opposing, the capital gains tax changes. When are we going to see any other kind of solid policies from you? Can you give us a bit of a timetable? We’ve been waiting for the immigration policy for a long time. When are we seeing policies? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

Well, I think you’ve heard some strong comments from me in the last 24 hours on immigration. Immigration, clearly the numbers have been too high and the standards have been too low.

But we also need an immigration policy that’s true to our Australian values. If people want to come to this country and bring the hatred and violence of another place, the doors should be shut.

We’ll continue to announce our priorities and policies over the coming weeks and months. But I think these are important messages that we’re going to continue to convey.

And most importantly, we’re going to fight a bad Labor government who’s been getting these things wrong. 

JOURNALIST:

What about the seat of Farrer? You’re obviously going to be fighting a by-election in the not-too-distant future. It’s looking like it’s turning out to be a four-cornered contest. That’s a lot of people to be fighting against. Are you confident that Liberals will be able to retain that seat? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

Well, it’s never going to be easy. We’ve got a popular local member leaving. That always makes it challenging. And we know that our starting point as leaders of the party is the worst the party’s been in since 1944. So we’re realistic about this.

But we’ve got to restore confidence of voters across Australia, including in Farrer, in us and in the Coalition, to fight for them. And that’s what we’re going to do, as I say, every single day. We’re going to be focused on their challenges and the failures of this government to meet their challenges.

JOURNALIST:

Will it be a measuring stick of your leadership? If you can win the Farrah by-election, you’ll be going up against One Nation and Climate 200. They’ve already both said they’re going to run. How do you fight both the left and right flank? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

Well, of course it’s challenging. I mean, I’ve been the first to say, I said it yesterday, that Farrer, competing in Farrer, will be challenging. We’ve got a popular local member leaving. It will be a cast of many. I don’t know how many, but a cast of many, obviously. 

But we’re going to be out there fighting for our values, what we believe in. And we are absolutely committed to moving away from the politics of convenience to the politics of conviction.

We need to demonstrate to Australians that we stand for the values that Australians stand for, that we’ll fight to protect their way of life, to restore their way of living, at a time when they feel those things are under threat. 

JOURNALIST:

This is one perhaps for Jane. Obviously, we’re in a regional part of Australia now, but one of the main challenges for the Liberals is going to be winning back those city voters. What’s your pitch to them in terms of bringing back their confidence to the Liberal Party that they actually do stand for the interests of city voters as well? 

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

You know, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the city or whether you’re in the country. Families are feeling the same pain right around the country. That’s because the promise of a Labor government has come to naught.

It’s getting harder and harder to find a house to buy and harder and harder to find a house to rent. People are seeing their bills go up, doesn’t matter if it’s the city or the country. 

Grant and Georgia’s story is not an unusual one: 40% rises in energy bills and potentially another 24% forecast for this year. 13 interest rate rises because inflation is still out of control. We were talking about going to the supermarket today.

Every time you fill up that trolley, every time you fill up your basket, it’s just that little bit more. Families are looking for an opportunity to get ahead. They want to know that next year is going to be better than last year.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the city or in the country. It doesn’t matter whether you’re regional and rural and remote or whether you’re right in the heart of a CBD. We want families to get ahead, to have brighter days ahead of them, and we want them to see that in the Liberal Party’s and the Coalition’s offerings.

Because let’s face it, it’s a Coalition that represents all Australians, not sectional interests. 

JOURNALIST:

Angus, what’s your thinking around the shadow ministry? When would you like to get that out? Will you reward people that voted for you or will you reward performers like Andrew Bragg, Tim Wilson? And if I can ask you, Jane, have you decided what portfolio you’d like yet? 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

I’ll start and then Jane can add to it. Look, can I say, we’ve got a lot of talented people in the Liberal Party.

And what we need right now is everyone pulling together to work hard for hard-working Australians who are struggling. And I’m going to be putting a great team on the field. And we have a great team to put on the field.

This is the important point. And they’re going to be fighting hard for Australians every single day.

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:

I haven’t spoken to Angus about that yet. But I can assure you that the position, whatever position I take, will be one that allows me to best represent our party, our party’s values and our party’s priorities.

The Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments are ensuring that South Australia remains the home of Australia’s submarine construction, with expenditure projected to be billions of dollars in the state over coming decades.

Today the Albanese Government is announcing it will invest $3.9 billion as a down payment to deliver the new Submarine Construction Yard in Osborne.

While the design process continues, significant investment is critical to delivering Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines which will create nearly 10,000 jobs across the entire program in South Australia alone.

The Osborne construction yard will comprise three substantive areas, including fabrication, outfitting and further area for consolidation, testing launching and commission.

Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) projections show an estimated projected investment of $30 billion over coming decades, to build the construction yard in Osborne.

Enabling works and the Skills and Training Academy (STA) are expected to cost approximately $2 billion and more than $500 million respectively.

Both state and federal governments are strengthening Defence investment in South Australia. This investment complements the existing Collins-class sustainment facilities and Hunter-class shipyard, also located in Osborne.

The total floor area of the new Submarine Construction Yard is expected to be 10 times larger than the existing Osborne South Development project. Construction is expected to use 66 million man hours – 44 times more than Osborne South.

Construction is expected to use 126,000 tonnes of structural steel, equal to the weight of steel in 17 Eiffel Towers.

The Fabrication Hall in Area 1 is 420 metres long, which is 2.5 times the length of Adelaide Oval.

All of these works continue at pace, with future investment decisions to follow as infrastructure needs are further defined, designs mature and licences are progressed across the yard including for consolidation, launch and commissioning facilities.

The total construction costs associated with the infrastructure program will depend on the details of design and commercial delivery arrangements to be negotiated by Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) Pty Ltd, as the Government’s appointed design and delivery partner for the yard.

ANI is also delivering progress across the precinct with the recent completion of construction of a new link road that will streamline access to the shipyards for thousands of workers.

Eurimbla Way will connect Pelican Point Road in the east with the shipyard and is part of critical supporting infrastructure at the construction yard that will enable a direct route bypassing the existing railway line, ensuring secure access to both current and future shipyards.

Around 170 workers completed Eurimbla Way on time and on budget and it became operational for traffic at the beginning of this week (9 February 26).

More than 500 South Australians are already on the job helping to build the STA Campus and the Production Demonstration Facilities within the Submarine Construction Yard.

Works for the STA Campus began in 2025, with the first students of the Skills and Training Academy to commence in 2028 ensuring a pipeline of skilled workers for decades to come. This Campus will be a world-class training facility, designed to support up to 1,000 learners each year.

This landmark investment will create thousands of jobs in South Australia with at least 4,000 workers who will design and build the submarine construction yard, and around 5,500 workers who will support nuclear-powered submarine production at its peak.

Roles will range from engineers and skilled trades to project managers and logistics specialists.

Development of the Submarine Construction Yard is coupled with the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan, which has committed $300 million to workforce development initiatives aligned with defence industry and the creation of Technical Colleges in South Australia.

the Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP

“Together with the Malinauskas Government in SA, we are accelerating AUKUS opportunities to secure Australia’s future defence capability and create lasting prosperity and jobs for the state.

“Investing in the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne is critical to delivering Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

“Labor will always back continuous naval shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing, which is vital to South Australia’s economy and long-term growth in local industry.”

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP

“The Albanese Government is unwavering in its commitment to delivering Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability under AUKUS. The momentum is real and the scale of what is being achieved at Osborne is extraordinary.

“South Australia is at the centre of one of the most significant defence undertakings in our history. Osborne will be critical to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program under AUKUS, while supporting continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment.

“From construction of the submarine yard to delivery of critical infrastructure and the development of a skilled workforce, progress is accelerating. The transformation underway at Osborne shows Australia is on track to deliver the sovereign capability to build our nuclear-powered submarines for decades to come.”

the Premier of South Australia, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP

“AUKUS presents a watershed moment for the South Australian economy, and the scale of the work coming our way is difficult for most people to comprehend.

“At least $30 billion will be invested at Osborne constructing the shipyard. That investment has already started flowing and is only set to grow.

“This is just the beginning. That figure only represents the task of building enabling infrastructure. There will be many billions more invested in the incredibly complex task of building nuclear-powered submarines, which will in itself provide for thousands of highly skilled, well-paid jobs for decades.

This work, and the accompanying research and development, presents an opportunity to lift skills, wages and economic complexity, providing a better standard of living for all South Australians.

Media release

The $20 million renovation of Henson Park is now complete, securing the future of one of Sydney’s most iconic sporting venues for generations to come.

Last year, the first stage of works for the project delivered a much-needed upgrade to the King George V Grandstand and four new female friendly change rooms. The facilities were in dire need of an upgrade as they were constructed for the 1938 Empire Games.

These works were jointly funded by the Inner West Council, the NSW Government, the Australian Football League (AFL) and the Australian Government.

Now, in the second stage of the project, Council has delivered a new multipurpose building with public amenities, a canteen, coaches’ boxes and media broadcast facilities.

These brand-new extra facilities will elevate the game-day experience for players, officials, media and fans at what is fast becoming a hub for women’s football from grassroots to elite players and continues to be the home of the mighty Newtown Jets.

These new facilities will also allow top flight AFL and rugby league to be broadcast.

Stage 2 of this project is jointly funded by Inner West Council and NSW AFL with grant funding from NSW Government.

Improvements to Henson Park include: 

• An improved grandstand including repairs to the first-floor seating area, and accessibility upgrades to the upper levels with lift access  
• Updated player amenities with female-friendly change areas, accessible toilets and increased storage areas for sporting equipment 
• A new multi-purpose building at the rear of the grandstand with female-friendly change rooms, toilets, gym and community function space  
• Accessible public toilets and baby change facilities 
• Modern coaches’ boxes and broadcast facilities 

Prime Minister and Federal Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese

“Henson Park is a part of who we are in the Inner West.

“Our support for an upgraded grandstand and new facilities – including women’s change rooms – will make such a difference.

“Whether it’s AFL, NRL or community sport this sets up Henson Park for future generations.”

Jo Haylen, Member for Summer Hill

“The Minns Labor Government investment reflects its dedication to supporting community sporting facilities.

“Henson Park is for the people. From grassroots to the elite level, our sporting facilities should accommodate all members of our community.

“Whether it’s the Newtown Jets, the Sydney Swans, or the Summer Beer Footy and Food Festival, these upgraded facilities will ensure we can continue to host incredible events at Henson Park, the beating heart of Inner West sport.”

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne

“This renovation ensures this iconic community asset can be enjoyed by our community for decades to come.

“Henson Park is the heart and soul of Inner West sport, and these major upgrades for players and fans will keep it that way.

“Anyone who has spent an afternoon at Henson cheering on the Jets, the Giants or the Swans knows what a unique and unforgettable experience it is and now we’ve made that experience even better.

“The completion of these much-needed new facilities is a major reason why the NRL is returning to Henson Park for the first time in 36 years this Sunday when the Sharks take on the Eels in the NRL Pre-season Challenge.

“This investment secures Henson Park as a premier sporting ground and a permanent home for the mighty Newtown Jets, as well as the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants AFLW teams.”Media release

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are investing $15 million over four years to train the skilled workforce needed for the state’s renewable energy rollout creating thousands of jobs in regional NSW.

The investment underpins the Renewable Energy Skills Strategy, launched today by Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan at the Transgrid Orange Regional Centre.

The Strategy supports the Government’s Energy Roadmap, which is expected to generate around 7,000 jobs during peak construction and about 4,500 ongoing roles.

Jointly funded by the Federal and State Labor Governments, the Strategy builds the pipeline of skilled workers needed to design, build and maintain renewable energy generation, storage and transmission projects across the state. 

The Strategy includes school-based trade taster programs through to apprenticeships engagement through to apprenticeships, traineeships and secure long-term employment. It also includes targeted initiatives to increase participation by women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As part of the investment, the Strategy will expand the Regional Industry Education Partnerships program, strengthening links between schools and renewable energy employers and giving students hands on exposure to local career opportunities.

The Strategy will also create Skills Coordinator roles to work closely with renewable energy employers, training providers and local communities to support local students and workers into renewable energy jobs.

Transgrid will play a major role in delivering the Roadmap, including construction of the NSW component of EnergyConnect, Australia’s largest energy transmission project, and delivery of the Hunter Transmission Project, which will carry renewable energy from regional NSW to homes and businesses.

The Strategy builds on existing Minns Labor Government investment in renewable energy skills programs, fee-free apprenticeships and traineeships, and the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW Tighes Hill.

For more information please visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-reports/nsw-renewable-energy-skills-strategy

Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Penny Sharpe said:

“The Energy Roadmap is delivering thousands of regional jobs across NSW to make sure families have energy they can trust and afford.

“Building renewable energy at scale means building the workforce to match, and this strategy connects students, apprentices and local workers with job opportunities.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said:

“This $15 million investment is about making sure local people have the skills to take up the jobs created by the renewable energy transformation. It is about investing in skills that will stay in country communities and provide a long term local benefit.

“We’re turning major energy projects into real, long-term careers, with clear pathways from school and training into secure, skilled work across regional NSW.”

Today I have appointed Mr Pablo Kang as Special Envoy to continue our efforts for progress in the investigations into the methanol poisoning deaths of Australian citizens Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones.

Since their November 2024 deaths, the Albanese Government has been clear to the Lao authorities of the need for transparency and accountability.

We have consistently conveyed our expectations that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy that killed Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals.

I have asked Mr Kang to depart for Laos as soon as possible this week and explore all avenues to progress the case.

Mr Kang heads the Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has previously served as Ambassador to Cambodia, Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and High Commissioner to Vanuatu.

We understand the heartbreaking grief of the families of Holly and Bianca, which has been exacerbated by the delays and lack of transparency over the legal processes in Laos.

The Albanese Government will continue to press the Lao authorities on Holly and Bianca’s cases and will continue to support their families in their pursuit of justice.

Hardship applications from Aged Care participants have more than doubled since the introduction of Labor’s new Aged Care Act, figures disclosed during Senate Estimates reveal.

The Aged Care Act, and the new Support at Home program came into effect on 1 November. In the two months since the commencement of Support at Home and the new Aged Care Act, Services Australia received 2,598 aged care hardship claims. [November: 1326 claims, December: 1272 claims – presented to Estimates at 5:45pm here]. 

In the two months immediately prior to the new Act, there were 1,429 claims, a more than doubling since the new act was introduced. [September: 571 claims, October: 858 claims – presented to Estimates at 6:40pm here].

Officials from Services Australia told the Greens’ Penny Allman-Payne that increased hardship claims were an ‘anticipated’ outcome of the new Support at Home program, which has seen the cost of essential aged care services dramatically increase, including help with showering, meals, and around the home.

Around one in three hardship applications were rejected by the government. In the quarter ending in December, just 67.7% of hardship claims were successfully approved, with 24% of hardship claims rejected and the remainder withdrawn (5:47).

The form to apply for aged care hardship is sixteen pages long and requires the participant to give three months of evidence of expenses. Experts have warned that the process of navigating this bureaucracy, for someone who definitionally is of low means and already needs help with their daily care, is a near-impossible task. 

Next Monday, the government’s aged care plans will face more scrutiny at a Senate hearing in Brisbane, chaired by Greens Spokesperson for Older People Senator Penny Allman-Payne.

Greens Spokesperson for Older People, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Exactly as designed, Labor’s new Aged Care Act is pushing older Australians into financial ruin to boost the bottom line of private aged care providers.”

“We’re hearing from pensioners under Support at Home who can no longer afford the help they need with showers, meals and medications, continence pads, or keeping a safe and clean home.”

“Forcing people in their 80s and 90s to go through an onerous 16 page form to apply for help so they can have showers and meals each day is just ridiculous and cruel. It’s a system that’s been designed to deny people care.”

“It would be much more straightforward to simply make sure that everyone can access the help and care they need – but instead Labor are jacking up the price of care and shaking down pensioners for all they’ve got.”

“In a wealthy country like Australia, we can afford to look after our most vulnerable, and make sure everyone can access the help and care that they need.”

In the midst of a housing crisis, the big banks’ obscene profits have been taken directly out of the pockets of mortgagees and renters.

The CBA has reported a mammoth $5.4b profit in its half-year results and the ANZ’s profit rose to $1.94b in its first quarter, as mortgages rise, with the average mortgage up $70,000 over the last 12 months.

The Greens say Labor cares more about the profits of the banks than it does about first-home buyers.

Greens spokesperson for Finance, Housing and Homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“In the midst of a housing crisis it’s clear who the winners are – the big banks and wealthy property hoarders.

“The big banks are profiting off rising house prices and increased mortgages, while homeowners struggle in the face of rising interest rates.

“Labor’s policies – such as the 5% deposit scheme and the $181b tax breaks for property hoarders, is adding fuel to the fire, driving up house prices while the banks take all the profit.

“It’s clear who the government is working for and it’s not renters or first-home buyers – it’s the banks and wealthy property investors.

“Without tackling the root causes of the housing crisis – which are the tax breaks for wealthy property hoarders and the lack of social and affordable housing – house prices will continue to spike, and banks will continue to rake in the profits.”

Greens spokesperson for Economic Justice Senator Nick McKim:

“This is the story of the last few years in a nutshell – misery for mortgage holders and renters and obscene profits for the banking corporations.

“The banks have been let loose by a hands off government and an RBA that only has one lever to pull.

“Labor needs to get serious about tackling inflation as well as the corporate price gouging that is causing it.”

Premier Chris Minns and his Ministers have lost control of their own Government with contradictory statements from the Premier and his Leader of the Government in the Upper House within minutes of one another during question time today about the call for an independent investigation into the police response to the Sydney protest.

Greens MP and spokesperson for Justice Sue Higginson said:

“The Greens in both the Lower and Upper Houses are seeking simple answers, does the Government support an independent investigation into the Police violence last Monday night – all we got was contradictions,”

“The Premier has doubled down stating that he doesn’t support the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) investigating Police misconduct from this week, while his Leader in the Upper House declared that it would be inappropriate to take a position in relation to what the LECC does,”

“It is clear there are many members of the Government who do not want the police actions at Town Hall on Monday to go unchecked, but the Premier Chris Minns is doubling down in defiance. There must be support for an independent investigation, people have lost trust in police and it needs to be restored,”

“The turmoil between Minns and his Government is getting worse. Just last night, the Government opposed and lost a motion calling for greater integrity powers for the ICAC, and yet this morning the Premier is standing up to announce a reintroduced version of investigation laws that failed to pass last week,”

“The Premier is playing a dangerous game, you can’t run a Government through command and control. If he wants to head off rebellion in his Party and within his own Cabinet, then this is the time to take stock and realise that he is not the King in a castle,”

“He is a Labor Premier in a democracy, he should start acting like it and leave peaceful protest and civil liberties alone,” Ms Higginson said.

In the wake of the second consecutive Closing the Gap report which shows only four of 19 targets on track, the Australian Greens urge the Labor government to show ambition and courage to get real outcomes on First Nations justice.

The report comes as First Nations people around the country are still reeling from the attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally in Boorloo Perth, an incident which was shamefully underreported in media and which was not immediately designated a terrorist attack, despite the crowd of more than 2500 people being predominantly First Nations people.

The Greens urge the Labor Government to respond with stronger leadership to this escalation in racist violence by prioritising Closing the Gap through Truth and Treaty, ending the epidemic of over-incarceration and deaths in custody, and urgent action on child removal and cultural heritage laws.

The Greens have previously called for a Makarrata truth commission leading to a Treaty, with genuine First Nations leadership, guaranteed staffing and a clear timeline for delivery.

The Greens reiterate the urgent demand that all 339 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody be implemented.

The Commonwealth must use every lever to end the disproportionate incarceration and preventable deaths of First Nations people, including raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. 

Leader of the Australian Greens and First Nations Justice spokesperson, Larissa Waters:

“The report today is sobering reading. More First Nations people are incarcerated and dying by suicide than last year. More First Nations kids are out of their homes and not on track to meet developmental milestones.

“I am deeply distressed that the outcomes today show almost no progress from last year’s report. First Nations people deserve much bolder action from the Government on Truth, Treaty and deaths in custody. Yet the government has stripped funding for a truth-telling commission and refuses to step in to end draconian States and Territory laws that put First Nations kids behind bars at alarming rates.

“We need to be real about the impacts of systemic racism, intergenerational trauma and chronic under-investment in Aboriginal-led responses. Labor must move beyond incremental measures if they are to close the gap by 2031 as promised.

“The Yoorook Justice Commission’s truth-telling work established a treaty pathway in Victoria; the Commonwealth should adopt and scale that approach nationally.

“Labor’s failure to implement the recommendations from the Deaths in Custody Royal Commission has led to the highest Aboriginal deaths in custody in over 40 years. 

“Additional funding is welcome, but without accountable delivery plans and genuine community partnership the gap will not close.

“The recent alleged murders of two First Nations women in Lake Cargelligo were not isolated incidents. First Nations women are more likely to be killed by a current or former partner, more likely to be hospitalised by violence, less likely to access support to leave violent relationships, and too often ignored when they report violence. We welcome the Our Ways, Strong Ways, Our Voices plan this week, but it should not have taken so long for government to listen to First Nations women calling for a standalone, community-led plan to end violence.

“The Greens are also alarmed by the continuing delays in meaningful cultural heritage reform while major projects continue to be approved against community wishes. It has been years since the destruction at Juukan Gorge and First Nations people still have to sue to defend their cultural heritage and water rights. The law must be reformed now so consent, self-determination and First Nations decision-making are central to approvals.

“And outside the report outcomes, the attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally in Boorloo was a chilling reminder that racism and far-right hatred targeting First Nations people is escalating. The time for leadership is now.

“Communities have the solutions, Labor needs to show the political will to implement structural reform led by First Nations people toward truth, treaty and justice.”