Category: Australian News

The Albanese Government must act to introduce urgent legislation to the Parliament after the High Court today endorsed preventative detention to protect Australians from the dangerous detainees that have been released into our community.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton and Coalition Shadow Ministers Michaelia Cash, James Paterson and Dan Tehan called on the Government to act immediately to keep the Australian community safe.

The High Court has endorsed exactly the type of response that Peter Dutton has been calling for over the last three weeks, as the Government released more than 140 detainees including pedophiles, rapists, murderers, and a contract killer onto our streets.

The High Court’s reasons for its judgement in the case of the detainee known as NZYQ clearly greenlights a pathway to legislate for preventative detention to protect the community. It falls to the Government now to follow through.

The Government has been saying for two weeks that preventative detention isn’t an option and they’ve been proved wrong today. They should have been ready with preventative detention legislation already.

Questions also arise as to why the Government panicked and urgently released in excess of 140 detainees when the decision clearly applies to the single detainee NZYQ.

The hopeless Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles and hapless Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil should explain to the Australia people why they released each of the other 140 detainees. Both Ministers Giles and O’Neil have shown Australians what amateur hour looks like.

What is also very clear is that the Government botched the handling of this case.

Why did they make concessions in May that NZYQ couldn’t be resettled, but then proceed to make further inquiries in August in an attempt to resettle him?

The Court specifically looked at the last-ditch inquiries made very late in the piece. But because it was left so late in the process it was not reasonable to say whether those inquiries were likely to be successful.

Mr Giles and Ms O’Neil should come clean on why they gave that concession which appears to have set the High Court on a path of no return.

This Government has proved incompetent during every step of this process. We will await their further incompetence to be on display in coming days.

The Greens marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People by taking two actions in the Parliament. First, by tabling a petition supported by over 35,000 members of the public calling on the Albanese Government to stop fueling violence by exporting military equipment to Israel, and second calling for a permanent ceasefire to stop the killing of civilians.

Over recent weeks, the State of Israel’s attacks on Gaza have killed thousands of innocent civilians and destroyed hospitals, schools and places of worship. Legal scholars around the world recognise these actions as amounting to collective punishment and war crimes.

While the conflict rages, the Albanese Government has refused to provide the Australian public with clear information on what military equipment has been exported to Israel from Australia and used in this brutal war.

According to figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, between 2017-2022, Australia directly exported to Israel over $13 million in “arms and ammunition.” This will likely be only a small amount of the equipment contained within the 350 military export permits between Australia and Israel over the past five years.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Defence Spokesperson, said:

“The Government knows exactly what military equipment we sell and what countries we sell it to, but refuses to be honest and transparent with the public.

“We are calling on the Government to provide essential information on military exports, which is the standard practice in countries like the US. This information is needed to ensure military equipment is not exported to countries actively involved in human rights abuses.

“There is clear evidence of Australia providing weapons and military equipment to Israel over the past five years, whether that is the millions of dollars in exports of arms and ammunition reported through DFAT, or the 350 military export permits since 2017.

“Australia must not be complicit in war crimes and the Government must immediately cease all military exports to the State of Israel,” Senator Shoebridge said.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Foreign Affairs Spokesperson said:

“What we need right now is a ceasefire, not the continuing proliferation of arms in a conflict that has already taken the lives of over 15,000 people.”

“The goal must always be a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis and to do that we must seek to stop the senseless cycle of violence. That means ending the State of Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories, an end to the crime of apartheid currently being committed on the Palestinian population, and the release of all hostages and political prisoners.

“The Greens condemn the war crimes of Hamas and the State of Israel and will continue to seek a peaceful and diplomatic outcome because the violence on October 7 and the atrocities in Gaza have no place in our society and push a just and lasting peace further out of reach.

“Today, the International Day for Solidarity with the Palestinian people, we must remember that Palestinian people have the fundamental right to self-determination,” Senator Steele-John said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has today responded to Labor’s shared equity scheme, calling it deeply inadequate and raising concerns that it could make the housing crisis worse.

The Greens will consider their position on the legislation and intend to further scrutinise the bill through an inquiry process. With an entire generation of young people locked out of housing, a key concern is the extremely small number of beneficiaries of the scheme, as well as the prospect that it will further push up the price of homes.

As the Housing Australia Future Fund debate has shown, Labor will not take meaningful action on the housing crisis without the Greens pushing them. Earlier this year the Greens were able to secure $3 billion in funding for social housing and a guaranteed spend of $500 million per year. 

The Productivity Commission has said that there is not a strong case for government assistance to be targeted at purchasing a home. Instead, they should focus housing assistance on the needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, which will have overall benefits to the housing market. They outlined that there is a risk that demand-side policies, like the Help-to-Buy scheme will push house prices up further and lock more people out of home ownership.  

Adam Bandt, leader of the Australian Greens said:

“Labor is tinkering around the edges of the housing crisis instead of stopping unlimited rent increases and ending unfair tax breaks for rich property moguls,” Mr Bandt said.

“We will look at this legislation, but are concerned about approaches that allow a tiny proportion of applicants to buy a house while potentially pushing up prices for everyone else. 

“It’s Labor’s ‘hard to get’ scheme. Getting a spot in this scheme will be like finding a Willy Wonka golden ticket. You shouldn’t have to win a lottery to be able to have a home.

“Housing is an essential service and in a country as wealthy as Australia, the government has an obligation to ensure everyone has an affordable, quality home. 

“Property developers will be happy to hear that Labor is dressing up another boost to their profits as a solution to the housing crisis.”

“The Greens want housing and rents to be cheaper. That means freezing rent increases, massive investment in public housing and phasing out unfair tax concessions for property moguls.

“With Labor backing rich property investors and developers, the Greens are proudly the party of renters and people trying to buy their first home.”
 

With official emissions data revealing today that emissions under Labor have risen 3.6 million tonnes this year, the Greens have said that Labor’s talk of climate action is gaslighting when they continue to open new coal and gas projects.

The Government has also confirmed that they will refuse to back the Climate Change Authority’s recommendation to reduce gas demand through phasing out new and existing gas connections, while instead focusing the government’s energy on building new gas fields.

Additionally, they have refused to fully support net-zero based Fuel Efficiency Standards as recommended by the Climate Change Authority, leaving Australia at risk of becoming the dumping ground for old and dirty ICE vehicles.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP, has called for Labor to stop opening up new coal and gas. Gas is as dirty as coal, and the federal government must play a role in ensuring households don’t get stuck on the expensive and polluting fuel source.

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens said:

“Climate pollution is rising under Labor and they’re still approving new coal and gas mines,” Mr Bandt said.

“Labor must stop gaslighting the public. Opening new coal and gas isn’t climate action. 

“By opening new gas fields and refusing to help phase out gas in homes, Labor is trying to prop up the gas industry by trapping customers on the expensive, polluting energy source. 

“Labor isn’t even going to meet its unscientific 43% emissions reduction target, which will see Australia blitz past 2 degrees of warming and see our country’s agriculture pushed to the brink.

“There are ten coal and gas projects on Tanya Plibersek’s desk that will create ten times more pollution than what the government’s weak 2030 targets will save.”

The Albanese Government is investing up to $12 million in a new partnership that will support local communities and governments in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to improve HIV testing and treatment, reduce stigma and discrimination, and lower transmission.

Australia will work with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Health Equity Matters to deliver this new initiative, which aims to accelerate access to new HIV prevention and treatment solutions, through community-led responses.

HIV responses which are specifically crafted for and implemented by communities, are key to addressing stigma and discrimination, and reaching all those who need help.

From prevention to treatment, addressing stigma and discrimination is critical. HIV is a virus that affects all parts of the community, women and girls accounted for almost half of all new HIV infections in 2022. Therefore, community-led responses are an effective way of reaching all people who need assistance.

This is part of the Australian Government’s five-year $620 million Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, and is in addition to Australia’s ongoing support to UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

World AIDS Day, on 1 December, is a time to reflect on the remarkable progress made in the fight against HIV, and the work required to end the HIV epidemic and support those living with HIV.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“Globally we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV – but there is still more to be done.

“It is critical that Australia supports communities in our region to end the HIV epidemic, including through sharing our own knowledge and experience.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“This new partnership will support locally led solutions to the HIV epidemic in our region – enabling affected communities to lead the response.

“We are building genuine partnerships across our region to reduce HIV transmission and support those living with HIV.”

CEO, Health Equity Matters, Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell said:

“The most effective way to treat and prevent HIV is to empower the people who most feel its impact.

“We endorse the Government’s resolve to fight stigma and expand access to prevention, treatment and testing.”

Regional Director, UNAIDS Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe Central Asia regions, Eamonn Murphy said:

“UNAIDS values Australia’s long-standing partnership globally and in the Indo-Pacific region, and particularly its commitment to community leadership.

“By supporting expanded access to HIV prevention and treatment while reducing stigma and discrimination, we can accelerate progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.”

The Albanese Government and the Australian Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia has today offered a full, unreserved and overdue apology to all thalidomide survivors, their families, loved ones and carers.

The Government’s Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program will be re-opened to ensure that anyone who may have missed the previous opportunity to apply for support does not miss out on the support they need and deserve.

The Program is a lifetime support package which includes a one-off lump sum payment in recognition of pain and suffering, as well as ongoing annual payments.

From now on, rather than those payments being locked at a particular level, the Government will support increases through indexation, for all current and future applicants who qualify.

Tomorrow, the Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler will unveil a national memorial to survivors of the thalidomide tragedy and their families, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.

The location and design of the National Site of Recognition were chosen in collaboration with Australian thalidomide survivors.

The National Site of Recognition will promote education and awareness of the thalidomide tragedy, recognise the pain and suffering of survivors and their families, and represent our commitment to learn from the past.

the Prime Minister said:

“This apology takes in one of the darkest chapters in Australia’s medical history.

“Expectant mothers, through no fault of their own, were exposed to a drug with devastating effects that were realised too late.

“To the survivors: we apologise for the pain thalidomide has inflicted on each and every one of you, each and every day.

“As survivors have requested, the National Site of Recognition will be much more than “a plaque in a park”. It will be a prompt for our collective conscience, a call to our nation’s heart.”

Minister Butler said:

“The Government’s Thalidomide Survivors Support Program will be re-opened to ensure that anyone who may have missed the previous opportunity to apply for support does not miss out on the support they need and deserve.

“The national memorial was designed in collaboration with thalidomide survivors – to honour and respect them, to acknowledge their pain and courage and to ensure this tragedy is never forgotten.

“The words inscribed in the glass bricks were chosen by survivors to reflect their experience. It’s impossible to read those words and not be profoundly moved by the impact and legacy of the tragedy.

“The thalidomide tragedy provides a powerful lesson about the need to be vigilant to safeguard people’s health.”

Today I announce the appointment of Dr Pippa Dickson and Dr Peter K. Lee to the board of the Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF).

Both Dr Dickson and Dr Lee bring diverse experience and unique perspectives to support the objectives of the AKF and enrich our bilateral relationship with the Republic of Korea.

Dr Dickson is one of Australia’s strongest advocates for art, craft and design and has extensive domestic and international organisational leadership experience. She has delivered significant international programs in the Republic of Korea and across Asia.

Dr Lee is a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Korea’s leading independent think-tank. His focus is on Australia–Korea relations, Australian foreign and defence policy, the Korean Peninsula, middle powers and Indo-Pacific security.

I thank outgoing members Associate Professor Ruth Barraclough and Ms Jacinta Thompson for their substantial contribution to the AKF over the past six years.

The AKF works to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Australia and the Republic of Korea, supporting people-to-people links with one of our most important partners in Asia.

For more information visit the Australia-Korea Foundation.

Today I announce the appointments of Professor Wesley Enoch AM and Ms Leonie Boxtel to the board of the Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF).

Both appointments will contribute to the goals of the AJF, and bring their diverse experience to support our bilateral relationship with Japan.

A proud Quandamooka man from Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), Professor Enoch is a writer and director of acclaimed Indigenous film and theatre productions. He is currently the Deputy Chair of Creative Australia and has played a central role in connecting Australia and Japan through theatre for more than 20 years. Professor Enoch is the first Indigenous Australian representative on the board of the AJF and will bring a First Nations perspective to the foundation’s activities.

Ms Leonie Boxtel has an extensive career with a focus on strengthening Australia–Japan relations across government, education and the philanthropy sector. Ms Boxtel is Executive Officer of the Bowness Family Foundation, which supports the arts, education and disability.

I am pleased to reappoint Ms Wendy Holdenson for another term and thank outgoing members, Professor Veronica Taylor, Mr Chris Saines, and Mr Mark Connors for their contributions over many years.

The AJF is Australia’s oldest cultural council and underpins our Special Strategic Partnership with Japan. Its programs and networks support our objectives with Japan and the region and amplify our lasting connection.

For more information, visit the Australia-Japan Foundation.

One Nation supporters have seen it all before – despite overwhelming support in the Australian community for one thing, Labor, the Greens, academics and activists are determined to do the opposite. 

This is the case with immigration. With climate change ideology. With foreign aid. And, of course, with an indigenous treaty. 

Black activist and former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe put her contempt for the referendum result on full display this week, demanding the Albanese government proceed with a treaty and ‘truth-telling’ – code for rewriting Australian history to maximise financial settlements funded by non-indigenous taxpayers. 

Pauline Hanson had other ideas. One Nation, with amazing support from its supporters and volunteers, played a prominent role in the no campaign to help secure the 60% no vote in Australia and the 69% no vote Queensland. 

Australia, she said in Parliament this week, voted overwhelmingly not just to reject the voice but also the demands in the Uluru Statement for a treaty and a truth-telling commision. 

“Australians understood the voice was a crucial first step towards a treaty, and they knocked it back. They understood the voice, treaty and ‘truth-telling’ would divide this country by race, and they knocked them back. 

I am pleased to announce the Governor‑General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Stephanie Foster as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.

Ms Foster has had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service, including as acting Secretary and Associate Secretary of Home Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Ms Foster has held other senior positions in the APS, including at the Australian Public Service Commission, the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Defence.

Ms Foster has well-established relationships across the APS and significant policy experience, which make her eminently suitable to the role of Secretary.

Ms Foster’s five‑year appointment will commence today.