Category: Australian News

Labor’s attempts to amend last week’s rushed and shoddy anti-refugee legislation with more rushed and shoddy anti-refugee legislation is just further proof that Peter Dutton is running the show, the Greens say.

“Labor has clearly learned nothing from last week. They let Dutton pressure them into trampling refugee rights with hasty and xenophobic legislation, and here they go again,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“They may as well re-appoint Peter Dutton as Minister for Home Affairs and be done with it.”

“This isn’t leadership; it’s a betrayal of principles in the face of political pressure.”

“They have completely folded in the face of a right wing scare campaign.”

“Again we see one group of people in our country treated more harshly than another just because they are not citizens.”

“Mandatory sentences are contrary to good governance and Labor’s own policy platform.”

“For Labor to introduce them today just shows that they are only interested in appeasing the far right.”

“Labor’s xenophobia is perpetuating a cycle of criminalisation and punitive control over refugees and migrants, many of whom have committed no crime whatsoever.”

“To the Teals, Mr Wilkie and Senator Pocock: we ask you to this time stand with us for refugee rights instead of collapsing again in the face of the political duopoly’s confected fear campaign.”

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:

“All year Labor has used the JSCEM process as an excuse for rejecting independent and Greens private members’ bills for electoral reform on topics like truth in political advertising, donation reform and transparency, and on-the-day enrolment.

“And yet here we are, with the final JSCEM report delivered, and still zero detail on how Labor plans to work with the parliament to deliver improved transparency and integrity to our elections. 

“The Greens welcome the proposal for more Senate seats for the territories, but it is very concerning to see no further progress made on donations, transparency or tackling misinformation in today’s report. 

“If Labor is genuine about electoral reform to deal with misinformation, with big spenders like Clive Palmer, and with dark money, they’d be consulting and working with the crossbench instead of talking about ‘bipartisan approaches’.

“Any proposal that means that if you’re already elected you get a hefty envelope full of cash, but if you’re trying to get elected, your donations are heavily restricted is not a reform, it’s a rort. 

“Propping up the dying two party system is not electoral reform, it’s a rort.

“After the Greens’ landslide outcome at the last election, and the victories of independents in metropolitan Liberal seats, the political class is feeling the heat.

“Labor and the Liberals’ vote is going backwards. The combined total of the two party vote in Australia has dropped from 98% of the vote in 1951, on a steady downward trend, to 68% at the last election.

“The Greens and independents stand ready to pass real democratic reforms with the Government, rather than the government doing a dirty deal with the Liberals that locks in the two party system.”

BACKGROUND
Report: Conduct of the 2022 federal election and other matters – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

Greens additional comments: Additional comments by the Australian Greens – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

TL;DR – The Juice Media version: https://youtu.be/N3WTlyuhDs0

The Greens say curriculum debates are a sideshow which distracts policymakers from the school funding crisis, and that the key to ending school inequality is ensuring every child can access a well-resourced and inclusive public school.

Greens spokesperson on Education (Primary & Secondary), Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“Blaming educational inequality on curriculum while continuing to underfund our public schools is a distraction that parents, carers and teachers will see straight through.

“Teachers are overworked and leaving the profession; parents and teachers are dipping into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies; and thousands of students can’t attend class because their schools don’t have the resources to adequately support them.

“The idea that tweaking the curriculum would magically reverse the decades of neglect of our public school system is a technocratic fantasy that no serious person can possibly believe.

“This is a game the right’s culture warriors have been playing for years. They’re desperate to undermine the public system, and they’ll blame declining performance and disengagement on everything but the actual cause: persistent underfunding.

“It’s a cynical shell game that helps prop up the private system and entrench elite privilege at the expense of millions of the most disadvantaged kids in the country.

“To even have a chance of reversing educational inequality in Australia, every public school must be funded to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard by the start of the next National School Reform Agreement, in January 2025.”

In the Senate this afternoon Labor voted to open new gas fields, with its gas code narrowly avoiding a Senate defeat by 16 votes to 21.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Labor has voted to open new gas fields.

“In the middle of a climate crisis, Labor is gaslighting the public, pretending to take climate action while opening new coal and gas mines.

“Gas is as dirty as coal, and every new Labor gas development puts us on track for an unliveable climate future.

“Labor’s gas code gives big corporations a financial incentive to open new gas fields.

“There’s plenty of gas in Australia to get us through the transition, but Labor is peddling Morrison-era spin that new gas fields are the only answer.

“Labor’s backing for more coal and gas is now clear. Labor backs the Santos’ Narrabri gas project, the Beetaloo climate bomb and Woodside’s Burrup Hub disaster, which contain decades worth of pollution and put a safer climate further out of reach.

“We’re up for regulating the gas corporations and ensuring gas isn’t sent offshore while Australian business transitions, but the experts and climate scientists make it clear that there is no room for new coal or gas if we’re to have any chance of meeting climate targets.

Today, as Australian small businesses are being smashed by cost pressures, the Albanese Government has claimed its Industry Growth Program is ‘open for business’.

Industry Minister Ed Husic has taken a break from freelancing on foreign policy to team up with Small Business Minister Julie Collins, to declare this new government initiative will ‘turbocharge innovation’, ‘back small business’ and that ‘the Albanese Government is supporting businesses to grow’.

It can be revealed that this rosy assessment made by two of Labor’s worst performers does not accord with the assessments made by their public servants behind the scenes.

The Government’s own analysis contained in an FOI’d Senate Estimates brief, states that:

• Recently, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) conditions have fallen further below the conditions for all businesses than at any other time recorded.
• For the smallest SMEs (turnover between $2-3 million) the effect is even greater.
• Almost three-quarters of SMEs continue to report significant difficulty finding suitable labour and cost pressures remain elevated. These economic circumstances are affecting conditions for SMEs more than their larger counterparts given their relatively higher operating costs and thinner margins.

Who are we to believe, two hapless ministers or their own public servants?

Irrespective of the spin in press releases from Labor Ministers, Australian small businesses are suffering in a ‘cost-of-doing-business-crisis’ and the Albanese Government is simply not doing the work to relieve the pressure.

Instead of taking strong action on power prices, easing supply chain disruptions and lowering the cost of doing business we see another taxpayer-funded grant program unlikely to be open for months and which most small businesses will not know about, nor have time to apply for.

What’s worse, as Australians get hammered by cost of living increases and interest rates rises, there are signs it will get even harder for small businesses.

The Visa Australia Spending Momentum Index (SMI) dropped by 1.4 points to 91.9 in October as consumers continued to respond to rising fuel costs, sticky inflation and high interest rates. According to Visa, 51 per cent of Australian cardholders reduced their spend last month compared to a year ago, the highest share recorded this year. The data suggests increased spending on petrol is having an impact and may be displacing spending in other categories. Critically, it also anticipates that elevated inflation and interest rates will further hit consumer spending, making it even harder for small businesses over coming months.

We do not need more Labor ministers backslapping, we need a proper plan on inflation and sound economic management.

Anthony Albanese is failing at every turn.

Australia will be represented as an observer, by Ms Susan Templeman MP, at the second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in New York.

The Government’s decision to again observe the Meeting of States Parties illustrates Australia’s renewed commitment to a world without nuclear weapons.

Although Australia is not a State Party to the TPNW, we share this goal with parties to the Treaty and are engaging constructively to identify realistic pathways for nuclear disarmament and to reduce the risks posed by nuclear weapons.

Australia is considering the TPNW systematically and methodically as part of our ambitious agenda to advance nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Australia’s attendance at the Meeting will provide insights into how States Parties intend to address questions about the Treaty, including:

• the adequacy of the TPNW’s verification and enforcement regime;
• the TPNW’s interaction with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which the Australian Government considers to be the cornerstone of the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime; and
• how States Parties will work to achieve universal support for the TPNW, especially that of nuclear weapons states.

The Australian Greens are calling on the Health Minister to agree to re-open applications for the Thalidomide Survivors Support Program. 

Ahead of the long-awaited national apology, set for 29th November 2023, Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John is calling on the Federal Government to immediately re-open the eligibility assessment program, to ensure that any previously unrecognised thalidomide survivors are able to apply for the program and get the support they deserve.

Additionally, Senator Jordon Steele-John is backing the calls of thalidomide survivors to have the ongoing support payments indexed, to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for Health and Disability said:

“At a time as momentous as a National Apology to Thalidomide Survivors, it is very likely that some members of the Australian Community may recognise, for the first time, that they too had been impacted by Thalidomide. It is vital that there still be a pathway for survivors to get justice, recognition and ongoing support. The Greens are calling on the Federal Government to re-open the eligibility assessment program.

“The intention of the Australian Thalidomide Survivors Program was to provide a lifetime support package for survivors. It’s clear that without indexing those payments, the ability for survivors to get access to the services they need is getting harder and harder.

“The Australian Government have made a commitment to right the wrongs and are now ready to apologise. But an apology is only as good as the actions that follow. It’s beyond time for support payments to be indexed to keep up with the rising cost of living.”

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women the Greens are once again calling for full funding for frontline family and domestic violence services, and will continue to do so every day for the next 16 days, as part of the UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Frontline services that provide emergency housing, wrap-around support, legal advice, education and prevention, counselling and healing, and long term affordable housing are essential to ensuring women and children can escape family and domestic violence.  

Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women said:

“This month in Australia, six women were murdered in just one week.This is an epidemic, and it must increase the urgency of governments and communities to tackle violence against women and their children.

“First Nations women, women from culturally diverse backgrounds, women in regional areas, older women, LGBTIQ+ women, and women with a disability are even more likely to experience violence.

“Every year on this day we recommit to ending sexual and physical violence against women around the world, but frontline services are still underfunded and women and children are being turned away as a result.

“Enough with empty promises. Enough with ignoring the impact of financial insecurity and housing stress on women’s capacity to leave. Enough with underfunding the services women reach out to in a crisis. 

“The Government has said it wants to end violence against women within a generation but it’s not stumping up the funds to deliver that. The total federal funding commitment over the next five years is $2.23 billion, less than half the $5 billion the sector needs to ensure no one is turned away.

“Labor has spoken often about difficult choices in the lead up to the budget, but right now they are choosing to spend $313 billion on tax cuts for billionaires while baulking at $1 billion a year for women escaping violence. It’s worse than disappointing, it’s a betrayal.

“The housing crisis is felt even more acutely by women and children experiencing family and domestic violence. Women are forced to choose between abuse or homelessness, because there is nowhere to go. 

“Women on low wages or income support are especially vulnerable without the resources to escape violent situations. Yet this government persists with the cruelty of keeping income support payments like JobSeeker below the poverty line, and has the audacity to cry poor while dishing out hundreds of billions in tax cuts and investment property perks for the rich.

“Today, and every day for the next 16 days, the Greens are calling for full funding of frontline DV services. 

“The women’s safety sector has repeatedly called for a $1 billion per year investment to meet demand. Labor’s last budget provided less than half that amount for frontline services.

“Women deserve better than that, and $1 billion each year is a very small price to pay to end this ongoing epidemic of violence against women and children.”

The Albanese and Palaszczuk governments are making it easier for Townsville residents to see a doctor with a provider for the Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) finalised, following an Expression of Interest process.

Eastbrooke Family Clinic will be established as the Townsville Medicare UCC and is expected to start seeing patients in December 2023.
 
The Townsville Medicare UCC delivers on the government’s commitment to make it easier for people in Townsville to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the Townsville University Hospital.
 
The Townsville Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, seven days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
 
The Townsville clinic is one of the 11 Medicare UCCs across Queensland – located in Bundaberg, Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, LogaThe Albanese and Palaszczuk governments are making it easier for Townsville residents to see a doctor with a provider for the Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) finalised, following an Expression of Interest process.
 n, Northern Brisbane, Murrumba Downs (Redcliffe), Rockhampton, Southern Brisbane and Toowoomba.
 
Toowoomba and Townsville Medicare UCCs are additional clinics established as a result of the strong collaboration between the Commonwealth and Queensland Government under the Primary Care Pilots program.
 
The Albanese Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the Queensland Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open this year.
 
Minister Butler said:
 
“The Townsville Medicare UCC will make a big difference to patients in the region who will be able to walk in seven days a week and get free urgent care from a nurse or a doctor.
 
“The clinic will ease pressure on the Townsville University Hospital, so that its hard-working doctors and nurses can focus higher priority emergencies.
 
“The Townsville Medicare UCC is just another way the Government is strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a doctor.”
 
Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said:

“Townsville families deserve free, high-quality health care close to home – and that’s exactly what the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will provide.

“I’m so proud that the Palaszczuk Government helped to deliver this facility, which will treat urgent, but not life-threatening, conditions and illnesses.

“This clinic, together with our $530 million Townsville University Hospital expansion, will ensure residents have access to Queensland’s world-class healthcare.

“This is another example of the Albanese and Palaszczuk governments delivering for Queensland.”

Senator Green said:
 
“The Townsville Medicare UCC will mean locals who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it’s outside standard hours – and all they’ll need is their Medicare card.
 
“I know many Townsville families who have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues.
 
“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the local ED and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.

A federal Coalition Government will invest in age verification technology to help protect Australian children from online harm.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said an elected Coalition Government will provide an additional $6.7 million, over two years, to the eSafety Commission to conduct a trial aimed at reducing the access of children to harmful online content, such as pornography.

“There are growing concerns of how extreme, offensive and denigrating online images can normalise unacceptable behaviour, particularly in relation to women and girls,” Mr Dutton said.

“Families spend an increasing amount of time online; we want to help parents protect their kids from the damaging impacts this sort of content has on our kids.”

Mr Dutton unveiled the commitment in Brisbane where he met with representatives of key advocacy groups; Bravehearts, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, and Collective Shout.

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said the Albanese Government had been condemned for rejecting the recommendation of its own eSafety Commissioner for a trial.

“Labor’s decision to oppose an age verification trial was criticised by more than 45 top child and women’s safety leaders who wrote to the Prime Minister and Minister,” Mr Coleman said.

“The National Children’s Safety Commissioner expressed disappointment at the Government’s announcement, but the pornography industry welcomed it.”

“We’ve also learnt from an FOI this week that the Minister considered that conducting a trial would ‘unnecessarily distract’ industry from developing new codes.”

Mr Coleman said he would introduce a Private Member’s Bill into Parliament on Monday seeking to amend the Online Safety Act to legislate for the Minister to carry out a trial.