Month: February 2025

An $8 million Community Relief Fund, jointly funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments, is now available to councils impacted by flooding and severe weather, to allow them to kick off essential and immediate recovery activities.

Funding of up to $1 million per Local Government Area is available for Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville, Whitsunday and Yarrabah Councils.

The package, funded under Category C of the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), will provide timely and immediate support to impacted councils to remove waste and debris, clean-up properties, community facilities, playground and parks, and undertake other make safe activities as required by council to progress with local recovery.

The latest funding follows disaster assistance already provided by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments in the wake of the devastating floods, including Personal Hardship Assistance payments to eligible residents and counter disaster assistance funding for councils.

Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements activated so far:

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.
• Essential Household Contents Grants – up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.
• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme

• Income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.

Disaster Assistance Loans and Essential Working Capital Loans for Primary producers, small businesses and not-for profits

• Disaster Assistance Loans up to $250,000 for eligible primary producers and small businesses and up to $100,000 for eligible not-for-profits will help re-establish operations by covering costs relating to repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment, repairing or replacing buildings or resupplying stock or livestock.
• Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000 are available to help operators carry on business operations, including paying salaries or wages, creditors, rent or rates
• Current NQ localities activated: Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville, Yarrabah.

Current NQ localities activated for the DRFA Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme:

• Burdekin: Airdmillan, Barratta, Carstairs, Cromarty, Giru, Groper Creek, Horseshoe Lagoon, Inkerman, Jarvisfield, Jerona, Majors Creek, Mona Park, Mount Surround, Rita Island, Shirbourne, Upper Haughton.
  • Cairns: Gordonvale (targeted areas).
  • Cassowary Coast: Cardwell, Damper Creek, Ellerbeck, Kennedy.
  • Hinchinbrook: Entire LGA
  • Palm Island: Entire LGA
  • Townsville: Alligator Creek, Arcadia, Balgal Beach, Black River, Blue Hills, Bluewater, Bluewater Park, Cape Cleveland, Clemant, Cluden, Crystal Creek, Cungulla, Florence Bay, Gumlow, Hermit Park, Horseshoe Bay, Idalia, Lynam, Majors Creek, Mutarnee, Nelly Bay, Nome, Oonoonba, Paluma, Picnic Bay, Railway Estate, Rollingstone, Rosslea, Saunders Beach, South Townsville, Stuart, Toolakea, Toomulla, West Point and Yabulu.

Current NQ councils activated for DRFA assistance to support their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets:

• Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday, Yarrabah

For more information please visit Funding Programs.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“In the worst of times we see the best of Australians.

“We’ve seen that in recent days in Queensland, with Australians helping one another in their time of need.

“My Government will make sure this region gets all the support it needs to get back on its feet.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli:

“Queenslanders can be confident all levels of government were working to deliver the support needed today and in the months ahead. 

“Natural disasters leave their mark and while the road to recovery is long, these communities won’t be walking it alone, we won’t stop until the job is done.

“Support is flowing now and will continue as we work tirelessly to ensure the recovery process delivers what is needed for these communities.”

Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“Councils across North Queensland are doing a remarkable job on the frontline, keeping communities safe.

“I’ve been incredibly grateful for the excellent advice and reports I’ve received from mayors in this region over the past week. I am so thankful for their work supporting their communities.

“This funding supports councils to continue prioritising community safety in the wake of the floods.

“The severe rainfall and flooding has had an immense impact on the region with large amount of debris, silt and waste that requires immediate clean-up to protect the health of communities.

“The Albanese Government will continue working hand in glove with the Queensland Government to support impacted communities through this event and into recovery.”

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy:

“Given the enormous toll across communities, providing timely government support is paramount.

“We’re working closely with all impacted councils to understand and meet the unique and often complex recovery needs of each community.

“The Queensland Reconstruction Authority has dedicated officers supporting all local governments affected across the north and will make sure the full benefits of this support package and others are extended to flooded areas of the region.”

The Australian Greens have confirmed their support for the Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill, recognising it as a step in strengthening protections for vulnerable and targeted communities. 

The Greens will move amendments recommended in the Bill’s Senate Inquiry Report, including adding disability as a protected attribute in hate symbols offences, extending protections to associates of protected groups, and updating language around gender and sexuality.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson for Anti-racism:  

“The Greens will support Labor’s Hate Crimes Bill as it ensures stronger protections for vulnerable and targeted groups. It is a considered piece of legislation which is a step towards combating hate.

“We will move amendments proposed in the Bill Senate Inquiry Report to include disability as a protected attribute in hate symbols offences and to extend protections for associates of protected groups, as well as to update language around gender and sexuality. 

“We will consider our position in relation to amendments moved by other parties.

“The Greens will continue to call for a national Human Rights Act, for the government to urgently and fully fund the implementation of the National Anti-Racism Framework to tackle all forms of racism, and for investment in responses to hate that are grassroots and community-led.”

Political donations data published today by the Australian Electoral Commission shows corporate control over the major parties is rife through donor influence and our dodgy donation laws.

Both the big parties accept huge sums of money from dirty industries with a track record of trying to buy favourable policy outcomes. Only once a year can we find out just how much these powerful industries are paying for their influence on our democracy.

Greens spokesperson on Democracy, Senator Larissa Waters:

“As becomes clear every February, Australian democracy is still for sale and big corporations are pulling the strings.

“Today’s data once again shows that money talks, with more than $8.5 million in donations pocketed by the big political parties in the last financial year.

“Corporate donations to both big parties is over $260 million in the last ten years. 

“The annual disclosure records for the big political parties are littered with donations from big miners, property developers, banks and consultants – the same big corporations who are buying influence for private profits.

“The Liberal’s multimillion dollar investment fund the Cormack Foundation has shares in both Woolworths Group and Coles which returned $52,500 and $172,500 the fund respectively. Woolworths also made an $11,000 donation to Labor last financial year.

“It’s no wonder the big parties aren’t taking action to bring down the cost of groceries when they’re making bank off the back of the big supermarkets’ profits.

“Fossil fuel donations to both big parties continue and it’s no surprise that in return the Albanese government continues to approve new coal and gas projects and give $11 billion of public money every year in fossil fuel subsidies, turbo charging climate destruction.

“The biggest fossil fuel and mining donors are bankrolling a Dutton prime ministership with Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting giving $500,000 to Liberal Parties, and Rio Tinto giving $555,619 and BHP $469,368 to Liberal body Cormack Foundation.

“The Greens will continue to push for a ban on donations from dirty industries seeking to influence government policy – like coal and gas, the banks, big pharma, the pokies and alcohol lobby, tobacco, and weapons manufacturers. 

“We’ve had to wait a whole year, and today’s data only shows the tip of the iceberg. Many donations fall below the $16,300 disclosure threshold, and many ‘membership fees’ and cash-for-access event fees are not classed as donations so stay hidden from public view.

“We urgently need real-time donations disclosure so the public can see who is buying influence in the lead up to the federal election, not 20 months afterwards.

“There are the numbers in parliament to pass electoral reforms which can improve transparency, bring in truth in political advertising and genuinely reduce the influence of big money in politics.

“The government needs to decide if it wants a deal with the Liberals to keep the big parties’ coffers flush or have serious talks with the Greens and crossbench to ensure electoral reform improves democracy and doesn’t just prop up the fortunes and war chests of the two big parties.

“Big corporations keep making political donations to the big parties, yet one in three big corporations pay no tax. The Greens will keep Dutton out and push Labor to make the big corporations pay their fair share of tax, to fund the things we all need.

The Greens (WA) have announced a list of key demands to strengthen renter’s rights and shift the power balance away from property developers, landlords and real estate agents.

Housing will be a top priority for the Greens (WA) in the next term, with recent data showing Western Australia is now the epicentre of the national housing crisis¹ after four years of the Cook Labor government.

Since the 2021 State Election, rents in Perth have increased by more than 50%² putting thousands of Western Australian into financial hardship and earning our city the unfortunate title of ‘least affordable capital city’ in the country.

Meanwhile, our ageing public and private housing stock is some of the worst in the country, putting renter’s health at risk in our notoriously hot summers and through the cooler months of winter as well.

After four years of the Cook Labor government tinkering around the edges of the housing and renting crisis, the Greens will today announce a commitment to strengthen renter’s rights including:

1. A two-year freeze on rent increases and a permanent cap on rent increases pegged at CPI + 10% (in line with the model introduced in the ACT);
2. Immediately scrap no-reason evictions from the Residential Tenancies Act;
3. Introduce minimum standards for all public and private rental properties, including minimum standards for heating, cooling and energy efficiency:
   1. As of 1 May 2025, all new properties in WA will be required to have a minimum energy efficiency rating of 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. Western Australia could retrofit all social housing to meet this standard by 2030 at a cost of $640million and incentivise private rentals to do the same;
4. Tougher controls to stop rent-bidding:
   1. The advertised weekly rent for a home is the price tenants will pay; and
   2. Introduce a 3-strike policy for real estate agents, and fines for private landlords, for encouraging rent-bidding or accepting bids above the advertised price for a rental property.

WA Greens Housing Spokesperson and Legislative Council Candidate, Tim Clifford:

“Over the last four years the Cook Labor government has consistently prioritised the rights of property developers, landlords and real estate agents over the rights of the 700,000 Western Australians who rent. 

“Despite passing reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act in April last year, new inflation data out last week shows Western Australia is still at the epicentre of the national housing crisis with rents rising more than 10% in the last year and more than 50% in the last four years.

“Western Australians who rent desperately need relief which is why the Greens will push for a two year rent freeze after the state election which would save the average household almost $6,000 per year³; more than 8 weeks rent!

“But unlike the Cook Labor government, who are experts at bandaid solutions, we know that more than a temporary rent freeze is needed to ease the pressure on renters in the long-term.

“That’s why the Greens are announcing today a permanent cap on rent increases that is tied to CPI alongside a suite of policies that will actually make a difference for the 700,000 Western Australians who rent.

“Housing Minister John Carey could have made bold reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act but instead he caved to the property developers, landlords and real estate lobbyists like REIWA.

“Labor just keeps tinkering around the edges of this housing crisis. If Labor really wanted to tackle this crisis they would freeze and permanently cap rents, scrap unfair no-reason evictions and give WA renters safety and security in their own homes.”

WA Greens MLC Dr Brad Pettitt:

“Western Australia is the only state where tenants can be evicted for no reason and the only state where the government uses this unfair policy regularly to evict tenants from government owned and managed housing.

“The Greens WA tried to amend the Residential Tenancies Act in April last year to get rid of the unfair practice but were blocked by the WA Labor government who claimed, without evidence, that doing so could impact housing supply. 

“What there is plenty of evidence for is the impact that maintaining this unfair practice has on the security and affordability of housing for the 700,000 Western Australians who rent. 

“A survey last year by Make Renting Fair WA⁴ revealed tenants are too scared to ask for maintenance or necessary repairs in case that leads to an eviction and feel powerless to negotiate rent increases. 

“As the biggest landlord in the state, the WA Labor government regularly uses no-grounds evictions to evict public and social housing tenants into homelessness; a practice that is, frankly, criminal. 

“We are joined today at this announcement by Sandii Rogers, a public housing tenant on the disability support pension who has been told by the government she will have to cover the cost of installing insulation in her home. This is not good enough.

“So many public housing tenants swelter through summer in state-government owned and managed housing that doesn’t even meet basic minimum standards such as roof insulation, let alone air conditioning. It is time to invest in minimum energy efficiency standards as a priority.

“Alongside investing in public housing, we would push for a $1,500 rebate scheme to incentivise landlords to improve the energy efficiency of private rental properties, helping renters to save on their energy bills too.

“Far too many Western Australian homes fall well below minimum standards for safe housing; this needs to change as a priority.”
 

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¹ Perth housing market: Latest inflation data shows renters hit hard in 2024, The West Australian, Wednesday 29 January 2025, Source: https://thewest.com.au/business/economy/perth-housing-market-latest-inf…

² SQM Weekly Rents: Perth. Source: https://sqmresearch.com.au/weekly-rents.php?region=wa%3A%3APerth&type=c…

³ Renters could have saved 10 weeks worth of rent by now under Greens rent freeze proposal, Max Chandler-Mather, Australian Greens, 24 October 2024. Source: https://www.maxchandlermather.com/renters_could_have_saved_10_weeks_wor…

⁴ 2023 WA Renter’s Survey, Make Renting Fair WA. Source: https://makerentingfairwa.org.au/resources/survey-findings/

The Greens have offered the Albanese Government a pragmatic pathway to tackle the harms of gambling advertising with new laws this fortnight.

The Greens have today released a letter sent to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland last week in which the party offered Labor a compromise: to ban gambling ads online, ban ads before and after sport and during kids viewing times, and to create a cap of 2 ads per television program, mirroring the Government’s earlier position.

The new offer heaps pressure on the Albanese Government. The Greens have offered to to amend their Ban Gambling Ads bill which is scheduled to be before the Senate on Wednesday morning for debate.

Greens Communications Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Gambling ad reform is the unfinished business of this parliament. The public want this done before the election and the Government should listen and act.

“We’re offering a pragmatic pathway here and there is just enough time to get it done. On Wednesday, the Senate will debate and vote on the Greens’ bill to ban gambling ads. All sides should back it.

“We will support legislation this week to ban gambling ads online and implement some broadcast restrictions before and after sport and during kids viewing times.

“This offer is consistent with the Albanese Government’s previous promises.

“If the Government is serious about preventing gambling harm and protecting our kids they will jump at this offer.

“Australians want gambling ads banned and stakeholders are desperate for action.

“The Albanese Government shouldn’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The Greens have compromised and Labor should too.

“The Greens will push for a full gambling ad ban in the next parliament but in the meantime we should work together for the sake of our kids and communities.

“Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation than earth and we need our politicians to act.”

The Australian Government has imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on the white supremacist terrorist network Terrorgram, as part of our ongoing work to combat antisemitism and keep Australians safe.

Terrorgram is an online network that promotes white supremacy and racially-motivated violence.

It is now a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of, or make assets available to, Terrorgram.

Penalties include up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or heavy fines.

It is the first time any Australian Government has imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on an entity based entirely online.

The Australian Government has also re-listed for counter-terrorism financing sanctions four other entities that promote nationalist and racist violent extremist ideologies: National Socialist Order, the Russian Imperial Movement, Sonnenkrieg Division and The Base.

This demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to disrupting the activities of terrorists and violent extremists and preventing them from recruiting and radicalising people online.

There is no place in Australia for antisemitism, hatred or violence.

The Australian Government has also imposed sanctions on Hizballah’s new Secretary-General and a leading spokesperson for the terrorist group, Mr Naim Qassem.

Hizballah is responsible for the deaths of countless civilians in Lebanon, Israel and across the Middle East.

One person and another four entities have also been re-listed for counter-terrorism financing sanctions.

A consolidated list of sanctions is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.