Category: Australian News

The Albanese Labor Government is leading the way for Australia to become the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer, with the release of the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer and a $48.2 million investment to support implementation.

As we mark the World Health Organisation’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, Australia is also making new investments to share our world-leading expertise with the Pacific and Southeast Asia, and work towards a world free of this deadly disease.

The National Strategy aims to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health issue in Australia by 2035. The $48.2 million investment over four years, will improve access to screening and follow up services, as well better data access to target vaccination efforts.

The National Strategy was developed by the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer after extensive public consultation and sets ambitious targets, and complements the Albanese Government’s landmark Australian Cancer Plan.

The new targets include extending the 90% HPV vaccination target to boys, so all children are safe from HPV. It also extends the 70% screening target to 5-yearly participation for 25- to 74-year-olds rather than just twice in a lifetime.

The National Strategy will improve support and access to services in priority populations such as First Nations people, people with disability, people living in rural and remote areas of Australia, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and LGBTIQA+ people. $8.3 million has been allocated to implement innovate screening models to support such communities.

This work supports other initiatives to eliminate cervical cancer, including the self-collected Cervical Screening Tests introduced in July 2022. These tests allow privacy and help to break down barriers for thousands of people who have never screened – including women who have experienced sexual violence, LGBTIQA+ people and culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nations communities.

First Nations women are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and face significant barriers to participating in cervical screening compared to non‑Indigenous women. $12.7 million has been provided to the National Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation to improve access for First Nations women so they can be screened closer to home in their local community.

The Albanese Government is also making a new investment of up to $12.5 million to the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) as part of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.

This investment will connect Australia’s world-leading cervical cancer expertise with governments across the region to get HPV vaccine programs up and running, expand screening and treatment and build health workforce capacity.

The partnership complements Australia’s existing support for the region through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and cervical cancer screenings from sexual and reproductive health initiatives.

The National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia is available via the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer website.

More information on Partnerships for a Health Region is available via the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security website.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Ged Kearney said:

“Australia has always punched above its weight when it comes to cervical cancer, and now Australia is on track to be the first country in the world to eliminate this deadly disease.

“One of my priorities is to address inequities in our health system. I want to make sure that everyone can get access to screening – and all healthcare – no matter where you live.

“By supporting the Pacific and Southeast Asia region eliminate cervical cancer we are another step closer to ridding the world of this disease”.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Penny Wong said:

“A quarter of global cervical cancer cases occur in our region, the Indo-Pacific.

“Tragically, in the Pacific, women are dying at up to 13 times the rate of women in Australia.

“Using Australian expertise to respond to the region’s most pressing challenges is at the heart of our new international development policy”.

The Australian Government has imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on eight persons and one entity in response to the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

These persons include Hamas members, operatives and financial facilitators, along with a currency exchange owned by one individual.

In 2001, Australia imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions against Hamas in its entirety. Since that time, we have sanctioned a further six entities and three persons with links to Hamas.

Sanctioning and publicly listing these additional eight persons and one entity for terrorism financing demonstrates that they are actively engaged in the support and facilitation of terrorism.

This makes it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and heavy fines, to provide assets to sanctioned individuals or entities or to use or deal with their assets. These measures enable their activity to be prevented and holds them and those that transact with them directly to account.

Australia unequivocally condemns Hamas’ abhorrent acts of terror against Israel. These sanctions are targeted at those most culpable for terrorist acts.

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

Every day a police officer dons their uniform, and every hour they are on duty, they knowingly and willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us.

As the shields of our communities, our men and women in blue risk their lives. And sometimes, ever so sadly, our police officers pay the ultimate price for their dedication to law and order.

South Australian Police Officer, Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, tragically lost his life last night.

The seasoned 53-year-old officer, together with two fellow officers Sergeant Michael Hutchinson and Constable Rebekah Cass, attended a property after 11pm at Senior near Bordertown in the state’s south-east, close to the Victorian border.

The officers confronted an armed suspect. Brevet Sergeant Doig was shot and killed.

My thoughts are with Brevet Sergeant Doig’s family and friends who have had their lives upended and will be enduring their darkest hours.

Sergeant Michael Hutchinson was also wounded in the shooting. I wish him a speedy recovery.

The South Australian police – especially those from Brevet Sergeant Doig’s Lucindale Police Station – and the local communities around Bordertown and Lucindale will also have been rocked by this event.

This incident comes less than a year after the Wieambilla disaster where police officers also attended a rural property and were shot dead.

Today, in tragedy, we salute the life of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig. He chose a noble profession. He did his duty. He served his community with distinction.

We remember a remarkable Australian who embodied the very best of Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today met with Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Leaders in San Francisco to endorse a comprehensive package of IPEF agreements.

IPEF brings together large and dynamic regional economies, accounting for around 40 per cent of global GDP, and includes eight of Australia’s top ten merchandise trading partners.

Australia is a founding member of IPEF, alongside Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Prime Minister Albanese and other IPEF Leaders released a joint statement welcoming signature of a first-of-its-kind supply chain agreement and the substantial conclusion of negotiations on a ground-breaking clean economy agreement and an innovative fair economy agreement.

Earlier this week, Minister for Trade Don Farrell signed the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement to support our region’s ability to prepare for and respond to future supply chain shocks. 

Australia will continue to work with IPEF members to conclude negotiations on the trade agreement in 2024.

The agreements endorsed by the IPEF Leaders will create a cooperative, principles-based framework that boosts trade and investment in our region.

Leaders endorsed the Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity to provide an overarching framework focused on cooperative activities across all agreements, including regular ministerial engagement.

IPEF Leaders also announced a Critical Minerals Dialogue to strengthen collaboration in critical minerals supply chains and to boost regional competitiveness.

For Australia, this will mean using our critical minerals to assist the region in transitioning to clean energy and in turn will create diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains, building Australia’s capacity and standing as a renewable energy superpower.

These announcements build on the investments the Government has previously made including $25 million to support IPEF developing economy members with technical assistance and capacity building initiatives.

Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister:

“Engagement in IPEF supports our region’s economic architecture, boosting trade, investment and jobs in Australia and our region.

“Australia is investing in IPEF to accelerate trade diversification and deepen economic regional engagement.

“IPEF demonstrates inclusive economic cooperation and what can be achieved when regional partners work together for the common good.”

Labor’s panicked and craven decision to collude with Peter Dutton to jam through draconian, anti-refugee laws will be Anthony Albanese’s Tampa moment, the Greens say.

“These are draconian laws that provide the minister with powers never before seen in Australia and the Greens will not be supporting them,” Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said

“Peter Dutton and the Murdoch media have confected an emergency and Labor has predictably collapsed under the pressure just as they did when the MV Tampa hove over the horizon.”

“Instead of standing firm against Dutton’s fear-mongering, Labor has collapsed and is pursuing harsh and punitive measures against refugees.”

“These laws allow for visa conditions to be imposed which are detention by another name, and criminalises breaches of those conditions with a prison term of up to 5 years.”

“It creates a two-tiered justice system where some migrants, including those not convicted of a crime, will face arbitrary punishment at the stroke of a politician’s pen that cannot be imposed on citizens.”

“This is a disgraceful collapse by Labor which undermines key principles of our liberal democracy.”

The Australian Government will provide $600,000 in humanitarian funding following the recent earthquake in western Nepal, which was the largest since the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015.

The funds will be provided through existing multilateral and local partnerships to deliver emergency humanitarian supplies and life-saving protection and assistance.

Australia’s assistance will also contribute to early reconstruction efforts to restore damaged public infrastructure, including health care facilities.

The Australian Government extends its deepest condolences to the people of Nepal and those whose lives and livelihoods have been affected.

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

“We are saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in western Nepal. These funds will help provide emergency supplies and assistance to the people of western Nepal as they recover from this devastating event.”

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

“Australia is supporting those affected by the tragic earthquake in Nepal. We are working with our multilateral and local partners to ensure Australia’s support reaches those who need it most.”

According to new data released by the Housing Industry Association today, the sales volumes of new homes across the country have catastrophically dropped to even further lows, down by 8.1 per cent for October.

This, coupled with new house building approvals and starts dropping to decade lows, shows that Australia’s housing crisis is set to worsen in 2024, not improve.

This is even further proof that home ownership and the residential construction industry have never been a priority for Labor.

The twelve interest rate rises since Labor’s election have added an extra $24,000 per year to a family with a $750,000 mortgage, yet this Government continues to remain silent on its key promise to deliver ‘cheaper mortgages’.

And despite our nation’s deepening housing crisis, Labor still plans to ensure record population growth with an additional 1.5 million migrants arriving in Australia over the next five years.

New data published by the ABS this week also confirmed Australia is on track to accept more than half a million migrants this year alone.

While so many Australians struggle with acute housing shortages in both the rental and purchasing space, things are only set to worsen as Labor’s Big Australia keeps getting bigger.

Workforce data released today can’t mask the pain of Australians battling a cost-of-living crisis while their real wages go backwards.

The October Labour Force figures show the unemployment rate increased 0.2 per cent to 3.7 per cent. Today’s data comes off the back of the Wage Price Index released yesterday that confirms Australians real wages are going backwards.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said: “We know that the resilience of the labour market started under the Coalition Government but the Albanese Government has done nothing to tame inflation which is really hurting Australians.”

“Australians have seen the biggest fall in living standards amongst OECD countries, while The Economist reports Australia is the “worst performer” when it comes to inflation entrenchment,” he said.

“For many Australians, their job is their last line of defence against rising prices. What is clear in this data is that Australians are working hard to keep their heads above water because this government has been making the wrong decisions.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Senator Michaelia Cash said: “Australians are still struggling under the Albanese Labor Government but the Prime Minister thinks his time is better spent overseas than here dealing with the cost of living crisis.”

“This Government is doing nothing to fix the cost of living crisis,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Their radical industrial relations laws will only make the cost of doing business even more expensive. We know that means businesses will have to increase their prices to cover the increased costs.”

“The Labor Government’s industrial relations agenda does not contain any plans to boost productivity. It is all about rewarding their union mates.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to the United States from 15-17 November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco.

APEC is the leading economic forum for the Asia-Pacific region and APEC partners make up around 75 per cent of Australia’s total trade in goods and services. This year’s Summit will focus on Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister will advance Australia’s priorities of free and open rules-based trade in the region, supply chain resilience, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The Prime Minister will discuss environmental and sustainability issues with member economies — and exchange views on how economies of the region can collaborate to cut emissions and make the transition to a renewable energy future.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Australia’s participation at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting signals our enduring commitment to strengthening regional economic cooperation and growth.

“This year’s theme focuses on resiliency, sustainability and inclusion—all key priorities of the Australian Government.

“Engagement with APEC partners is critical for seizing the opportunities to create the jobs of the future, to expand our economic growth, and to take advantage of our location – on the doorstep of the fastest growing region in human history.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella in San Francisco today in the margins of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister announced the Australian Government’s decision to explore the safe and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the public service in partnership with Microsoft, through the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA).

This investment builds on the Albanese Government’s commitment to invest in the tools and capabilities required to set Australians up for the jobs and opportunities of the future.

The Government will conduct a six-month trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot, making it one of the first governments in the world to deploy generative AI service.

Australian Public Service (APS) staff will be able to trial new ways to innovate and enhance productivity, with a view to delivering better government services for the Australian people. Microsoft will provide digital training to help APS staff to develop their AI skills and literacy.

The six month trial will run from January to June 2024, with Microsoft providing training, onboarding and implementation assistance with participating agencies.

This trial positions Australia as a leader in adopting artificial intelligence that increases productivity, and is functional and fit for purpose.

Following the trial the DTA will evaluate their experience in order to assess opportunities, feedback, and report to the Government.

This announcement follows the establishment of the AI Taskforce, led by the DTA and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The trial will be rolled out consistent with the AI Taskforce guidance for the public service on the use of generative AI.

The Prime Minister recently announced Microsoft’s $5 billion investment in Australia, alongside Microsoft executives during the recent official visit to Washington.

That announcement included:

• A $5 billion investment to expand its hyperscale cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next two years to grow its local data centre footprint from 20 to 29 sites in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
• Opening a new Microsoft Data Centre Academy, in partnership with TAFE NSW, and a commitment to train an additional 300,000 Australians through its global skills program.
• Collaboration with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) on Microsoft-ASD Cyber Shield to improve joint capability to identify, prevent and respond to cyber threats.

Microsoft’s investment will help Australia become a world-leading digital economy by significantly investing in skills and training to help equip a new generation of Australians for the jobs and opportunities of the future.

The Government is committed to leadership in the safe, ethical and responsible use of technology and data, and meeting the community’s expectations on security, fairness and privacy.

The Government is fostering an innovative culture in the public service and demonstrating high standards in transparency, risk management and governance of all emerging technologies.

The DTA has also recently released a Request for Information on services and support for generative AI and will obtain information on generative AI solutions that could serve individual government organisations and government as a whole.

the Prime Minister said:

“By strengthening our partnership with Microsoft, we are charting a course for the future of public service – one where generative AI is used responsibly to enhance the work of the APS in delivering for Australians without compromising on safety.”

the Minister for Finance said:

“AI is emerging as a widely used technology and presents many opportunities for government and the way it delivers crucial services to the Australian community, but we must adopt it in a safe and controlled way.

“This exciting pilot will support the government’s APS reform agenda by identifying how we can safely use this technology to improve our work and service delivery but do so in a way that is controlled and allows us to learn the lessons with minimal impact on existing processes and services.”