Category: Australian News

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.”

MOTION – I give notice that on the next day of sitting, I shall move—That, at the conclusion of formal motions today, the Senate observe a minute of silence in memory of the civilian lives lost in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel

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

“Today I will move that the Senate observe a minute’s silence in memory of the civilian lives lost in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, and call on Labor and the Liberals to support this motion.

“The civillian death toll since October 7th is now over 12,000 people across Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. 

“Children and families have faced horrific death, injury and suffering. People in Gaza are experiencing relentless bombing. Those that survive the bombing have increasingly limited access to electricity, food or water. This cannot go on.

“Today’s civilian victims could have been saved by a ceasefire. Australia must join with countries around the world in calling for a ceasefire and an end to the occupation.”

The Greens welcome the introduction of the Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023 today, which would implement the Government’s revised response to Recommendation 25 of the Respect@Work report. 

The modified ‘equal access’ cost protection provision put forward in this bill is one the Greens and many advocates were calling for last year, and will ensure that no-one is priced out of fighting sexual harassment in the workplace. 

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

“We are pleased that the revised government bill introduced today heeds the calls of advocates, victim-survivors, legal experts and unions, the Greens and the crossbench, for equal access costs protections.

“The Greens pressured the Government a year ago to dump their original costs provisions, and to review and reconsider them. We are so pleased to see that after this reflection, the government has now proposed the costs model the Greens were advocating for, which removes costs risks for people standing up for their rights at work.

“The Greens are proud to have kept the pressure up to ensure that no-one is priced out of fighting for their rights at work, whether that be for sexual harassment or any other type of discrimination.

“Without an equal access cost model in place, many workers, particularly women, weigh up the trauma and financial risk and decide to stay silent. Providing more options for victims of sexual harassment to make complaints doesn’t change things if women cannot afford to make complaints.

“Equal access costs protections, where workers can take action without fear of paying the other side’s costs if they lose, already exist for whistleblowers. The Greens are happy to support changes that will see these same protections applied to workplace harassment.”