Category: Australian News

The Coalition are today calling for the government to support Coalition amendments to Treasury legislation that will extend the Instant Asset Write Off to 26,500 medium businesses and extend the value of assets eligible to $30,000.

This will simplify depreciation for Australia’s 3.6 million small and medium businesses, cutting red tape while boosting investment in productive assets to improve their businesses, lower their costs, and in turn lower prices.

This will drive productivity at a time it has experienced an historic collapse under Labor, which will drive economic growth to fund the essential services Australians deserve.

Following temporary and targeted extensions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government have ignored calls from business groups and lowered the Instant Asset Write Off thresholds to levels not seen since the 2018-2019 financial year.

The Coalition’s amendments restore the Instant Asset Write Off to the levels introduced in the 2019-20 budget. This aligns the eligibility with the 25 per cent small business company tax rate threshold, and Labor’s Small Business Energy Incentive measure.

The Coalition understands that when business owners can keep more of their own money, they are able to invest back into the business, boost productivity, grow the economy and create new and local jobs.

The Coalition’s amendments mean:

• 26,500 businesses with aggregated turnover of up to $50 million will be eligible to use the Instant Asset Write Off.
• The asset threshold will increase from $20,000 to $30,000 – allowing businesses to claim accelerated depreciation on a wider range of assets.
• Businesses can invest in productive assets without putting pressure on inflation.

Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training, Small and Family Business, Sussan Ley said that Australia’s 3.6 million small businesses generate one third of GDP, make up 98 per cent of all businesses and employ around half of the private sector workforce.

“Australia’s small businesses owners have been failed time and time again by a distracted Anthony Albanese. Labor are compounding cost increases by cutting the instant asset write off, imposing anti-competitive workplace laws, and overseeing massive increases in power bills. .

“The Coalition is calling on Labor to do the right thing and increase access to the Instant Asset Write Off to the 26,500 medium businesses who would otherwise have it taken away.

“As our economy shudders thanks to Labor’s failing economic management this would give a much needed shot in the arm to our manufacturers, farmers, and logistics businesses helping to increase productivity and bring down prices for Australian families.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the Coalition’s proposal will support businesses to invest, to grow, and to drive productivity which will help bring down prices.

“Like households, Australian small and medium businesses are struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis.

“The cost of everything going up doesn’t just hurt families, it hurts businesses. Yet Labor have set the thresholds at levels that ignore recent price rises and leave medium businesses cut out of vital tax relief.

“Labor have overseen an historic collapse in labour productivity over the last 15 months, with policy settings putting pressure on business costs. With insolvencies increasing to eight-year highs, this modest measure puts small and medium businesses on a positive footing to drive productivity in their businesses and get through this cost of living crisis.

“Small and medium businesses deserve the support of the Government. Labor have broken promises on taxing franking credits, on taxing super, and this is just another example of Labor being distracted from the issues that matter to Australians.” Mr Taylor said.

The Coalition’s amendments to increase and extend the instant asset write-off build on the Coalition’s record of backing tax relief small and medium businesses and the approximately eight million Australians they employ. The Coalition in government:

• Reduced the small business company tax rate from 30% to 25% for businesses with turnover of up to $50 million;
• Restored the Small Business Income Tax Offset to support sole traders – and increased the offset to 16%
• Simplified small business tax administration by simplifying the BAS, streamlining ATO reporting requirements, and implemented Single Touch Payroll;
• Restored, and extended, the Instant Asset Write Off;
• Put in place tax deductions to support small and medium businesses to invest in cybsersecurity, einvoicing, cloud computing, and training employees.

Australia is on track to have a record additional 520,000 people arrive this year.

More than 390,000 people arrived in Australia in the year to September and if this trend continues, more than 520,000 additional people will arrive in 2023.

Australians who can’t find a place to live or are struggling to pay multiple rent increases will be asking Labor: where will all these people live?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics arrival and departure data published today found net permanent and long-term arrivals in September was the highest on record for September at 38,520 people.

Labor has blamed too many people arriving and not enough people leaving the country; 500,000 people flying into the country and the only person flying out is the Prime Minister.

Labor says they aren’t running a Big Australia policy, but judge them on the facts not their rhetoric:

	Latest figures	Before Labor were elected	Increase under Labor
Temporary visa holders	2,639,862	1,824,912	+814,950 (+44.7%)
International students	664,178	336,844	+327,334 (+97.2%)
Temporary graduates	193,277	97,089	+96,188(+99%)
Temporary workers	354,321	156,012	+198,309 (+127%)

Australia’s population is growing faster than at any time in the last 70 years. And Australians are being squeezed by Labor’s rental crisis:

• The national rental vacancy rate hit a new low of just 1.02% in October (Proptrack 9/11/23)
• Advertised rents (for new leases) are 30 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels (RBA, 9/11/23).
• “The Australian rental crisis is getting worse, spreading from capital cities to regional areas…(with) little to no affordable options for vulnerable renters in Australia, including pensioners and single parents.” SGS Economics and Planning Rental Affordability Index November 23

The Australian people can see the record arrivals are fuelling the rental crisis, increasing congestion, and putting a strain on government services and the environment.

This Labor Government has boasted about the millions of dollars it has poured into granting more visas faster, so even more people can come to Australia.

Labor issued 369,979 student visas offshore last financial year, which is 126,239 more than the previous record-breaking year in 2018-19; that was also a year when Australia wasn’t facing a rental crisis.

Labor’s Immigration Minister Andrew Giles says the answer to the housing shortage is to bring in more people to build houses. But where will those people live, Minister?

The Australian people know that every person that arrives in this country needs a place to live, and the experts agree that the rental crisis is being driven by Labor’s Big Australia:

• “Strong population growth has added to demand for rental properties, particularly in major cities.” Reserve Bank of Australia 9/11/23.
• “The rapid recovery in migration is adding to pressures in the housing market”. Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy, 25/10/23.
• “Current immigration levels are running well in excess of the ability of the housing industry to supply enough homes exacerbating an acute housing shortage and poor housing affordability.” AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver, 20/9/23.
• “That is an enormous adjustment for an economy to bring in 500,000-600,000 people. If they’re in family groups … we’re talking about another 200,000 homes. No wonder we’ve got rental shortages in Australia.” Former Treasurer Peter Costello, 13/11/23.
• “The government is doing the opposite – it’s doing its bit to increase inflation and make life tougher for borrowers, in two ways: through “cost-of-living relief” subsidies and, most of all, through immigration.” Financial journalist Alan Kohler, 9/11/23.
• “The problem for the Albanese Government is that it cannot deny the blow out in net migration under its watch.” Former Deputy Secretary at the Department of Immigration Abul Rizvi, 9/11/23.
• “Immigration is a really big driver of housing demand and from our perspectives, from one of the largest providers of home loans in the market, it’s a material driver.” ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott 13/11/23.
• “Most overseas migrants do rent upon arrival, and we’ve got record levels of overseas migration into Australia. 61% of people arriving from overseas are temporary visa holders so that does mean they’re much more likely to weigh into the rental market, so it is placing additional pressure on an already strained rental market.” Domain Chief of Research and Economics Dr Nicola Powell, 9/4/23.

The Australian public has every right to be confused by the mixed messages they are hearing from this Labor Government.

In April, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil told the National Press Club she didn’t want a big Australia but, “it’s probably inevitable that we will run a slightly larger migration program over time”.

An additional 500,000 people arriving in the country is not a “slightly larger” migration program. It’s a Big Australia.

The previous Labor Home Affair spokesperson Kristina Keneally argued before the election that immigration should fall. “Do we want migrants to return to Australia in the same numbers and in the same composition as before the (Covid) crisis? Our answer should be no,” she said.The Coalition wants a better Australia not Labor’s Big Australia.

Today I am pleased to announce the appointment of seven highly qualified individuals to lead Australia’s posts in Iraq, Kenya, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Los Angeles, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Niue and the United Arab Emirates.

Our diplomats are the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world. They build influence and prosecute Australia’s national interests abroad.

I am pleased that these individuals will take up the following positions:

1. Mr Glenn Miles as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq.
2. Ms Jenny Da Rin as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya.
3. Ms Megan Jones as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
4. Ms Tanya Bennett as Australia’s next Consul-General in Los Angeles.
5. Ms Leilani Bin-Juda PSM as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
6. Ms Katy Stuart as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Niue.
7. Mr Ridwaan Jadwat as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

I thank the outgoing heads of mission and consuls-general for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests.

The Greens call on all levels of government, especially the South Australian Government, to do more to help ocean goers reduce the risk of rare, but potentially dangerous encounters with great white sharks this summer by following the lead of the Western Australian Government in subsidising the rollout of personal shark deterrent devices. 

The call comes ahead of White Sharks Global, an international conference held in Port Lincoln this week. White shark experts from around the globe will gather to discuss issues such as white shark conservation, research on population numbers, and how to measure and reduce the risks of human and white shark encounters. 

Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson – who chaired a landmark 2017 Senate inquiry into mitigating the risks of shark bites in Australia – will today be a keynote speaker at the timely conference. 

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Whish-Wilson said:

“The recent spate of white shark encounters in South Australia, and the risk of further rare but tragic and traumatic encounters this summer, will inevitably lead to populist un-scientific calls to cull and reduce white shark populations.

“In response to the tragic death of surfer Tod Gendle at Streaky Bay the South Australian Premier recently stated there isn’t much a government can do to help prevent such tragedies, but this is wrong. 

“The Senate inquiry into shark mitigation and deterrent measures recommended all states follow the lead of the Western Australian government and subsidise scientifically tested and proven shark mitigation devices, but so far no other state has taken this easy-to-implement measure. 

“So far the WA government has subsidised more than 4000 personal shark deterrent devices for ocean goers, in an attempt to see them more widely adopted by surfers, divers and swimmers.

“There are many simple options to reduce risks at our popular beaches and surf spots and I urge Premier Malinauskas to listen to the advice of experts and roll out these measures. 

“The ocean is not a risk free environment, and while there are no guarantees any public safety measure will be 100% effective, such measures can significantly reduce the risk of human-shark encounters. 

“Scientific research and tests on some personal shark deterrent devices have shown that they can reduce the risk of white and other shark species encounters by more than 60%.

“But it shouldn’t just be up to the states, the Federal Government also has a significant role in coordinating, standardising and driving national investment in research and adoption of emerging shark risk mitigation measures to protect ocean goers. 

“Safety in our oceans and the protection of vulnerable species, such as white sharks, aren’t binary options, both are possible and can be done much more effectively.” 

On the 11th of November 1918, after four years of the greatest tragedy ever visited upon humanity, the sound of guns ceased.

Many had predicted or hoped that the Great War would be ‘the war to end all wars’.

It was not to be the case.

For just over two decades later, the sound of guns resumed even louder.

The horrors of a new world war were to be visited upon a new generation.

And, just like their forebears, they answered the call to serve and shoulder arms.

Ralph Graham Davidson was one such man; one such great Australian.

He was born in the small Queensland agricultural town of Warwick – about 160 kilometres south-west of Brisbane.

Ralph attended the nearby state school in Karara.

The studious young Ralph won a scholarship to attend Warwick’s Scots College.

And no sooner had he passed his public examination than the 16-year-old found himself working as a clerk at the local Commonwealth Bank.

His manager, Mr Thomas, described Ralph as ‘a lad of splendid character’.

Splendid he was indeed.

For only five years later in 1940, as war engulfed the world, Ralph enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.

Corporal Davidson saw action in Syria in 1941.

And in 1942, he found himself in Papua as part of a crucial Allied campaign.

The Imperial Japanese forces had been defeated during the Battle of the Coral Sea and denied the opportunity to take Port Moresby via a naval assault.

And so, they turned their attention to taking the city via land across the Owen Stanley Range.

Standing in their way were the dogged Australian forces who knew that if Port Moresby fell, it would be a strategic base from which the Imperial Japanese forces could isolate, or indeed attack Australia.

From July to November of 1942, the two sides engaged in jungle battles along and around the Kokoda Trail.

Corporal Davidson and his band of brothers from the 2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion joined the fray in September.

The intense close-quarter fighting was vicious with frequent hand-to-hand combat.

The Official Histories noted that ‘bush warfare in difficult mountains demanded physical endurance and courage of the highest order.’

Despite exhaustion, the Anzacs didn’t just delay the Imperial Japanese advance, they put their enemy on the back foot.

Come November, the Australians moved on the Japanese defensive positions, in and around the village of Gorari.

The battle raged for seven days as the Australians endeavoured to outflank the tenacious Japanese.

Bayonet thrusts, volleys of bullets and exploding grenades turned forest clearings into ‘grim killing grounds’.

But the Australians prevailed. And the Battle of Gorari became the last major engagement on the Kokoda Trail.

Thanks to those who fought and died in Papua, the Imperial Japanese forces were again denied the prize of Port Moresby.

Indeed, in Papua, Australians helped turn the tide of the war.

Corporal Ralph Davidson was one such Australian.

But the 23-year-old man was not to return home.

Among 132 other Australians, he was killed during the Battle of Gorari.

He fell on the 11th day of the 11th month.

He fell on Remembrance Day.

In the Warwick Daily News, Ralph’s family said that he would be ‘Imperishably enshrined in the hearts of those who loved him.’

On Remembrance Day, may the weight of the collective deeds of all Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations throughout our history be imperishably enshrined in our hearts.

May the sacrifice of so many in war forever reside in our national consciousness so we never become cavalier about our duty to preserve peace.

Lest we forget.

On Wednesday, 29 November 2023, the Australian Government will issue a formal national apology to all Australians impacted by the Thalidomide Tragedy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver the apology on behalf of the Australian Government, Parliament and the Australian people, in the House of Representatives.

Thalidomide survivors, their family members, carers and supporters will attend the historic apology, followed by a reception in the Great Hall of Parliament House.

A National Site of Recognition will also be unveiled on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin at a ceremony on Thursday, 30 November 2023. This important event will also be attended by thalidomide survivors and their families.

The apology and the creation of a memorial site are in response to key recommendations of the Support for Australia’s thalidomide survivors final report, delivered by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee in March 2019.

Thalidomide was the active ingredient in a sedative drug widely distributed to many mothers in Australia and around the world in the early 1960s. It was later found to cause malformation of limbs, facial features and internal organs in unborn children.

While there are 146 thalidomide survivors registered with the Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program, the exact number of those affected is unknown.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“The thalidomide tragedy is a dark chapter in the history of our nation and the world.

“I recognise that the survivors, their families, friends and carers have advocated for this apology with courage and conviction for many years. This moment is a long overdue national acknowledgement of all they have endured and all they have fought for.

“In giving this apology, we will acknowledge all those babies who died and the families who mourn them, as well as those who survived but whose lives were made so much harder by the effects of this terrible drug.”

Minister Butler said:

“So many mothers and their babies were let down by systemic failures that led to the thalidomide tragedy, and we should reflect on that and apologise for it.

“While we cannot change the past or end the physical suffering, I hope these important next steps of recognition and apology will help heal some of the emotional wounds.

“It is difficult today, to think a tragedy like thalidomide could happen, and it’s a sobering reminder of our duty to put in place measures to protect people from harm.”

The Community Affairs References Committee has today tabled a report on the inquiry into the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill.

The Disability Services and Inclusion Bill seeks to repeal the Disability Services Act 1986 and provide legislative authority for new and existing spending on disability-related programs outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme.  

Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John welcomes the repeal of the Disability Services Act 1986, however, has submitted additional comments to the report that indicate his intention to move significant amendments to the legislation. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services said:

“This bill requires significant amendments to do justice to the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. 

“It is imperative that this opportunity to replace the Disability Services Act 1986 does not pass by without doing everything we can to end the cycle of segregation that too many disabled people find themselves trapped within.

“It’s time for the government to put into law timeframes for ending the cycle of segregation. Disabled people will no longer accept being kept out of view; we will not accept government policies that reinforce segregated employment and education any longer. 

“We need to ensure that the human rights of disabled people are upheld in all services that would be funded under this bill, and we need to ensure that disabled people are included in the decision-making processes.

“Many in our community welcome the establishment of a Code of Conduct, however, what I have heard from the community is there is still concern about the independence of those reviewing breaches and the process for handling complaints. 

“Getting this Act right could be transformational in the lives of disabled people.”

Responding to the release of the Senate inquiry report into the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023, Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the Environment and Water said:

“This Bill should not pass in its current form.

 “Extending deadlines for water recovery will just kick the can down the road. After a decade of inaction, there must be a guarantee in this Bill that will ensure the Plan will be delivered in full and on time, including the 450GL promised to South Australia and the environment.

“Without a guarantee of real water delivery, the Basin will continue to see more fish kills, species decline and degradation of ecosystems.

 “We can’t eat cotton, we can’t drink mud. There are no jobs on a dead river.

“As climate change gets worse and El Nino threatens a hot dry summer, it is crucial that we see water flowing before the next election.

 “The Greens will not rubber stamp this Bill. We will continue discussions with the Government in good faith. As it stands the Bill will not pass the Senate without a guarantee of environmental flows.”

There is strong support from more than a dozen key stakeholders across the country for the Greens plan to legalise cannabis. The support comes from organisations as diverse as the Pennington Institute, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Australian Lawyers Alliance, Drive Change and Harm Reduction Australia.

Of course there is opposition from groups that have opposed serious drug law reform for decades, including some police unions. Other bodies such as the AMA have taken a surprising approach to cannabis legalisation that is inconsistent with recent previous statements on drug law reform.

This level of constructive engagement with the Greens’ plan to legalise cannabis nationally will almost certainly produce a highly engaged senate inquiry that will be a critical step on the way to reform. 

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“The Greens welcome the strong support for the Legalising Cannabis Bill from so many key stakeholders across the country. 

“The level of engagement with our proposal to legalise cannabis is a strong indication of just how much support there is for this Bill across Australia.

“Many stakeholders acknowledged the obvious fact that an illegal market for cannabis already exists in Australia and that illegal market causes harms ranging from criminalisation to poor public health outcomes.

“A legal market immediately reduces harm to almost 60,000 people every year who will no longer get dragged into the criminal justice system for the crime of cannabis possession.

“Of course there is traditional opposition from vested interests who benefit from criminalisation including some police bodies and some existing commercial players. This is to be expected with any serious reform.

“The Greens welcome the constructive engagement from so many organisations looking for ways to improve the Bill and improve the public health and public interest outcomes that flow from cannabis legalisation.

“It is disappointing to see the inconsistency in the approach to drug law reform from the AMA who, as recently as January 2023, publicly acknowledged the positive health outcomes achieved in jurisdictions such as Portugal from non-punitive approaches to drug use.”

Comments from stakeholder submissions regarding the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023:

All Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform (ACT) Inc.
“This submission urges you to identify the “sweet spot” for cannabis. Most of the harm caused by cannabis comes from the police, courts and jails. Moving to a regulated system reduces the need to participate in the illegal production and supply of cannabis and can reduce the harm of maximum prohibition and move us to the sweet spot without going to maximum liberalisation as had occurred with other potentially addictive activities like gambling and consumption of tobacco and alcohol, where commercial interests profit from promoting harmful patterns of consumption.
…
“The tight complex regulatory scheme is welcome in that it would prevent the exploitative commercialisation as has existed in relation to other addictive substances like alcohol and tobacco.” 

The Australian Lawyers Alliance
“The ALA, therefore, welcomes the advent of the Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023 which represents a significant step away from Australia’s current approach modelled on criminalisation. Such an approach has shown little success in reducing illicit drug use in general.
…
“The ALA supports the proposal to implement legalisation in the manner proposed by the Bill, that is, through the registration and licencing of cannabis strains. Such a system allows for the growth, manufacture and distribution of cannabis to become legal and also regulated by law enforcement. On the other-hand, decriminalisation prevents the safe operation of a cannabis business.”

National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University (NDRI)
“Overall, we see the Bill to be well intended and consistent with the developing research evidence on the impact of cannabis legalisation schemes and expert advice and recommendations regarding the potential public health benefits of middle ground, rather than fully commercial profit-driven, models of cannabis legalisation. We also note the following specific elements of the Bill as beneficial and in keeping with the public health evidence: 
1. Exclusion of persons involved in the manufacture of alcohol or alcohol products, tobacco or tobacco products, or pharmaceutical products from being able to receive a licence under Section 27 or engage in activities under Section 10. 
2. Permitting cultivation of cannabis not more than 6 plants per household. 
3. Allowing small scale social supply of cannabis where the value of the cannabis is not more than $50 under Section 20 (d). 
4. Allowing for Cannabis Social Clubs under Section 27 (2) (b), a not-for-profit co-operative that is registered on a State or Territory co-operatives register. 
5. Generally appropriate conditions for location and operation of cannabis cafes under Section 30. 6. Public health consistent requirements for labelling, packaging and storage of cannabis products under Section 32.”

Pennington Institute
“Penington Institute endorses several elements of the Legalise Cannabis Bill 2023. These include the following: 
• Allowing cultivation of cannabis plants in households for personal use, although we observe that there is debate around the optimal number of plants that should be permitted per household. Canada, for instance, established a limit of four plants per household, which was found during a review to be generally satisfactory to the small proportion of people who choose to grow.8 
• The distribution of cannabis via dispensaries and dedicated cannabis cafes, including those organised as not-for-profit cooperatives. We further endorse the separation of sites offering alcohol sales and consumption from sites offering cannabis sales and consumption. 
• The proposed minimum age of 18, as well as the removal of criminal penalties for all offences committed by those under 18 years of age and for all people consuming cannabis in prohibited areas.”

Drug Policy Modelling Program UNSW
“We commend the efforts underpinning this Bill to address harms that exist within the current cannabis legislative landscape in Australia. These harms include: 
• the criminalisation of personal use/possession (Lenton & Heale, 2000; Lenton et al., 2000) 
• the reliance on fines in decriminalisation and diversion schemes (Hughes et al., 2018; see also McCarron et al., 2008) 
• uneven policing in decriminalisation and diversion schemes (Baker & Goh, 2004; Hughes et al., 2019; Taperski & Rahman, 2023; see also McCausland & Baldry, 2023) 
• unregulated supply (Armstrong, 2021; Fischer et al., 2022; Lynskey et al., 2016).
…
“We look forward to Australia making progress on cannabis regulation. It is an area requiring long-overdue policy reform, in light of the substantial harms of the current recreational cannabis policies across Australia.”

Harm Reduction Australia and Drive Change
“The removal of criminal sanctions for these low-level offences would help to reduce the negative impact of the current laws on individuals and their families as well as reducing the burden on law enforcement and judicial systems.
…
“As noted above, we are supportive of the Legalising Cannabis Bill as it presents an opportunity to divert people away from the criminal justice system, and encourage a harm minimisation approach on the use of cannabis.”

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
“According to the latest Criminal Intelligence Report (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2023), there were 66,285 arrests across Australia in 2020/21 for consuming or providing (selling) cannabis. The vast bulk of these arrests (59,353 or 90%) were for using or possessing cannabis.”

List and links to stakeholder submissions on the Legalising Cannabis Bill:

• National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (PDF 135 KB) 
• Althea Group Holdings Ltd (PDF 266 KB) 
• Australian Lawyers Alliance (PDF 228 KB) 
• National Drug Research Institute (PDF 192 KB) 
• 360Edge (PDF 371 KB) 
• Penington Institute (PDF 313 KB) 
• Astrid Dispensary and Clinic (PDF 239 KB) 
• Plant Playground (PDF 361 KB) 
• Drug Policy Modelling Program, Social Policy Research Centre (PDF 395 KB) 
• Harm Reduction Australia and Drive Change (PDF 133 KB) 
• Ganjika Pty Ltd (PDF 126 KB) 
• Families & Friends for Drug Law Reform (PDF 748 KB) 

Reports that Australian advanced manufacturer Tritium will close its Brisbane factory are devastating. The closure will result in 400 jobs being lost from the heart of Brisbane.

This failure sits squarely with the Albanese and Palaszczuk Labor Governments, destroying what little credibility Labor had left on manufacturing.

Tritium represents the very best of Australian innovation and manufacturing and is exactly the sort of Australian manufacturer we need to ensure Australia can transition to a low emission economy.

The closure of this factory is directly attributable to unaffordable energy costs and a failure of the Albanese Government to get the economic settings right for Australian manufacturers.

Time and time again Anthony Albanese used Tritium as a backdrop for his press conferences and as a totemic business to launch his manufacturing policies during the Federal Election. He even highlighted Tritium during his recent trip to Washington.

The very factory the Prime Minister used to market his politics will close thanks to his policies.

Labor’s much vaunted National Reconstruction Fund is proving useless as Aussie jobs go offshore.

With the Prime Minister overseas once again, Australians are losing their jobs, facing unaffordable mortgage repayments and a cost of living crisis.

Anthony Albanese’s failure to deliver an economic plan has led to the closure of this factory and that will hang like an albatross around the Government’s neck. Higher energy costs are sending Australian businesses to the brink and Labor does not have a plan to stop the squeeze.

While Industry Minister Ed Husic was overseas, alarm bells were ringing and now we have lost another Australian manufacturing enterprise. Factory workers in Brisbane lost their jobs while Ed Husic was focused on his next one.

Ed Husic will forever be the Industry Minister who killed Australia’s sovereign satellite industry program and instructed his Department to hide it from the White House. Now he will also be known as the Industry Minister who went missing in action while Australian factory workers lost their livelihoods.

Anthony Albanese pledged he would ‘build things in Australia’, but with hundreds of real jobs gone because of his failures, this is just another promise he has broken.