Category: Australian News

Today, we find ourselves at a poignant intersection of history as we commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, an anniversary that also marks the ascension of King Charles III.

The late Queen’s death, the ascension of a new king and his subsequent coronation all provided an opportunity for reflection, remembrance and renewal.

One year ago, we mourned the loss of a monarch whose dedication to service knew no bounds.

Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was characterised by unwavering devotion to duty, a steadfast commitment to her people and a grace that resonated across generations.

Her legacy endures in the hearts of all those who were touched by her long reign.

As we remember her with deep affection, let us honour her memory by embracing this new chapter that lies before us.

Today, we not only pay homage to the past but embrace the future. With the ascension and coronation of King Charles III, we witnessed the continuation of a centuries-old tradition, a seamless transition of authority and a reaffirmation of our enduring constitutional monarchy.

King Charles III ascended to the throne during a time of unprecedented global challenges. His reign begins with a profound responsibility to lead the Commonwealth of Nations through these changing and uncertain times.

To our new King, we offer our support and goodwill, as we have done for generations past.

As we commemorate the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing and the ascension of King Charles III, we are reminded that change is an inherent part of life.

It is through change that we grow, adapt and progress as a society.

While we cherish the past, we must also look to the future with hope, determination and resilience.

May Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy continue to inspire us to look to the future with hope and optimism.

A leading Australian lawyer has contradicted Communications Minister Michelle Rowland on her claims around the impact of her controversial Misinformation Bill.

The Minister had said that the traditional media would not be affected by the Bill, meaning their content would always be excluded from being considered to be misinformation.

But senior lawyer, Anne Twomey has disputed the claim. On Sky News yesterday, Professor Twomey said: “Well I don’t think it’s particularly accurate.”

Professor Twomey explained:

“If statement X is found to be misinformation and it’s said both by a news media organisation and everybody else, you’re going to sweep up the entire lot and chuck out the entire lot, because you’ve got to actually cover your entire Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, whatever it is, by some sort of electronic means to sweep this stuff out.”

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said the Minister has been corrected by one of the leading legal figures in Australia.

“This is another embarrassment for a Minister who was already facing a wall of criticism over the deep and serious flaws in her Bill,” Mr Coleman said.

“As Professor Twomey has noted, the purported exemption for ‘professional news content’ will not work in practice. To avoid the risk of big fines, digital platforms will delete large swathes of content, including news content.”

The Federal Opposition stands with the Iranian-Australian community as the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Jina Amini and the Women, Life, Freedom movement approaches this Saturday 16 September.

Over the last 12 months we have sat with and listened to thousands of Iranian-Australians and heard their concerns, fears and ideas for action. The violence and oppression of women, girls, protesters and critics of the Islamic Republic regime are horrific. Accounts of Australians being intimidated, targeted and harassed in our country by agents of the regime are unacceptable and deeply troubling.

The Coalition has fought consistently to bring these accounts to the Parliament and the Government. We fought for the removal of the regime from the UN Committee on the Status of Women, established a Senate inquiry in October last year which received more than 1000 submissions, and have consistently urged the Government to respond to the recommendations of that inquiry.

It has now been more than seven months since the Senate Inquiry completed its report, making 12 recommendations for action by the Government. In that time Iranian diaspora community groups have repeatedly written to the Government asking for urgent implementation of the committee recommendations. Disappointingly, the Government is yet to even respond to the Committee report. We again urge the Government to respond to the Committee report and take action.

“As the Committee report highlighted, Australia has not only a moral imperative to play our part in holding the regime accountable for human rights abuses, but a practical necessity to protect Australians against the threats of the regime and to reduce the international influence of the world’s top purveyor of state-sponsored terrorism,” said Senator Chandler, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Senate Inquiry.

“Despite its abhorrent behaviour, the IRI regime is expanding its global diplomatic influence, providing weaponry to Russia, continuing to gain positions of influence at the UN, and continuing to profit from hostage diplomacy and breaching sanctions. Australia must step up efforts to hold the regime accountable and this is precisely what the Committee’s recommendations were carefully designed to do.”

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Birmingham said that the Opposition had repeatedly offered bipartisan support to the Albanese Government for stronger action.

“The Coalition remains consistent in our position that the Government should announce a tangible response to the human rights abuses in Iran that has seen the horrific treatment of Iranian women and girls,” said Senator Birmingham.

“We welcomed and supported those Magnitsky-style sanctions that have been applied however like the Iranian-Australian community we note that Australia has consistently lagged behind like-minded nations in the application of targeted sanctions.

“Australia’s position should reflect the bravery and courage of the women and girls fighting for basic human rights. We join with the diaspora community in urging the Government to take stronger action and reiterate our bipartisan support for doing so.”

There are many compelling reasons for casting a ‘No’ vote to Albanese’s proposed racist Voice. Many of these reasons are rooted in the very foundation of the Voice concept itself. Despite assertions to the contrary, it’s essential to look at the potential consequences of this proposal honestly and openly, especially since every single ‘Yes’ campaigner has linked Voice to ‘treaty’. 

The Link Between Voice and Treaty:  

One key aspect of the debate centres on the connection between the proposed Voice and the concept of ‘Treaty’. Advocates argue that the two are “inexorably linked.” While the intention may be to address historical grievances, it’s vital to consider the potential consequences.

Legal Challenges and Taxpayer Burden:

There are decades of costly legal challenges associated with Treaty negotiations. These legal battles, when they arise, will place a significant financial burden on taxpayers. The question becomes, who will bear the brunt of these expenses?

Demands for Land Control and Reparations:

As Treaty discussions progress, some fear that demands for control of land and requests for further taxpayer dollars in the name of “reparations” could emerge. These potential demands raise important questions about the distribution of resources and the impact on the broader Australian population.

The Quest for Unity and Fairness:

Amid these concerns, there’s a shared desire among many Australians for unity and fairness. The question then becomes whether the proposed Voice and Treaty concept aligns with these values or if they risk perpetuating division, conflict, and resentment.

Prime Minister Albanese joined world leaders in New Delhi this weekend for the G20 Leaders’ Summit to discuss collective responses to the world’s most pressing economic challenges.

G20 leaders discussed global measures to ease cost-of-living pressures, including free, fair and rules-based trade, enhancing supply chain resilience and shoring up food and energy security.

Australia’s attendance at the G20 Summit allows our country to work with the world’s major economies to shape solutions for our region and the world.

Climate change was high on the agenda, with Prime Minister Albanese advocating for collective action and outlining Australia’s plan to become a renewable energy superpower.

Australia also supported G20 work to deliver better, bigger and more accessible multilateral development banks to help developing countries, including in the Pacific, to pursue sustainable development and respond to climate change.

Discussion at the Summit highlighted the negative impact that Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is having on the global economy, as well as its abhorrent toll on the people of Ukraine.

While at the Summit, the Prime Minister met bilaterally with some of Australia’s closest partners, including Indian Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Kishida of Japan.

Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Kishida welcomed early progress under the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, including the recent entry into force of the Australia-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement. This Agreement allows Australia and Japan to undertake more frequent defence training and exercises together, and with other partners, to make the region more secure.

Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Kishida also discussed the importance of continued cooperation on our respective energy transition commitments.

During the Prime Minister’s Summit bilateral meetings he advocated for expedition in settling both the Australia-India CECA and Australia-EU FTA agreements as soon as possible to benefit Australian trade and economy.

The Prime Minister also attended a MIKTA Leaders’ Gathering with Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and Türkiye, where leaders discussed how to enhance inter-regional cooperation and strengthen multilateralism to target global challenges.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“I was honoured to join world leaders at the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit this weekend, hosted by Prime Minister Modi.

“As we have seen, the global economic environment directly affects Australian households. That is why it’s crucial Australia contributes to global discussions on easing cost-of-living pressures.

“The G20 will continue to work together to drive global economic cooperation as we respond to shared challenges and navigate the global economy back to strong, sustainable and resilient growth.

“I thank Prime Minister Modi for India’s Presidency of the G20 this year,and look forward to working closely with President Lula da Silva as Brazil assumes the Presidency for 2024.”

The Albanese Government is set to deliver the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade, with welcome new support today for the Housing Australia Future Fund meaning the legislation is set to pass the Senate later this week.

The passage of this legislation, along with the commitments made at last month’s National Cabinet, represents the most significant reforms to housing in a generation.

Delivering the Housing Australia Future Fund will ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home.

The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund will create a secure, ongoing pipeline of funding for social and affordable rental housing, fulfilling the commitment the Government made to the Australian people.

In addition, today the Government confirms an additional $1 billion will be invested in the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to support new homes.

The Government thanks the Crossbench in the House of Representatives and the Senate, including the Greens, for the constructive engagement over a number of months on this critical legislation. 

Returns from the Housing Australia Future Fund will help deliver the Government’s commitment of 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes in the fund’s first five years.

This includes 4,000 homes for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence or older women at risk of homelessness.

Fund returns will also deliver the Government’s commitments to help address acute housing needs, including:

• $200 million for the repair, maintenance and improvement of housing in remote Indigenous communities
• $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness; and
• $30 million to build housing for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness.

This will mean more homes for key workers, more affordable homes for Australian renters, and more homes for those most in need.

The Housing Australia Future Fund is backed by numerous stakeholders, including housing experts, community housing providers, and every state and territory Housing Minister.

The package of housing legislation also includes the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, which will establish the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council as an independent statutory advisory body.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 changes the name of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to Housing Australia and streamlines its functions.

The Housing Australia Future Fund is one part of the Albanese Government’s ambitious housing reform agenda, which also includes:

• A $3 billion New Homes Bonus, and $500 million Housing Support Program
• A new $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of new social homes across Australia.
• A National Housing Accord which includes federal funding to deliver 10,000 affordable homes over five years from 2024 (to be matched by up to another 10,000 by the states and territories)
• Increasing the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent, the largest increase in more than 30 years
• Additional $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental housing through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation
• New incentives to boost the supply of rental housing by changing arrangements for investments in built-to-rent accommodation
• $1.7 billion one-year extension of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement with States and Territories, including a $67.5 million boost to homelessness funding over the next year
• State and territories committing to A Better Deal for Renters
• States and territories supporting the national roll out of the Help to Buy program, which will reduce the cost of buying a home.

In exchange for the Greens’ support of the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill, the government has today agreed to spend a further $1 billion in immediate and direct spending on public and community housing. The funding will be distributed through the National Housing and Investment Finance Corporation.

This brings the total housing spend extracted from Labor by the Greens to $3 billion immediately and directly – six times the maximum the government was initially willing to spend on an annual basis. The government earlier this year announced $2b would be directly spent from consolidated revenue this year, and now the Greens have secured an additional $1b. 

From the outset, the Greens identified two major problems with the HAFF: the initial bill provided woefully insufficient funding for housing now, as it was entirely contingent on stock market returns; and it does nothing for the one third of the country who rent.

Since negotiations began, the government has agreed to a guarantee that the HAFF would disburse $500m regardless of the performance of the fund, and has now agreed to an additional $3 billion directly spent on housing and delivered immediately. Importantly the Greens have also forced the issue of the rental crisis onto the national agenda.

With these changes, the Greens say that it does more to urgently fund housing, with the $3 billion immediately and directly spent on housing, instead of the delayed and indirect model of the HAFF. The Greens will accept this offer and use balance of power to pass the Housing Australia Future Fund during this sitting fortnight.

However, with Labor still refusing to do anything to support renters, and with further significant Senate balance of power bills coming up, the Greens have warned that the campaign to force the government to move on renters has just begun. 

Summary of outcomes from Greens pressure:

• Immediate $1 billion for public and community housing through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF SAH)
• Immediate $2 billion to the social housing accelerator fund
• Closed the “no minimum spend” HAFF loophole, and forced Labor to guarantee a $500 million annual spend starting 2024-25. Previously, the government could spend anything from $0 annually up to the $500m cap.

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens said:

“Renters are powerful and the Greens are the party of renters. We have won more money for housing for renters, and rent control is next,” Mr Bandt said.

“Nine months ago, the government refused to guarantee a single dollar for housing, and renters barely even registered in the national debate. The Greens have secured $3 billion directly spent on housing, and renters are now a vocal social movement that won’t be ignored.

“Labor’s HAFF still won’t fix the housing crisis, but the Greens have secured $3 billion dollars for housing right now – not relying on a gamble on the stock market – and we’ve got to a position where it can pass the Senate.

“Renters have watched on in horror as Labor has refused to cap and freeze soaring rents. 

“I say this to Labor: if you continue to ignore renters, your political pain has just begun. There are several more significant bills on the immediate horizon where the Greens will use our position in balance of power to push the government to address soaring rents with a freeze and cap on rents.

“Pressure works. Labor said there was no more money for housing this year and we pushed them to find $3b, and although Labor backs unlimited rent rises, we’ll push them on that too.

“Renters are on the march, and the Greens will be fighting alongside them all the way.”

Greens housing and homelessness spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather MP said:

“Nine months ago there wasn’t a single dollar of guaranteed investment in public and community housing and renters were invisible, and now there is $3 billion going out the door right now and renters have a national voice for the first time because the Greens stood up and fought.

“Greens power secured six times what Labor wanted to spend on social housing in a single year for public and community housing, and now we are going to use that power to win a freeze and cap on rent increases. 

“Our message to renters is your voice and vote is powerful and the Greens are ready to fight for you, and know that we won’t stop until every renter in this country has a safe and affordable place to call home. 

“We couldn’t get Labor to care about the one third of this country who rents, so we are putting Labor on notice for every future housing bill, the Greens are ready to stand up and fight for a freeze and cap on rent increases. 

“Labor had the opportunity to freeze and cap rent increases through National Cabinet and they refused, so from now on every rent increase is Labor’s fault, and come next election Labor should be prepared to hear from renters loud and clear they are fed up with being treated as second class citizens. 

“To every housing organisation and crossbench MP who told us to pass the HAFF Bill in its original form, sit up and pay attention. When we stay at the negotiating table we get outcomes, and $3 billion of additional guaranteed and immediate money is proof that Greens in balance of power can drag Labor kicking and screaming to taking meaningful action. If we praise the Labor party for offering crumbs, that’s all we’ll get.”
 

September 11th 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the military coup that brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power in Chile. 

In recognition of the anniversary,  the Australian Greens will launch a number of parliamentary actions in solidarity with the Chilean-Australian community. 

The actions call for acknowledgment and disclosure of Australia’s involvement in the Pinochet Coup. 
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Peace said: 

“The Chilean-Australian community have been campaigning for years to have the Australian government acknowledge its role in installing a military dictator in Chile 50 years ago today. 

“Today is a dark day for the Chilean community. Under the Pinochet regime, thousands died, tens of thousands were tortured and hundreds of thousands were exiled. 

“50 years on we know Australia was involved, as it worked to support the US national interest. To this day, Australia’s secretive and unaccountable national security apparatus has blocked the release of information and has denied closure for thousands of Chilean-Australian’s.

“The Greens are calling on the Australian government to apologise to the Chilean people, declassify any documents relating to ASIS and ASIO support for the Pinochet regime, and implement oversight and reform to our intelligence agencies to ensure this can never happen again.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been caught out misrepresenting the latest wages data to claim the average worker is better off under Labor.

Treasury analysis claiming Australian workers were better off under Labor fails to account for the impacts of inflation, collapsing labour productivity and the fact that GDP per capita fell by -0.3% in Labor’s first year in office.

Asked in Senate Question Time whether Treasury analysis promoted by the Treasurer accounted for inflation, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher couldn’t name the real wages outcome for the last financial year.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said this is further proof that the Treasurer is a Doctor of Spin not a Doctor of Economics.

“The conga line of Labor Ministers claiming this analysis as a victory shows the Treasurer and the government are completely out of touch with the very real and painful cost of living pressures facing Australian families,” Mr Taylor said.

“Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows working households are in fact paying 9.6 per cent more under this government.

“Mortgage bills have doubled, power bills are up more than 15 per cent, productivity has fallen off a cliff and last week’s National Accounts revealed we’re now in a per capita recession. This means the only thing left propping up our economy is record population growth.

“Australians need a Treasurer laser-focused on fighting inflation but instead they have a tricky Treasurer who is more interested in spinning numbers then solving the cost of living crisis.

“A Treasurer focused on reinventing capitalism, wasting money, raising taxes, reshaping the productivity commission to suit Labor’s big Australia agenda and prioritising airlines to drive up the cost of airfares then take its competition policy seriously.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Michaelia Cash said the truth is the Albanese Labor Government is a walking talking economic disaster.

“The Albanese Labor Government thinks it can con Australians into believing that they are better off under Labor,” Senator Cash said.

“But Labor’s extreme spin can’t hide the truth that Australians’ real wages are falling under Labor.”

ENDS.

REAL WAGES UNDER LABOR
Quarter	CPI (Annual Growth)	WPI (Annual Growth)	Real Wages (Annual Growth)
September 2022	7.3%	3.2%	-4.1
December 2022	7.8%	3.4%	-4.4
March 2023	7.0%	3.7%	-3.3
June 2023	6.0%	3.6%	-2.4
HOUSEHOLD IMPACTS
Quarter	Employee Living Cost Index (Annual Growth)	WPI (Annual Growth)	Real Wages (Annual Growth)
June 2023	9.6	3.6	-6.0
GDP PER CAPITA & GDP PER HOUR WORKED UNDER LABOR
	March ‘23 Quarterly Growth	June ‘23 Quarterly Growth	June 22-June 23 Annual Growth
GDP per Capita	-0.3%	-0.3%	-0.3%
GDP per Hour worked	-0.4%	-2.0%	-3.6%

A series of secret emails have exposed Industry Minister Ed Husic and the Prime Minister’s office directing Australian public servants to hide the axing of a key national security space program from our most important ally and partner in critical space technology, the United States of America.

The emails capture correspondence between Minister Husic’s office, public servants in Australia and in the Australian Embassy in Washington DC, relating to the axing of the $1.2 billion National Space Mission for Earth Observation satellite program.

The now declassified emails reveal that behind Labor’s soaring rhetoric and slick photo ops is a disrespectful and dysfunctional management of the US relationship.

In directing public servants to deliberately keep the United States in the dark about this major change to Australia’s space policy settings until just hours before it would be announced, and after media outlets had been tipped off, this Labor Government has breached faith with our most important ally.

Shockingly, it fell to a public servant in Australia’s Embassy to plead for permission to brief the White House’s Space Council (NSpC) after the briefings that had been locked in with the White House and NASA were cancelled at the direction of the Minister’s office. This request was initially refused, but eventually accepted.

But for Australia’s extraordinarily capable diplomats, the Prime Minister would have had our most important ally learn about Australia’s 180 degree turn on space policy in media reports.

This is not how we treat our mates.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Industry, Sussan Ley said that given Australia faces the most dangerous strategic circumstances since the Second World War, our country’s future depended heavily on our partnership with the United States.

“It is very disappointing that the Albanese Government has been caught secretly plotting to deliberately keep the United States Administration in the dark about cuts to space,” the Deputy Leader said.

“Building the industries underpinning AUKUS demand close communication and solid relationships with the United States – this breach of trust by Ed Husic places all of this at risk.

“These secret moves show that Ed Husic knew the United States would be disappointed by Australia’s cuts to a critically important national security industry. I suspect the US will be wondering if Ed Husic can be trusted to deliver the industrial policies needed to realise the grand ambitions of AUKUS.”

Shadow Minister for Science Paul Fletcher said Labor’s decision to axe the $1.2 billion National Space Mission for Earth Observation program shows they do not comprehend the important role our space industry plays in Australia’s scientific, economic and diplomatic future.

“Labor’s appalling behaviour towards the United States, in deliberately holding them out in the cold on the decision to cancel this important space program, demonstrates a lack of respect for our closest ally,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Our space industry will be worse off because of this axing and the deliberate and arrogant handling of the axing with the United States. The space sector must be wondering how they are better off under the Labor Government.”

Ed Husic claims to be someone who wants to ‘build things in Australia’, yet with every decision he makes, Australia’s industrial base diminishes.

In this latest episode, in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s office, he has now diminished our standing in Washington at exactly the wrong time.