Category: Australian News

Today I welcomed Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister, Simon Kofe, to Adelaide. I was delighted to meet Minister Kofe again, after my visit to Tuvalu in April.

Minister Kofe’s visit was an opportunity to build on Australia and Tuvalu’s strong development and defence cooperation, people-to-people ties and discuss our shared aspiration for a safe, prosperous and resilient Blue Pacific.

Alongside all Pacific leaders, Australia recognises climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. Australia is proud to be supporting Tuvalu’s Coastal Adaptation Project, to protect Tuvalu from the impact of rising sea levels and cyclones.

Australia is providing an estimated $17.1 million in Official Development Assistance in 2023-24 to Tuvalu for education, infrastructure and climate change. Australia is also providing budget support of $9.5 million to Tuvalu this financial year, including an increase of $5.5 million announced when I visited Tuvalu in April.

The links between Australia and Tuvalu also include support to manage maritime zones through the Pacific Maritime Security Program, and hosting Tuvaluans participating in the Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme, who make contributions to the economies of both countries.

During his visit to Adelaide, Minister Kofe and I toured the Nature of Culture Exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia. It was an opportunity to reflect on the contribution of Australia’s First Nations peoples to our international ties and the Pacific region.

The Australian Government has welcomed Qantas and Jetstar as the first airlines to sign up to the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) to operate domestic flights.

This agreement is expected to support more than 25,000 flights, carrying more than four million passengers, through WSI each year – and will support 700 jobs.

WSI is a transformational infrastructure project that will generate economic activity, provide long-term employment opportunities in the Western Sydney region, and meet Sydney’s growing aviation needs.

Delivery of Australia’s newest airport has now also reached another major milestone, passing the halfway mark.

Over 4,300 direct jobs have already been created by the airport’s construction, with half being from Western Sydney and around a third learning new skills on-the-job.

More than 250 Western Sydney-based businesses have been engaged by contractors across construction, catering, security and other sectors.

WSI is on track to start operations by late 2026.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese said:

“It’s exciting to see Qantas and Jetstar being the first airlines to commit to Australia’s newest airport, which will offer international and domestic passenger as well as freight services from Western Sydney.”

“This is a strong sign of support from the airline industry and continues the commitment we are seeing from the business community to invest in Western Sydney. That means more jobs for Western Sydney locals, as well as unlocking opportunities for apprenticeships and other learning workers to advance their skills and experience.

“More than 11,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created over the construction period, with thousands more set to be supported once operations begin – meaning WSI really is a game-changer for employment in the region, opening new opportunities across a range of exciting fields.”

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

“Today we are welcoming Qantas and Jetstar as the first airlines to sign up to the airport, which will provide much-needed aviation services and bolster this critical Australian industry – all while championing sustainable features and practices.

“From the terminal to the airfield, sustainability is a key focus in the design and construction of WSI, which will consume less electricity, water and liquid fuels than comparative airports.

“With this first landmark agreement in place, Sydney’s new airport continues to pass milestone after milestone, with start of operations just around the corner. Construction has reached the halfway point just months after being assigned the three-letter WSI international airport code.”

No amount of Minister Plibersek’s “formal commitments” to protect the Great Barrier Reef will provide cover from the impacts of new fossil fuel projects she continues to greenlight. 

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

“The Great Barrier Reef as we’ve been lucky enough to know it in our lifetimes isn’t dying by accident. It’s being degraded by governments content with greenlighting new fossil fuel projects which spew millions of tonnes of CO2 into our atmosphere and turbo charge the warming of our oceans. 

“It’s ironic that while Minister Plibersek was virtue signalling the Government’s commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef, just yesterday the BOM issued a grave warning of the increased likelihood of an El Nino event this summer, which could have devastating consequences for the Reef.

“No amount of money or Minister Plibersek’s ‘formal commitments’ to protect the Great Barrier Reef will protect it from an El Nino marine heatwave event caused by rising emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. 

“So long as Labor continues to greenlight new fossil fuel projects we will continue to see more annual coral bleaching events – end of story.

“Labor can throw all the money it likes at the Great Barrier Reef to avoid an embarrassing Unesco World Heritage ‘in danger’ listing, but the only thing that will save it from danger is a dramatic decrease in fossil fuel emissions. It’s new coral or new coal, you can’t have both.”

Greens Treasury spokesperson Senator Nick McKim has responded to today’s decision by the RBA to raise interest rates for the twelfth time in thirteen months.

“The case is now overwhelming for Labor to step in and override the RBA,” he said.

“The RBA is engaging in a war on young people with Labor’s support.

“The total volume of retail sales is falling yet recent analysis by CBA of 7 million customers showed that older people are actually stoking demand.

“But Labor has caved to the establishment so young people are copping it in the neck, and the worst is yet to come.

“Young people are more likely to be renting or have recently bought a home, which means that they are paying the highest price for Labor’s culpability.”

“Young people are also more likely to be in insecure employment and be among the 130,000 people that are forecast to lose their job under Labor’s Budget.

“By the RBA’s own admission, interest rate increases are not the right tool to respond to the current bout of high inflation that is predominately a result of supply side pressures.

“Real wages are falling and the Treasury Secretary said last week that there are no signs of a wage-price spiral.

“Meanwhile corporate profits continue to rise.

“But the RBA is smashing renters and mortgage holders in a pathological pursuit of price stability.

“They are doing nothing to inspire any confidence among anyone but the already wealthy.

“In spite of all of the evidence that interest rates are not the right tool for the job, Labor has completely succumbed to central bank orthodoxy.

“Instead of leaving it to the RBA who will always use the one blunt instrument that they have, Labor should be dealing with the cost-of-living crisis by freezing rents, taxing super profits and the super rich, and putting dental into Medicare, wiping student debt, and raising income support.

“Jim Chalmers should also step in and use the powers that he has under Section 11 of the RBA Act to overrule the RBA to freeze interest rates.”

This World Environment Day the Greens are calling on the Government to back environmental laws that end native forests logging and the clearing of koala habitat. 

Greens spokesperson for the Environment, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Today on World Environment Day it is time for the Albanese Government to put an end to native forest logging and the clearing of critical habitats. It’s time for the Environment Minister to cuddle fewer koalas and instead stop the logging of their homes. 

“The biggest threat to our wildlife is habitat destruction. Yet threatened species’ habitat continues to be destroyed at an alarming rate without assessment under our environment laws.

“Since April, the Environment Minister has had a list of 62 threatened species waiting for conservation protection on her desk. Yet nothing has been done to offer these species a lifeline and prevent them from becoming extinct. The Minister has the power to change this today with a ban on destroying their homes.

“The Federal Government has promised to introduce new environment laws by the end of year. The test for Labor is whether they actually protect the environment or simply fast-track approvals for mining companies and big developers. The laws will need the support of the Senate and Greens won’t be rubber-stamping anything. 

“The Environment Minister herself has acknowledged that our environmental laws are broken. If she is serious about making them fit for purpose to protect our wildlife, she must commit to a ban on native forest logging and ensure our new laws will adequately assess the clearing of threatened species habitat. 

“Words will not save our wildlife – we need urgent action. Now is the time for the Albanese Government to work with the Greens to implement a national ban on native forest logging and strong environment laws that protect our precious wildlife from extinction.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded his first official visit to Vietnam, a strategic and economic partner and enduring friend to Australia. Stepping-up Australia’s relations with Vietnam is an important part of the Government’s determination to rebuild Australia’s links with the countries of Southeast Asia.

This year marks 50 years since diplomatic relations were established with Vietnam. Since then, our partnership has expanded significantly, with work now underway to elevate the Australia-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the visit, Prime Minister Albanese met with his counterpart, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other senior leaders.

Bilateral talks focussed on ways to grow trade and investment, building on the impressive expansion of two-way trade which rose by almost 40 per cent last financial year. To reflect the vital importance of this trading relationship with a vibrant and growing economic partner, the Prime Ministers announced the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Trade Ministers’ Dialogue.

Leaders discussed expanding bilateral cooperation on climate, energy and the environment, including a new Australian commitment of $105 million focussed on enabling Vietnam to increase its uptake of clean energy and clean energy infrastructure and to update its mining law to attract foreign investment to develop Vietnam’s critical minerals resources.

All of this will help build a two-way partnership that contributes to global emissions reductions and is fit for the economic opportunities of the future.

Looking to the future, Leaders also welcomed growth in air links between the two countries with the increase in direct flights and the addition of new direct flights from Vietnam to Brisbane, which will boost tourism and trade ties.

Education links were another focus of the Prime Minister’s visit.  Marking the next stage in the education relationship, the Prime Minister launched RMIT’s new Industry and Innovation Hub in Hanoi and welcomed RMIT’s intention to invest $250 million in its Vietnam operations, including a major expansion of its Ho Chi Minh City campus.

Prime Minister Albanese witnessed a new agreement for Western Sydney University to offer 60 Whitlam Scholarships over two years for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian students to study business, communications and data science in Vietnam and Australia.

The Prime Minister oversaw additional announcements on increased cooperation on digital economy, science commercialisation and innovation policy development, as well as the exchanging of financial intelligence to support cooperation on money laundering and terrorism financing. 

Bilateral talks emphasised the importance of a stable, prosperous and resilient region, and the crucial role of ASEAN as Southeast Asia’s key forum for cooperation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“I am honoured to visit Vietnam as we celebrate 50 years of relations between our nations.

“Australia and Vietnam are committed to working together to meet the challenges of the future, including the climate crisis. Australia is committed to becoming a renewable energy superpower and supporting our regional partners as they transition to net zero.

“Vietnam’s economic growth is nothing short of remarkable – and I am proud that Australia has played a role with increasing trade, investment, and development assistance.

“I look forward to continued discussions to elevate the Australia Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

To ensure the Housing Australia Future Fund legislation passes before the end of the June sittings, the Greens have made significant concessions and halved their offer to the government.

This is a compromise that focuses on tackling the housing crisis immediately, given that Labor’s plan is unlikely to deliver any homes before the next election and doesn’t deal with the imminent ‘valley of death’ from the loss of up to 24,000 affordable NRAS rental properties over the next 3 years that Federal Labor is cutting funding for.

The most recent Guardian Essential polling shows support for freezing rental increases is now at 60% across the country.

The Greens will pass the government’s HAFF Bill in June if:

1. The government takes immediate interim action on a freeze on rent increases and rent caps at the upcoming National Cabinet and National Housing Ministers meetings. This would be done by offering the states and territories an additional incentive fund of $1 billion a year (through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement), in return for imposing a 2 year freeze on rent increases, ongoing rent caps and improved renters rights. Funding could be spent on both purchasing rental homes exiting the NRAS scheme or otherwise vacant unused housing for public housing. 
2. Guarantee at least $2.5 billion a year spent directly on public, community and affordable housing, starting now. Labor’s plan likely won’t see new houses delivered until after the next election, and in the meantime the problem will get worse with NRAS homes coming out of the system. Rather than waiting 24 months for the Fund to complete a single new home, the spend must begin this year, with some of the money directed towards immediate interventions including purchasing affordable rental homes exiting the NRAS scheme, off-the-plan homes or otherwise vacant unused housing. This sum is half of the Greens original proposal and less than 1/10th of the average annual cost of the Stage 3 tax cuts.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“The Greens have shifted, and it is time for Labor to do the same.

“If Labor backs a rent freeze and guarantees real money for more housing, the Greens will pass Labor’s bill.

“The Greens have shown we can negotiate with Labor and get significant outcomes for people and the climate. We strengthened the Safeguard Mechanism, we secured the Housing Electrification package and we fast tracked cheaper Electric Vehicles for the country. We’re now trying to fix the broken HAFF Bill, but Labor has to shift.”

Greens spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness Max Chandler-Mather MP said:

“The Greens are more than willing to negotiate, and we’ve halved our initial demand of the government, but our message remains crystal clear. 

“Labor is leaving renters behind. Renters need action now, not after the next election, and we need real cash on the table for public housing.

“If Labor can spend over $30b a year on Stage 3 tax cuts for the wealthy, they can find $3.5b a year to fund a rent freeze and more public and affordable housing. 

“Rents are soaring under Labor and 60% of people back the Greens’ push for a rent freeze.

“From day one we have sought to reach a compromise with Labor to pass a bill that will actually start to tackle the scale of the housing crisis, yet Labor has yet to offer a single extra dollar of ongoing funding for public housing, or take action to progress a freeze on rent increases. 

“With declining private construction activity freeing up skills and materials, Australia has the capacity to build more public and affordable housing, and the Government can certainly afford $3.5 billion a year; really the only barrier is the Labor Party who seem to have decided the housing crisis doesn’t matter. 

“Labor’s plan won’t see a single home built until 2025, while it does nothing for the millions of renters about to cop massive rent increases, and certainly does nothing for the 24,000 families about to lose their affordable NRAS homes as a result of Labor’s cuts, so of course the Greens are pushing for action that helps people right now. 

“The Greens have now moved a long way, so the question for Labor is, are they really saying they’d rather do nothing to tackle the housing crisis than agree to $3.5 billion of investment in public and affordable housing and a national freeze on rent increases. 

“With wall to wall Labor governments all across the mainland, there’s no reason why National Cabinet can’t agree to freeze rent increases immediately and stop the rental crisis in its tracks.

“Labor’s Federal budget will hand $12 billion for property investors and locks in $30 billion a year for the Stage 3 tax cuts, it is beyond comprehension that Labor would refuse to invest just $3.5 billion on public housing and a rent freeze in the middle of one of the worst housing crises Australia has seen.”

The country is going troppo over the fact the Reserve Bank Governor presented himself to Senate Estimates this week and offered solutions to the rental crisis, including suggesting kids keep living with their parents to avoid exorbitant rent.

We bet everyone is thrilled that a line from the country’s top economic manager to solve the rental crisis is, in effect, moving back home to mooch off Mum and Dad. Just thrilled. 

What mainstream media won’t ever report on, let alone the radical left concede, is that the RBA Governor wouldn’t even present himself to estimates were it not for the work of Senator Malcolm Roberts.

In those early days after One Nation burst back onto the national scene, it was the unrelenting work of Malcolm Roberts in Senate Estimates that forced the RBA to admit the government was printing money in ever-increasing amounts.

The RBA declared that being accountable to parliament was beneath them, but Senator Roberts insisted on asking the RBA questions.

Of course, the mainstream media just reported that Roberts’ questions were quirky, and boldly stated the RBA governor would never do such a thing as ‘print money’. 

We are now in the inflationary spiral we are in because of rampant RBA money printing, as first exposed by Senator Roberts.  

But that’s not the only top brass having the grilling of their lives this week. 

General Angus Campbell, chief of the defence force, had warned a small group of serving and retired ADF members that their medals could be removed over apparent “command accountability” failures when alleged war crimes occurred.

The Australian Defence Force chief was grilled in parliament by Senator Roberts over moves to revoke the military honours from some soldiers who served in Afghanistan, with the senator suggesting General Campbell should “surrender” his own medal.

Turns out General Angus was a commanding officer of the same troops he is threatening to remove the medals from, but has decided, on his own investigation, that he was a goodie and the baddie troops were the ones who should have their medals stripped.

Through the hard work of Senator Roberts, we think General Campbell and the RBA Governor are about to learn that Australians have little tolerance for lofty tall poppies who are driven in tax-payer limousines and fed off silver plates, while the rest of us are left to endure their banal and frankly arrogant decisions.

The Greens have called on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to rule out making life easier for fossil fuel companies, following reports that a new environmental information body could be used by the Albanese Government to fast track coal and gas. 

Greens spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The job of the Environment minister is to protect the environment, not make life easier for fossil fuel companies. Minister Plibersek should rule out any suggestion that the environment will be traded off for a dirty deal with Peter Dutton and the gas industry.

“Peter Dutton is begging the Albanese Government to do a deal with the Coalition for their pitiful PRRT changes in exchange for fast-tracking coal and gas approvals. This is the last thing our environment, wildlife and climate needs.

“Environmental data should help protect nature, not be used for the benefit of polluting industries that continue to destroy it. This is completely counterproductive to the climate and environment targets the Government keeps claiming it is working towards.

“Labor should be working with the Greens to make big gas corporations pay their fair share of tax. Instead, they are sacrificing nature protection in a bid to keep big fossil fuels on their side.

“Minister Plibersek has committed to fixing our broken environmental laws in this country. This is not a good start. New bodies like Environment Information Australia must be futureproofed so they cannot be used for the benefit of polluting, destructive industries.”

Labor has gutted its pre-election schools platform, walking back its stated commitment to fully fund public schools and ensure equity for the most disadvantaged students, the Greens say.

The ALP’s draft 2023 national platform has abandoned a pledge to ensure that “all schools are fairly resourced”, replacing it with a more watered down statement which only ensures that schools are “on a path” to full funding. They’ve also included language which would make funding increases to the most disadvantaged schools, the vast majority of which are receiving less than the minimum funding level determined by Gonski, contingent on “practical reforms”.

Labor has also dumped all language requiring the party to deliver equity in education. The 2021 platform said it was “unacceptable” for students to miss out because of class, geography and disability, while it also committed to closing the education gap for First Nations students and students living in regional and remote areas. There are no equity goals in the new schools platform.

The proposed platform amendments are the latest indicator that Labor has no plan to try to halt the decline of the public system and should leave teachers, parents, carers and students deeply concerned about how committed Labor is to finally delivering full funding to public schools in the next National School Reform Agreement.

Greens spokesperson on schools, Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“This should be a massive wake-up call to anyone still holding on to the hope that Labor is going to finally deliver on the promise of Gonski and properly fund our public schools. 

“We need bold, brave action to save our public schools and reverse the downward trajectory of student performance, but this watered down platform clearly telegraphs Labor’s intention to do no such thing.

“If you stick a microphone in front of the Education Minister he’s bound to tell you that he doesn’t want to live in a country where kids’ chances in life depend on how rich their parents are or the colour of their skin.

“Yet here we have, in black and white, hard proof that Labor has no commitment whatsoever to arresting the yawning, and growing, gap between the education haves and have nots. How does the Minister square the circle between his own flowery rhetoric and the party’s stated position?

“Fully funding our public schools would only cost an extra $6.5 billion a year. That’s in the ballpark of this year’s budget surplus, or roughly one-sixth of a nuclear submarine we don’t need.

“Negotiations on the next National School Reform Agreement are already underway. This is the last chance we have to bring the public school system back from the brink. Labor has the chance to come riding over the hill to save the day, but at the moment it looks like they’re vacating the field of battle.

“The Greens will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with unions, teachers, parents, carers and students in rejecting Labor’s spinelessness and keeping the pressure on the government to finally give our public school kids a chance.