16 News

Following news today that Splendour in the Grass will be cancelled, the Greens have called on the Albanese Government to deliver urgent reform to revive festivals and avert another string of cancellations in 2025.

Greens arts spokesperson and Senator for South Australia, Sarah Hanson-Young:

“Today, music fans and the arts sector are reeling to hear Splendour is cancelled for another year. We can’t afford another year of festival cancellations in the cost of living crisis.

“We’ve seen this sad movie before and it’s a warning to policy makers that unless we see reform that can actually revive the live music sector, 2025 could be another wipeout year of festival cancellations.

“Festivals are about more than just supporting great Australian artists, creating lifelong memories and giving euphoric vibes – thousands of creative workers are employed in the arts sector. Thousands more are employed in the small businesses that rely on the ‘arts-tourism’ factor, particularly in regional Australia. Another year of cancellations will leave painful economic scars in the cost of living crisis.

“Reform is urgently needed if we are to revive our local music and festival culture. We need to look at funding, tax and insurance reforms and the Greens stand ready to work with the Government to deliver a package that can stem the cancellations and allow new and independent operations to flourish. 

“Splendour is one of Australia’s most beloved festivals and there will be a lot of fans, musicians and arts workers coming down today upon hearing this news.”

Today, the ACT Greens have announced Dani Hunterford and Sam Carter as their candidates for the seats of Fenner and Bean, adding the new faces alongside Isabel Mudford for Canberra, Christina Hobbs for the Senate and Jo Rocke for the Senate.

Elected directly by a grassroots, community membership made of nurses, teachers, retail workers, and more, ACT Greens candidates running this election have genuine connections to the people they would represent in Federal Parliament.

“As a community sector advocate and a postgraduate at the Australian National University, I’ve seen firsthand how government policies can shape the lives of everyday people, for better or worse,” said Candidate for Canberra, Isabel Mudford.

“But unfortunately, over the past three years our local representative, Alicia Payne, has consistently voted alongside the least progressive Labor government in living memory – failing to advocate for the changes Canberrans want and need.

“Meanwhile, instead of working for you, the two major parties have been taking millions in donations from big corporations. These corporations donate because it gets them results – all the while our community struggles with the cost of living.

“Unlike the major parties, the Australian Greens refuse to take donations from big corporations. Our movement is powered by everyday people—volunteers from all walks of life. Because of them, we work for the community, not corporate interests.”

“This election, Canberrans have a real choice — more of the same, or community candidates who will listen to the voices in our city, and push for ambitious action on climate, housing, health and the environment.  

The seat of Canberra is a pivotal battleground for the ACT Greens this election. The party are set to build on their strong previous performances in the seat. In 2022, the ACT Greens secured Canberra as a two party preferred contest between themselves and Labor.

Last year the ACT Greens announced Isabel Mudford for the Seat of Canberra alongside former United Nations humanitarian worker, Christina Hobbs as lead candidate for the Senate and educator and policy advisor, Jo Rocke for the Senate. 

Dani Hunterford:

“As a young person, a renter, and a passionate advocate for change working in harm-reduction in the not-for-profit sector, I know that this election presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to make real change,” said Candidate for Fenner, Dani Hunterford.

“But while our community is struggling with the cost of living, the major parties are supporting new coal mines and giving tax breaks to big corporations.

“It’s pretty clear, this election, nothing changes unless your vote does – a vote for the Greens will hold Labor to account and keep Dutton out. 

Sam Carter: 

“As a Paralympian and advocate for people with disability, I’ve seen how government decisions can impact the livelihoods of so many in our community, no matter who they are,” said Candidate for Bean, Sam Carter.

“But instead, Labor and the Liberals prioritise corporate interests over the needs of ordinary people, leaving renters and people struggling with the cost of living behind.

“By voting Greens in this election in any seat, you can elect community members who will fight for fairness and equality—fight for a future that puts people first.”

The Victorian Greens have called out the new Opposition Leader Brad Battin’s offensive and harmful comments towards First Nations Victorians and policy to ‘scrap the Treaty’, saying his Trump-style politics of division shows the party is lurching even further to the right. 

Mr Battin recently chose to attend an interview with Andrew Bolt on right-wing media outlet Sky News, where he reiterated that he would scrap Victoria’s Treaty negotiations and called into question the legitimacy of Victoria’s elected First Peoples’ Assembly, and labelled those attending Jan 26 events and protests as ‘hateful’.

The Victorian Greens say that these are dog-whistling comments in the lead up to January 26 and show total disrespect towards First Nations people in Victoria.

The Victorian Greens say the Liberals are lurching even further to the right and taking a leaf out of Donald Trump’s playbook with this divisive and fear-mongering style of politics. 

the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“It’s gross to see the new Liberal Leader Brad Battin taking another leaf out of Trump’s playbook – going on Andrew Bolt’s Sky News program to take a swipe at our First Nations leaders and re-iterate the Liberals would scrap Treaty negotiations in Victoria. 

“For many people, Jan 26 is a sombre day where First Nations people ask us to listen and reflect on our country’s history, yet the Liberal leader can’t even show some basic respect and understanding on this day. 

“Instead, the Liberal leader is using it as an opportunity to stoke fear and hate to serve his own political agenda. 

“This kind of divisive political point scoring doesn’t benefit anyone, it’s actually just disrespectful and gross and it needs to be called out.”

The Greens are calling for an urgent response to the shocking decline of Tasmania’s east coast little penguin population. 

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“The unprecedented and shocking decline of Bicheno’s little penguin population is a wakeup call to all communities along the Great Southern Reef that the impacts of climate change are with us here and now. 

“Marine heat waves generated by the burning of fossil fuels impact our oceans in so many ways, and these changes to ocean currents, biodiversity and habitat will only become bigger and more dangerous to endemic Tasmanian marine wildlife into the future. 

“Nobody wants to see marine wildlife seemingly vanish along our coastlines, especially not when the species is celebrated by a coastal community and is a crucial part of its identity, economy, and environment – as is the case with Bicheno and its little penguins. 

“There is reason to hope Bicheno’s little penguins will ultimately survive this setback and return, but the science tells us their future will only become more bleak if governments continue to open new fossil fuel projects and fail to address the climate crisis.”

Tasmanian Greens MHA and member for Lyons, Tabatha Badger: 

“The Premier needs to reconvene Tasmania’s Penguin Advisory Group as a matter of urgency, and provide the community with advice and an understanding on exactly what is going on.

“Tasmania’s Penguin Advisory Group was established in 2021 to oversee research and strategies relating to the multiple threats facing little penguins – however it has been inactive now for some time, and it is unclear if it has been disbanded.

“Communities can learn lessons from this summer’s setback and the Penguin Advisory Group would play a critical role in recommending future adaptation strategies. For example, how to look after abandoned and sick penguin chicks when their parents fail to return to feed them Tasmania’s Penguin Advisory Group 

“Penguins’ key food source is sardines, and the community has also expressed concerns about future potential impacts on little penguins from a proposed sardine fishery off Tassie’s coast. This is understandable given the last thing our little penguins need is more pressure on their food sources and foraging behaviour at such a difficult time.

“I urge both the federal and state government to welcome scrutiny in relation to this proposed trial and operate with the utmost transparency.”

Today, the Coalition has announced new action to combat rising anti-Semitism. Where the Albanese Government has shown weakness and failed to combat extremism, a Dutton Coalition Government will show strength and act. 

The firebombing of cars and targeting of homes in Sydney last week follows the horrific attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December in what is now a clear campaign of terror.  

Under Labor, the Jewish community feels under siege and abandoned. 

Last week, the Prime Minister again refused to convene a National Cabinet in response to the attacks in Sydney.  

Today we commit that, if elected, a Dutton Coalition Government will: 

Take a national leadership role expected of the Commonwealth Government, including convening a National Cabinet to combat anti-Semitism and extremism. 

Strengthen the sentencing regime for terrorism by legislating for a mandatory minimum term of 6 years imprisonment for all acts of terrorism under Commonwealth law. 

Amend draft laws currently before the parliament to make it a hate crime to urge or threaten violence towards a place of worship; punishable by imprisonment for 5 years or 7 years in the case of an aggravated offence. 

Introduce mandatory minimum sentences of 12 months imprisonment for the public display of prohibited Nazi symbols, prohibited terrorist organisation symbols, and giving the Nazi salute in public, and increase the maximum penalty to 5 years imprisonment. 

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, said “The shocking rise in anti-Semitism in our country is a national crisis which requires a national response. I first requested the PM convene a National Cabinet on anti-Semitism in November 2023. He failed to do so. Last week I again wrote to him requesting a National Cabinet on this most pressing matter yet he still evades his responsibility.” 

“The Prime Minister talks about taking “action” but real action has been missing from this Prime Minister. The time for talk is over, so today we announce measures that a Dutton Coalition Government will undertake to stop this vile scourge of anti-Semitism in our country in its tracks. If the PM won’t show the strong leadership our country needs, then we will,” Mr Dutton said.  

Shadow Attorney-General, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, said “We must stamp out anti-Semitism in Australia.  The Albanese Labor Government’s weakness has allowed anti-Semitism to run out of control in Australia to the point where we are now experiencing acts of outright terrorism. A clear and strong message needs to be sent to those who perpetrate such evil acts and that is exactly what these proposed new laws do.” 

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator James Paterson, said “A campaign of terror has been unleashed on the Australian Jewish community and those responsible have clearly been emboldened by the weakness of the Albanese Labor Government. Only strong action and real consequences for the perpetrators will bring this to an end. We are sending a clear message today that these acts of terrorism will not be tolerated on the watch of a Dutton Coalition Government.” 

A Dutton Coalition Government will take the strong action required to end the vile scourge of anti-Semitism afflicting our country which has festered for too long and which threatens the safety of our communities. Enough is enough.