Category: Australian News

Today, the Community Affairs Legislative Committee held a hearing into Labor’s proposed Income Management Reform Bill, which essentially reintroduces a Cashless Debit Card 2.0 and further entrenches compulsory income management.

The SmartCard is provided by the same company, Indue, who ran the Cashless Debit Card scheme, and is effectively the Cashless Debit Card by another name.

Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for Social Services, said:

“The Labor party has yet again betrayed people on income support with this Cashless Debit Card 2.0. 

“Labor pledged to end compulsory income management in opposition. Now they’re in government, Labor’s proposed SmartCard is just the Cashless Debit Card with a different name and colour.

“If anyone thinks that Labor’s SmartCard Bill is only about improving technology, this hearing would have quickly disabused them of that notion. 

“This bill goes far beyond technology; it introduces a sneaky and insidious framework that will significantly expand the Minister’s power to roll out compulsory income management in new areas, despite Labor’s campaign against CDC in opposition.

“If this bill passes the Senate in its current form, Labor will be going further than the Liberals did in allowing the expansion of the racist and entirely ineffective compulsory income management system.

“There’s no evidence that compulsory income management works, and we’ve heard from witness after witness today that this racist, paternalistic policy framework only does damage to individuals and communities, especially to First Nations people.

“The SmartCard bill doesn’t even contain a sunset clause like the CDC legislation did. Labor campaigned to end compulsory income management, yet this bill will entrench it.

The Minister for the Environment has indicated her decision to approve the Isaac River coal mine in Queensland, giving the green light for destruction of endangered koala habitat.

Responding to this decision, Greens spokesperson for Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“In the same week the Albanese Government gave next to nothing in the Budget for protection and restoration of the environment, the Minister has signalled her intent to approve a new coal mine in endangered species’ habitat.

“This cynical announcement comes at the end of Budget week to avoid scrutiny.

“The Environment Minister is on track to be no better than the last one in the Morrison Government.

“You cannot meet a zero extinction target while destroying habitat. This government clearly isn’t serious about saving our wildlife.

“Australia’s environment laws are clearly broken. Polluting projects are failing to be assessed for the emissions they create. We desperately need a climate trigger which will stop new coal and gas in its tracks.”

Responding to the Minister for the Environment’s excuse for approving the Isaac River coal mine, Greens spokesperson for Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Minister Plibersek is defending her decision to approve a new coal mine because the law says she can. Well, the Minister herself has admitted that the law is broken.

“In 2023 there is no excuse for environmental approval to be given to new coal or gas projects without considering climate pollution.

“If the Albanese Government is truly committed to net zero, then introducing strong environmental laws with a climate trigger must be a priority.

“Polluting projects are failing to be assessed for the emissions they create. We desperately need a climate trigger to stop new coal and gas in its tracks.

“It is the Environment Minister’s job to strengthen our environment laws as an urgent priority, not use them as an excuse to pass destructive projects. Our climate and wildlife cannot afford further delay.

“All new fossil fuel approvals should be put on hold until we have a climate trigger in our environment laws.”

Today I announce the appointment of Advisory Board members for the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

The new Advisory Board brings together distinguished Australians with diverse perspectives and expertise across business, community, education, the arts, academia and national security.

The Advisory Board will help guide the Foundation in its work to support governments, businesses, and communities build links and strengthen constructive engagement with China, consistent with our national interest.

I am pleased to reappoint Ms Pru Bennett as Chair and make the following Advisory Board appointments:

• Mr Rowan Callick OBE, author and journalist
• Dr Yin Cao*, curator of Chinese Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Ms Wesa Chau, CEO, Cultural Intelligence
• Mr Philip Chronican, Chair, National Australia Bank
• Dr Courtney Fung*, Associate Professor, Macquarie University
• Mr Douglas Gautier AM, CEO and Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival Centre
• Ms Marina Go*, Non-Executive Director Transurban, Energy Australia and others
• Dr Jade Little*, Chair, Australia-China Youth Dialogue
• Professor Sharon Lewin* AO, Director, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
• Professor Duncan Lewis* AO DSC CSC, former Secretary Department of Defence
• Mr Richard McGregor*, Senior Fellow for East Asia, Lowy Institute
• Professor Rory Medcalf AM, Head, ANU National Security College
• Professor Brian Schmidt AC, Vice Chancellor, Australian National University
• Ms Jan Adams AO PSM (ex officio), Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I thank outgoing Advisory Board members for their significant contributions and look forward to the Foundation’s continued work across communities, business, education, health and science, climate change, culture and the arts.

*Denotes a new appointment to the Advisory Board.

Responding to this week’s budget, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“It’s beyond disappointing that the Government has kept the punitive and universally despised activity test, which locks thousands of the most disadvantaged children out of accessing early childhood education and care. Even the Government’s own Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce recommended abolishing the activity test.

“The early childhood education and care workforce desperately need a pay rise and recognition for the important work they do. However, Labor has just tinkered around the edges, with more funding for professional development and skills building whilst ignoring the elephant in the room- wages. 

“Despite soaring student debt making news everyday, and the fact that a student debt avalanche will hit on 1 June unless the Government intervenes, there is nothing in this budget to ease the burden for all those with student debt. 

“Uni students are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with many regularly skipping meals, falling behind on rent and being forced to abandon their degrees in favour of paid work. Unfortunately, this budget will provide scant relief, with Youth Allowance and Austudy being raised by a measly $2.85 a day.

“While extra university places in STEM disciplines are welcome, the Government’s stated purpose of these places to support AUKUS is gross. Universities are best placed to contribute to peace not warmongering.

“The Greens welcome the investment in more fee free TAFE places, but rather than one-off measures, we need sustained, long-term investment in public TAFE and the abolition of fees altogether.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Animal Welfare has responded to a new government report on Australia’s regulatory system for live export, which examined shocking footage captured inside overseas slaughterhouses and found systemic non-compliance.

Senator Faruqi said:

“The report is a damning indictment of the Department of Agriculture’s ability to protect cattle exported by Australian producers.

“At the heart of the failures lies an insurmountable conflict of interest; the welfare of animals will never be the priority for a department that also exists to promote and protect the industry. We need an Independent Office of Animal Welfare.

“The report examined truly horrific footage of animal suffering. Shockingly though, the Department recommended no further sanctions for this horrific cruelty despite finding non-compliance at every single abattoir investigated.

 “The report confirms, yet again, that live export cannot be made safe for animals. It is a business model built on cruelty and is simply incompatible with animal welfare.”

A State Memorial service to celebrate the life of acclaimed artist Dr John Olsen AO OBE will be held at the Art Gallery of NSW on Monday 29 May.

The Australian and NSW Governments will jointly deliver the service in honour of the late legendary landscape painter who passed away on 11 April 2023, aged 95.

With a career spanning nearly seven decades, Dr Olsen had long been considered one of Australia’s most eminent and celebrated living artists.

In 1977 Dr Olsen was appointed an OBE for his services to the arts, and in 2001 was appointed an AO and awarded the Centenary Medal. He was awarded the Wynne Prize in 1969 and 1985, the Sir John Sulman Prize in 1989 and the Archibald Prize in 2005, amongst many other significant awards throughout his distinguished career.

Dr Olsen’s work is represented in all Australian state gallery collections, the National Gallery of Australia and regional galleries nationwide, as well as institutional, corporate and private collections internationally.

He has also received an honorary doctorate of letters from both the University of NSW in 2003, and the University of Newcastle in 2011.

A tribute to Dr Olsen’s extraordinary career will be beamed onto the Sydney Opera House sails during this year’s Vivid Sydney, which runs from Friday May 26 to Saturday June 17.

For the most up to date information on the State Memorial and to sign the online condolence book, visit nsw.gov.au/stateservices

The State Memorial will start at 10.30am and will be live streamed.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“John Olsen had an incredible ability to interpret the beautiful, raw and vivid Australian landscape in a way few others have.

“A man of talent, charisma, generosity and humility, he was a poet of the brush, a truly great explorer and interpreter of the Australian landscape.

“The State Memorial is our chance to pay tribute to John’s unique talent, his unyielding passion for the arts, and the great legacy he leaves us.”

Premier Minns said:

“John Olsen’s contribution to arts and culture in New South Wales has been immeasurable.”

“The way in which he captured the beauty of our state and country on canvas brought joy to millions.”

“The Art Gallery of New South Wales is where many of John Olsen’s paintings have been showcased over the years and it serves as the perfect venue to celebrate the life and legacy of this great Australian artist.”

Responding to the Federal budget, Greens spokesperson for Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“No matter how they try and spin it, the numbers are clear – protecting nature is just not a priority for this government.

“This budget shows that the Greens are the only party in this Parliament who are truly willing to fight for our environment.

“It was very disappointing that the Treasurer’s budget night speech didn’t include the environment at all.

“We are in an extinction crisis. Our native species need funding now. Yet, there was no new funding allocated to species protection and recovery in the budget, and what was promised last October barely makes a dent in what scientists say is required to address the extinction crisis we face.

“There has been no attempt from the Government to address the root causes of biodiversity loss and ban native forest logging.

“If there was any hope left that the Minister was serious about the commitments to protect 30 per cent of land and seas and achieve zero extinction by 2030, this budget has dashed it.

“Putting the creation of a nature market before establishing an Environment Protection Agency, legislating environmental standards and fixing our broken environmental laws is the nail in the coffin.

“Australia’s environment needs protection, not a ‘Green Wall Street’ propped up by bogus offsets. The Albanese Government has well and truly put the cart before the horse and the environment will suffer as a result.

“It is a lie to say that the Government cannot afford greater environmental protection. Last night’s budget was one of carefully considered priorities, and the environment was left off that list.”

Today I announce that the 2023 recipients of the Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award are Sarah Dingle of Australia and Yunita Tandililing of Indonesia.

Ms Dingle is a Senior Reporter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National Breakfast program and a dual Walkley Award winner. Ms Tandililing is a Lead Producer at Kompas TV with over 15 years’ experience in broadcast media.

The award will support Ms Dingle and Ms Tandililing to spend two weeks in Indonesia and Australia respectively. Both journalists will engage in specialised programs to deepen their understanding of contemporary issues in each country.

The Elizabeth O’Neill Award is an initiative of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, which fosters links between Australia and Indonesia by increasing cultural awareness, cooperation and mutual understanding.

The Award commemorates the distinguished career of Elizabeth O’Neill OAM, who died in the service of her country in Indonesia on 7 March 2007. It continues the legacy of Ms O’Neill, who worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was passionate about fostering mutual understanding of Australia and Indonesia through informed media coverage.

The Award is open to high-achieving journalists from print, radio, television and online media organisations across Australia and Indonesia.

Australia’s recently announced 2023 federal budget has raised serious concerns about its impact on the average Australian household. One of the most pressing issues is the mounting government debt, which directly affects the country’s inflation and interest rates. As government debt rises, Australians are starting to feel the pinch. The removal of the middle and low-income tax offset means hard-working individuals will face a significant tax increase at a time when they are already struggling (1).

The surging government debt has ballooned from 4.7% of GDP in 2008 to a staggering 42.5% of GDP in 2021 (2). This alarming increase in debt has a direct impact on mortgage rates, burdening Australian citizens further. While some argue that immigration can help bolster the budget, One Nation opposes using this strategy as it leads to higher rents and mortgage repayments for Australians  (3). Instead, the party advocates for expanding the mining sector to generate revenue for vital services such as schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

The budget surplus projected by the Labor Party is partly based on increased revenue from various sources, including high commodity prices, employment rates, immigration, corporate taxes, higher wages, and inflation. (4). However, the rising popularity of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) poses concerns. Advocates of MMT claim that government debt is not an issue since the government can print its own money. Historical evidence, however, shows that printing money to finance government expenses leads to hyperinflation and a decrease in the value of citizens’ savings and assets (5). One Nation’s economic plan aims to halt the practice of printing money to support the Australian economy.

In addition to debt and monetary policy concerns, the budget includes wasteful spending on unnecessary projects. Economists have labelled the budget as a “stimulus” budget, which will pressure interest rates (1). One significant expenditure is the Voice referendum, which has been criticized for its high cost and unnecessary divisiveness. Taxpayers will have to bear the burden of over 400 million dollars for a referendum that could have been allocated to more pressing needs (2).

Furthermore, the budget’s lack of funding for vital infrastructure projects is disappointing. Instead, the Treasurer has announced a 3-month review into infrastructure spending, raising concerns that essential projects may be scrapped. This uncertainty risks Queenslanders missing out on crucial infrastructure development. (3).

During parliamentary sessions, Senator Pauline Hanson brought attention to a notable discrepancy in the budget. While there is an allocation of 326.7 million dollars for women’s safety, there is no corresponding support or funding for male victims of domestic and family violence. This omission raises questions about the government’s commitment to addressing domestic violence comprehensively. (4)

Successive governments have been reckless with taxpayers’ hard-earned income. Australia must carefully consider the ramifications of mounting debt, inadequate infrastructure spending, and inflation on everyday Australians. Responsible management of these economic challenges is crucial for the nation’s long-term prosperity.

Sources:

7News, 10/05/2023

Institute of Public Affairs

ABC News, 03/04/2023

Financial Review, 09/05/2023

Forbes Advisor, 18/03/2023