Category: Australian News

The Greens have today introduced the Ending Poverty in Australia (Antipoverty Commission) Bill 2023 to the Senate. The bill lays out a legislative framework for the interim Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, but without the glaring problems of the current model. 

If passed, the Anti-Poverty Commission would provide Parliament with independent and transparent advice on the causes of poverty in Australia, how to reduce it, and advice on the minimum levels for social security payments, including JobSeeker, the Parenting Parent, Youth Allowance, the Age Pension, and the Disability Support Pension. 

This advice would be given by independent Commissioners, appointed in consultation with state and territory ministers, and under scrutiny of a Joint Parliamentary Committee, as is done with the ANAO and the NACC. 

The bill also includes a legislated requirement to establish a National Poverty Line, which will enable the Commission to refer to a benchmark when measuring poverty and reviewing social security payments.

If passed, this would be an historic and important step towards ending poverty, marking the first time an Australian government has adopted an official poverty line.

Senator Janet Rice, Greens social services spokesperson said:

“Right now, woefully inadequate government payments are leaving millions of women, children, uni students, jobseekers and renters in poverty.

“Australia needs a fully independent, transparent and representative commission to advise the Parliament on our social security system and what needs to be done to fix it.

“While the Greens support the concept of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, Labor’s current model is led by a former minister with members appointed entirely at the Government’s discretion, and is constrained by needing to take into account  the government’s current  policies. 

“It’s unclear if anyone on the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has any lived experience of poverty or surviving on social security payments. It does currently include the Chair of the Business Council of Australia.

“In contrast  the Commissioners of the Anti-Poverty Commission would be free to give advice based on the evidence, and not be caged-in by the Government’s fiscal strategy and existing policies.

“Australia needs a national definition of poverty, one that takes into account different needs and contexts, and one that the government can be held accountable to.

“For far too long, governments have used the lack of an accepted measure of poverty as an excuse to keep people living on inadequate payments.”

Judith Sloan, economist and regular contributor for the Australian recently wrote an excellent expose on the Federal Government’s flawed housing plan. We have looked at Ms Sloan’s concerns, and agree that she has summarised One Nation’s position well.

The rental housing market in Australia has been facing tremendous pressure due to long waiting times for social housing and rising rents. Given this situation, it is not surprising that the federal government is seeking to throw money at the problem, the Greens are barking at their heels on the left and soaking a lot of votes over rental prices. Australians are hurting in an environment entirely of Labor’s making – high inflation (including in the housing sector) because of excessive government spending and exploding immigration.

However, one of Labor’s proposed solutions – the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) – has been criticised as one of the most imprudent government policies ever suggested.

The plan is for the government to raise $10bn in debt and get the Future Fund to invest the funds. The net returns will then be invested in social and affordable housing each year. From the expected average annual return of $500m, the plan is to invest in a total of 6000 social and affordable dwellings each year. However, these numbers are extremely modest considering that at the current rate of population growth, we need at least around a quarter of a million new homes just to accommodate the extra people. It is also estimated that there are at least a half-million people on the current waiting lists for social housing.

Furthermore, at $500m each year, it works out as just more than $83,000 a dwelling funded by HAFF each year. This sum is not enough to cover the full costs of construction and land. Will this sum be used to subsidise other financiers by, for example, subsidising the gap between the market and actual rents paid by low-income tenants? It is unclear what the government thinks it can achieve by allocating just more than $83,000 a dwelling.

The HAFF is essentially a bet on the equity risk premium that generates higher returns than the cost of the debt. If this were really a good idea, it should be extended to all forms of government spending, which, of course, no one thinks is a good idea. The only explanation seems to be the political value of cashing in on the Future Fund brand and having a perpetual entity.

In the meantime, the rental crisis is becoming grimmer as each month passes. The vacancy rates in many parts of the country are at historic lows, and the annual rate of increase in rents ranges from 10 to 30 per cent. Rents are gobbling up higher proportions of tenants’ incomes, for those who can find suitable accommodation in the first place.

Just when it’s clear that the rental situation is dire and becoming worse, the federal government has facilitated a substantial surge in the number of migrants entering the country, particularly international students but other temporary entrants as well. Before the pandemic, the annual net overseas migration (long-term arrivals minus long-term departures) was 240,000 in 2019. On current trends, NOM will end up between 350,000 and 400,000 this calendar year. Combined with natural population growth, that’s more than the entire population of Canberra – although the migrants don’t live in Canberra but largely in Queensland (also Melbourne and Sydney).

The Treasurer has tried to justify this surging migration by making the point that there was a substantial hiatus during Covid, and we are only making up for the “lost” arrivals. What he fails to mention is that the pandemic was also associated with a substantial stalling in the building of new accommodation that is needed to accompany strong population growth. In other words, the last thing we should do is try to make up for these “lost” arrivals. It’s a clear case of the government implementing inconsistent policies.

The HAFF is ill-conceived and won’t do anything to alleviate the rental crisis any time soon. It’s also too small to have any real impact. On the other hand, egged on by pro-immigration Treasury officials and other vested interests, the government has decided to open the floodgates for even more migrants to come here and take homes away from Aussies desperate for accommodation.

The Australian Senate has formally backed a proposal from Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John to hold a Senate inquiry into attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment and support services in Australia.

Senator Jordon Steele-John proposed the inquiry in the hope of addressing common barriers to adequate ADHD assessment and care, as well as establishing possible policy interventions to improve accessibility and outcomes in this space. 

Around a million Australians are directly impacted by ADHD, a widely misunderstood neurodevelopmental disability that can cause significant impairment and dysfunction in people’s lives.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disability Services, Health and Mental Health said:

”Last year more than 10,000 ADHD community members answered my call to share their experiences with the healthcare system.

“The results are confronting to say the least, identifying significant access barriers to ADHD assessment and support services in Australia. 

“In particular, a large proportion of respondents shared issues with cost, wait time and stigma from their healthcare providers.

“The serious long-term impacts of ADHD are well-established, yet we have not seen a single substantive conversation about the condition in Parliament over the past five years.

“We must urgently address the gap between what the ADHD community needs and what it’s actually receiving. 

“I am thrilled that the parliament has agreed on the need for this inquiry. On behalf of the one million Australians being left behind every single day, I hope this inquiry will create recommendations and urgent action to improve outcomes for people with ADHD.”

Senator Jordon Steele-John has today moved a vote on his Private Senators Bill the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2020. The bill would require parliamentary approval for the deployment of ADF personnel overseas. 20 years on from the invasion of Iraq and in the shadow of the AUKUS political deal, it is more important than ever that Australians know who exactly is deciding to go to war. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Peace and Foreign Affairs said: 

“Over the last 20 years, the Prime Minister and Cabinet have time and time again unilaterally decided to follow the United States into conflicts like Afghanistan and Iraq with disastrous outcomes.”

“In 2003, John Howard was able to send Australians to fight an illegal war in Iraq despite the overwhelming opposition of the community because of legal loopholes and a system that lacks any accountability or transparency.” 

“Instead of taking the time to reflect on the invasion of Iraq and how we can avoid repeating the same mistakes, the Albanese government seems determined to repeat them by refusing any meaningful reform.”

“We urgently need to reform the way Australia goes to war so that we are never again dragged to war based on the lies of politicians. The Greens want to see a vote in the parliament before ADF troops are deployed overseas, and an end to military pacts like AUKUS that will drag us into wars we shouldn’t participate in. “

“The community want to see change, 87% of Australians want to see parliament have final approval of the decision to go to war. It’s disappointing, yet not surprising, that the Albanese government joined with the Liberals and voted no. =

“Australian Labor refused to listen to the Australian people, their own membership and former Labor Prime Minister Simon Crean – who all want reform.“

Falling inflation shows the Reserve Bank has no justification to again raise interest rates next week, Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim says.

“Today’s figures are the strongest indication yet that inflation has peaked.”

“For months the RBA has used the spectre of a wage-price spiral to justify repeated and unnecessary rate hikes,” Senator McKim said.

“That spectre has now been banished.”

“By the RBA’s own admission current high inflation was always a supply side problem.”

“Rate rises were never the right tool to tackle this bout of inflation.”

“And now that inflation is coming down, the rate rises must stop.”

“The RBA, aided and abetted by a do-nothing Labor Government, has inflicted massive pain on renters and mortgage holders with this unnecessary rate hike cycle.”

“Next week we will see if the RBA is finally prepared to act in the best interests of Australians instead of blindly following the rest of the world towards a recession.”

The Greens welcome the introduction of family law amendments aimed at putting children’s welfare first in family law matters.

After years of inaction, and unnecessary, damaging inquiries, steps to address the regressive Howard era changes to the family court system are long-overdue.

The women’s safety sector and legal advocates have long called for a child-safety focussed court and we look forward to these reforms moving closer to that goal. But these outcomes can only be achieved with adequate resources, and both the Federal Circuit and Family Court and the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children remain woefully underfunded.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Finally, after years of wasted time and damaging misinformation campaigns – including Pauline Hanson’s toxic family law inquiry – we may start to see real improvements to the family law system.

“Since the Howard government re-wrote Australia’s family laws in 2006, we have seen the presumption of shared care weaponised, instead of the best interests of kids coming first.

“Gendered violence is at the core of many cases in the family law system, and we know children frequently bear the brunt of violent relationships and protracted legal matters.

“We look forward to supporting amendments based on expert advice, instead of the political grandstanding that has traumatised victim-survivors, put children at risk, and provided a platform for hate and misinformation.

“The Greens will review the proposed amendments and work with stakeholders and the government to ensure a strong, fair, and safe family law system.

“While these reforms are welcome, without more funding to courts and frontline family and domestic violence services, delays, unequal representation and lack of support will continue to put women and children at risk.

“The only way to strengthen the outcomes and timeliness of family law matters is to ensure they are heard by experienced, specialist judges. Funding for judicial training, as well as wraparound support services including safe rooms, risk screening and triaging programs, and cultural liaison workers are essential to the success of any reform.

“If the Attorney General wants these reforms to work, his government needs to stump up the funding for them to do so.”

Today’s release of the latest National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) shows that serious cultural change is needed to end violence against women.

The Australian National Research Organisation on Women Safety (ANROWS) has conducted the survey every four years since 2009. While attitudes towards family, sexual and domestic violence improved initially, today’s report shows attitudes have stalled and much more work needs to be done to overturn harmful stereotypes that drive gendered violence.

We need comprehensive respectful relationships education, more data on perpetration, and full funding for prevention and early intervention programs.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Community attitudes towards victim-survivors highlighted in today’s ANROWS survey show just how far we have to go in the fight against gendered violence.

“The fact that more than 30 per cent of respondents believe women in custody battles make up or exaggerate claims of violence is staggering, and a timely indicator of the need for the Family Law reforms being introduced by the government today.

“Misconceptions about where violence occurs perpetuate the issue and keep it hidden – 90 per cent of respondents agreed that violence against women is a national problem, but only 47 per cent believed it was a problem within their own suburb or town. But the evidence is clear: it is a problem in every suburb, in every town, and it is being perpetrated by people we know.

“The survey also helps to explain low rates of reporting. Is it any wonder that victim-survivors are reluctant to come forward when so many people openly disbelieve them, and when so many women report being re-traumatised by the justice system?

“Stopping violence against women will take systemic action to tackle root causes and transform harmful social norms, but it also requires adequate funding of the organisations that do the hard work on the frontlines of this epidemic.

“Funding for prevention programs, including Our Watch’s Respectful Relationships, would help embed a culture of gender equality and should be part of our national curriculum from early childhood education onwards.

“The ANROWS data shows far too many people do not know where to go when experiencing abuse. And we know that far too many people who do reach out to over-stretched services cannot get support because services simply cannot meet demand.

“The women’s safety sector has repeatedly said that it will take an investment of $1B per year to ensure no one seeking help is turned away. This is the absolute minimum Australians should expect.

“The Greens will continue to call for women’s safety to be a priority in the May budget. Everyone should read the ANROWS survey today and work in their homes, communities and workplaces to start positive conversations about respect and ending gendered violence.”

HARD CAP AND POLLUTION TRIGGER, BEETALOO AND OTHER 116 NEW COAL AND GAS PROJECTS ON THE ROPES

The Greens have negotiated significant changes to the Safeguard Mechanism legislation that will impact on coal and gas, including stopping many of the new coal and gas projects in the development pipeline, freezing low integrity offset projects and putting in place a declining hard cap on the scheme to ensure Australia’s actual (not net) pollution goes down. In light of these and a package of other significant amendments, the Greens will support the Safeguard Mechanism legislation and regulations.

In brief, the Greens’ secured amendments include:

1. A hard cap or ceiling on actual or absolute (gross) emissions, which won’t be able to exceed current pollution levels (140 MT per annum), and there will be a decreasing cap over time. Pollution will actually now go down, not up, and the coal and gas corporations can’t buy their way out of it with offsets. This puts a limit on coal and gas expansion in Australia. Actual pollution from safeguard entities was forecast to rise under Labor’s original safeguard, from about 140MT now to between 155-184MT in 2030.
2. A pollution trigger in the Safeguard Mechanism Bill that will require the Climate Change Minister to test a new or expanded project’s impact on the hard cap and net carbon Budgets. If the assessment finds that the project would contribute to exceeding the cap or Budget, the Minister must consult and recalibrate the rules (such as by limiting ACCUs, reducing the value of ACCUs or adjusting the decline rates of baselines) or impose conditions on new entrants. Using these wide-ranging powers, the Minister could set baselines at zero and ACCU allowance at zero, effectively stopping a project from proceeding. The Minister’s action or lack of action would be subject to legal enforcement. Approvals under the EPBC and advice from the Climate Change Authority would trigger the assessment as would assessment of emissions data and forecasts.
3. All Scope 1 emissions from the Beetaloo gas project will have to be net-zero with Scope 2 and 3 emissions referred to the Ministerial Energy Council. This will be a significant financial barrier in the way of the project proceeding.
4. All new gas fields for LNG export will need to be net zero CO2 from day one.
5. The agreement will significantly improve the integrity of ACCUs with a freeze on the most dubious offset class (Human Induced Regeneration) until they are subject to an independent audit. 
6. The Bill will include a requirement for incentives for onsite abatement and to ensure facilities are encouraged to actually cut pollution.
7. Corporations will be required to justify their use of offsets if they use offsets for more than 30% of their baseline.
8. A review by the CCA in 2026-27 will look at the use of offsets and implementing measures to restrict their use if on-site abatement isn’t occurring to satisfactory levels.
9. The Powering the Regions fund will not be used to fund coal or gas projects. 
10. The grant funding power the Liberal government used to subsidise fossil fuel projects will be changed in the Act to prevent funding for extracting coal and gas.
11. Increased methane monitoring, leading to greater coal and gas emissions reductions.
12. A Climate Change Authority-led sectoral emission reduction plans to make it harder for coal and gas projects to get financed and to support the litigation of greenwashing.
13. For the first time the Act will require reporting of all types of gases and offset generation use creating greater transparency and pressure on corporations to do more.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Coal and gas have taken a huge hit. The Greens have stopped many of the 116 new coal and gas projects in the pipeline from going ahead, pollution will actually go down, and we’ve derailed the Beetaloo and Barossa gas fields.

“Coal and gas pollution was set to soar under Labor’s safeguard. The Greens have introduced a hard cap on emissions, meaning real pollution must actually come down and the coal and gas corporations can’t buy their way out of the cap with offsets. This puts a limit on coal and gas expansion in Australia. Pollution will now go down, not up, as it was set to under Labor. 

“We’ve secured a pollution trigger that, for the first time in history, means new projects must be assessed for their impact on climate pollution and they can be stopped. Labor now has the power to stop coal and gas projects that would breach the pollution cap. Every new coal and gas project that gets approved from here on in is Labor’s direct responsibility.

“With our significant amendments, the Greens will be voting to pass the Bill and will back the regulations but the fight against all new coal and gas continues.

“In balance of power, the Greens have stopped many of the 116 coal and gas projects in the pipeline from proceeding, and now we’re coming after the rest.

“To everyone who is despairing about the future and wants real climate action, today you should have a spring in your step, because it shows we can take on the coal and gas corporations and win.

“The fight is not over, because in the middle of a climate crisis, Labor still wants to open more coal and gas. 

“With a Senate willing to act, the only obstacle to stopping all new coal and gas in this Parliament is Labor.

“We will continue to push to strengthen the environment laws that will come before the Parliament next year and to fight fossil fuel subsidies in the budget. We will back the fights of communities right around the country who are fighting these coal and gas projects in the pipeline, including Scarborough and Narrabri. We will build a movement like this country has never seen to stop Labor opening the rest of the 116 coal and gas mines.”

Greens spokesperson for Resources and First Nations Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“The Beetaloo and Barossa projects have been derailed. There are serious questions raised about whether these climate bombs will be financially viable now, raising a red flag to investors pouring money into these projects.
 
“This is a big day for the Greens movement, but an even bigger day for the Traditional Owners and mob whose lands and waters are under threat from the climate bombs that are Barossa and Beetaloo projects. I have stood in solidarity with you, on-Country, and witnessed first hand how these companies and their projects would destroy your way of life. 
 
“To the 8 Tiwi clan groups led by the Munupi clan, and the more than 60 native title holders that formed the Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, this is a moment you can share in. Free, Informed Prior Consent was never given before the government allowed your sacred sites,  land and sea Country to be destroyed by fossil fuel companies.
 
“It’s the determination and perseverance of First Nations people, and with Greens in balance of power, we can hold this Labor Government accountable to engaging and working with mob and taking real action on climate change.
 
“This is an important first step, but our work is not over. We will continue to push the Government further and faster, and continue our campaign for no new coal and gas projects.”

In a devastating blow to Australians who value the integrity of our constitution, the Liberal, Labor and Greens party teamed up to pass the ‘machinery’ bill that is required to run a referendum on the Voice.

We were not surprised that the Labor party would stack the decks for their outrageous Voice proposals but we were absolutely gutted to see the Liberals roll over to allow Labor exactly what they wanted.

Passing this bill takes aim to destroy our constitution, and it wasn’t the only act of political bastardry in parliament house yesterday.

A group of Aboriginal Australians, who travelled to Canberra to make urgent representations opposing the Voice, were ignored by the major parties whilst the machinery bill was being voted on. 

Do you think any of the big party leaders showed these courageous Australians any attention? No.

This group of great Australians paid for their own flights; they were that keen to have their voices heard.

No leaders other than a handful of gutsy pollies, including Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts, showed any interest in listening to the proud Aussies give their perspective.

Do you think this delegation of brave Aussies got any media attention? No.

The media were more interested in covering the arrangements that have made the Liberals a sub-branch of the Labor party. Courtesy of the Liberals, the government has been provided with a fat, woke-left-wing slush fund of taxpayers’ money for a ‘civic’ education program as part of the referendum process.

We are sure ‘re-education’ camps are firmly on the menu for anyone who dares question the extremist left’s demands that Aboriginals swallow their shocking paternalism and neo-colonial posturing.

Apart from formalising their status as a sub-branch of the Labor Party, the Liberals also spent the day voting against amendments our Senators put forward to the referendum bill. The amendments would have saved Aussies $100mill by holding the vote on the same day as the federal election and inserting citizen-initiated referendums into the bill.

How cheeky of One Nation, trying to save tax-payers $100mil AND giving everyone a voice by turning the politician’s referendum process on its head and handing it over to the people.

The Albanese Government is taking the next steps on the path to constitutional recognition through a Voice by introducing the Constitution Alteration Bill into the Parliament.

Cabinet has listened to the Referendum Working Group. The question the Parliament will now consider to be put to the Australian people at the 2023 referendum will be:

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

This is a simple question, a matter from the heart.

Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution is the best chance this country has had to address the injustices of the past and move Australia forward for everyone, and the best way to do this is to give people a voice.

For 122 years our nation’s founding document has failed to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and their more than 65,000 years of continuous connection to this vast land.

In order to update our Constitution we need to hold a referendum where every Australian will get to have a say on the proposed change.

This referendum will give Australians the chance to write a new chapter into our Constitution:

“Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice; 
2. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
3. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”

This follows months of listening to the community and comprehensive consultation with the Referendum Working Group made up of Indigenous representatives, and assisted by some of the best legal minds in the country through the Constitutional Expert Group.

These proposed amendments are constitutionally sound, and represent the best chance of a successful referendum.

Today the Referendum Working Group will also release further design principles for a Voice to Parliament.

The Government will introduce the Constitution Alteration Bill next week and we hope to pass the legislation through the Parliament by the end of June, with the referendum to be held between October and December this year.

Constitutional recognition through Voice is an idea that came from the people, and this will be a decision made by the people, not politicians.

QPrime Minister Anthony Albanese said: 

“This referendum is an historic democratic opportunity for a unifying Australian moment.”

“Every Australian will have the chance to vote for recognition and consultation. Recognition of the extraordinary privilege we have to share this continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture and stronger consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, meaning better decisions and better results as we work to close the gap.”

the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney said:

“If not now, when? We have been talking about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our founding document for decades – now we have the chance to do it.”

“Let’s seize this moment, let’s take Australia forward, for everyone.”

the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus said: 

“The proposed constitutional amendment is legally sound.”

“We have received advice from a diverse range of constitutional experts including Professor Anne Twomey, Professor George Williams, former High Court Justice Kenneth Hayne, Prof Megan Davis and their advice was clear: the Voice will be empowered to make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government about matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It will not have a veto or grant special rights.”

Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said: 

“These sensible constitutional amendments get the balance right. They give voice to the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples right across the country.” 

Special Envoy, Senator Patrick Dodson said:

“Constitutional recognition through Voice is about giving our people and our communities a say in the policies that affect us.”

“The 2023 referendum is the best chance we’ve ever had to create structural change that will deliver better outcomes for First Nations peoples.”

“A Voice to Parliament, enshrined in our Constitution, will mean that our people are listened to and heard on the issues that affect us.”

“The Voice will be a fearless source of advice and accountability, and it will make a practical difference.”