Category: Australian News

Our foreign service is the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world.

Today we announce new appointments that strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and its prosecution of our national interests around the globe.

In keeping with past practice of appointing experienced former ministers to significant diplomatic posts, the Government intends to appoint the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States.

Dr Rudd brings unmatched experience to the role. He has served as Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, held prominent academic roles and worked extensively in the United States. It is intended that he will commence his posting in early 2023.

Joining Dr Rudd in the United States is Ms Heather Ridout AO as Australia’s Consul-General in New York, she is the first woman to be appointed to the role. A former Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, Ms Ridout brings four decades of experience to the role. She is currently Director of Sims Ltd and Director of Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Limited.

We are also pleased to announce Ms Bronte Moules as Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Human Rights. As Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms Moules will lead Australia’s work to protect and promote human rights globally and be a key advocate on issues of importance to our region.

Ms Stephanie Copus-Campbell has been appointed Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality. Ms Copus-Campbell will deepen Australia’s international engagement on gender equality with her expertise in community development, gender equality and health.

We also announce the appointment of career diplomats to lead Australian posts:

1. Ms Sophie Davies as Australia’s Ambassador to Brazil
2. Dr Ralph King as Australia’s Ambassador to Israel
3. Ms Sonya Koppe as Australia’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago
4. Ms Minoli Perera as Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe
5. Mr Richard Rodgers as Australia’s Ambassador to Croatia
6. Ms Phoebe Smith as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands

We thank outgoing ambassadors, high commissioners and consul-general for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in these countries during their respective tenures.

The Greens will explore options to remove the legislated 20% cap on the Commonwealth’s contribution to public school funding, after Labor announced on Friday that it would postpone the next National School Reform Agreement (NSRA) by a year.

The government’s decision to kick action on the public school funding crisis down the road comes despite recent data showing that the gulf between the richest and poorest students in Australia is widening, while public school parents are increasingly reaching into their own pockets to pay for building maintenance and basic education resources.

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

“This is outrageous. Making public school kids wait another year for a fair go while continuing to pour public money into elite private schools that don’t even need it is a complete abandonment of our most disadvantaged students and makes a mockery of the Education Minister’s pretty words about equity.

“The new NSRA was an opportunity for the Commonwealth, states and territories to end this funding crisis and restore equity to the school system. Their willingness to prolong and further entrench disadvantage is evidence of a deep sickness at the heart of our politics.

“Ten years on from Gonski, public schools in Australia remain underfunded, while the private sector is overfunded. Under the current NSRA public schools will never receive 100% of their Schooling Resource Standard funding. Not in five years; not in 100 years.

“This decision will also heap further strain on under-resourced teachers and schools and will worsen crippling teacher shortages.

“Instead of taking action, Minister Clare says they’ll be forming a panel of ’eminent Australians’ to inform the next Agreement. But we don’t need another panel, or another review, or another study. We already know what needs to be done because Gonski did the work already!

“This government will have a fight on its hands in 2023. When parliament returns the Greens will look to amend the Australian Education Act to remove the cap on Commonwealth funding of public schools, which prevents the federal government contributing more than 20% of the Schooling Resource Standard.

“The Greens will use every lever at our disposal, inside and outside parliament, to push Labor to deliver the funding teachers have been pleading for for a decade.”

Background

The NSRA sets out the school funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the states and territories. The current NSRA, which was due to expire at the end of 2023, locks in underfunding for government schools. Under the current agreement public schools will have to wait until at least 2027 just to receive 95% of their Schooling Resource Standard (although the capital depreciation loophole will actually see that number closer to 91%), which is the bare minimum level of funding students require to achieve minimum achievement benchmarks.

The Greens will demand an explanation from Google over its decision to ban medical abortion ads in Australia, and push to have the appear at the upcoming Universal access to reproductive healthcare Senate inquiry.

Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Google’s blanket ban on abortion ads is an outrageous restriction of women’s rights, and further evidence of the lack of access to reproductive healthcare in this country. It must be overturned immediately. 

“We’ll be writing to Google to demand the ban is overturned, and push for a representative to appear at the upcoming Senate inquiry so that we can question why and how the ban on abortion ads happened in the first place.

“When you Google the inquiry, a promoted snippet – with my name in it – equating abortion to murder from an anti-choice organisation is the first result. It is beyond belief that Google is OK having this sort of misinformation promoted at the top of its search results, but is banning ads for a basic health service.

“MSI Australia suggest the ban could be impacting up to 1500 people per week. This is unacceptable and the ban must be lifted immediately.”
 

We are watching a dark chapter in Iran’s recent history unfold and we are responding in defence of all of its citizens. The Iranian regime’s brutality against its own people, in particular its women and girls, is unrelenting, and the situation is only worsening.

The people of Iran have not given up hope as they courageously demand full respect for their human rights, despite the threats against them.

Iran’s security forces persist with draconian methods to ruthlessly suppress peaceful protesters, including the use of lethal force and senseless violence against women and children.

Hundreds have lost their lives and thousands languish in detention, among them an unknown number of children.

We are appalled by Iran’s execution of protestors since last Thursday. Many others detained may await the same fate.

Cloaking state-sanctioned killing in opaque legal processes is beyond abhorrent. Nothing can justify these shameful actions.

We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances for all people, everywhere.

And we call on Iran to immediately establish a moratorium to halt all executions and to end this brutal and inhumane punishment.

The UN General Assembly spoke unequivocally when it voted overwhelmingly in favour of the resolution on a ‘Moratorium on the use of the death penalty’. The General Assembly also voiced its deep concern at the persistent human rights violations committed by the Iranian regime, voting in favour of the resolution on the human rights situation in Iran.

The global trend away from the death penalty is unmistakable.

The Iranian regime’s violence must end, and there must be justice and accountability for the countless, egregious human rights violations committed since the outbreak of protests.

Now is the time for the regime to start listening and to act and meet the legitimate concerns of its citizens. The Iranian people have suffered long enough, and they are showing they will no longer be silenced. The Iranian regime must address the grievances of its citizens and ensure all Iranians are free to enjoy their fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Our support for the Iranian people to live their lives free from persecution is unwavering. We hear their powerful voices, and we will continue to amplify them wherever we can.

Today, the UN General Assembly adopted by a historic majority of almost two thirds a resolution that unequivocally calls for all countries to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Australia and Costa Rica are deeply proud to have led negotiations on the resolution in 2022, the 15^th anniversary of its first adoption. We oppose the death penalty at all times for all people. This is a matter of human rights and the inherent dignity of every human being. There is no evidence that capital punishment deters crime.

The record level of support for the resolution shows that the majority of Member States agree this brutal and inhumane punishment must end. Already, four out of every five countries have abolished the death penalty or no longer apply it. This year’s resolution welcomes the fact that many States with different legal systems, traditions, cultures and religious backgrounds are applying moratoriums, either in law or in practice.

The goal of a global moratorium on the death penalty is all the more meaningful in 2022, when a number of countries have executed citizens for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression. Notably, the resolution adopted today calls upon countries to ensure that the death penalty is not applied on the basis of laws that target individuals for exercising their human rights or as a result of discriminatory or arbitrary application of the law.

We wish to particularly congratulate all countries that have abolished the death penalty, established a moratorium, or are on a pathway to doing so. You are contributing to the unmistakeable trend towards global abolition.

We sincerely thank all Member States that negotiated constructively on this resolution. We will continue working with all countries to achieve even higher levels of support for a global moratorium when the resolution is next considered in 2024.

For further information see https://www.un.org/en/ga/77/resolutions.shtml

I am pleased to announce I have recommended the Governor-General appoint Ms Alison Frame as the Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Ms Frame is currently Deputy Secretary, Social Policy, in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She has been a senior public servant for both the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments in a range of complex service delivery and policy roles. Ms Frame brings significant experience working with stakeholders and leading staff to deliver positive outcomes for the community.

Ms Frame’s five-year appointment will commence on 23 January 2023. I congratulate Alison on the appointment and look forward to working with her in this new capacity.

I also thank Ms Elizabeth Cosson AM CSC for her service as Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs since May 2018. She has been a passionate advocate for improving services for veterans and their families.

A changeover to a new Secretary in January 2023 will provide for continuity in the Department’s leadership during the finalisation of the 2023-24 Budget process, 2023 ANZAC commemorations and the ongoing response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The third hearing for the Senate inquiry into the nature and extent of poverty in Australia took place in Murray Bridge, South Australia on Tuesday.

The hearing focused on regional communities with the Senate committee hearing from local organisations, SA based advocacy groups as well as individuals with lived experience of poverty sharing their personal stories. 

Greens spokesperson for social services and chair of the Community Affairs Committee, Senator Janet Rice said: 

“Poverty is impacting so many Australians and it is only getting worse. With skyrocketing rents, interest rate rises, and months of inflation, so many are struggling to get by. From not being able to afford nutritious food, an education, housing, the resources to get a job, this is having a significant impact on their physical health and mental wellbeing.

“Today in Murray Bridge we heard harrowing stories of long term poverty including someone who was told by a support service that they aren’t homeless because they are living in their car and another who had no money was sent to a food relief centre where they had to pay for mouldy onions. 

“One witness said “Poverty is a political choice, you choose to keep us homeless, you choose to keep us hungry, you choose to keep us malnourished, you choose to keep us in poverty”

“In rural and regional communities the poverty cycle continues, there are less services, less education opportunities, less jobs. 

“One thing was heard loud and clear, the rate of income support is not enough to live on. 

“The Greens are calling on the Labor Government to raise the rate of all income support payments above the poverty line and provide people with a guaranteed liveable income.”

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards recognises the best of Australian literature and celebrates writing as a valuable cultural and intellectual influence.

Today in Launceston, the 2022 award winners have been recognised for their contributions and literary talents.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Awards highlighted the creativity and excellence of Australian literature.

“It is through great writing we are able to celebrate and build upon our cultural and creative identity,” the Prime Minister said.

“I congratulate this year’s winners and thank them for their efforts in showcasing the diversity of Australian voices.”

Minister Burke said these awards are fundamental in creating a pathway for future and aspiring authors, poets and historians.

“The work Australian writers do matters. It matters because it shapes the narrative of our everyday lives, and that is something that needs to be supported.

“Writers provide the pathway for Australians to know themselves, for us to know each other and for the world to know us.

“It’s important we make sure that Australian stories continue to be told, both here at home and overseas. Thank you to all this year’s winners for doing just that.”

The Awards are presented in six categories – fiction, poetry, non-fiction, Australian history, children’s and young adult literature with winners sharing in the total prize pool of $600,000.

We thank the independent judges Professor Chris Dixon, Dr Deborah Hope, Troy Bramston, Professor Gail Pearson, Chris Mitchell, Geoffrey Lehmann, Associate Professor Sandra Phillips, Stephen Romei, Peter Craven, Caroline Overington, James Roy, Demet Divaroren, Erica Wagner, Paula Kelly Paull and Dr Anthony Eaton for their work.

The Awards will be livestreamed on the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Facebook page.

For more information about the winning and shortlisted works, visit the PM’s Literary Awards.

The 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary Award winners:

Fiction

• Red Heaven by Nicolas Rothwell

Poetry

• Human Looking by Andy Jackson

Non-fiction

• Rogue Forces: An explosive insiders’ account of Australian SAS war crimes in Afghanistan by Mark Willacy

Australian history

• Semut: The untold story of a secret Australian operation in WWII Borneo by Christine Helliwell

Children’s literature

• Mina and the Whole Wide World by Sherryl Clark, illustrated by Briony Stewart

Young adult literature

• The Gaps by Leanne Hall

All Australians are shocked and saddened by this tragic loss of life.

Two Queensland police officers, their lives cut short by this atrocity.

Constable Matthew Arnold, just 26 years of age.

Constable Rachel McCrow, just 29.

Constables from Tara Police Station, who lost their lives in this tragedy.

I pay tribute to them.

I pay tribute as well to their surviving fellow officers, Constable Randall Kirk and Constable Keeley Brough.

In addition, I pay tribute to a neighbour driven by the instinct to help. Alan Dare also lost his life in this tragedy.

Three lives cruelly cut short.

This is, indeed, a devastating day for everyone who loved these Australians.

And our hearts go out to those in the grip of terrible grief.

We know that this news has fallen hard on a close-knit and caring Queensland community.

As well as, of course, the community to which all police officers belong.

Today is a rough day, indeed, for all police officers and their families.

Every officer knows the risk that they face in the life of duty. They are all too aware of the dangers that they face.

Yet they do their job. They do it for our communities.

That is courage, and it is public service at the highest level.

And today and every day I pay tribute to each and every one of the police officers who serve their local communities and who serve their nation.

This is not a price that anyone who puts on the uniform should ever pay.

We can never count the true cost.

My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this tragedy.

With honour, they served.

And Australia mourns with you today.

We stand with you always.

Prime Minister Albanese will travel to Papua New Guinea from 12-13 January to attend the Annual Leaders’ Dialogue alongside his counterpart Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby.

Following the Dialogue, the Prime Ministers will travel together to Wewak on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea to visit the resting place of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“I have spent time with my good friend Prime Minister Marape on several occasions this year, including here in Australia at the Prime Minister’s XIII Rugby League match.

“I am looking forward to starting the New Year with a visit to Papua New Guinea to reinforce the strong bond between our two countries.

“Australia and Papua New Guinea are close not just geographically, but also because of our long history and shared vision for the future.

“I thank Prime Minister Marape for the invitation and look forward to continuing our discussion in Port Moresby and Wewak.”