Category: Australian News

I was pleased to welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Dr Bisera Turković to Canberra today.

Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s friendship is strengthened by our people-to-people ties and longstanding support.

Australia recognised Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 1992, shortly after its independence.

We remain a strong supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Australia has worked beside Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and in the Global Coalition against Daesh.

Dr Bisera Turković and I discussed Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral war on Ukraine, and Mr Putin’s dangerous escalations.

We also renewed our commitment to greater cooperation between our countries and through the Bosnian diaspora community in Australia.

This includes our support for direct aid projects for local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina that focus on supporting development in education, gender, disability, and human rights.

Today, I welcomed India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Australia for the annual Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.

This is Minister Jaishankar’s second visit to Australia this year, demonstrating the importance both Australia and India place on our partnership.

Australia and India are Comprehensive Strategic Partners, we are Quad partners and most fundamentally, we share the Indo-Pacific region.

We have a shared interest and a shared ambition in a stable and prosperous region where sovereignty is respected.

For Australia, our partnership with India is a critical part of shaping the region we want.

At the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, we discussed accelerating and deepening economic ties, including through our Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.

We also discussed strengthening our people to people ties and education links, reinforcing our defence and security cooperation and enhancing our climate change and new clean energy engagement, including through the Quad.

We agreed to expand our diplomatic footprints, with Australia recommitting to open a Consulate-General in Bengaluru, and India planning an additional consulate in Australia.

I look forward to our continued engagement as we build and sustain our partnership and region.

Today, I was honoured to meet with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Saleumxay Kommasith.

Australia and Laos share a long history of bilateral cooperation, and this year celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations.

Our relationship is supported by a long-standing focus on education, human capacity building and infrastructure, as well as more recent cooperation in areas such as energy, economic resilience and connectivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay and I had warm and productive discussions about how we can deepen the partnership between our two countries.

I reiterated Australia’s support as Laos prepares for its ASEAN Chair Year in 2024. I also discussed our shared commitment to ASEAN centrality, and our strategic interest in maintaining a region which is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and where sovereignty is respected.

Australia remains determined to work closely with our partners in Southeast Asia to respond to regional challenges including climate change and economic recovery from COVID-19.

Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay and I planted a tree together in the Australian Botanic Gardens as an enduring symbol of the growth in our countries’ friendship.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP has said that mooted ‘tweaks’ to Labor’s Stage 3 tax cuts are not the answer, and that the government should simply scrap the cuts before they come into effect and start again with a plan to tackle the cost of living crisis by spending $244b on measures like dental into Medicare and free childcare.

“Labor shouldn’t be arguing about whether to give Clive Palmer an $8,000 a year tax cut or a $9,000 a year tax cut. He doesn’t deserve either,” Mr Bandt said.

“A tweak to these tax cuts isn’t the answer. We should preserve our progressive tax system and spend $244 billion cutting the cost of living for everyday people, by getting dental into Medicare, making childcare free and building affordable homes.

“In 2019, the Greens were the only ones who voted against these terrible tax cuts. Now, everyone from the unions to former RBA governors agree that they must be scrapped. 

“The Greens have been building the case against the tax cuts, and recent polling shows that the majority of Australians support dropping the tax cuts to pay for services. 

“If Labor wants to make the case that we should still be giving politicians and billionaires a tax break, that’s a matter for them. The public have already made up their minds: no more tax cuts for the wealthy.”

The Greens are calling on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to immediately rule out approving BHP’s proposed Peak Downs coal mine expansion in Queensland.

The expansion is slated cover 4,000 hectares and will involve clearing habitat for the endangered koala, greater glider and other threatened species.

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

“On Tuesday the Environment Minister launched an action plan for zero extinction. Today she has an application on her desk for a project that will accelerate extinction. The action she must take is to rule it out.

“Our native animals will continue to go extinct under any government that continues to approve new coal and gas mines.

“Land clearing and climate change are the main drivers of extinction and the Peak Downs coal mine expansion fuels both.

“Australia’s iconic koala is an endangered species and on the brink of extinction, it would be crazy to even consider further destruction of its home.

“I urge the Labor Party to back the Greens bills for a moratorium on habitat clearing and a climate trigger to assess projects for the pollution they create, so we can give our threatened species a fighting chance.”

Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens Spokesperson for employment and labour market expert will be speaking on a panel today as part of the Revenue Summit hosted by the Australia Institute. Barbara will be discussing the revenue benefits from having more women in work and the policy pathways to it such as increased paid parental leave and free childcare.

The Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit 2022 will bring economists, policy, and taxation experts together to discuss revenue raising options to meet Australia’s public spending needs.

Senator Barbara Pocock will join cross bench MPs for a panel discussion chaired by Laura Tingle at 1.25pm AEST.

Economic modelling from KPMG shows that halving the gap between male and female workforce participation rates would increase Australia’s annual GDP by $60 billion over the next 20 years. 

The Productivity Commission has previously estimated that 165,000 parents, mostly women, would like to work, or work more hours but are unable to do so because of lack of affordable and suitable childcare.

Senator Barbara Pocock said:

“Australians are facing cost of living and climate crises that without significant government investment, will threaten everyday life. We must urgently discuss and action revenue options.

“I’ll be heading to this revenue summit with three key items on my agenda; redirecting tax cuts, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and improving childcare for families and workers.

“By investing in free childcare and increasing paid parental leave, more women will be able to join the workforce or increase their hours of work. Not only does this provide wages and benefits for families but also provides a boost to tax revenue.

“If we want to raise tax revenue we have to invest in better infrastructure for work and care.

“Greater participation of women in the workforce will increase revenue. It’s been done in Norway. It can be done here.

“Our paid parental leave and childcare systems are limping along behind the rest of the world. It’s time we caught up.

“The cost of investing in policies that improve access to childcare and paid parental leave would be offset by female labour and tax revenues

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, the Hon Manasseh Sogavare MP, to Australia for bilateral talks in Canberra today.

As proud Pacific nations, Australia and Solomon Islands have a deep and enduring history underpinned by strong people-to-people links and shared democratic values.

Following their earlier meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, leaders discussed bilateral priorities and challenges, including the existential threat of the climate crisis, and shared aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.

Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed Australia’s stronger action on climate change and commended the Australian Government on the recent legislation of new ambitious climate targets.

Prime Minister Sogavare and Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed mutual security commitments, and the Pacific family first approach to regional peace and security.

Leaders discussed ongoing economic cooperation, including market access, Pacific labour mobility, scholarships and the Pacific Engagement Visa.

On development, the leaders discussed Australia’s enduring support across all areas of society as Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, including infrastructure, health, education, governance.

Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed Australia’s $16.68 million commitment to support the 2023 Pacific Games, and offer to support the next Solomon Islands’ election.

Australia strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile over Japanese territory – the first missile test to overfly Japan since 2017.

The test was a reckless and unacceptable act that threatens the security of our neighbours and partners and undermines the stability of the Indo-Pacific.

Pyongyang continues to show blatant disregard for multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting its dangerous ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.

We continue to be gravely concerned by North Korea’s apparent readiness to undertake a seventh nuclear weapons test.

We urge North Korea to change course, abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and resume dialogue with the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Australia will continue to work with our allies and partners, including the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea to address the threats posed by North Korea.

On the 8th of November, the National Cabinet decided to remove the requirement for people to isolate while positive for Covid-19 from the 14th of October.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Health and Disability said: 

“The removal of the requirement to isolate has left many people feeling vulnerable and deeply frustrated that their wellbeing is being ignored by the Australian Government.

“I was proud to be invited to participate in an online town hall last weekend, where I joined with hundreds of members of the chronically ill, disabled and immunocompromised community who, along with medical professionals and educators shared their concerns about isolation requirements lifting.

“The Australian Greens support the return of isolation periods, along with supporting people to isolate through the provision of the pandemic disaster payment while they are in isolation. As a community, we must look out for one another, and our government must continue to financially support people to stay home while positive with covid-19. 

“At the forum, some people shared with me that with isolation requirements lifting, they will not leave their homes to go to the shops, or out for dinner ever again. The Liberal and Labor governments have chosen to remove all restrictions leaving people who are at risk of death, or severe poor health from covid, with no choice but to isolate themselves indefinitely.  

“I have heard from medical professionals who are deeply concerned that the removal of isolation requirements will cause an overwhelming demand on an already burnt-out and exhausted healthcare workforce. I have heard from teachers who are now deeply concerned that they’ll be spending hours a day, in poorly ventilated classrooms, with covid positive students.

“The Australian Greens are in solidarity with workers and the community, and we are calling on State and Territory Governments to support our 20 point plan, on where to from hear to support our community through Covid-19.” 

Background

In response to the calls of the town hall, the Australian Greens are committed to:

1. Release the unredacted health advice that was considered by National Cabinet in the decision to remove the requirement for isolation.
2. Reinstate mandatory isolation for 5 days for people with Covid infection, to be reviewed in 12 months. 
3. Continue with pandemic disaster payments for the 5-day isolation, to be reviewed in 12 months. 
4. End mutual obligations for people on jobseeker and others on income support.
5. Government agencies to have a non-contact service framework (inc. Centrelink).
6. Provision of free Rapid Antigen Tests on request, a continuation of free PCRs. 
7. Amendment of relevant regulation(s) to require covid-19 testing to be undertaken if requested by a person receiving care or support. 
8. Fund ongoing public health campaigns including prevention, treatment, the importance of mask-wearing in indoor spaces, and health risks associated with Covid-19. 
9. Provision of N95 and KN95 Masks for free on request, including in health, aged care, disability and education settings. 
10. Data to be released more regularly, including full disclosure of statistics in at-risk settings (e.g. congregate care).
11. Increased funding for telehealth, to reinstate health items that were available in 2021. 
12. Stronger diagnosis and health support for those experiencing Long Covid.
13. Establish a centre of research into post-viral diseases, including Covid-19, and an estimate of the burden of disease.
14. Review NDIS criteria and processes to ensure disabled people with chronic illnesses, such as long covid, can get support through the NDIS.
15. The Australian Government set standards for auditing, retrofitting and maintaining safe indoor air quality. 
16. HEPA Filters to be installed in government buildings, and subsidies provided to organisations and small entities to improve indoor air quality.
17. Ensure that isolation requirements support the continuation of First Nations cultural practice and sorry business.
18. Health Ministers to make a public commitment to ethical non-discriminatory treatment of disabled, sick and immunocompromised people.
19. Hold a national memorial and one-minute silence in all Australian parliaments to respect those who have died from COVID-19.
20. Establish a National Centre for Disease Control

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome Solomon Islands Prime Minister the Honourable Manasseh Sogavare MP to Canberra on Thursday 6 October.

Australia and Solomon Islands are part of the Pacific family and have a strong security partnership, based on decades-long policing and maritime cooperation.

Australia is Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, contributing in all areas of society and the economy—from health, justice and education, to infrastructure, labour mobility, private sector growth, agriculture and rural development.

Prime Minister Albanese last met with Prime Minister Sogavare in July at the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“Our relationship with Solomon Islands is incredibly important.

“As members of the Pacific Family, we are committed to working together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goals, including on climate change.

“I look forward to engaging with Prime Minister Sogavare on building a strong and prosperous Pacific region, based on principles of transparency, respect and partnership.”