Category: Australian News

In the wake of Roe v Wade, the Australian Greens will today establish a Senate inquiry into abortion access in Australia. 

This inquiry will identify what can be done federally to alleviate the physical and financial barriers to accessing contraceptives, sexual and reproductive healthcare and termination services, as well as options to improve the quality and availability services, particularly in regional and remote Australia.

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

“Abortion remains expensive and inaccessible for many, especially those who already face massive healthcare barriers, including First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“In the wake of Roe v Wade, the federal government should look at what it can do to eliminate Australia’s barriers to accessible and affordable abortion.

“Access to safe, legal abortion remains a postcode lottery in Australia, with different rules, costs and availability depending on where you live. Some people are having to travel for hours at significant expense to access this basic healthcare service.

“In remote and regional areas, like Townsville and Mackay, many women are forced to travel long distances, at significant expense, to access to sexual and reproductive health services including long-acting contraception, medical and surgical abortions and counselling.

“The Greens support calls for national consistency on abortion laws, provided they are best practice, which would be ascertained through the inquiry.

“The Greens will resist any attempt in Australia to wind back reproductive rights. And we’ll continue to work to ensure people have access to legal, free and safe pregnancy termination services and a full range of contraception options, including unbiased counselling, no matter where they live.

“The impacts of poor sexual health literacy, lack of access to contraceptives and quality reproductive healthcare are clear. This inquiry will provide an invaluable insight into the barriers people are facing and how the federal government can intervene to fix them.”

Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, spokesperson for Health said:

“Improper access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion, is a serious healthcare issue and must be addressed as such.

“Too often women, trans, and non-binary folks, are left behind by our state and federal governments when it comes to healthcare. 

“The Australian Greens will continue to demand better support and care for those who need any reproductive services whenever, wherever, and however they want to access it.

“This inquiry would champion every single person’s human right to accessing the services and care that they need in a timely, accurate, and culturally appropriate manner.”

Australian Greens Social Services spokesperson Senator Janet Rice has welcomed the end of the cashless debit card after the bill passed tonight. 

Senator Rice said: 

“Today is a big day for the more than 12,000 people who will be able to exit compulsory income management. 

“Anyone living in Ceduna SA , the Goldfields and East Kimberley regions of WA and the Bundaberg- Hervey Bay region of Queensland who has been on the CDC will finally be able to control their own finances again. 

“They’ll be able to buy clothes for their kids at second hand stores; pay cash for fruit and veg at the markets and buy goods online rather than having most of their income quarantined on a debit card.  

“The CDC has been extremely harmful to thousands of people and it’s great to see the back of it.

“We are pleased the government agreed to our amendment for the Minister to report on progress on a transition plan in each of the four communities, outlining the extra services and supports that will be available to these communities after the cashless debit card is abolished.

“The Greens welcome the end of the Cashless Debit Card today but the fight isn’t over.

“Across Australia, more than twenty thousand people are still trapped on compulsory income management, which we know is punitive, harmful and completely ineffective.

“The Greens welcome the passing of this bill, but want to see all forms of compulsory income management abolished for good.

“The government needs to address the underlying structural factors that contribute to disadvantage beyond CDC. We call on the government to listen to communities for solutions rather than trying to control them.”

The Greens understand that the Senate will today support our motion requiring Reserve Bank governor Dr Philip Lowe to appear at Senate Estimates.

“Independence does not mean a lack of accountability,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“There are serious questions for Dr Lowe.” 

“Dr Lowe induced people into taking on massive amounts of debt by saying interest rates wouldn’t go up until wages had increased substantially and this was unlikely to be until 2024.”

“He needs to explain why interest rates are being jacked up without the preconditions that he set being met.”

“He also needs to explain how increasing interest rates is going to conquer inflation that is being driven by supply shocks and corporate profiteering.”

“The consequences of five consecutive rate rises have been stark – renters, mortgage holders and small business owners are all being smashed trying to fix a problem they did not cause.”

“It’s time for Dr Lowe to face the music.”

The Greens motion, which requires the Economics Legislation Committee to invite Dr Lowe to appear at Senate Estimates on November 9, will be voted on this afternoon.

The first meetings of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will be held in Canberra today.

The groups will work with Government on the next steps to a referendum in this term of Parliament to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution.

The Referendum Working Group, co-chaired by Minister Linda Burney and Special Envoy Patrick Dodson, includes a broad cross-section of representatives from First Nations communities across Australia.

They will provide advice to the Government on how best to ensure a successful Referendum and focus on the key questions that need to be considered in the coming months, including:

1. The timing to conduct a successful referendum;
2. Refining the proposed constitutional amendment and question;
3. The information on the Voice necessary for a successful referendum

A second meeting will be held with the Referendum Engagement Group, which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from the across the country, including: land councils, local governments and community controlled organisations.

They will provide advice about building community understanding, awareness and support for the referendum.

Today’s meetings follow the Prime Minister’s landmark speech at the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land, where he released the possible wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and question on the Voice to be put to the Australian people.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:

“The constitution is our nation’s birth certificate. 

“It should be a source of pride that all Australians share this continent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, the oldest continuous civilisation on earth. 

“This should be recognised with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.”

Minister Linda Burney said:

“This is an important next step on the road to the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

“The work of the Referendum Working Group and the Referendum Engagement Group will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are front and centre in the decision making leading up to the Referendum.

“They will provide us with advice about how to harness the goodwill in the Australian community on this important nation building project.

Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus said:

 “This Uluru Statement is an extraordinary act of generosity, friendship and reconciliation.

“The Referendum Working Group will work closely in partnership with government on the road forward.

Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Senator Patrick Dodson said:

“This Group is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to go out and consult as we work to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.

We’ve got a clear plan to get us from Garma to referendum day.

The first step on that road is to listen to Indigenous Australians on how best to ensure we deliver a successful referendum.”

REFERENDUM WORKING GROUP

Mr Dale Agius	SA Commissioner for First Nations Voice
Ms Pat Anderson AO	Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue
Ms Geraldine Atkinson	Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Professor Tom Calma AO	Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups Chancellor, University of Canberra Co-chair, Reconciliation Australia
Professor Megan Davis	Co-chair of Uluru Dialogue Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW
Mr Rodney Dillon	Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Community Alliance
Mr Sean Gordon	Managing Director, Gingee Group Councillor, University of Newcastle
Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA	Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee Co-chair, National Apology Foundation
Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO	Co-chair, Indigenous Voice Co-design groups Associate Provost, University of Melbourne
Mr Thomas Mayor	From the Heart
Mr Tony McAvoy SC	NT Treaty Commissioner Barrister
June Oscar AO (ex officio)	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Mr Dean Parkin	From the Heart
Mr Noel Pearson	Founder of Cape York Institute From the Heart Advisory Group Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Ms Sally Scales	Uluru Dialogue member APY Artist
Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM	Chairperson, Torres Strait Regional Authority
Mr Marcus Stewart	Co-chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Ms Pat Turner AM	Convenor of Coalition of Peaks Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups CEO of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
The Hon Ken Wyatt AM	Former Minister for Indigenous Australians
Professor Peter Yu AM	Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups Vice President, First Nations at ANU
Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM	Chairman, Yothu Yindi Foundation

REFERENDUM ENGAGEMENT GROUP

Membership of the Referendum Engagement Group will include those on the Working Group and additional people including:

Mr Thomas Amagula	Deputy Chair, Anindilyakwa Land Council
Cr Ross Andrews	Mayor, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Nathan Appo	Institute of Urban Indigenous Health
Professor Muriel Bamblett AO	CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Coalition of Peaks representative
Ms Jennifer Beale	Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation
Professor Jack Beetson	Australian Centre for Agriculture & Law – University of New England
Mr Dameyon Bonson	Founder, Black Rainbow Living Well
Ms Wendy Brabham	Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
Mr Paul Briggs OAM	Executive Chair, Kaiela Institute
Mr Gavin Brown	CEO PwC Indigenous Consulting
Mr Selwyn Button	Chair, The Lowitja Institute
Mr Nicholas Cameron	Chair, Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance
Ms Shirleen Campbell	Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group
Cr Danny Chapman	Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Ms Fiona Cornforth	CEO, Healing Foundation
Dr Josie Douglas	Executive Director of Policy, Central Land Council
Ms Katrina Fanning PSM	Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Tyronne Garstone	CEO, Kimberley Land Council
Mr Mick Gooda	Co-chair, QLD Treaty Advancement Committee Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Damian Griffis	CEO of First Peoples Disability Network Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Ms Tanya Hosch	Executive General Manager, Inclusion & Social Policy, AFL
Mr Paul House	Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Gibson Farmer Illortaminni	Chairman, Tiwi Land Council
Ms Deborah Katona	Senior Manager Policy, Northern Land Council
Cr Esma Livermore	Deputy Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Jamie Lowe	National Native Title Tribunal Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Dr Hannah McGlade	Curtin Law School
Mr Wayne Miller	Chair, Far West Community Leadership Group Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design groups
Cr Phillemon Mosby	Mayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Kado Muir	Activist & Impact Entrepreneur at Dilji Social Anthropologist
Ms Karen Mundine	CEO, Reconciliation Australia
Ms Teela Reid	Uluru Dialogue Group University of Sydney
Cr Matthew Ryan	Mayor, West Arnhem Regional Council Australian Local Government Association representative
Mr Shane Sturgiss	BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation
Mr Ian Trust AO	National Chair, Empowered Communities Chairman, Wunan
Mr Les Turner	CEO, Central Land Council
Dr Tracy Westerman AM	Founding Director, Indigenous Psychological Services
Mr Richard Weston	Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People (NSW) Member of Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups
Mr Sammy Wilson	Traditional Owner, Uluru Former Chair, Central Land Council
Mr Scott Wilson	Lead Convenor of SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Network Coalition of Peaks representative
Professor Asmi Wood	Professor, ANU College of Law

Greens Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Peace and Nuclear Disarmament will accept IPAN’s petition and table it in the Australian Senate today. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John said:

“I am proud to receive and table in the Senate Independent and Peaceful Australia Network’s petition which has been signed by 26,700 members of the community.”

“The petition represents the view of many in our community who want Australia to withdraw from the AUKUS agreement, and want Australia to stop being at the beck and call of the United State of America and their military ambitions. 

“The world is facing an unprecedented climate crisis and rapidly expanding wealth inequality. The solutions to these things will take global cooperation. The AUKUS pact escalates tensions in the Asia-Pacific and significantly increases the likelihood of nuclear arms proliferation among non-nuclear armed states. 

“Our community has broadly rejected AUKUS and no one wants nuclear submarines to be floating off the coast near Brisbane or near my hometown of Rockingham in WA.

“Instead of investing billions of dollars into submarines that no one needs or asked for, we must reallocate funding from the military to services our community actually needs; things like free dental care included under Medicare, properly funding the NDIS, or building more affordable and accessible homes.”

Annette Brownlie, Chairperson of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) said:

“Community opposition to the secret deal of AUKUS dropped on the Australian people one year ago, is evidenced by this petition being tabled today in the Senate by Senator Jordon Steele-John signed by 26,700 Australians.

“The large number of Australians who have signed these public calls for peace with priority being directed to healthcare not warfare is an indication of the depth of concern in the community about the defence and foreign policy directions of the Australian Government.

“The financial blowout for Australians in this era of war talk and preparations is absurd with costs of over $170B estimated for the nuclear-propelled submarines alone.

“Around the world, people are speaking up opposing the war preparation economy and we in Australia need to build the public voice for independent peacebuilding policies, an end to the AUKUS pact and calling on the current government to urgently sign the United Nations Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).”

The Greens have called on Labor to support its bill to establish a National Energy Transition Authority, which was introduced in the Senate today by Gladstone-based Queensland Senator Penny Allman-Payne.

The National Energy Transition Authority Bill 2022 establishes a new independent public authority to guide Australia’s shift from an economy powered by polluting coal and gas to one powered by reliable, secure and low-cost renewable energy.

By providing national coordination, expert advice and funding, the National Energy Transition Authority will work with communities, workers, unions, energy companies and governments at all levels to plan the pipeline of clean energy projects, creating good, secure jobs and opening up new export markets while pushing down power prices for homes and businesses.

During negotiations on the Climate Change Bill the government agreed to consider the Greens’ proposal for a transition authority, a body that has the support of coal and gas workers and communities, unions, climate and energy experts, businesses and rank and file Labor members.

From next week Senator Allman-Payne will host a series of roundtables and public forums in the Latrobe Valley, Hunter region and Gladstone to discuss the bill with stakeholders and community members.

Greens spokesperson for Industry, Transition and Regional Development, Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“The climate crisis is happening before our eyes. In the past few months we’ve seen record flooding on Australia’s east coast; apocalyptic fires throughout Europe; and a third of the land mass of Pakistan submerged by torrential rains and fast-melting Himalayan glaciers.

“The biggest contributor to the climate crisis is the extraction and burning of coal and gas, which is why the IPCC, the International Energy Agency, climate scientists and environmental groups all say we must open no more coal and gas projects.

“To keep global heating below 1.5 degrees we also have to phase out existing coal and gas and transition rapidly to a zero emissions economy – and the good news is that this is already starting to happen. The global market for coal is drying up and renewable energy is taking off across the country.

“But what’s missing is a plan for a fair and equitable transition that ensures we are able to rapidly and responsibly exit coal and gas while securing the futures of the workers and communities who are at risk of being left behind.

“We know from similar energy transition bodies in Europe that if you plan the transition, workers can move into new well-paid jobs, be redeployed through industry-wide pooling or benefit from early retirement. But it needs government leadership.

“The only thing standing in the way of the creation of a National Energy Transition Authority is the Labor Party. Labor has said they will consider the Greens’ proposal, but we think they should listen to what workers, unions, businesses and their own members are saying and commit to backing our bill.

“If the government and Greens are able to work together to make this authority a reality during the life of this parliament, we will blunt the Coalition’s climate scare campaigns and render them even more irrelevant than they already are, while securing the futures of tens of thousands of workers across the country.”

About the bill:

The core functions of the NETA are:

• to support communities and workers affected by the closure of coal and gas extraction and power generation to adapt, including by helping to attract new public and private investment in job-creating industries and social infrastructure to affected areas, and ensuring ongoing equivalent employment or social services are provided;
• working with employers in relevant industries to encourage workforce pooling, to enable workers to shift between employers where skills are transferable; and
• planning with workers and relevant agencies to assist workers nearing retirement age to transition to a voluntary, financially secure retirement.

The Authority will draw on a Diversifying Coal Communities Fund of $2.8 billion over 10 years, which will approve and fund local plans across the nation, developed by regionally based transition bodies in partnership with the Authority.

The NETA’s board will be composed of experts in energy, workplace planning and engineering, along with worker representatives, and will be responsible for developing strategic plans to manage the energy transition. The Authority will be independent of government but guided by government policy and decision-making that may overlap with the Authority’s work.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the government’s Cheaper Childcare Bill, introduced to parliament today, doesn’t go far enough, and should make early education and care universal and free.

Senator Faruqi said:

“We have an opportunity here to deliver universal and free childcare. This bill does not go anywhere near far enough.

“Expensive and inaccessible childcare has held women and families back for too long.

“Rather than spending $243 billion on the obscene Stage 3 Tax Cuts, we could have free childcare for a fraction of the cost.

“Making early childhood education and care free for all would be so beneficial for children, families and the whole community.

“This bill does not tackle the workforce crisis in early education. Educators must receive better pay and conditions that reflect the skill and responsibility of the work they do every day.

“At the very least, the bill should scrap the Activity Test that restricts access to subsidised childcare, and the new subsidy rates should be brought forward to commence at the start of next year rather than waiting until July. People need support now.”

In the wake of Roe v Wade, the Australian Greens will today establish a Senate inquiry into abortion access in Australia. 

This inquiry will identify what can be done federally to alleviate the physical and financial barriers to accessing contraceptives, sexual and reproductive healthcare and termination services, as well as options to improve the quality and availability services, particularly in regional and remote Australia.

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

“Abortion remains expensive and inaccessible for many, especially those who already face massive healthcare barriers, including First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“In the wake of Roe v Wade, the federal government should look at what it can do to eliminate Australia’s barriers to accessible and affordable abortion.

“Access to safe, legal abortion remains a postcode lottery in Australia, with different rules, costs and availability depending on where you live. Some people are having to travel for hours at significant expense to access this basic healthcare service.

“In remote and regional areas, like Townsville and Mackay, many women are forced to travel long distances, at significant expense, to access to sexual and reproductive health services including long-acting contraception, medical and surgical abortions and counselling.

“The Greens support calls for national consistency on abortion laws, provided they are best practice, which would be ascertained through the inquiry.

“The Greens will resist any attempt in Australia to wind back reproductive rights. And we’ll continue to work to ensure people have access to legal, free and safe pregnancy termination services and a full range of contraception options, including unbiased counselling, no matter where they live.

“The impacts of poor sexual health literacy, lack of access to contraceptives and quality reproductive healthcare are clear. This inquiry will provide an invaluable insight into the barriers people are facing and how the federal government can intervene to fix them.”

Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, spokesperson for Health said:

“Improper access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion, is a serious healthcare issue and must be addressed as such.

“Too often women, trans, and non-binary folks, are left behind by our state and federal governments when it comes to healthcare. 

“The Australian Greens will continue to demand better support and care for those who need any reproductive services whenever, wherever, and however they want to access it.

“This inquiry would champion every single person’s human right to accessing the services and care that they need in a timely, accurate, and culturally appropriate manner.”

The Albanese Government will introduce legislation this week to establish a powerful, transparent and independent National Anti-Corruption Commission.

This shows the Government is delivering on its promise to tackle corruption and restore trust and integrity to federal politics.

The Government has committed $262 million over four years for the establishment and ongoing operation of the Commission.

This funding will ensure the Commission has the staff, capabilities and capacity to properly consider referrals and allegations, conduct timely investigations and undertake corruption prevention and education activities.

The Albanese Government’s National Anti-Corruption Commission will investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the entire federal public sector.

It will be built on the following design principles:

• Broad jurisdiction: The Commission will have broad jurisdiction to investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the Commonwealth public sector by ministers, parliamentarians and their staff, statutory officer holders, employees of all government entities and government contractors.  
• Independent: The Commission will operate independent of government, with discretion to commence inquiries into serious or systemic corruption on its own initiative or in response to referrals, including from whistleblowers and the public.
• Oversight: The Commission will be overseen by a statutory Parliamentary Joint Committee, empowered to require the Commission to provide information about its work.
• Retrospective powers: The Commission will have the power to investigate allegations of serious or systemic corruption that occurred before or after its establishment.
• Public hearings: The Commission will have the power to hold public hearings in exceptional circumstances and where it is in the public interest to do so.
• Findings: The Commission will be empowered to make findings of fact, including findings of corrupt conduct, and refer findings that could constitute criminal conduct to the Australian Federal Police or the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
• Procedural fairness: The Commission will operate with procedural fairness and its findings will be subject to judicial review.

The legislation also provides strong protections for whistleblowers and exemptions for journalists to protect the identity of sources.

Following the introduction of the Bill the Government will propose the establishment of a joint select committee to examine its provisions.

We look forward to support from across the Parliament for a National Anti-Corruption Commission with real power and authority.

The Australian Greens remain deeply concerned at the recent crackdown on dissent in Iran, with official reports of at least 22 protesters killed and more than 1,000 Iranians detained.

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

“Two weeks ago, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody. Mahsa had been arrested by Iran’s morality police for failing to comply with a new national code requiring women to wear a hijab. She was allegedly beaten and died from her injuries.
 
“Following Mahsa Amini’s death, women across Iran have taken to the streets to stand up to the oppressive regime, demanding freedoms that have been denied to them.  
 
“In a country with harsh penalties for public protest, this is an incredible show of bravery and solidarity. Human Rights Watch has described the scale of protest, particularly on issues of women’s choice and police accountability, as unprecedented. 
 
“The gendered impacts of authoritarian rule, whether by the Iranian government, the Taliban, Russia or others, cannot be ignored.  
 
“The Australian Greens are in solidarity with the women of Iran. We will always protect the right to protest.  And we will always fight for women’s rights to choose their dress, their partner, their religion, their career, and what they do with their bodies.”

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

“The Iranian authorities’ suppression of the rights of women, LGBTIQA+ people, and other minorities, including the Bahai, must end. People should not have to protest to protect their basic human rights. 

“The Australian Greens are calling upon the international community to condemn the ongoing abuses of freedom and human rights. Those responsible for Mahsa Amini’s death must be held accountable through a criminal investigation.

“The Australian Government should meet with the Iranian ambassador as soon as possible to raise these concerns directly.”